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aflockofwildgeese · 5 years

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A Get-to-Know-Me Tag Game! I am sorry in advance!

I was tagged by @ellayouneedtostudy ! Hey there! You seem like a super cool human and you are such a frickin talented artist! Anyways, time for a super long post!

Nickname: None (Mary isn’t the easiest name to nickname)

Zodiac: Cancer

Height: 5′6

Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff!

Last Thing I Googled: mla citation format (you would think an English major finishing her second year would have that memorized but NOPE)

Fave Musicians: Not counting musical theatre artists, probably Fall Out Boy, Hozier, dodie, P!ATD, Queen, MCR, Fleetwood Mac, and Paramore

Song Stuck In My Head: Right now it’s One Thousand and One Nights from Twisted, this morning it was To Noise Making by Hozier, for the past few days it was the original funky French version of ABC Cafe/Red and Black from Les Miserables

Following: exactly 200

Followers: 35 (what are y’all doing??)

Do You Get Asks?: Every once in a while

Regular Amount Of Sleep: Usually around 7 hours, but it varies greatly

Lucky Number: I don’t really have one, but guess I’ll go with 7?

What Are You Wearing?: a black sleeveless top with orangish/yellow flowers on it and jean shorts because it is 104 degrees and I hate everything

Dream Job: Hmm, I would say either an editor for novels or something on the creative behind-the-scenes side of theatre (like writing and directing), but I am particularly unqualified for the latter lol

Dream Trip: I don’t feel like I have a single dream trip, I think really just any trip abroad with (a) friend(s) cuz I’m a sappy Hufflepuff who wants to see the world but doesn’t really care exactly where she goes as long as the people I care about are with me

Do You Play Any Instruments?:Not anymore, sadly. I played violin and piano for several years each but fell out of practice when my depression and anxiety worsened, although trying to relearn them is one of my goals for the future

Do You Speak Any Other Languages?: Sadly no, I took Spanish in high school and one class in college, but I never use it so I can only speak a tiny bit and understand a mediocre amount

Fave songs: Oh god, that’s such a hard question... Uh, if I include favorites from musicals this isn’t going to end so I’ll just a few non-musical theatre songs that come to mind as either current or all-time favorites are To Noise Making and also Be by Hozier, I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie, Don’t Stop Me Now and Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen, Waterloo by ABBA, Last Hope by Paramore, Save Rock And Roll by Fall Out Boy, Organs by Of Monsters and Men

Random Fact: I am a big fan of the SCU (Sharknado Cinematic Universe). In a world of pretention and cringe culture, few things make me happier than purposefully terrible, batshit crazy media that gets made just because why the fuck not. Tbh the epitome of poetic cinema

Aesthetic: aw man I’m terrible at this but... old books, rainy days, alternating between wearing lots of black or bright colors and florals depending on the day, hazelnut coffee, sending memes and animal pics to friends, suppressing the urge to sing along when listening to musicals in your earbuds on the bus, ugly scribbles in the margins of a notebook

Cats or Dogs: I hate this question because I love both SO MUCH but my standard answer is that I would probably rather have a dog if I had to choose only one as a pet

Tagging: I am officially tagging @alexaplaygirlslikegirls because she’s the only one I know is ok being tagged in stuff, but if you see this and want to do it, consider yourself tagged!

BTW I know I was tagged by 2 people in a similar thing a while ago, and I’m sorry I never got around to it, I meant to but just forgot!

#long post #ask game #i am sorry i am such a boring person lol #i am subjecting you all to this because i am procrastinating so i apologize for the selfishness

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sarahinzhuhai-blog · 7 years

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Arriving in 珠海： Culture Shock, Awesome Host Family and 生病

(note: this was supposed to be posted 6/24 Zhuhai time but I'm bad) Two days ago was really, really rough. We saw HK and it was absolutely gorgeous, but after we took the ferry and I felt seasick, the downhill tumble began. I'm not going to talk about it much, but for the entire second half of the day I seriously hated everything and wanted nothing more than to go home. It was a combination of having gotten very little sleep (in HK, I went to bed at 12am and then woke up at 1, 2, 3 and 4 and then couldn't sleep again), constantly traveling and differences in surroundings--there's a smell that is everywhere here and even though BNUZ is fairly new, the buildings are a lot more run down (and in big cities in general, which I am already not used to, are a lot dirtier and have a sad feeling to them)--that made me feel terrible. I'm not sure why these random things got to me so much, but they did. I'll leave it at that; it was bad. Now that we're all at host families, everyone else is having some emotional difficulties, but for me the worst part of this whole trip so far was the time before meeting families. I truly felt a sense of deep despair and it was very discouraging. // Yesterday was amazing--started out rough because again woke up at 4 and couldn't sleep, worried I would still feel as bad as yesterday. Ate a good breakfast (complete with piping hot water)--包子，馒头（sweet steamed bread, super good), watermelon, noodles, some sort of leafy green, etc. Some kids went running, I did NOT. // After that we took a campus tour via ecart. Campus is very green with a lot of water. Apparently BNUZ was created about 15 (or 50? I think 15) years ago...it doesn't look like that though. They do renovation differently than in America. Our "tour guide", Emily, is a student at BNUZ and is going to be one of the program language partners (students who are paired w us and eat with us, help us learn Chinese, hang out with us and guide us around campus, etc--most of them are majoring in teaching Chinese as a second language). Emily seemed super cool! //After the tour, I was still in a depressed/bad/I-don't-know-how-to-describe mood and that continued throughout the orientation. We were given bus cards, more info about surviving in Zhuhai, etc. Interesting thing: apparently, part of the reason for drying clothes in the sun instead of a dryer is because there is a cultural belief that the sunshine disinfects. After orientation, we are even more, I got nice and full, and then just an hour later it was time for lunch 😂 I am eating so much here, it's crazy. // Lunch was the turning point for me...my mood went from terrible to great. We went to the canteen and it was so big. There are dozens of windows, each selling different foods. I bought pork dumplings (our Chinese conversation was "8$ dumplings please *frantic pointing* pork? Meat...type? Pork? Ok") and XY didn't want her boba tea, so she gave it to me. I ate lunch with everyone but mainly talked to Grace (Sihong's daughter, who is our age and studies in the US and is AWESOME ), Queen Isabel, XY and...Reyna? I can't remember who XY was sharing with. Anyways, that was so much fun! Then we went to the supermarket on campus and me, Lexi and Maggie (the kpop crew) found a bunch of ads with Lu Han (see OPI post) and another kpop guy on them--I took pictures. My mood at this point had dramatically increased. We headed back to the dorms, packed and went back to the meeting room. // Then they told us we had to prepare a little performance for the opening ceremony. We decided to sing "对不起，我的中文不好” ("Sorry, my Chinese is bad"). Before, we had to give a little introduction so the group voted me to say (in Chinese): "Thank you for welcoming us to Zhuhai. Before we sing, we will quickly introduce ourselves. I'm ..." I was really excited to get to do that // Apparently, opening ceremonies are a big thing here that they like to do before every program that comes. I wasn't expecting much but it was the coolest thing ever. First, several PhDs gave speeches and then, after we introduced ourselves and sang our little song, the students performed. It was amazing. They did dance (traditional Chinese and a hip hop routine to "Worth It"), played different instruments, did calligraphy, diabolo, kung fu...like Zack said, that blew our dinky little song out of the water. It was amazing!!!! One guy spoke English in a British accent which was really interesting to me: I never really think about it but we learn from our teachers' accents, so of course people learning English might have a British or Southern accent, just like how I speak in the white-person-who l-learned-from-a-teacher-from-Beijing accent. // Afterwards, I thanked some of the performers and met a few of the language partners for other people. We all took a picture together, and then it was time for the placement tests. // I was super nervous as we waited (and hyped because the performance was so awesome), but I calmed down eventually because we were just chilling outside on a balcony area. Then Maya and I got to talking about dance and did some pirouettes...that's when I forgot my phone was in my pocket and then it took flight and cracked. That was a real mood killer. // Then it was time for the test. Before we went in, we waited with two of the TAs. They were so nice! We talked in Chinese and English and they told me they thought I was the best and would do fine and to not be nervous. They were so sweet!!! Then it was time for the test: first it was just some conversation with three of the teachers. I know I made some grammar mistakes but I think it went well--we talked about where my name came from, the weather, my city, etc. Then the writing section--I had just relearned the characters because someone else had to write them in their test and told us about it, so I guess that's not really fair but oh well. I basically knew them before (sans a few radicals) so it's fine. Then they said two sentences and asked me if I understood them. The first one , I did NOT-the first and last words yes, but the middle part no way. The second one, I understood everything but the last word (which was a key part of the phrase lol). Then I thanked them and left. I talked to the TAs some more (they said that if I make it to the highest level I'll be in their class...I hope that's the case but I'm not sure I did well enough) and then went back outside. Then Richa and I walked back to the hotel and talked about what was making each of us have a hard time. That was the first time I opened up about what specifically was giving me a hard time here, so that was nice. Then, we met our host families! My mom came to pick me up, we took a picture together, and off we went. // Our first stop was the police station to register me. On the way I told her about my school, my classes, activities, other languages, etc, and then at the police station she was bragging about me to the officers 😂 Not gonna lie, that was kinda nice (I was also pretty proud that I could understand some of what was going on). // After the police station, we went to pick up my little sister from school! She was really happy to see me! Then we dropped her off at a birthday party (where some kid yelled "GUYS, THERES A FOREIGNER" in Chinese to all the other kids--this is pretty typical and I have already gotten used to getting stared at) and my mom took me to fix my screen (! I was only expecting to buy a screen protector so I didn't cut myself on the glass but she insisted we switch out the screen). Then, while we waited, we went and got fresh squeezed orange-pear juice at this shop and ate some dinner-pork pieces with some sort of green vegetable and rice. I've been feeling kind of sick (to be expected), so I couldn't finish it. Then we went to the supermarket and got fruit, milk, a cup to brush my teeth, etc. Then I realized I had to go the bathroom- I wouldn't write about that but public bathrooms are an experience here. They are squatty potties, but there's usually no TP and no soap. But I had forgotten to bring tissues (rookie mistake) so my mom sent me back into the store to get some. When I went in, someone asked me "are you a foreigner?" (你是外国人吗？）, and I was like ...yeah I'm American. Later I told my mom about it and was like "of course I'm a foreigner" and she thought that was pretty funny. // On the walk back, we bought some croissant-y bread with red bean for breakfast and picked up the phone. Then we got 笑笑（that's my little sisters nickname) from the party and my mom bragged about me again to the moms at the party. They gave me a slice of cake (which was really good! It had mango and...tomato? I was a little confused) and then we headed home. // Home is so nice! I'm so lucky--almost everyone else seems to be having some problems with their family but mines great (except that I can't understand my dads accent yet). My room is basically bigger than my room at home, and it has a piano in it! 笑笑 played piano for me and then I played for them. My mom videoed the fat part of the Rachmaninoff and put it on her WeChat moments (kind of like Facebook). Then I showered and hung out, and went to bed. I felt so so so much better mentally, but now I'm dealing with some stomach problems--that's okay! // Today I woke up first at 6 and then at 9. My sister went to sports school for swim already, so I was just chillin with 妈妈and爸爸。I had some breakfast (since I'm feeling sick, I'm literally never hungry, but they keep giving me food)-杨梅（yángméi-bayberries). Then I watched TV for like 10 minutes, was really confused, and then my mom said we could go for a walk in the mountain that is literally right next to our apartment building. I was going to wear bug spray and sunscreen and bring water and everything else, and she was like no! You don't need to! Just bring an umbrella and if you keep walking the mosquitos won't get you. That was inaccurate. // The mountain was absolutely gorgeous!!! Lush, full of plants and butterflies. There was this really pretty walkway with little stones with all the zodiac animals on them. We went over a little river, up and down, etc. Then we walked through the apartment complex. We watched some ladies do dancing in a little plaza (and my mom taught my how to swing my umbrella around my legs to keep bugs away), and then we kept walking. She showed me the pool, the bus stops and how to get home from the stops. // At this point I was dripping in sweat. We're talking soaked through my shirt. We went to pick up 笑笑 from the sports school and she commented that my shirt was very wet. Lol// We went for lunch and again, I was still not hungry but still ate--milk tea and beef noodles. While we were eating, some guy came in and starting yelling and then one of the waitresses yelled "你有病吗？” (which is like "are you insane?" But it's very satisfying to say)...very interesting debacle. After lunch, we went home (my mom made me show her that I could find the house), my stomach problems continued, and we figured out how to use the bus system to get to school. // at my sisters piano lesson, I listened for a bit but I was having stomach problems so bad that I had to curl up in the fetal position. At the end, her teacher had me play for her. Then she said that I might be able to play in a recital that she's going to have in a few weeks. I'm not really sure what exactly happened there. We also talked about finding a balance between feeling and technique, she was very complimentary and I really appreciated her kind words. // after, on the way home, I tried to ask my host family if I could have some broth. That was our first major communication issue. I did not know the word, and all my attempts to explain failed. However, in the end, we managed to work it out (Queen Isabel helped). I had my broth and bananas for dinner, and took some medicine. Then it was time for calligraphy. // Calligraphy class was so fun but omg, it was so uncomfortable. All the little kids just STARED, and none of them could understand my American accent except for my sister and the teacher. 很糟糕！At first, the teacher had me try to write. That was absolutely disastrous: I haven't done calligraphy in a long time, the brush had too much ink, and my hands were shaking. This was very amusing for everyone else. So, over the course of the class, my sister help me since I couldn't understand any of the things anybody was saying because I don't know any calligraphy words, and I made some big improvements. I don't think I ever got used to all the kids staring at me and saying "wow, a foreigner". Also, since a lot of the kids are speaking very quietly, I couldn't really understand what they were saying either. All in all, I think they thought that my Chinese was a disaster. And it was very embarrassing. However, at the end, one of the little girls gave me a pack of seaweed, so I guess she didn't dislike me. Anyways, that experience made me so uncomfortable: I was expecting to get stared at but the cultural expectations are just so different from what I'm used to...I talked to 笑笑 after about how in America, it's considered rude to stare and especially not at foreigners and how different it is here. // At home, 笑笑 and I goofed around for like two hours and sort of neglected her English homework. I showed them some ballet and Basque dance, we talked a lot, etc. I'm so grateful for my family's patience with me as I have to look up every word and constantly ask them to explain things in different ways. //Observations for the day: 1) I'm very surprised at how open my host family is with me (in terms of clothes or lack thereof work around the house) considering we've only known each other for 24 hours. 2) Squatty potties are awesome and maybe I'll post later about why 3) in case anyone's wondering, this is my communication system w my host family: we speak in Chinese unless my mom or sister randomly uses English, and if I don't know a word either I look it up or I have them write in on the dictionary app and look it up. Or we try to piece it together in English. Sometimes I just smile and nod. 3) Being sick sucks but my family is very caring and I have AC in my room so I'm as happy a camper as possible right now.

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spaceorphan18 · 7 years

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Finding Kurt Hummel: Props

Masterpost

3x20: Props

I have such a love-hate relationship with this episode. On the one hand, they did one of the best things the show ever did with the bodyswaping stuff. On the other, we get twenty minutes of Rachel stalking Carmen Tibideaux and Tina bowing down at the alter that is Rachel. And interestingly, this episode really cuts in half, as the first half actually has to do with getting ready for nationals, and the second half is solely about Rachel and Tina, and the Puck/Beiste story lines. The nice part is that Kurt doesn’t have to do much with either of those plot lines, so I can skip a bunch of it. Whoot!

Gender Identity

So -- we open this episode with Sue dragging Kurt and Mercedes in her office to talk about Unique becoming the darling of the show choir world. Sue believes it’s because a gimmicky boy dressing up as a girl thing, and blames Kurtcedes for the idea (even though it was hers). I love the constant confusion on Mercedes’s face during this scene. Kurt follows her a little more, and is a bit more annoyed by the whole thing.

I’d like to take a second and say yay! for the return of Kurtcedes. Not that they really do anything together in this scene, but I always like to point out that their friendship is far from over. :)

Anyway, the crux of Sue’s big idea is that she wants Kurt to dress up like a girl. And Kurt is just not having it.

Kurt: Just because I’m gay does not mean I like to dress up as a woman.

And Kurt getting straight to the point. As stated in Saturday Night Gleever -- there’s a difference between being gay and being transgender, or being transgender and liking to cross dress. I think, also, leading to conversations about the difference between expression and identity. It’s kind of cool that Glee is presented these ideas and having this narrative -- especially since this is before transgender became the forefront of public conversation.

Mercedes points out that Kurt dressed up as a woman for Halloween. And hold on, let’s take a second and talk about this little bit of brilliance. Remember when this came out, and there was a still, and we couldn’t figure out who was standing with Darren for a half second? Lol. I love this little tidbit so much -- I’m sad we never really got a Halloween episode. I’m sad we didn’t get more Klaine couples outfits. I’m sad we didn’t get conversations Klaine had about their couples outfits. Man...

But I digress. Kurt’s argues that Halloween costume is just that -- and he’s not going to go on stage in a dress, because that’s not who he is, no matter how many kilts he owns ;)

As we get into Nationals discussion with the whole group, Sue still insists that Kurt will be featured -- in the Trouble Tones number (!!!) -- as he dresses up as a girl. Kurt’s still not having it. I also love that Blaine is totally WTF, Sue in this scene.

There’s also a beat after this that just cracks me up -- where Sue says something offensive like -- you’ll do as you’re told he-she. Kurt, omg, devil glare if I ever saw one. But it’s Blaine’s reaction that’s priceless. He’s like -- wait, what did you just say? Yeah, no, Kurt is not that.

As Sue calls Kurt a transsexual. OMG, Sue, stop.

Anyway -- we get into the ‘props’ part of the episode, and where this plot line recycles season 1 Hairography. But, I will say, this entire scene has a lot of hilarious little beats in it, and totally worth watch in its entirety.

Also -- we get into Tina ripping down Will, and then ripping down Rachel. I’m so, so sorry we get a complete 180 of her by the end of the episode because this part is so brilliantly done, and so meta on a lot of levels, it’s unbelievable. But GAAAAHHHH the backtracking. Don’t get me started!! (I’ve just noticed this episode was written and directed by Ian Brennan. No wonder I want to throw things at it.)

Body-Swapping

Before we get into the brilliant body swapping stuff, we get this mini-Klaine scene, where Blaine is reiterating Kurt’s earlier point -- being gay does not mean automatic enjoyment of crossdressing, or identifying as another gender. I’m kind of endeared by how indignant Blaine is on Kurt’s behalf. If I had to guess, they’ve been talking about it all day, (week?).

Also -- can we take a second and adore that Kurt and Blaine are sitting in massage chairs in the mall just hanging out. I kind of wish we had gotten to see more of this daily life side of their relationship.

Anyway -- so Tina comes along, and is rightfully pissed off at Mike for defending Rachel. I mean, yeah, dude, have some pride in your girlfriend. And the Tina slips into the water fountain and hits her head, and then we get the brilliant spot in the episode.

Yes -- that’s right -- Finn and Puck are now Kurt and Blaine. America have you shit yourself yet, lol?

Alright, so let’s talk about this a second. I know it’s Tina’s fantasy, but I think there are some interesting things going on here.

First of all, Cory was fantastic as Kurt -- he goes for that high voice and that poised look, and while he’s a little too tall and gangling to pull it off, I love it, it’s awesome. I’m not entirely sure what Mark Salling is doing with Blaine -- is it a William Shatner version of Blaine? Lol -- I think it lends itself more on the parody side of things, but I’m still entertained. I’m a little sad Darren didn’t get to do much as Puck, sadly.

Anyway -- it’s interesting here that they bring up the whole Dance With Somebody scandal. Blaine’s still got issues and Kurt tries to comfort him, yet they’re kind of bickering about it (while being endearing as Finn-Kurt brushes dirt off Puck-Blaine’s shoulder). I know this is Tina’s fantasy -- but it’d be interesting if there was some basis of reality there -- that it’s not all about Blaine the best and dutiful boyfriend, that all wasn’t patched up in Emma’s office. There are little cracks there that are going to lead into season four’s break ups. It’s kind of fascinating. I’m just sorry that the show has to play it off in this way, as comedic, and in someone’s fantasy.

Let’s take a second and talk about Chris playing Finn. And how utterly amazing it is. He just nails the mannerisms and speech pattern. OMG -- I love everything about this little moment. It’s perfect.

I’m not a big fan of this song, but man, it’s worth watching over and over just to see how everyone portrays everyone else. It’s so much fun. And Kudos to Jane and Matt who really outdo themselves in flipping Will and Sue.

So -- we get Finn-Kurt and Puck-Blaine looking all lovey at each other and, gasp, holding hands. Now, I’ve done how many of these now? Do you know how man times the real Kurt and Blaine have held hands during someone’s solo? Zero. In fact, the one time it looks like they do more than look at each other, it was cut.

Aaannd, here’s where you can tell Glee is pushing to see how far they can go. Don’t get me wrong, I love this moment, and giggle every time I see it, because it is a cute/funny moment. But -- I think it’s a statement, too. Because apparently the show can do m/m affection when it’s funny, just not when it’s serious. And, yeah, that is frustrating. And actually, I’d like to point out that Mercedes and Artie and Brittany and Santana are even more all over each other, and kiss at one point during this song. So yes -- this is why I think the censors were all over gay affection in season three. Because they got away with it here, and the show went out of its way to purposely make a joke out if it.

So yeah, after some plot related Tina-Rachelnes, we’re back to reality. As fun as it was, I would not trade in the real Klaine.

Props

All I can think about is controlled danger. That’s not a Kurt look. That’s a Chris look. Lol.

This is also another little scene with a lot of hilarious little bits. I’m so sad the second half of this episode is so awful, because the first half is amazing.

As Will relearns what he was taught in Hairography, Sue insists, again, that Kurt dress up as a girl. Man, this is getting old, tbh. But I’m assuming it’s set up for Puck coming in dressed as a woman? At least Kurt seems to have some kind of idea that doesn’t involve welding.

It actually involves more showchoir spying. Man, this feels almost like a season 1 Kurt throwback, though I suppose season 2 is when Kurt first started his showchoir spying. Lol. At least he seems to be better in his second attempt.

Kurt’s stolen them some footage of Vocal Adrenaline rehearsing. I love that Kurt’s redone the footage in black and white because he worships The Artist. Also -- they do the human centipede that looks suspiciously like a specific sex move, and something Blaine claims looks ‘not that hard’. Fantastic.

Man, how many eye rolls can Kurt give to Sue in this episode. Anyway, this is the scene where Puck comes in dressed up as a girl -- because a real man can wear a dress, or some such nonsense. I kind of wish we saw Kurt’s reaction to the whole thing, but we don’t.

And this is smack dab in the middle of the episode. After this, it all goes down hill as we get Rachel brainwashing Tina, and continuation of the Puck/Beiste story. This episode is so weirdly paced, because it was going so well in the first half, and this second half is just -- not great. The Puck/Beiste stuff works more so, but was barely set up in the first half of the episode. It’s so weird.

The nice thing is that I get to skip all of it, because Kurt (and everyone who is not Rachel, Tina, Puck, and Beiste) is not involved.

Flashdance to Nationals

And now we’re at the end of the episode -- where Kurt’s listening to Sam’s impressions as Rachel spouts off about their different personality aspects are what makes them unique, ya de da. I’m a little preoccupied with Kurt’s hoodie. I think this it’s the most casual thing we’ve seen him wear up to this point, and I’m slightly fascinated by it.

Rachel and Tina flashdacne their way onto the bus to nationals. Kurt doesn’t turn around at any point, but I can recognize that shimmy dance anywhere, lol. Alright guys -- we’re almost at the end of season 3!

#finding kh #kurt hummel

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