Day 34 -- June 27

It was a quiet day today. I got up worked on some homework. I chatted with Reece for a bit on skype then headed out early to class. I swung by the bakery n Shida to get some bread for breakfast, fresh bread is awesome! I was asked to come to the conversation class by one of the teachers. So I went I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that Jillian and Nick were also there. Along with some other familiar faces, regular class students have to attend extra hours at MTC to get in their 15 hours a week. Because I am an intensive student I get 15 hours by simply going to class, anything I do after that point is extra. Class itself was enjoyable, Laoshi always chooses us as I sit in the front she now knows my face. She encouraged us all to come, I think I will if noting else a chance to speak in a room where people won’t switch o my native language upon difficulty.

    Lunch was an indulgence of dumpling from my favorite lady of the Shida night market. Though it’s been a while since I’ve seen her and was able to string some sentences together into a very simply conversation. She smiled so awesomely and gave me extra dumplings for it. Apparently I have improved from the initial “Nihao”. I also grabbed some coffee to supplement the exhaustion I feel. I am having trouble sleeping due to the bugs bites I have currently littering up my legs. I am not sure what happened, but the last two days I have broken out in very nasty bug bites. I think the problem is in the movie theater, whenever I leave I also have more bites than before. So anyway, after lunch I headed off to class.

    The test was difficult for me, something about chapter four simply did not click in my head. I’m not really sure what it was, but I will endeavor to learn the material even after the test is over. From what I was seeing no one really did very well on the test. Apparently this chapter is one of the more difficult ones for beginners. Because the chapter was about numbers I feel like we simply need more exposure to the concepts presented. We headed out with our usual massive load of homework. I took the bus back to Gong Guan, I swung by the Family Mart to get some band aids for my bug bites. Something to remind me not to scratch myself. I now own a significant about of bug spray, anti-itch cream and band aids. So never fear I am dealing with the problem.

    When I got back my roommates had some food they wanted to give me. It was from a festival is what I gathered from the explanation. I don’t know what it is but many of my new friends give me food. Today before class Eungyu brought me a snack and then my roommates give me food. I have also received food from other people just in sort of a random way. I keep wondering if I look malnourished, but I think this is a cultural thing I am not super keyed in on. I think I will ask around and maybe do some research about it.

 
  I got a call from Alex who wanted to go out for dinner, I told him to come to Gong Guan which has many more options for food than Shida. We went for a wander and we ended up at a small pizza joint. It was actually very good, both of us were very happy with out selection of food. We chatted for a bit, I will be sad to see my Englishman go. He leaves saturday, but he has promised me a place on his couch should I ever come to England along with a free tour of London. I think now I have to go to Europe at some point, I keep making friends and these friends keep inviting me to stay on their couch.

    I came back to the dorms and worked on my homework, I like to save the last part of it for the morning. it gives me a chance to refresh my memory of all the characters. This week for some reason has flown by, I keep getting the day of the week wrong. I kept thinking today was Tuesday when it was most definitely Thursday. Not really sure where I am losing time, but hey it happens. i guess it just means that I am busy or very tired... 我很累！So very tired, so off to bed I go!