Cloudy in Beijing Blogging about my time in China

I’m poor

The bank tellers giggled at me today when I went to deposit some of the money I've earned from teaching.

I don't know why they laughed. Maybe because I had no idea how to properly deposit my money. But it made me want to get the hell out of there.

My bank statement came out to show that I had 24,097 Chinese RMB in my savings account. Seems like so much. But in U.S. dollars, it only amounts to $3,527.

I'll be heading back to America once I leave Xi'an next week. Really, $3,527 doesn't really go too far back home. So it makes me wish I'll be staying in Xi'an longer, where DVD's can cost a $1.50, and a bowl of noodles will go for even less.

In Xi'an I haven't had to worry about money at all. But next year I plan on going to Beijing, where I'll be studying Chinese at a University. Then I'll really be poor, with only a weekend job and my current savings to put me through school. (Not like I made much money being a journalist in the U.S.)

My only regret though is not having gone to Xinjiang. This week, a massive protest occurred in one of the cities there. I wanted to go. But the timing, as well as the costs, along with a train ride that would have been around 30 hours one-way, made me think I should just sit this one out and enjoy Xi'an.

But in retrospect, I should of just went. Crap.