In other news, having started term, and had 5 days off last week for Mid-Autumn Festival which I spent exploring Dalian and cycling, next week I have 10 days off for National Day. Hence, I will be off to Sichuan to see a couple of ex-students and catch up on my spicy food intake. It should only take 3 days or so by train... I believe all these holidays may be Dalian attempting to break us in slowly to a schedule of 8 am lectures and 6 hours of Chinese grammar a day. Sadly, after this holiday, I have probably one day off for Christmas, and one for New Year until January. As a result, however, I'll be more or less uncontactable save by email for the next week or so.

Other than this, my teachers appear to believe I am good at talking and keep asking me questions as a result and my ayi is still on course for reducing me to 16 year old child status as best she can. I have a slight feeling she may have deliberately washed a tissue in with my clothes, which is probably ayi code for 'this is unsuitably thin clothing for this season, kindly do not ignore my pronouncements in future'. She looked so happy this morning when I appeared wearing jeans and a jumper, and then so very disappointed when I proceeded to wear sandals anyway instead of winter shoes. To clarify, it is still 20 degrees here on average... My host father and I have more or less reached a situation where we agree with her when she is in, and discuss politics as soon as she goes out.

PS The Chinese military student exercises continue - they are now having kungfu competitions, and martial brass band music piped in to help them as they goose step.