Out for the next few days (tests, moving) – but here are some photo-grafs. I’ve spent a fair bit of time in China, and have not yet seen how local students live – it’s always been an item of fascinating, since they are rumored to placed 6-8 to a room (undergrads and grads). So the other day I sneak in, and take some pictures (infiltration instructions follow after the post).

I got permission for all of the room photographs I took. The residents were very jovial. Of note in the picture above: eight beds, two desks; all are third year undergraduate students. Eight people in a room!? However do college romances fare in such an environment? [s]exiling seven other dudes would be very complicated. As a result, hotels near campuses that charge for rooms by the hour do very good business. Also watch where you’re jogging at night – make sure it’s well lit. 

The sign in the stairwell reads “I love [the] dorm. [I will] consider the dorm as my home.”

This particular building houses somewhere around 3,000 students, in 6 floors. I did not see any heating units, but there must be some in the rooms. 

There are no showers in the building – those are located in a building a few minutes away. There are these washrooms, where people will wash their cothes in small basins, usually daily. Most of the students don’t have very large wardrobes while at school. 

So, to get into someplace you aren’t supposed to be: enter as though you have a purpose. If / when called by the security guard, approach with confidence. Say, “I’m looking for … someone Wang… I forgot his first name – we just met and I promised I’d give him these papers?” the guard will inquire – indicate a room number at random, hoping you guess the format correctly. Act mildly concerned. When the guard takes out the registry book, watch carefully – you of course are looking for Mr. Wang since Wang is a common last name, and an easy character to recognize from a distance. After you spot someone named Wang, excitedly note: “Yes! That’s him! In room… 3008!” Everyone’s happy.