Counterfeit Paradise?

Last night I bought a memory stick for my digital camera, so I can now start taking pictures properly. If I had wanted to go into the Sony shop and buy one it would have been easy, especially as the shops stay open until about 9pm here, every day. However, Tao (the Chinese girlfriend of a Scottish guy who arrived here in february to teach English, and has decided to stay for a year), has a cousin who's 'in the business' and got me a memory stick for 180 Kuai. I think that is about fifteen pounds and, although I am not a hundred per cent sure it is authentic Sony, I could not decline her help and kindness and the stick seems to work perfectly.

Not only did she get hold of this memory stick for me, but she also picked me up on her moped on her way home from work (it's hilarious/terrifying to brave the roads of Wuhu on an electric moped!), and took me to her home where we ate dinner with her family. Once again, I tried foods I had never come across before, most of which were delicious. Apparently, cows stomach is good for girls' skin so, of course, I had to try some! I have noticed that Chinese people will often pick up the best bits of the dish with their chopsticks and place it in the little bowl of their guest or elder or friend. I had numerous things placed into my bowl last night - they are so hospitable here and I was invited to come back any time.

On the way back into the centre of town, Tao pointed out a little shop that sold DVDs and mentioned that any time I want to get a really cheap DVD (i.e counterfeit) she knows the guy who works there and, at night, would be happy to sell them to me. I must point out at this point that Tao is 24, very bright, speaks great English (helped by having an English-speaking boyf.) and is a trainee accountant working in a bank. It was really lovely to spend the evening with a girl, I must say!

After she dropped me off, I met up with the boys and went for a drink in the Overseas Student Garden. We are always a bit worried about going there because there's a Canadian teacher, jason, who works at another language school and frequents this bar but we really don't like him. He is tall, loud, nearing 40 and usually likes to dominate a conversation/room, plus he seems not to like China or the Chinese, which doesn't ingratiate him to many people here. Anyway, he wasn't there last night so we could relax a bit!

I have just noticed the time - I need to go for my mandarin lesson!

Last thing, quickly, is that I went to see The Banquet and, thankfullly, there were English subtitles so I could understand it!!! I would say it is worth going to see for the beautiful cinematography and fight scenes, but the story is quite slow-paced - Hamlet it ain't! x