Vote for Zach, the next America's president!

How's it going folk? So I've now been in the BJ for about 2 1/2 weeks, and things are finally starting to settle down. Classes have begun, I'm learning the neighborhood, and since 3 straight blue skies I've seen nothing but grey. Like I said, things are starting to seem normal. Nevertheless, some things I'm continuing to feel out; for example, all the different people here in BJ. Thus far I've encountered a wiiide variety of characters, all bringing a little something different to the table. The point of this update is to provide a glimpse of some of the personalities that I get to enjoy while I'm here, either for the next 4 months or for the entirety of my adventure. So let us begin..

Ariadna/Hazel - She is a Columbian girl who is a foreign languages major or something like that. She has that typical Hispanic air to her, loves to dance, loves life, laughs a lot, and is about half my weight/height. Lots of fun though, someone who brings groups together.

Guisy/Cristiana - Two Italian girls from Naples who are roommates. They are like sisters but sometimes I think they are lala's (chinese for you know what, but they really aren't). Let me see, last night I went out with these two and have sharp, distinct memories of Guisy working the pole on the dance floor. Wait, maybe that was last weekend..Hold on, she did it both times! Cristiana is more laid back, she's got an LDR so she doesn't lead with the hips ;-)

Simon(e) - Frenchie. Uncool, trendy haircut, track pants, quiet. Like watching paint dry or grass grow. Take your pick. We've already resigned to the 'hello' and walk past.

Sergei - Think of the name Igor, Vladimir, Sergei, and they all direct you towards Eastern European muscle/thuggery. He's Moldavian with a thick accent to match. He orders Vodka straight, and kinda stands off on the side and observes a lot. Loves Chinese women though, haha.

Manuela/Julia - Another pair of possible lala's. German though, which is badass and naturally attractive to my blonde hair and blue eyes. But still, another LDR. I don't get it, everyone seems to think these things will last, I try to not be too cynical in front of them. These girls are great though, very much enjoy spending time with them. Can't say too much though because they're the only ones smart enough to find the address of this blog so far! (which is so sad because everyone kept asking and it was just on my facebook page until just now). Oh yeah, and Manuela is a Mueller..but she rocks and umlaut which is so legit.

Sho - Well we've talked about him before. You're standard Blue Bullet. Small, quiet, studious, but suprisingly understanding of Western culture. In fact, we were playing some tennis yesterday and I even heard him describe something with 'fucking'..His English is improving a lot thanks to me.

Amanda - I dont even know if this is her name, but the only reason she gets a shout out is because is the 1 other American I have met at Beiwai (my univeristy). Unfortunately she sucks. Nice girl, but just nice. No substance. Stanford to Boston Consulting Group to Beijing. Boring. Also she made 1 comment that killed any chance she had. At the end of a lunch with a random group of Germans and Koreans between classes, during a semi-awkward silence, she pulled the "well this was so much fun! we should come back to the same restaurant and do the same thing every week!" I could only cringe. Serious deus-chills. But come on, does that not scream 'I can't find friends I need to resort to you committing to have lunch with me once a week!'?

On a side note, I would like to say that I am repping America very well. Multiple times I have heard 'you're so american'. Maybe it's my america t-shirts, my usa socks, or the fact that I wear my flowered lax shorts with calf highs, who knows? But they love it and hate to admit it. Arrogant, vain, but mostly true. Giusy keeps repeating this quote in broken English that she made up that may shed some light, "I'm Zach, and I'll be the next America's president!!"

Natasa - 28 year old Serbian language teacher from Belgrade. Has that thick accent that Sergei has and provides an interesting perspective on China since she teaches the Chinese. If only she could communicate it. Slightly crazy, if you want to hear more on this topic, e-mail me.

Lukas/Mattias - 2 brothers from Argentina. Just getting to know them, but if you couldn't tell, I've got a dearth of candidates to do manly male bonding type things. Crazy guys, my age, I can tell we'll see more of each other. I just think there is this 'cultural barrier' type thing that stands between me and the koreans/japanese that rule the psychiatric ward that I live in.

Oskar/Karl - Sweedes. If you've ever met a Swedish person before, I need not say more.

So I'll leave it at that for now. Obviously some characters were not introduce or do not need introduction (see Sam Earl, Sabrina Orlins, Steve Robinson). All in all though, as I begin to filter people in and out and figure out who will last and who is gonna be voted off the island, I realize that I'm on my own for the next 10 months. There are good people here, but sadly, they are temporary as well. It gives an interesting twist to every encounter/interaction/moment that I have. Maybe it's because I know that 1) they don't compare to you all back home and 2) 10 months from now, poof!

Miss you all back home, it's great to hear from you when I do! Please continue humoring me with e-mails and skype chats (tz.mueller).

Vote for Zach, the next America's president!

Signing off,