FEAR AND LOATHING IN SUZHOU

Suzhou--Work is over and now one final blow out before returning to
the battlestar and "other forms of boredom advertised as poetry."

Off to a go start as Ella has a rub and makes a wish.

Mission Accomplished

I finished all classes yesterday, Fri. Nov. 27. I have a little
paperwork and some other duties left to perform, but essentially the
mission has been accomplished.

My replacement is in Suzhou. I saw her walking down the street when I
was on the bus. I waved frantically from inside the bus but she didn't
see me--or saw me and just ignored me.

I will return to Halifax, NS on Dec. 16 for what I plan to be permanently.

Until then I am on a "Fear and Loathing in Suzhou" tour.

TV AND CHILDREN IN CHINA

Today one of the students said, "When I was little, I could only watch
one hour of TV a day. When my parents went out, I would watch TV
secretly, and turn it off before they got home. When they came home,
they would touch the back of the TV and if it was hot, I would get a
spanking."

The girl sitting next to her was glad to hear it: "It was the same for
me, but I used to use a fan to cool down the TV before they got home."

Deception and detection--they start them early in China.

A YEAR ON SIHQUAN JIE.

I came to China with poor health and good intentions for clean living.
Then, I grew bored and my resolve wavered--I probably held out for all
of 20 minutes. Then I found Shiquan Jie. It does suck you in--the
whole system is designed to suck you in. And here I am a year later
and none of the resolutions I came with have been fulfilled--but I
ain't complaining, because--dammit!--I had a real good time.

NOT PLAYING NICELY

Sometimes I don't play nicely.

I was introduced to the new Sino-Canada principal, Bingo's replacement.

The first thing he said me is, "Well, you need to a get haircut."

My response, "I only have a week left, so don't tell me your name
because I don't need to learn it."

You got to wonder where they get these guys from.

(I included a picture of myself on a mountain top in South Korea to it
all some context.)

Get yer own Vampire identity

I was doing research on the 'Net on vampires for work--really, it's
true--and I came across this vampire name generator and now have my
very own vampire identity:

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The Great Archives determines you have gone by the identity"

EMPEROR OF THE GHASTLY

Known in some parts of the world as:

GAWAIN OF THE FLESH

A sensual one who knows the flesh--and knows the blood!

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Makes me feel all tingly inside, really. I wonder how they could have
known? Fits me to a tee, I must say.

You can get your own Vampire Identity here:

http://www.emmadavies.net/vampire/

Happy hunting!

Shiquan Jie at Night

I meant to attach this picture to the posting below but forgot. Since
I cannot edit, I must send it as a separate post.