Hangovers, Cockroaches, and KTV

I have never been more nervous and excited for anything ever. I remember elementary school being absolutely thrilled to start school. Then as I got older the feeling switched to dread. Being responsible creeped back in the window and I couldn't go out and have fun as I pleased. University of course I loved. Once I joined the sorority I was in the lopsided balance of work and play. Mostly play.

      It's like starting your first adult job. As many times as you give into the temptation of getting bombed on a work night, yin and yang. You're going to pay for it and spend the day fighting back the urge to vomit in front of authority. But I think I'll be okay. After years in the food industry, (and coming in hungover), I figured out how pregnant women feel when they are sensitive to certain smells. At Panera Bread the smell of eggs cooking was the most foul, stomach churning thing you could imagine. At Wegmans, even freshly baked cookies were not always appealing.

     This week has has it's twists. Speaking of hangovers. I learned my lesson years ago but apparently not well enough. When I first moved to Florida I went to a friends dorm near mine and we started doing these giant shots of whiskey. Like quad shots. I had just graduated college so my sense of my tolerance was quite high. Not for the next day. I didn't realise just how much one is dehydrated in that heat. I woke up with a hangover most wicked. It took effort to lift a finger and when I did it was like being hit with a tsunami sized wave of nausea. This went on for about two days. After much coconut water, Gatorade, and BRAT diet I recovered. (Bananas, Rice, Apples, Toast)

    So I find myself living in the tropics again. In Shenzhen and I presume in much of China street bbq's pop up all over the city at night. They are delicious and cheap, however high risk high reward. You can get a plate of bbq meat, veggies, and a bottle of beer for 30RMB. In USD this is about $5. So over consumption happens, frequently.

    I am all moved into my apartment. It is strange not having all of my CITA friends right outside my door but it is nice to be able to explore the city. It gives me a stronger sense of independence. When I first saw my apartment I felt like I was in a tropical oasis. There was a pharmacy, grocery store, dumpling restaurant, convenience store, fruit stands, street bbqs, and a bubble tea shop. Ten minute walk from two metro stations. It was an on pointe living situation.

   Now when I moved to China I was not worried about culture shock, food, food poisoning, not having friends. Just cockroaches. I am absolutely petrified of them. I got all moved into my apartment and did not see a single one. I returned from dinner with some teachers and went to use my bathroom. Behind the door handle was a cockroach the size of my index finger. I let out a shriek and turned toward the wall and saw one hiding behind the toilet. I looked at the floor, babies. This was my nightmare. I will be completely honest to say that I hyperventilated like a coward until the door popped open and I could escape. I went back into my room where I thought I was safe. I looked at the washer and dryer. Four more. Looked at my floor, one crawling near my nightstand. I messaged my friend. "This is your initiation into womanhood" she said. Dammit why couldn't it have been a menstrual cycle? I killed four and called it a night. I was brought some poison powder and now I sweep up about four a day.

   I had my first KTV experience. I found out about them when I was researching China. They are wildly popular in the East. Essentially they are private karaoke rooms by the hour with booze and snacks. I cannot understand why the West has not fully caught on. I don't want to watch strangers embarrass themselves while trying to sing. One Halloween I watched this morbidly obese woman raunchily dance around the bar singing Divinyls "I Touch Myself", immediately following a man who was completely sloshed trying to sing "Friends in Low Places." He sang about five words, made a fucking mess spilling his beer and knocked equipment over. I will never get to unsee these moments. That is why America needs more KTV's.

  I have not had so much fun in a long time. I sang "Total Eclipse of the Heart", "Can you Feel the Love Tonight?", and others.