What I've learnt about China

I've been living in China for nearly 3 months now, and hands-down it is one of the most interesting countries in the world. With twists and turns round every corner. As a student studying abroad this world is completely new to me and here are some of the things I've learnt.

1. Foreign people are basically like celebrities. If you go to a tourist attraction you will for sure be asked for a photo with people. You will be pointed at as people shout '外国人‘  and chuckle. Children will stop and stare at you blankly. And to tell you the truth, it takes a lot of time to get used to!

2. Foreign food will never taste quite as nice as home. I've tried everything, burgers, burritos, sandwiches and more, but it's just not the same. Especially the cheese. God I miss cheese.

3. Tourist attractions are so much better on  weekdays; an obvious one, but an important one.

4. Chinese food is not the same as it is in the uk. I don't think I've had any spring rolls or even 1 portion of chow mien since being here. But EVERYTHING is so much better in china, the authentic flavours and the variety means you never get bored. Although to be honest I don't even know what I'm eating half the time!

5. The weather is so unpredictable, in the time I've been here its gone from 35 degrees to -5, and right now i am freeeeezing (at least this gives me and excuse to go shopping!)

6. You're probably gunna get hit by a bike at least once. There are so many motorbikes in Beijing and they seem to never obey traffic lights, or any road laws in that case. So you have to be extra careful when crossing the road because they come round the corner at the speed of lightening. You don't want to pay for hospital bills so be careful!

7. Baozi will save your life, especially pork ones. Hungover? eat Baozi, Ill? Eat Baozi. Poor? Good job Baozi is cheap. It's cheap, tasty and fills your stomach, what else do you want?

8. Never trust the alcohol in clubs (especially if it's free!) Speaking from experience, it'll give you a hangover from hell and you won't want to eat for at least 4 days.

9.  Although you'll look stupid; wear a mask! The pollution is so dangerous, especially if it's over 100, and although they're uncomfortable and other people don't wear them, a mask will help you so much. The amount of coughs and illnesses from the pollution is crazy, why would you risk getting ill when you can just wear a stupid piece of cloth for less than an hour?

10. TAOBAO IS LOVE TAOBAO IS LIFE. (Although the sizes are a bit off!)

Half-way

Half Way 

Whilst in Shanghai, I was having cocktails on The Bund, when I was suddenly hit with a toxic wave of nostalgia, gratitude and excitement. In that moment I wrote a piece of writing and saved it on my phone，here it is:

Sometimes I think about my life before; lovely, humble and stable. A life where you know who you are, what you do and where you come from. This life is happy. You have you friends, family, traditions and habits.  You know what to expect from the people around you, as they have been there from the start.  I loved this life, slow and steady, tranquil and secluded. A routine set in stone. The comfort of the faces you know and the food that warms your soul. You are sane. You are safe. But you are not excited. This is the life I always thought i'd live, no pressure, no one watching your every move, no attention, just life.

Now I think about my new life. A life of excitement, luxury and discovery. A life where there is something new around every corner. New places, people, food and friends. A life where books are only half written and a plot twist could be on the next page.  With tales to scream from roof tops and stories only to be shared with the people you're with. A life where stress is constant and anxiety is high, but the relief of beauty and astonishment take your breath away when you discover a world you never thought existed.

They say our life is measured in our happiness, but my happiness is split.  On one hand I long for the people who mean the most to me and the comfort that makes my heart melt. But on the other, the excitement, thrills and culture wish for me not to go back to the lowly countryside and leave a country I've always dreamed of living in.

I've always been a half way person. Intelligence with little common sense. Thrill seeking but anchored by anxiety, Even my hair is indecisive, blonde with brown roots.  But it is my heart that controls where I feel at home, whether comfort beats craziness or luxury beats lowly.

They say we always miss what we cant have. The past few months have taught me, luxury is nothing unless you're laughing, wonder does not come without fear, and the memories you make are nothing without the people you love. But most of all, if you dream of somewhere else, you forget to live. I wish I could share this year with the people I love and I wish I had my mums cooking here with me (as well as her hugs), but i  cannot wish time away. I know I will always go back to by lowly life and then return again to the adventure. Who ever said being a half way person was bad?

I'm Back!

Heya,

After a hectic 6 months I finally have enough time to run this blog again, and write about the things I love! So as an update, here are my favourite things of 2015 so far!

1. Film- Pitch Perfect 2

Bit of an obvious choice but it had me in stitches. We went and saw this the night before our last day of school and we were so excited. As a massive fan of the first film I was scared the second one would disappoint (as many sequels do!) however, that wasn't the case. With the same type of obvious humour and hilarious characters, this film was amazing! This film focused a lot more on the minor characters than the first one, and overall this made the story line more gripping and exciting. This film is a must watch  if you're  having a girls-night.

Rating: 9/10

2. Album- The Perks Of Being A Wallflower Soundtrack

When this film came out I was instantly blown away by the soundtrack. The use of classic songs perfectly captured the emotions portrayed in the film. From the freedom of 'Heroes' to the sadness of 'Asleep'. I was obsessed with this soundtrack when the film originally came out in 2012, but then I kind of forgot about it, However this year has been a year of making final memories and so, recently I have reconnected with this amazing album. I highly recommend listening to it, no matter what mood you're in!

Rating: 11/10

3. Make-up:  Body Shop Shimmer Waves Blush

In my opinion, The Body Shop is often underrated for their makeup. This blusher provides a range of shades of pink and even a silvery highlighter. So, whether you need a bright pink blush that stands out or a subtle coral you can use these waves to get a natural effect whilst choosing the shades you want!

Rating 7/10

They are my main three favourites for the year so far! However, I have also been loving the shop Monki (which I discovered whilst exploring London),  Cecelia Ahern's books (Currently rereading where rainbows end for the millionth time), the Women's World Cup and my signature lemon cake!

Sorry it's been so long!

I'll be back soon!

Lois Mae

2014- An Interesting Year!

Heya,

Happy New Year!

I hope you all had an amazing New Year's Eve, I did! I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on 2014 and what a marathon of a year it was. 

The year started off amazingly! I went to the RED tour with my four best friends and it was insane, I fell in love with Taylor all over again; There's nothing like singing cheesy lyrics at the top of your lungs with thousands and thousands of other people! It was a dream come true! I also saw You me at six, something that has been on my bucket list for years, it was mind blowing to see these people I have admired and loved for years suddenly in front of me! I can not describe how amazing it was to be there, it felt so surreal. 

After The Muddy Race For Life

Then it went down hill, I lost 3 of my close family members with in months of each other close to my A level exams. It was a horrible time, and seeing my family so upset broke my heart. However, with the help of my amazing best friends I came out the other side. After, I decided to raise more money for Cancer Research and  thank my family more often. I was determined to make 2014 amazing again. To my best friends, I can never thank you enough for always being there when I was at my worst, even if you didn't know it. 




Summer came, and it was the best summer of my life! I excelled in my AS Levels, I cried in shock; I thought they gave me the wrong slip of paper! I went on holiday with my family and friends to St. Ives, which is like a second home to me, and even though it's in England I can't imagine going anywhere else! To finish it off I went to Reading Festival,  which was insane! I saw so many amazing acts and had soooo much fun, I WILL go again sometime in the future!  That summer I also made some amazing friends I refer to as the biscuits, they are amazing and cheer me up when I'm feeling glum. However, they will never replace my gals!!

Winter brought hella load of 18th birthdays, parties and celebrating. It's weird to think that most of my friends are 18 and I still have 6 months to go! I cannot forget Christmas!!!! I was so spoilt this year and I am grateful for everything I received, however this year has made me realise, I am more grateful for my family!

Speak soon, 

Lois Mae

C'est Moi!

Heya,
So this is my first blog post and it's all very exciting! (although I'm still not sure what I'm doing!!) But I thought I'd give it a go with a little intro into who I am.

Yeah, I'm Lois, I'm 17 from England. At the moment I am studying for my A levels, which are; Chinese, French, maths and psychology, and even though it's a lot of work doing 4 subjects as A2 I love them all so much! As is obvious, I love languages! I'd love to do a degree in Chinese and Linguistics but whether I'll get the grades or not is another story. 

I also love reading, mainly YA novels, however recently I have got into psychological thrillers and books on Chinese society. My favourite books are 'Where Rainbows End' by Cecelia Ahern, 'Before I Fall' by Lauren Oliver and 'The Storyteller' by Jodi Picoult. All of which are very different, but they all hold a special place in my heart!

At the moment I am playing for a Women's football team. I have played at the same club since under 10's and it's unbelievable how far we've come. We've definitely had our ups and downs!

I don't want to bore you too much, so here's my final paragraph (exhale). My other major passion is music. My favourite bands are punk/rock/punk, but I also have guilty pleasures for Taylor Swift and 5SOS (haters gunna hate). Reading Festival is my favourite and always brings good memories, I love it sooo much!

Festival season!

So that's it! A brief intro into my life.

Lois Mae