Tuezday

Today was once again not quite the usual routine; however, it was not especially good. I've been feeling tired some mornings, and let me assure you when Thursday's Rotary meeting comes around I'll be sleeping until the meeting--I don't get up at 6:00 every morning unless I have to. Luckily the Zhangs have been good lately with not minding me sleeping in a bit or neglecting to go to school. There are still a few things to do at school & they indeed mind.

This is not true for all of us at Wanfang. Alex & Ivan seem to spend all day in the library or one of the offices (they don't go to class ever), but even being on computers all day cannot sustain one's interest indefinitely. In fact many people seem to already feel bored or that they've "had enough" of Taiwan. Naturally nobody will give Rotary the satisfaction of going home early (with the single exception of a German guy who got seriously ill), not even Augustin, who has still not been located. I admire his tenacity, if sometimes questioning the merits of & moral grounds for acting to spite oppressive authority after voluntarily submitting oneself to that authority. mreh, people are people.

Speaking of people being bored, I still feel this way quite often. I don't always have motivation to study Chinese as adding to my ability doesn't exactly reap immediate benefits in improved communication or whatever. American Alex's Shida semester ended, and now he is so bored that he goes to school sometimes. I leared the lyrics to the anthem today, and how to write it, though a few characters are really obscure. Also, Ms. Liao taught me "Changgan March" or "Walk from Changgan" or something--a really famous, long poem by Li Bai. In fact, I think it's so popular that Laura has read an English translation of it before. I would ask her on her blog, but it [due to unfortunate circumstances] is no longer extant.

Stuff I did today: Went to choir, then tried to sleep in Chinese. Played basketball in the blazing sun, and subsequently talked to the guys in the shade. Tried once again to sleep in the next Chinese block... too hot. Studied two poems with Liao Ling-ling. Ate lunch. Tried to sleep--still unsuccessful. Went to the library next block. I want to check my email & stuff, to save time at home, but of course some wisecrack administrator recently rendered hotmail inaccessible from the school network. I am still talking to various profs every day getting a schedule of suitable courses hammered out. After that I was going to drums, but then Phoebe detained me to interpret an email from her prof. She is kind of weird & seems to want an MA handed to her with no effort or original thought on her part.

Monday was an ok day. I slept in due to the events of Sunday, but due to my reverse order the cause-and-effect will not be apparent to you for a while. In music class we watched more Phantom, and it is verrah, verrah good. After school Alex, Ivan & I went out to dinner with the office lady, finally. Kenta jammed out again because he had to pack his bags (moving host families).

Sunday involved realisation--after long last--of more Smallville watching. It is great, as always, to visit the Chen's and Chen ma gave me a quote on how much sending back the little boxes can run. I think like 13 kg for under $40 Canadian, if you want it to take 3 months. Scott's shipped stuff only took 1 month though, so I'll have to ask his 'rents about that.

Unfortunately, one very important episode was missing. Moreover the taped episodes ceased before the season-ender. Not only were we shocked & disappointed, but also had more time on our hands than we thought. So we hung out at the Zhangs for a while, then went to Su Jia for dinner. After that I came back home, but since it's from Donghu I got back at like 11.

Saturday I went to choir. Following that, I went with Scott & two of my classmates/choir-buddies to lunch & then the pool hall. Eric was way better than both of us combined, and though Squirrel said he'd never played before he seemed kind of pool-sharkish to me. The Mormon wedding ceremony was interesting. Apparently the guy met Bush before, because there was a picture in the slideshow of them standing around together. neat

Sorry for the increasingly fast-paced summarizing in reverse chronological order, but you know, life's like that. haha. Well, not exactly. Rock on for now, and forever, but for now too