brappy!

After a day off, when I went to the Summer Palace, we were back in lecture on Friday. Zhang Xianmin started out the day with a discussion of film festivals, including the following:

• Yunfest - held in Yunnan
  
• Li Xianting
• Reelchina
• 22Film.com
• ChinaIFF

His lecture was interesting, but I think he's a bit too... too... something. Too mellow? I think he is smart and interesting... just too... too... quiet. I'm sure his Chinese lectures are better, but I don't know.

After that, I headed north for lunch. Like... all the way to 五道口 (Wudaokou) for coffee at a Starbucks. After hit-or-miss (but cheap) meals, I needed something reliable, and 咖啡因 -kafeiyin - caffeine... After the cab ride back, we had another lecture by Yomi.

 This lecture delved further into the spaces of Beijing. Courtyards, division of spaces and inner-and outer- divisions of culture and how that idea went from a house to an entire city. It was interesting. The material could be improved by incorporating more information about the living spaces of those who didn't have courtyard houses and servants.

 Next, we saw The Horse Thief, which I didn't care for. I found it dry, slow and boring. Lately, I've been having large problems with rural films from China boring the crap out of me. After the movie, I went to my room to relax and space out. Instead, I went to a strange, large restaurant with Yomi and my roommate. After about an hour of sitting in a taxi, we arrived at the restaurant.

 It was a long meal. That night, I had a bizarre dream about my professor and I interviewing Tammy Faye Bakker and him making her cry so she couldn't go on Larry King Live. Weird.