Don't try this at home...

G'day G'day!
Time has just flown by since we arrived in China, and before I know it I - P-J - will be back in OZ for my mate's Mark and Fi's wedding which I'm really looking forward to. Not to mention Fish n' Chips, Meat Pies, Roast dinner...and catching up with friends and family! I'll be in OZ from the 18th-25th June. And upon return to China I should (all going well) be beginning work as an English Teacher at a local kindergarten which is opening up in July! That's right - P-J the Kindy Teacher! I've had one 'gig' already with them - helping them to promote their kindergarten, and this Sunday I'm having lunch in the park with all their staff. Most of them are young and fresh out of Uni, so it'll be a great environment for me to work in and I'm sure it'll help my Chinese language abilities go from strength to strength. I'm really looking forward to working and mixing with the locals! My Chinese Language classes actually wrap up on the 16th of June so the timing is great.

This week we have the pleasure of catching up with Michelle's Uncle and Auntie (John and Judith) who are taking a holiday both here in BJ and around China. It's so good to have them here and be able to show them where we live, work and of course...eat! They even had the pleasure of finding an English Language newspaper for me - 'The China Daily'. I always wondered where they might be found - if only I had the sense to look in a hotel frequented by foreigners...
Michelle is finding work enjoyable, challenging at times, and really good for making new friends, speaking some Chinese and finding new resturants to eat at. I went to an Indian one with her and her workmates and ended up mistaking a green chilli for peas in a pod, and they witnessed a guy almost in tears! Don't try this at home.

But do try this at home... This is Michelle making her second meal at home since we arrived. Good Aussie tucker. Rissoles!

And guess what? We've just joined a GYM! Ok, yes, it's harder to imagine me in a gym than Michelle, but there's a first time for everything. I feel a bit like my bro, Matti T!
I might be dreaming but I think that coming out in Dec 2007 is...
THE RETURN OF THE 6PACK! Go on - tell me I'm dreaming!
And it goes without saying that we got a great deal: it's about AUS$200 each for 18months! And it's a really nice, new gym with all the gear, classes, and sweat to go.

Last night I went out to the movies and dinner with my past Chinese Teacher - 'Nana' and her huband David. We saw TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). And as much as I'm ashamed to say it - I really enjoyed it. I'm just a kid at heart anyway! The dinner afterwards was great too. They took me out to a classical Chinese resturant and believe it or not I ate....are you ready for it?...
BLOOD SAUSAGE.
It's just as it sounds. Just blood with a bit of whatever, somehow solidified/cooked in the style of a sausage and then cut into slices and put around the outside of some vegetables. I just had 1 slice just so I could say I've tried it! By the way - don't try this at home. I don't recommend it. How it stayed down I have no idea. According to one website: If you’ve ever pricked your finger and sucked, you pretty much have a sense of the flavor of blood. But magic happens when blood (typically it’s pig’s blood) is cooked and combined with meats and fats to become sausage. There’s a blood sausage variant in almost every culture. I might emphasize the almost and de-emphasize the magic part. I know you can get them in some places in OZ - but not in the culture I grew up in! (It just happens that I lay claim to a certain cultural group).

Anyway... Hope this finds you all well! If you're up to it - check out the side bar for more new stuff/ photos/ things to listen to or watch and more. Right at the bottom of the page look out for the latest 'Nooma' video (13min) entitled 'YOU'. Click on it, sit back and enjoy!