Week 2

Well the second week in school was much like the first - serious language barriers to overcome, more word puzzles - crosswords and word searches - a new Unit of the text and much repetition of the same.  The classes are getting more used to me and I find myself the object of many paparazzi photo shoots.  I brought a guitar to my classes this week and found that simply having an instrument in your hands makes you a rock star.  I played some songs, got other kids to show off their talents - tai chi, kick boxing and Kung Fu.  The class is very encouraging and it is a nice brake from the dry textbook. 

It is still freezing in the classrooms but the kids just leave the windows open anyway.  I believe they are impervious to the cold.  I seem to be adapting little by little but it is a drastic change from the weather in Africa and India.  Between and after classes, we enjoy lots of noodles and broth and exchange stories and answer the teachers' questions - which seem to never end...I guess that's the point though.

The week passed with little incident and I was certainly looking forward to the weekend.  No real big plans though.  I went shopping for gifts in endless stalls of the west market and decided to go out and see the bar scene...it was very interesting.  Since my Chinese is so very limited, I decided it would be good to bring the Chinese checkers game 'waitshi' and ended up playing quite a number of games with an onlooking crowd throughout the night.  I was urged onto stage to sing and dance like a trained monkey...and proceeded to do so like a willing good monkey I am.

In the meantime, I played and won many games of 'waitshi' and had eventually drawn quite the crowd.   After a while, it was like the language barrier was no longer there - although I will be returning home as a champion-level sharades player.  Overall, I had a really great and relaxing weekend... And looking forward to dumpling and karaoke Monday.

-Ryan