Back With a Vengeance

I know I've been away for a while, and for that I apologize. I'd like to make it clear that my recent lack of blogging has not been for lack of interesting experiences to blog about, but instead an absolute overload of them. I started classes two weeks ago, and while a Chinese semester-unit is slightly less tough than one in the US, the average student is expected to take a minimum of 20 (I'll have 24...). My classes are really interesting, albeit still a little over my head, but that's better for me anyways, as it gives me more room to improve!

Matt (one of my roomates- see previous post re. arrival of 孔仁) and I went out to the Summer Palace for a run yesterday, and while running around this beautiful park with it's insanely steep bridges and calmly swaying willow trees, I finally felt truly happy to be here. Not that I wasn't before, just that I'd yet to have one of those picture perfect kodak epiphany moments... sitting on a rock in the afternoon sun, watching chubby old chinese men meeting up and laughing together before jumping in for a swim right next to the "No Swimming" sign, an old couple playing cards who's vehement argument segued suddenly and seamlessly into laughter... It was totally worth being fleeced for double the admission price!