msinglynx's Forum Posts

try couchsurfing or if you like singing dancing art live music or sports send me a pm and i will happily introduce you to my friends. Im a puerto rican woman btw. Are you male or female?

I live near minda university in the southwest past the 3rd ring road (basically in shuangliu) and they sell protein powder in the super crappy uni gym. I'm guessing you can probably buy it at the nicer gyms downtown as well and it will probably be better quality so you wont have to wait to have it shipped. Just go find a gym. If they have it it will be right behind the front counter or in the section where they sell exercise products (like shirts, water bottles and etc.). good luck

Hey Ryan. I still like SWUFE. I think it's cheap, they dont kick us out if we miss a lot of class, we get a free language tutor, we can attend chinese economics classes if we want (actually any class on campus) and the area is decent. There are expensive western style restaurants nearby but the cheap chinese places around the corner have english menus. I know almost all the other uni's are more expensive than SWUFE. As for housing, there are 2 options: 800rmb a month for a bigger room with a large western style bathroom and toilet. I live there and find it old, cold and a bit damp. I'm moving to option 2: 500rmb for a very small room, smaller bed but a brand new room (they are literally still making them so be prepared for construction above you), brand new heaters, no mold or damp issues, lots of sunlight. It's more of a chinese style dorm tho, and has the hole in the floor toilet with a shower head as the bathroom. :p Oh and free washer and dryer. My dorm has a pay washer and no dryers, so I go to the cheap dorms to wash my clothes.

Personally if you're just here for summer I'd recommend the 500RMB dorm. And if you plan to stay here, stick around in the dorms until you make friends and then move after you have a handle on where you want to live.

I'd also love to know where a few of these shops are! But more importantly, where can I find western sized shoes??? I need a US 9 womens shoe but cant find anything anywhere close since that is a 42 in Chinese sizes.

Thanks for the tips! I've never tried withdrawing inside the bank, I assumed I would need to know some chinese or have a local account to do that, so it's nice to know that is an option.
What is hong chi? Those little convenience stores all over the place that have tons of snacks?
Where is Isetan? Carrefour is a bit out of my way and I've never even heard of Isetan so I'm assuming it's even further.

Hey Arshat, I'm at SWUFE too! I'm the (only) Latina in the more expensive dorms, on the first floor. I love going out to dance, if you're interested maybe we can go out together with my rowdy gang of Chinese friends and classmates :)

This 100RMB minimum to withdraw from the bank is annoying. I need to pick up some food but I dont get paid til Tuesday and I've only got like 88RMB on my card.

So, question is, where the heck can I use my mastercard to buy things? I'm thinking 7eleven, metro or carrefour, do any of those accept international cards? I tried in Ren Ren Le but didnt see any card machines. Any other grocery type stores near SWUFE campus (within a mile or so, I'm on foot) would do.

Please lemme know ASAP, I need to buy stuff for a party on saturday :D

There is a hobby shop between SWUFE's main gate and third gate (foreign students gate). It has basketballs and sports type stuff visible from the sidewalk, then once you go into the second room there is a bunch of office stuff. In the very last row on the left they have some art supplies including oil paints, poster paints, some acrylics, turpentine and a variety of brushes, but all chinese brands. I've bought some of the paints and brushes and they are good quality. They have very fine brushes with good texture and inks/ink brushes.

Good luck finding what you need! If you know where I can buy canvas let me know! :D

There's lots of Jewish people here, particularly Israelis. You should check out the Jellyfish, its an israeli owned bar. You will meet lots of jews here.

Wax? My legs are driving me crazy, as is my not-quite-unibrow-thanks-to-constant-plucking. I'd rather not go to a salon, I'm not really keen on the ladies exclaiming over my hairy foreign-ness, if you get my drift.

Also, if you know where to get at home hair dye, size 9 womens shoes (that are actually size 9 US) and maybe some large US size womens clothes, I'd really appreciate it. I've been here 2 weeks and my pants are getting too big but everything in the shops nearby is both minuscule and expensive.

Thanks for any advice!

I havent decided which to do yet. Which one do you guys think will be best? I know the train ride is 28 hours (I'm not in a hurry). I'd just like to know the pros and cons of each option, especially because I will be traveling with 2 large suit cases. Is it risking robbery to take the train?

Hey Dom, contact BenTosell above. I think he is (was?) also in the business courses on the new campus. Last I heard tho he moved to the old campus (better housing). I dnt know if he switched his business classes for language ones tho.

Hope to see you all soon! I'm super late (as per my typical MO) so I will be arriving on the 15th :D see you then!

hmm I dont know who you tried to call but it wasnt me :D you can call me through skype if you add me tho. I am msinglynx there, I think it will either say I am in Florida or Puerto Rico. What time are the classes? I wont be able to go this week and possibly not next week. Hurricane Irene pushed back my flight date. I leave Florida next monday and I *think* I will arrive on wednesday night or early thursday morning. :D

Well hapatofu I will be staying a dorm for a few months after I arrive so it will be a while before I can have a dedicated space in my own home but that is ultimately my plan :)

I actually have quite a bit of experience working with for-profit independently owned galleries. It's not the ideal situation but to be perfectly honest, they are the ones who make the most $ and as an artist, I want to see what really sells, unsubsidized :) if that makes any sense.

This biennale sounds super exciting! I cant wait to go :D

Well hapatofu I will be staying a dorm for a few months after I arrive so it will be a while before I can have a dedicated space in my own home but that is ultimately my plan :)

I actually have quite a bit of experience working with for-profit independently owned galleries. It's not the ideal situation but to be perfectly honest, they are the ones who make the most $ and as an artist, I want to see what really sells, unsubsidized :) if that makes any sense.

This biennale sounds super exciting! I cant wait to go :D

Hi Kate! They sounds awesome! I would definitely be up for some sessions :D I'm adding your # on skype so you can delete it here if you want :)
I'm really looking forward to having more time to create and painting new things ^_^
See you soon!

Only a week left! Who else is excited?

So, there are less than 2 weeks left until I arrive in Chengdu :D and I'm wondering what to do when I get there. I consider myself an artist, love art of all kinds and love volunteering in anything related to art.

Do any of you have recommendations of cool artists to meet, galleries/museums to go to/arts programs to volunteer with?

Also I am think of possibly renting a studio space after I am there a few month. Do any of you know a good area to start one?

Hi Ben Tossell. The schools lack of responsiveness made me pretty anxious but I have become pen pals (sorta) with a couple of people from it and they are very reassuring about the quality of the program. I will add you on FB. :)

Hi Jonatan & Dominik.
Well, time is going by so fast! I'm starting to freak out! Only 3 more weeks!! What dates are you guys arriving? I'm flying from LAX on August 30th if anyone going on the same day wants to meet up before the flight.

@Dominik, I will also probably look for my own apt. but in the beginning while getting to know the area I thought it would be better to stay in the dorms.