Had a meeting with my Calligraphy teacher today to discuss the paper topic. I expressed undecided-ness, and (as the paper is on calligraphy's effect on some other cultural aspect, like related to the student's major interest) that my major was Chinese. She started going on about history of Calligraphy and its wonderful tradition, blah, blah. Then she started bulldozing towards modern calligraphers and I'm thinking, "Oh /heylllll/ no." So yeah. Thus began my slightly rude interrupting about Old Sinitic relations to Persian, or Tang civil service exams, pretty much anything to put her back on the track of ancient Chinese.

Apparently she's working on a thing for Tang calligraphy, and now I'm expected to write on it because she'll be so happy to be able to judge that I researched it properly. *headdesk*

At least it ties in with my SCA period?

And soooooo probably not going to do the broad overview throughout history if she actually wants any sort of depth, because that would mean 20 page paper, at least. gah.

Having discovered the scanners in the library, on a slightly related note, I'm making copies of the research books I end up lugging around and getting late fees on. I figure that I might be able to get some done before my calligraphy today, if I don't get lazy. Actually... I'm going to post what I have so far on photobucket. Or does anyone recommend flickr or an alternative host?

Society for Creative Anachronisms. Lauren has infected me with her enthusiasm. Since she's working on a Heian period persona, I thought I'd work with the same time period, specifically Tang Dynasty (or Five Dynasties, Ten Kingdoms) China.

30-40 hours of web research later, I've come to the conclusion that the English language forums suck, and I only know enough Chinese to insert search terms and just barely comb through the results. I've come to some conclusions about the construction of Tang-era garments (specifically, female) from the combination of extant artwork, vague descriptions of the evolution of hanfu, and some semi-accurate historical drama costuming.

Also, searching in Chinese just now made me feel like I was back in China, spending far too much time in my dorm room on the internet, and understanding barely enough of the miles of simplified text around me to get by. And its quiet. And most likely a little bit dusty, accounting for the sensory association I'm getting.

Dammit, I miss China all over again.

( barely coherent tentative conclusions about tang dressCollapse )

Edit: Another three hours of searching on baidu and google images, finally found this: http://qianruo.spaces.live.com/photos/cns!7F14975258510A34!193/

Helps a bit!

I finally got off my ass and looked for a proxy server. Spending over a month without LiveJournal was killing me. I'm probably going to limit my access here anyway, but whatever.

So. I tried posting earlier through a translation service -- yeah no. So that's gone.

If anyone wants, I have links to my facebook albums and blog here: http://plaza.ufl.edu/feikoi

Email: feikoi at gmail dot com
AIM (if the f***er decides to work): KilldByKuriosity

Hmm... Yeah.

Outside of the internet conflicts (AIM's being a bitch too), China's pretty much awesome. Very Chinese. (jk) I have class two hours every day, mostly language with three hours of lit. The lit class is kind of a joke, but yeah. The language professor is really nice, easygoing, and really smart. The class is awesome. Unfortunately, regular term ends in a week, so she'll be leaving, and we'll be getting someone else. *worries* We've been making the most of our time with her; once or twice (or more) a week, we've been going out to lunch or dinner with her, as she shows us the restaurants she likes and we get to practice more chinese.

Things... cheap... ah, its wonderful. The whole bargaining environment is everywhere (except groceries, restaurants and major department stores, it seems). That... took some getting used to. Definitely got ripped off when we first got here and started getting stuff. Like my teapot. But I like my teapot, so whatever.

This week, I'm going to try heading to one of the markets to check out the tailors. I want to try having some loli dresses made, as well as some normal stuff. Its a little hard to get estimates, because the initial price for anything in these markets is anywhere from 40-1000% more than you should agree upon paying. But I have some estimates for what things should cost (yay ebay), and I've spent enough time in the fabric stores in the US that I should be able to estimate these things fairly well.

Note what I wax on about. This would be my latest RESEARCHRESEARCHRESEARCH obsession -- a few weeks ago, it was Xi'an. Like my classmates already know, feel free to ignore.

Damn, my trip is half over. This is not good. DETERMINATION! I will get out of the dorm within the week!

Need to get ready for class now, though.

I leave for China tomorrow. *freaks out* Nearly everything is packed, but... yeah. Stress, worry, etc. Never been out of the country before, never been in an airport without familial units. Yes, I am a young and sheltered one.

*sigh* Time to write thank you notes for birthday prezzies. My mother threw a party yesterday, and it was quite fun.



BTW, the last page of Midnighter #7 makes the rest of the series worth it. Ha! *points finger at non-lj and non-fandom friend who I actually got to read Authority* I told you Apollo was taller! Don't particularly like how Apollo was drawn in this comic, except the profile shots. Oh well. Also, the samurai thing /so/ should have turned out like the Haru wo Daiteita short "Winter Cicada", instead of superimposing current, western views on top of Tokugawa/shogunate-era Japan... but again, oh well. Twas fairly amusing, nonetheless. Lots of teh gay stuff emphasized... and humor. Hmm... (yeah, this is the only comic I've read in the past few months. I'm lame.)

But yes, while waiting for Spiderman to start (i could ramble, but will not, except to mention that plotvenoms ate my brain that night), the aforementioned friend and I were discussing... anything we noticed. Live Free or Die Hard reminded us of the first movie, which was the only of the series either of us watched, and had Alan Rickman (joy!) and Bruce Willis was immediately cast as The Midnighter, due to the yelling and cursing on the radio call to 911. And other badass stuff. The new Nancy Drew movie (wtfmate?) led to a discussion of childhood books... and him sounding fruity. Which isn't difficult, really, but also? Fairly amusing to get him embroiled in fannish discussion, because he's not really a fanboy. Obsessed with politics, classical music, ... well, I suppose Star Wars counts. ...and all the things I force him to read.

Wow, I really babbled. Darnit, I was trying to avoid that.

Since its too late anyway...

Went to JACON Saturday, twas fun. Dressed in loli instead of cosplay, because I was lazy and had the lolita stuff together already. Got youngest sister to dress in it as well, and the other sister went all gypsy (yay bright colors!). Had fun, bought ten more posters, a tshirt (gaara!!! wearing to airport, btw), PriPri 2, and an issue of GW:EpZero. Pictures... might go up later. I don't think I've ever really uploaded when I say I will, but these should go up on facebook, and I'll link here when I get a chance. At the con, in the dealer's room, I was eavesdropping on all the Chinese dealers. *snickers* And was talking to one of the sellers, who was in China last year but doesn't understand Chinese, and the other guy at the booth was making comments in Chinese to confuse and tease her... I ended up translating so we'd all laugh. I think that may have been my highlight. (Ni xihuan zhongguo nanpengyou, duima? You want a Chinese boyfriend, right? *points to dorky guy bringing her food* Ta shi nide nanpengyou... etc, etc)

It gives me hope that I have a chance in hell in understanding ppl there... maybe. Unless I've gotten too accustomed to Taiwanese accents. I'm not aware of what the different regional accents are, so... *shrug*

Ok, time for something productive.

No wait, I remembered! (the point of the movietheaterbabble) We decided that, if he's tall enough, an actor to play Apollo (fangirl/boying over facial structure) is..... Brad Pitt. With longish platinum hair. Just imagine it... *adds to casting list, which may or may not be posted later*

I decided to be productive, and actually... did something. I have most of the basic blouse pattern pieces drawn up and cut (except for the sleeves), and will cut out fabric... soonish. lol.

The room seems so barren without the posters. Its so odd... Mutti and the monsters came up yesterday so we could take about half the stuff back home, and there was finally parental meetage of friends. Whee. And now the room makes me feel the panic-abandonment I did at the beginning of the year. Go dorms. At least I'll have my own room next year.

God. I'll be in Beijing in less than two weeks. This is... mainly disconcerting. There's panic about what to pack, panic about getting spoiled on books and movies coming out this summer before I'm actually able to get an English copy (my visa is single entry, I won't be able to visit Hong Kong, though I could probably get at least Harry Potter shipped...). Also, I know I'm going to forget about ten thousand things, as per usual...

*headdesk*