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I love hugs.

I was out shopping (yes, again!)yesterday with Rosemary and Jean Noel. We were about to go back home when we saw a jewellery stall. I was having a look at the rings when I noticed two young people in the next shop,sitting near the door. I wouldn’t have noticed them, had it not been for the jewellery seller who kept glancing at the couple. The girl was sitting in the lap of the other person and they were kissing. Rosemary noticed that I was looking at the couple and she told me that both were girls. I couldn’t tell . I had assumed that the other person was a guy because of the clothes and hairstyle. Even the face looked like a guy’s (according to me anyway). The couple just kept on kissing and I continued looking at the rings and trying some on.

Seeing Chinese people kiss in public was a bit surprising when I first came to China. Because of my parents’ obvious disapproval of public displays of affection, I had thought that kissing in public (esp the long,passionate kisses) wasn’t acceptable in China. Since I came to China, I’ve seen quite a lot of young Chinese people kiss in public. The Chinese couples I’ve seen kissing in the streets look like they can’t get enough of each other. No big deal about that but when I see the disapproving or somewhat embarrassed looks on the passerbys’ faces, I feel quite amused.

Anyway, back to the kissing couple…
They left the shop after a few minutes and the salesgirl came out of the shop, shaking her head and talking about the couple in a loud voice. She said that the couple kept on kissing and that they were both girls. She said ‘mouth to mouth kisses’ a few times,almost like she could barely believe what she just saw. I guess she was also quite angry that the couple sat in her shop for so long without buying anything. The jewellery seller, seeing that my friends and I (she knew that we were all foreigners) had witnessed that scene, looked quite embarrassed. She told us:”她们是社会败类..损坏上海的形象…不男不女的 …” I looked at the couple walking away, then turned to the display of rings once more…
I don’t have anything against lesbians . It was the reaction of the two sales persons which amused me at that time and I did my best not to laugh in front of them.
When I think about all that now, I can’t help feeling sad for yesterday’s couple. It must not be easy for them. Homosexuality is still regarded as a taboo here. Still, China is slowly moving towards acceptance. There are some gay & lesbian bars now and even hotlines. However, there is still a long way to go.

I’ve been feeling very tired since Monday because I haven’t slept well for one week. I didn’t have classes last week because of the one week October holidays and I spent most of my time out shopping or watching dvds. I recommend watching Nanny McPhee.
What probably tired me out is all the shopping that I did. One of the places where I shopped was Qipu Road, where there are several buildings selling clothes, bags, shoes, jewellery,etc. I’ve noticed a few new buildings there but I didn’t have time to go have a look. I went to Qipu Road, not once, but twice last week. I went there with Rosemary and the very next day, I went there with Dodo, an online friend I finally got to meet.

My body has recovered already but not my skin.

I need sleep.
Before my dark undereye circles get any darker, I’ll try to sleep more and drink more water.

(Something which I got in an email. The list is too short and I don’t agree with all of these but some are quite sweet. ah…and it’s in French. )

1.Tomber amoureux
2. Rire jusqu’à en avoir mal au ventre
3. Trouver un tas de courrier quand on rentre de vacances
4. Conduire dans un endroit ou les paysages sont magnifiques
5. Ecouter sa chanson favorite à la radio
6. Se coucher dans son lit en écoutant tomber la pluie
7. Sortir de la douche et s’envelopper dans une serviette toute chaude
8. Réussir son dernier examen
9. Prendre part à une conversation intéressante
10. Retrouver de l’argent dans un pantalon non-utilisé
11. Rire de soi-même
12. Prendre un bon repas entre amis
13. Rire sans raison particulière
14. Entendre accidentellement quelqu’un dire quelque chose de bien sur soi
15. Se réveiller en pleine nuit en se rendant compte qu’on peut encore dormir quelques heures
16. Observer un coucher de soleil
17. Ecouter la chanson qui rappelle cette personne spéciale dans sa vie
18. Recevoir et donner le premier baiser
19. Sentir des picotements dans le ventre quand on voit cette personne si spéciale
20. Passer un bon moment avec ses amis
21. Voir heureux les gens qu’on aime
22. Porter le gilet de la personne aimée et sentir encore son parfum
23. Rendre visite a un vieil ami et se rendre compte que les choses n’ont pas changé entre vous
24. Entendre que l’on nous aime.