National Museum

After a really big disaster of trying to get my mail, we went to the National museum of China with a bunch of other people.
But I should tell you about the post-drama first. After sleeping in (which was sooo great!) Kaho and I went on our way to collect two letters my mom send me. We asked the teacher we live with were we could get them last Thursday. She actually didn't know and had to ask someone else. She would have come with us this morning, but she had to work. So she tried to explain it to us yesterday evening. She even draw a little map. Nonetheless we couldn't find the supposedly green building we were looking for. We walked around a bit and decided to ask at a kiosk which also had the words 'China Post' on it. The man there didn't understand us at first, and when he finally did, we didn't know what he was trying to tell us.. So he was so very sweet to walk us to the nearest busstation (right at the end of our own street again) and he explained to the busdriver where we had to get out. Arriving there we didn't know where to go, so we tried to ask again. We got send to a bigger green building with again 'China Post' on it. We went inside and ask someone behind the desk. He tried to explain that we should go around the back. So we did this and asked again. This Chinese man wanted to sent us back again were we came from, by cab. Mine while we were running late already, because we made plans with friends around 12 o'clock. Luckily one of the friends we wanted to meet up with is Chinese and tried to call me. She spoke to the Chinese man we were talking to at that moment.. Concluding: we walked back two stops again to take the subway.. and we didn't get my mail.
We are going to try again tomorrow. But this time the teacher is coming with. So hopefully that will make a difference.

So we took the subway to go to Tian'an men square, were we first met up with the Chinese girl from AIESEC we met yesterday. She wanted to improve her English and she had never been to the National Museum before. We walked to the museum together were we met up with Marlene (met her last Sunday, she is from Austria) and Beth (from Canada). They were actually eating cake at the time we arrived. Later Jessica (AIESEC Buddy of Kaho) joined us as well. So we went inside the museum and saw a lot of Chinese art. At first it was really amazing, but if you walk around for more than an hour, everything starts to look alike. Also, I don't really know a lot about the Chinese history, so most artpieces are just very nice or even wonderful, but somewhat without meaning to me. The art from the different dynasties was really fascinating and we spent most of our time there. Also the stone carvings were amazing! So detailed and the stone fits perfectly with the designs.

We were quite tired from walking around in the museum, so we set down in the café there for a little while. After that we crossed the square and went to Qingmen and the amazing shopping street behind it. We, of course, made lots of photo's and had so much fun. We had dinner at one of the restaurants there and again tried a lot of different kinds of food. I had a big bowl of noodles and five little donut-like thingies (which actually tasted like cold 'oliebollen'). I was very, very full after that, but I still had to try one of Marlene's very sweet thingies. I had one bit, and that was quite enough..

Then after this we said goodbye to part of the group, because some where tiered or had other plans. Kaho, Beth and I walked around in Qingmen street some more and did a little bit of shopping. Mostly Beth and I were amazed by all the American brands that were in the beautiful Chinese buildings (Zara, H&M, MacDonalds, Starbucks etc.). We went inside a street where you can buy lots of souvenirs. I already both my first one for someone else (I am not going to tell). I also so the keychains I gave my boy last Christmas (so funny, because I had order them from a Chinese website). In one of the shops I was really amazed because Dutch music came from the musicboxes. They were actually playing "Komt ie dan he", it was sooo funny!

We wanted to conclude our day by actually walking on the Tian'an men Square.. But we couldn't because it was closed for some reason. So we went back home by subway. To tiered to do anything.
So I but on my pyjama and watch some series from my laptop. At the moment Kaho is actually already in bed as I am sitting in mine typing this. So I am going to wrap this up and just prepare our trip for tomorrow and go sleeping as well.

Love,
R