testing testing

it's friday afternoon and we were just released from our first big TEST. in two weeks we covered 7 lessons and about 175 new words (plus catching up on old/less common words). that's just the morning class! afternoon is another story. for me, the written test was by far the easier portion. the speaking, which includes reading out loud from a text and then conversing with the teacher, was a catastrophe. ahhhh.

in case you had guessed otherwise, testing is a big deal in china. right now my roommate wenjun and her friend yanan are midway through their two weeks of final exams at the shanghai university of finance and economics. they have test(s) every day... thanks to their TWELVE class course load! they are always together studying, and they barely sleep or eat. american students definitely do this too, but i think the psychology of test-taking is different here. when you say you have a test, it's serious business. american students pressure their friends to come out even if they have a test coming up (i miss this/i miss you guyssss)... chinese students don't!

anyway, aside from our test, this was an average week in the tonghe international dorms and at fudan. the initial adjustment period is basically over and we are enjoying our routine here. get up early for class from 8:40-11:35, break for lunch till 12:30 (cheap dumplings, baozi, noodles, fried rice, fruit, milk tea, whatever!). go back to class till 2. do some homework (read the next day's lesson, memorize 25ish new characters, practice 5ish new grammar patterns, do practice exercises to turn in). nap from 3-4, go to the gym with the ladies. meet up for dinner in the evening and then (a) do more homework or (b) go out!

no need to explain option (a). during the week, option (b) usually means going to Helen's, the bar two blocks down the street that caters to all the international students around here. it's a cozy place upstairs with big bench tables so you are bound to meet lots of people every time you go. there are dozens of flags hanging from the ceiling and on the lamps...on any given night, tables are populated by students from all over the world. lately, the world cup has lent some excitement and friendly competition to the scene (i thought the place was going to collapse when america finally scored on algeria wednesday night). i love it! i'll try to rustle up a picture to add to this post soon.

today the alliance crew is heading to people's square 人民广场 to see the urban planning museum. tomorrow, i'll have more pictures from downtown shanghai and whatever adventures ensue!