Back To My Roots (Part II)

One of the teachers brought us around Haimen today. It was a mess of motorcycles, looking left and right and left before crossing the road and somehow managing not to get hit by the onslaught of slow-moving cars and bicycles and motorcycles. We wandered through shops in a daze but didn't get anything, although our eyes gleamed when we saw beautifully-packaged bottles of wine and boxes of mooncakes which we decided to get as presents for the teachers and principals who had been so kind to us (But not then, as the teacher was still with us).

We walked some way and then arrived at this bookstore, which aroused the buyer in me. I saw Charlotte's Web in Chinese and promptly bought that as I thought it would help me to regain my Chinese. Then I saw the translation in Chinese of "Toto-chan at the Window" or something like that, which I'd read in English before, too. Before long I was contemplating Les Miserables and Jane Eyre in Chinese but bought a selection of Zhu Zi Qin's essays instead. I was happy with my purchases, but slightly mollified by the fact that Charlotte's Web and Toto-chan were in the kids' section and Zhu Zi Qin was in "Required reading for students" which I assume means people much younger than me! Sigh!

After that we went for Xiao Long Bao. It was my first time trying these little dumpling-like paos with meat and warm soup inside that burst out and ran down your throat like delightful liquor. Of course, there was the usual fight to pay, and of course, we lost again. Never mind, we got our revenge that night, when we sneaked out to the supermarket and bought box after box of wine, mooncakes, ginseng, tea. We got many curious stares, but we were so happy.

Later on we decided to walk to the Xiao Long Bao place for dinner, but by the time we got there it was past 9 and they were shut, so we ended up having KFC. We sat there and chatted for ages. When we finally left, the half-hour walk back to the school seemed quite short because we were yakking away! On reaching the school gates, we found them locked shut so we hung aruond for a while wondering what to do until we bumped into the two Australian teachers in the school who'd also come back late and they told us to climb in! One of them showed us how and so all of us climbed into the school. I wondered what the principals and directors would have thought had they seen us. I guess it was better that they didn't know!

I wanted to go to church today. But didn't get the chance. I've not seen churches around here... I realise that it must be hard to be a Christian here. I've still not met anyone who's a Christian or even interested in talking about it. And the ironic thing is that I've been reading in the Purpose Driven Life these few days about the importance of fellowship and accountability. Well... I am definitely getting a phonecard and calling my brothers and sisters soon. Have called a few of them already, and it's such a relief, and such a note of familiarity, to be able to hear their voices.

The key wasn't found. And my attachment mate's diarrhoea isn't getting better. But continuing to pray, and combined with charcoal pills I believe things will get better soon.