Celebrating a friend's birthday, and mine simultaneously, with two other friends.
A situation erupts, ending in an unfortunate misunderstanding with one of those I celebrated my birthday with.
Walking with a friend, who gave me a gift for my birthday.
Website update.
Scrolling through regional news and governmental websites, looking for Russia-China topics/events.
Russian grammar and bibliographical research, in my room.
Call with a friend from CEAD's summer school. Some of the international students will group together to ask for a refund of some of the expenses. Before their trip, they got information that contradicted what actually happened.
US rap songs are blasted in cars passing by in the street.
On my way to the library, Chinese people are posing in front of the Lenin statue.
At the supermarket, I come across a young man wearing what seems to be an army uniform (boots, camouflage pants and vest, white t-shirt with blue stripes, and camo cap). His sleeves are rolled up, revealing a tattoo on his right forearm that looks (not sure), to me, like a black sun symbol.
Library. A woman around fifty years old starts a conversation with me. She asks me to write my name on a paper, and touches my field notes. Strange.
Same place. A man around fifty years old comes up to me as a doctor. He asks for all my contacts and social media, and takes a picture of me. He puts a device on my wrist linked to his iPad that takes health measurements, let's say. He's a massage therapist and wants me to come to his office. He does things with my fingers, some kind of test massage, then comes around the table, grabs my nape and neck, and starts the same kind of thing. I stop him here and leave. Polite, but weird and suspicious.
Resolving an account issue that was locking most of my possible money transactions, at the local bank (Russian bank account).
Going to the antique shop next to the supermarket. A bus full of Chinese tourists is parked in front of it. It's like the supermarket is a planned stop in their tour of the city. It would make sense since there's also the antique shop. During my first stay, I thought I would find "real things" in this antique shop, located in a weird underground location. But if it's a stop in the tour of Chinese tourists, then it's another story. On top of that, there are Chinese stickers on the door, indicating the antique shop entrance.
I walk toward три кита. On my way, I come across a full bus of Chinese people. They get out of it, heading toward the nearby mall. The bus driver has a Russian appearance.
Maybe I should take two of those tours. One in China, one in Russia.
I got a library membership card that allows me to access its books. I wandered around the Chinese-Russian book section. Many resources.
I hung out with a friend. We came across the Russian company involved in the cable car construction. On its front, there is the company name (which is actually a group of companies), and also other company names (those that make up the group).
Planning transfer to Heihe, China.
My Chinese friend Van Bo invites me to stay at his place when I'll go meet him in Qiqihar.
Going to a French-speaking friend's concert at Harat's pub.
First page from a book of Анатолий Безуглов.