Crazy for Siping

After two years teaching on the rooftop of the world and using google's blog I find myself back where I started. Siping, Jilin in what was formally Manchuria. As I reacquaint myself to the city, I am reminded what the city is famous for:

1. da rou bing: meat stuffed in a sort of biscuit. I believe either Mao or Zhou En Lai came through town years ago and said, "it wasn't bad." I need to check on that next time I eat at the restaurant.

2. and a mental institution. To call some one a "Sipingren," (person from Siping) is to call some one crazy. However rumor is the original mental institution was moved to Changchun. So perhaps the reason is gone, but the phrase remains.

So call me crazy but I am back where my China experience started and I am looking forward to discovering the always developing city with fresh eyes and renewed energy to explore the Chinese language and culture of the northeast. Year 7 here we go...

In other news... I am trying to update my xanga page because it is no longer blocked in China... unlike blogspot which is harder to update.

another hard week

So this week I taught a total of one class. I know, I know, I am working too hard. But somehow I will get through it. Teacher's Day is Tomorrow so we have Thursday and Friday off. However my posh schedule is about to come to a halt, come Monday the freshmen will start classes. So although today was a very uneventful (I had office hours today... no one came.) I think this week of peace and relaxation will come to an end soon. In the meantime I have been looking up some of my favorite rock albums, catching up on some reading (Currently reading China Road), running, and doing a little Chinese and Tibetan language study. Tomorrow will be a traditional Tibetan picnic with the other teachers of my school. It should be a lot of fun. And who knows this weekend might include a little camping and rock climbing if the weather stays nice.

Hope you are all doing well.

Rooftop Out.