Settling in

As you probably have noticed, I have bought a card reader and can now include pics. I went back and added them to my past posts.

This weekend brought me back to Qingdao very briefly. I didn't go to work on Friday but instead hopped a bus to Qingdao to get my resident's visa. I had been given directions by bus to the bus station. Which of course I managed to mess up. I ended up on this tiny bus that stopped at literally every bus stop on the way out of the city inviting people to join us. Not only every bus stop but anyone who was walking down the street as well. They didn't even have to be near a bus stop. Needless to say, it took a lot longer than the standard 3 hours. I spent a couple hours in Qingdao, waiting in various lines and then returned by a bigger, much nicer bus. It even came with free green juice.

Saturday morning I went with some teachers and students climbing up a mountain about an hour out of town. It was beautiful and the kids were pretty funny. We got to the top and everyone busted out all of these snacks. They were very well prepared and very happy to share. Here teachers are not called by their names, just teacheeeer (they like to stretch out all their words), which is what I heard a lot when they were handing out their treats.

Saturday night I met some people out for some barbecue and beers and then of course back to Alibaba for an evening of dancing. If memory serves (which sometimes it doesn't) I have vague recollections of doing the macarena on a stage. The macarena you ask? Oh yes.

I have gotten a Chinese language tutor and my first lesson is tonight. I'm very excited. My cooking lessons have been postponed as my teacher's wife is in the hospital. I suppose that's a pretty valid excuse. It seems, for now, that I am happily settling into life in Yantai.