F1, Exams, Guilin

Weather: 63F & Rain
Time:  1130pm Sunday


This weekend I spent sometime collecting things for my trip this coming week.  I went to see the F1 practice.  I studied hard for my exams.


Exams
This coming week I have two exams.  It was originally scheduled for Monday and Wednesday with Monday being the more important exam.  It has since been pushed back to Thursday, which conflicts with a trip to Guilin I have already scheduled.  We are working with the professor to resolve this issue.


Formula 1
This weekend I finally got to go out to the Shanghai Circuit.  I have come to a few conclusions; sports where the viewer can not see everything that is going on at one time do not interest me, HD television programming not only gets your closer to the action - but will save time and money, and it is difficult to travel around shanghai sometimes.
Time Table; Depart Dorm at 8am - by 10am look for a bus to take us to the track from downtown - take a taxi 180RMB and arrive at 11:40 - Eat non-american hot dog for 40RMB - Watch racing til 4pm - Stand in line for subway until 5pm - Arrive downtown at 6:30pm - Followed someone who didn't know where they were going til 7:30 - Ate Papa Johns and then got back to the dorm at 9pm


The day took longer than I wanted it to.  I was very tired and went to bed at 9:30pm and I did not get to study when I arrived home like I was hoping.  The next morning (today, race day) I decided that I could not go to the race today because of my exam on Monday.  It was a difficult decision, but I think it was the right choice.  I spent over 120USD on that ticket, but if I do not perform well on these exams I may put my summer job in question.  I stayed home when people left and sent my ticket away with my roommate to be sold on location.  I later received and email saying the exam was delayed until Thursday.  I did not feel too cheated because of the travel time to and from the track.  I got to see some of the race on local TV stations (in Chinese).  I did get a lot of studying done, though more will definitely help!


Guilin
This week I will be going to Guilin, China.  It is a scenic area that is pictured on the back of the 20RMB bill.  Water and Rocks... perhaps some good places to hike and adventure.  Sadly, it is 21 hours by train.  I will be departing on Wednesday evening at 5pm and I hope I can make it.  The last train ride was a bit more than I was wanting and it was only 18 hours.  Though, it is good practice for the trip home - I think it will take about 22 hrs to get home.  The weather is not looking very good for the trip, lots of rain during the end of the week.  We will be flying back to Shanghai at least. 


Expo Gearing Up
It is very apparent that the Expo is starting on May 1st.  The videos in the subway have news and public announcements (in Chinese).  The news almost exclusively is showing video from the expo and that is broken into segments by commercials that indicate good behavior in public spaces.  Don't run backwards on escalators!  Carry your children on stairs!  Report suspicious activities!  Things of that sort.


Volcano Disrupts Air Traffic
There is currently a volcano in Iceland spewing ash into the sky that is covering the better part of the northern European countries.  I hope that this volcano stops soon and air traffic can resume!  I am currently operating under the theory that nothing will stop me from going home on May 17th.  I hope there are no natural disasters that ruin my trip back to the USA.


Graduation
I want to make it abundantly clear to my friend who will be graduating this May that I regret missing your graduation.  Many of you I have known for six and more years and I congratulate you on your upcoming accomplishment.  I thank my friends who have been in the military for the last few years while we have been in school.  I thank my friends who are still in the military and wish for the best for those who will be entering the military after graduation.  I am lucky to have smart and honorable friends who have gone through college and the military.  Good luck to those who will soon be entering the real world and graduate schools around the country.  I wish you all the best in your upcoming adventures! 


Biber