Semester 2

Chapter III: Overload

Okay, so at this point, I attended two of my classes registered for this semester. As opposed to the previous semester, this one is turning out to be a real challenge. They don’t really play this time around. I signed up for three courses, however, the third one starts in the middle of semester, so the two I had a chance to go to already are the only ones I have to attend (and travel all the way to Minhang to) now. Both require shitload of work. Assignments, presentations, final projects… On top of that, I have to deal with those conference papers and publishing I have zero experience with…

So yeah, it’s more library, it’s more writing and it’s more figuring out how the hell to write a research paper according to the local requirements. One of my flatmates offered me to share her Wework card which kinda helps a lot. Wework is this shiny glittering excrement of our corporate society. You pay some money (quite a lot actually) and you get an access to a working space with differently sized offices and open space seating. Many ambitious young minds use such places with their minds on their targets and money, doing their start-up shit and generally hustling their way through the capitalism jungle. I’m quite sure I’m the only motherfucker wearing sweatpants around here. You get unlimited coffee, water and also tap beer. Matterfact, I’m sitting here right now, drinking the local Boxing Cat lager and listening to some rap shit. Anyways, this beautiful place is just meters away from my apartment so it’s super convenient. Kudos to my flatmate!

I also try to maintain my social life but compared to my peers, I seriously suck at that. Fuck it, I’m just gonna keep pushing it the only way I know how. The weird way.

They opened up the fucking gym at the downtown campus of my university yesterday. Haven’t had a chance to check it out yet but that’s definitely good news. Kinda looking forward to add some weight lifting back to my repertoire. And after several shake ups, it seems we are finally getting more stable Spring vibes in Shanghai. Suffered the typical Chinese cold already so let’s hope we are done with this shit for good.

Highlights:

• Remy Ma’s Shether. Talk about murdering someone on a track. This one is real nasty.
• Svět pod hlavou – a new Czech TV series. Another decent production coming out of my home country. It seems like we are on the right track!
• The Boxing Cat lager! Mentioned it before but this stuff is real good.

Semester 2

Chapter II: Reboot & Administration 2.0

Shanghai is getting better. Even though the weather is still winterish, there are days when you can sense spring in the air. I knida enjoy reading about current air pollution issues back in the Czech Republic – I don’t want to undermine the importance of that, however, compared to whatever is happening here, it’s nothing. It’s the same sort of amusement I experienced when I used to travel to different African countries quite frequently and then I heard people bitching about public transportation in Europe. Oh, well…

One of my friends works for Swiss and her job brought her to Shanghai for a while last week. I took up the responsibility of a guide and once again realized how naturally it is for me to navigate through the city. Home sweet motherfucking home. For the rest of the week I was pretty busy catching up with all my shit but I found some time to get outside and chill with some people. For the first time ever, I visited the Yu Garden. It’s quite alright but it was flooded with people… So yeah, I can cross this off my list of local sights but I don’t see myself coming there again anytime soon…

And of course – the semester has officially started. My schedule isn’t very tight, however, my supervisor told me that I should finish my first paper within a month and submit it for an international conference by the beginning of April. Given the fact the communication on this particular matter was close to non-existing up until this point, it took me by surprise. I accept the challenge tho… Since I haven’t published anything ever, this will be a ride…

So the whole administration machine at the uni is in motion now and it is still kinda faulty. This time around, I don’t lose my sleep neither my nerves on it though. I have learned that the best way to deal with logical non-sense, malfunctioning websites and all the confusion occurring at official places, is just to take a deep breath and wait for shit to sort itself out. So I’m gonna do just that plus I’m gonna start spending much more time in the library, hoping I’ll be able to land at a least semi-acceptable paper.

Everything is back to normal. I mean here. The world is still completely nuts. We got Trump pretty much trolling the whole planet with his twitter fingers and public speeches, we got North Koreans assassinating Kims at Malaysian airports… And I’m just listening to some new rap and killing shit on my blog…

Highlights:

• People secretly taking picture if me and my friend on the subway. This hasn’t happened to me for a while. Or maybe I just haven’t noticed.
• Fake market at Science and Technology Museum subway station. My first time over there – the place is massive and fake as fuck.
• Completing my courses selection. It might sound like not that big of a deal but trust me – it is...

Semester 2

Chapter I: Prequel – Back on my BS

Microphone check one two one two, we are live, we are back, what’s up y’all! So I’m back in my second hometown. Malaysia was a fucking blast. Me and my people from the Czech Republic traveled the country, hitchhiked, rode scooters, swam, got some tan, drank extensive amount of whiskey, met many super cool locals and basically backpacked the shit out of the country. Once they had left, I got a week for myself. I gotta shout out both guys who hosted me through Couchsurfing. I got invited to a Hindu wedding, I stayed with like the only animal activist in the country, I explored some more places, saw Kuala Lumpur, met some more fascinating souls and wrapped up the whole thing. So thanks to everyone and everything involved in that – one of the best trips I have ever had.

 

Two days ago, I landed at Hongqiao airport and immediately got slapped by the temperature drop. I went from about 30 degrees to 2. Oh well. At this point, I’m pretty much adjusting. Grabbed some beers with my guy from Macedonia, restocked my veggies and fruits, got a fresh haircut, went outside to meet some new people (I say this all time but that’s something I seriously need to do much more), biked to the campus to do some running and exercise – back to my Chinese routine.

The next semester starts in about one week – till then I have some other responsibilities and work to do. Although the temperature is still shit, according to the forecast it’s about to get better, and by next Friday, we are supposed to get to around 16 degrees. So… fingers crossed, ya dig?

That’s about it for now . Hope you’ve had a good start of the motherfucking year of rooster. Holla at your boy!

 

Highlights:

• Migos – Culture. Best album in a long long time – Slippery is my jam.
• Ipoh, Cameron Highlands, Taman Negara, Mersing, Melaka, Tanjung Bidara, Penang, Pulau Pangkor, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur – and all the other amazing places I had a chance to see in Malaysia.
• Like 200 km open air ride on the back of Toyota Hilux truck. Malaysia likes hitchhikers.