Sunday February 27th, 2011

Today, hopped out of bed around 8:30, got ready, and walked over to the subway station to go to church. When I got there, I found Jesse, David, and Bing-Bing fairly easily, and we all sat together for the service. I must admit, I caught little no nothing of what was said. The preacher spoke so fast, and with so few breaks, that I caught nothing but snatches of her sermon. The English one was much better than the Chinese one, and I understood most of the words that he used.

Then, I went to eat at the underground feeding facility by the church with Jesse’s Chinese friends, Mark, and Jocelyn. Mark is leaving tonight around 12:00, so this is his last day in the great PRC. Lunch was good, and we both repaid our debts to Jesse by putting some money on her card whilst she was unawares. She is so very Chinese in the respect of etiquette, and refuses to allow us to repay the debts that we owe her. After hanging out with them for about 1-1/2 hours, I decided that I needed to get back and do some homework. Otherwise, this week was going to be horrible. I cannot start this week out being behind; this week is midterm week, and what a midterm week it will be.

Jocelyn, Mark, Jesse’s high school friend (whose name escapes me), and I walked back to the subway station, where Mark and I bid each other farewell. He and the girls were going to visit 798 today. I gave them my best directions, and wished them the best of luck. Finding 798 is always a feat.

After getting back to the dorm, I got to work. Not only do we have a monster midterm test spanning the last two days of the week, but we also have to prepare two speaking tests and write a 1,200-word essay. And, we still have a lesson to learn for our modern Chinese class. I feel a little overwhelmed. First things first, I learned the lesson for tomorrow, and started on the 1,200 essay. That took a few hours, and I went over to Bally, where I studied while I rode the trainer.

Then, I came back to the dorm, studied some more, and when I could take the protestations of my stomach no longer, I went and got some food from Ma Lan, where I studied while I ate. Oh joy!

Then I came back to the dorm, studied some, wrote some emails, and went to bed.

I am already loving this week.

I’ll write soon!

In consternation and frustration…

Jamey