Marathon.. death to my knees

Hello Hello,

2nd day with my new VPN and I'm back online now. So the marathon I've been training for the past 3-4 months is in 5 days now... And let's just say I have not been up keeping up with my training. 

I'm a bit nervous... correction I'm terrified.  Before I came to China, I think I was in the best shape of my life. Lifting, swimming, running, doing doubles 3 times a week, I felt great.  As long as I get to China, BLAH! I turn in to a mess. I am glad that I put in a lot of miles before China, there's a Chinese saying that goes perfect here.  好的开始，是成功的一半, a good start, is half the battle. 

Getting away from my marathon problems... China updates:

Girlfriend: no, school: sucks, internship: pending, money: broken. 

I've had some odd approaches by some girls here.  Most recently, I met a girl at an event, and at the time she had a boyfriend of two years.  Two days later, poof no more. The most awkward part about this story is that she tell me I'm attractive, I'm flattered but..., and that "I'm not a reason for why they split up." Oh... she only wants to speak to me in English, so I'm thinking "green card maybe?"

Anyways, back to work.  Until next time!

-MC

Pre-Thanksgiving Withdrawals

Well I know I've been getting worse and worse at posting blogs and vlogs. I've been too lazy/busy to write and record. My VPN seems to be on the fritz as well so I'll be blogging on my phone now. Let's see how this goes...

Well as I promised, my trip home from Ningbo to Nanjing was an interesting experience. I took a "black bus" or something like it to get back in order to avoid the typhoon coming. (side note: in China there are illegal taxi so they call them "黑车" translates into "black car" hence  "black bus") The whole process in which we got home was so shady. In our attempts to go home early, we were lured to take a "blac bus." Impulsively, we returned our train tickets to buy our bus tickets. Magically they were the same price. The person who attempted to sell me the tickets wanted cash up front and then would give us directions to where the bus was supposed to pick us up.  I pretty much knew we got screwed right then and there, but I didn't want to lose a kidney or any other part of my body.  Working my Chinese haggling skills, I made him take us to the bus stop where we met by an even shadier fat lady.  It really wasn't our best day. After about 10 马上到 (it'd be here soon), the bus finally get there.

After about a 4-5 hour bus ride, they literally drop us off in the middle of nowhere. I didn't know where we were nor did Alec. Fortunately, some "black mini-van" dude came and asked where we wanted to go, and instead took us to the metro station before it closed. We amazing raced it to the station and got on the second to last train. This was my wonderful vacation experience full of shady deals and creepy tunnels....

Now I want turkey.....