I’m still around. Been busy preparing for my exams, and will write my final one tomorrow morning. So far they’ve gone well, no problems at all, really. It really feels like I’m making some progress in Chinese right now. It’s coming along, slowly but surely.

New Year Day was particularily memorable. Went out with a good friend of mine to a park in the north-east of Zhengzhou. Rode some amusement rides, walked in the forest, relaxed, relaxed, relaxed. We were there from 9am to about 3pm, then returned to the city centre via bus, exhausted but smiling.

The days are a bit chilly right now, but still only equivalent to late autumn in Canada.

I’m going to be buying an electric bicycle this month; it will be cheaper to commute to university next term than to live on campus. The dorm room costs are 2-3 times more expensive than anything on the outside, and a big step down the scale of comfort.

Going to Hong Kong in a couple weeks. Really looking forward to the trip; I’m feeling antsy at not having travelled for several months. At last check, it was 30 degrees celsius in Hong Kong. I guess I can handle that for a week or so.

I’ll write more soon. I am finding it difficult to find reliable internet access recently.

Chris