China

We're in China. It's so nice here. Despite record hot temperatures in Nanjing and Shanghai, I have been impressed by the lightness of the fetid tan cloud that usually occupies the skies of China's industrial coast.

Anyway, we are living in a very tall highrise on the campus of Nanjing Shifan Daxue (Normal College) and yesterday Will succeeded in getting his ass locked on top of it! There is an elevator and roof access door that he made the mistake of entering too late at night in search of a wireless connection. Luckily and ironically, Will is the only one with a cellphone in our group and a plea for help made it too the staff at the hotel. On a side note, Will DID in fact find a wireless signal, albeit a weak one.

My Chinese is coming back to me...very slowly. We are in classes at the University and have been since hearing a blistering introduction speech Tuesday morning. I guess this college, like so many others in China, is in the top 50 of all Chinese universities. After proclaiming this to an audience that understood 10% of his talk, the orator disappeared and we were whisked into classes. After a brief interview I was placed in a class with 4 other students who had just started learning Chinese 3 weeks before. A few Korean girls in the back struggled with Chinese numbers and the teacher spoke to us in English. All of those credits at UW in vain!

The next class was a little better and I have know realized that I fill have to relearn nearly all the characters, which I have nearly completely forgotten. At least it gives me a fresh start with my poor pronunciation as well.

News from Xining. I will be teaching grammar and ********Geography! as well as English at QNU. What joy!! A little over 2 weeks until Ligaya and I arrive.