Tuesday

I have just got back from the uni running track. I was lucky enough to be joined by a class of uni students who arrived when I was ten laps into it. Although I seemed to be a source of some genial curiosity at first, I was actually quite pleased to have some guys to race, especially as they seemed just as competitive as me!
This morning, I had the second of my 2.5 hour mandarin lessons. Retraining your voice is so difficult but it's motivating when I get some positive feedback and the assistants actually understand what I mean over the lunch table!
After lunch, I bought a cheapy mobile phone. Everything is a lot cheaper here: Yesterday I went shopping with Rex and got some really pretty shoes for less than a fiver - a bargain and I am hardly likely to bump into anyone in Farnham with the same pair.
For the first time since arriving here, I think us teachers are going to cook for ourselves in the flat tonight. Every single lunch and dinner has been cooked for me, which has been fab because I really like the food, but it's not overly relaxing being stared at while you eat in restaurants (if, that is, you manage to communicate what you want in the first place).
I went for a walk along the river Yangtse last night with Joe, which was cool but, if I had had my own way (and if Joe was more of a man (!)), we would have gone to the rollar skating place really closeby - I love that the Chinese are so retro and cheesey with their Karaoke and rollar discos!!! Still, I'll try and persuade someone else to come with me soon. I am so glad we're all getting on well - the boys crack me up but I think will begin to miss the company of my girl friends soon (native english speaking girls, I mean). Still, they put up with me getting excited about bargain shoes so I can't complain!
I have to prepare for tomorrow afternoon's lessons with the junior high school kids this evening because I will be having another Mandarin lesson in the morning - they do keep us busy here.
I think I am going to 'super hyper mega global mart' with the boys now so best be off x