I got nothin' ...

Nope, no good excuse for failing to post an update on how things have been going for me here in the last 5 months. I may just have to bullet-point the most prominent events and post a few of my favorite photos in order to avoid an 18-page update that you’ll get around to reading ‘when you get the chance,’ mm, love those. So, here we go…

Got ‘invited’ to sing a song in front of parents during the kindergarten Christmas show, (invited: ushered on stage against my will and handed a microphone) since the fact that I can belt out “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” on demand evidently demonstrates that I am a highly qualified English teacher.

Brought in the (calendar) New Year on the Bund in Shanghai with a couple of friends and a $1 bottle of Chinese rice wine. (The following morning I realized for the first time why the names ‘fire water’ and ‘karate water’ are ever so appropriate)

Spent 5 weeks (out of my 5 week +3 day spring vacation in Jan/Feb) living and training at a Kung Fu school in the city of Zhengzhou, near the Shaolin Temple. I will dedicate a later post to this experience, as it was an amazing addition to my time in China on several levels.

Rented a bicycle at the price of $1 for an entire day, explored Suzhou, and participated in the chaos of the streets with thousands of Chinese using every kind of mode of transportation imaginable.

Accidentally joined a Chinese tour group.

Learned how to play Mah Jang (a traditional Chinese game played with tiles and about 24,765 seemingly random rules) and even got a couple of wins under my belt!

Brought in the Chinese New Year on February 18th with the traditional plethora of ear-damaging fire works… and since I apparently forgot, was not-so-gently reminded why karate water got its name.

Received what I believe to be the first pedestrian right of way in the history of China. I’m still in shock.

Well, now that it is all written out, it doesn’t seem like much has happened. But honestly, so far my China trip has been unbelievable. I am meeting some remarkable people and seeing many things that can only be explained with, “That’s China for ya…” I am learning so much, aside from Mandarin and Kung Fu, as it is incredibly eye opening, humbling, challenging and rewarding to be immersed in such a vastly different culture.

And now, some random photos…