For a few weeks in April, things are a blur. There's the round of everyday stuff: Pierre teaches, we mark papers, go to the gym, eat at the canteen.
There are a few changes: I finally begin both my tutoring sessions (with a Chinese teacher) and language exchanges (with a university student). Other than the usual list of things that must be done, it seems that we lose the plot for a few weeks. Pierre keeps up on guitar, but Pimsleur Chinese practice falls off the radar for a while. My regular runs are interrupted by a series of colds and a sore knee, and I fall behind in my cartoons-a-day several times. Dental health problems pile in on top of that and I have to begin a series of root canal treatments.
On Day 174, Amelie returns home with Shirley and Ernest, who are happy to see their sons and curious as to what their China adventure has in store for them. They enjoy Mama Huang's (Amelie's mom) beautiful dinners, the warmth, the visiting. The verdict is still out on the traffic and food markets.
It rains, it's sunny. We walk, we drive. Construction continues outside our back door. Words accumulate in my Chinese notebook.
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