So I have always thought the idea of New Year's Resolutions is silly. I've never really participated. Nobody ever follows them beyond February anyway, do they? But as I was on the plane coming back to China, I started to think that maybe the idea of resolutions is to get through the months of January and February. Otherwise, there is nothing great about these two months. I don't mind cold weather too much. I hate the darkness that accompanies the winter months more than the weather itself.
Anyway, on the plane I was trying to think about things to look forward to doing with my research. I need things to look forward to, otherwise the prospects of what January and February bring are not looking so great. Usually when I get to China, I am excited to be here and spend my days being busy and not feeling the effects of jet lag. Today I took a four and a half hour nap after getting a good ten hours of sleep last night. Uh-oh. Not good. I take it as a sign I need to get excited about being back. Its not that I am not excited to be here, but rather that I need some structure and motivation in my daily life. So what can I do to spice up my research and make it more interesting? I have three ideas. Dare I call them New Year's Resolutions? At least until February, then, hopefully, they will be routine habits.
1.)
Journals and Lists. Of course, every researcher is supposed to take extensive field notes. But when I was in Boulder, an anthropologist friend suggested a new idea of journaling. Each day, make a list of what you plan to do. On the opposite page, make a list of what you actually do. The lists are not supposed to match up. If they do match up, there is a problem. Instead, the idea is to chronicle how your ideas evolve and change as you experience new things. It sounds like things I have been doing already, but visually placing the lists together, side-by-side in a notebook is intriguing. I'll let you know how it goes...
2.)
Photos. I returned to China bearing a new camera. I spent much of my break at home in my parent's house capturing images of our dog, Cozmo, with the new camera. Cozmo's a great subject because she's nervous and jumpy and never stays still. So I got the learn how to use the camera while working with a less-than-ideal subject. Maybe taking pictures here of everyday life on the street will be easier than a nerve-end of a dog (but a very cute one). In any case, I want to take and post more pictures here of everyday life in China. Critiques and suggestions for better pictures are always welcome.
3.)
Hanging out. I don't think I hang out enough on the streets or in random restaurants in China. By hanging out, I mean sitting around and striking up conversation with random people about random topics. Harbin in the summer was a much different place than in the winter. In the summer, there are street food stalls set up all along the sidewalks. Beer flows from kegs at each stall. Conversations with strangers happen. Its difficult to hang out in the winter when everyone is running from one indoor place to another. So home is a good place to be. But home is isolated from Chinese society. But there are teahouses and other places where I can make myself go. If I make myself go to these places, I may meet some interesting people.
So we'll see how these work. Stay tuned for updates. And I am happy to accept other ideas and suggestions of how to make my time feel productive. I am staying in Beijing for a while to hopefully get some rice surveys done in supermarkets here. But I will try to make it to Harbin for the famous Ice Festival.
And in front of the water cube.
And a Santa sleigh with reindeer (complete with a real guard).
Plus a performance by the Olympic fuwa (good luck doll) mascots.
For a country that claims not to have religious beliefs, China has certainly embraced Christmas this year. But what we find are the fun, non-religious symbols of Christmas. Stores are decorated with trees and tinsel and Santa Clauses. Christmas carols are played. Wreaths decorate lamp posts. But the real story of Christmas is not told. 
