I feel that after writing in my blog all last year about China, a lot of the newness and unique little stories I'd write about aren't really new or unique anymore. I certainly haven't experienced everything, and am nowhere near a "China expert," but it seems to me that there isn't that much to write about anymore. Maybe I'm getting immune to things that would only happen in China: propaganda posters; preparations for the upcoming celebration of 60 years of communist China; being able to lift up thoughts to Him only behind closed doors... Even quirky scenes like one of the front gate guards grabbing my hand and kissing it don't seem out of the ordinary.

Anyways, I think I have my work cut out for me this year. Last year, as a whole, I had the sweetest, most loveable students. This year I have the edgier, rowdier, lower level kids. There is no way I can do this on my own.

Thankfully I'm feeling a lot better! So Jodi and I had our three Chinese friends over to eat some little pizzas we made. It was quite refreshing being with our good friends again. (See the picture).

At the same time, a boy (he looked about 16), came to look at the air-conditioning unit in my room. I haven't used it for the past several days, despite it being over 100 degrees, because it leaks bucketfuls of water. Of course when he was looking at it, it wasn't dripping any water. So he said there was nothing to fix.

Then I had moved my big bed that takes up most of my room, so he could look at the air conditioning. When I was trying to move the wooden bed back, I managed to break it. One side that holds the mattress collapsed, so now it is propped up with old books and magazines. Also during that same time, we had a couple more power outages, because there were rolling blackouts all day. So quite a bit of the evening was spent just sitting in the dark.

Today after class, I went out to eat lunch with a couple of my old students. It was wonderful seeing them again, although I've forgotten how these two girls like to talk about a lot of things I don't like to talk about it. It only took them about four minutes to inquire about my boyfriend status. Then they also commented how my "skin looks much whiter and more beautiful than last year." They also said that my clothes were "much more beautiful than last year." So, on the outside, they thought I had improved greatly over the summer.

As I walked to catch the city bus today, there was a girl walking in front of me with an umbrella, which had a picture of Mickey Mouse on it and big English words, "The Lovely Rat." So apparently Mickey Mouse is really "The Lovely Rat" in China.

That's about all I can think of for now. I hope I didn't bore you. Life is good here, and I hope yours is also.