Ni Yo!

GOODBYE CHINA, HELLO OZ,

GOODBYE OZ, HELLO CHINA!

Now where am I again?
Oh yeah...just one look out the window and whola! It's as clear as...mmmm.
It's good to be back from my OZn'BACK trip where I crammed as much in as I could in the little time that I had, while breathing in as much fresh air as I could in the little spare lung that I had. Yes, a spare lung. Got one at the corner store here for a little under $15 after some serious bartering. And now I make daily withdrawals from it as the need arises. Nothing like a breath of clean Aussie Air when you need it. (Mmm! I wish!)

Oh China...we love your cheap prices, we love your dishes,

We love your people, we love your language.

But we're confused - is it cloudy or is it smoggy?

The air we breathe - tell us - what's the receipe?

We can look directly at the sun,

And watch kids do a number 1.

As for flem - better out than in,

All spit for the National Anthem.

But all in all we love that you're full of surprises,

And bikes, cars and many kinds of rices...

We love being additional guests in this populated land of yours,

And love that there's always a story or two million to tell.

So we'll stay here singing and believing,

China - you're OK - ryhme or reason!

Perhaps I have too much time on my hands!

Well next week I start working to the relief of at least one person, including myself. I'll be taking up an English Teaching job for the month of July, helping company employees become confident and reasonably comfortable in conversational English. Then in August I'll start working as a Kindergarten teacher and what a blast that'll be. They won't know what hit 'em!

Hey, guess what happened when I arrived back in China at 7am Wednesday morning?
I took the taxi to our apartment, pulled my heavy luggage into the elevator (half of which I swear was Cadbury chocolate and Allens lollies!), was greeted by the elevator-man who went off about something in an ancient form of Chinese while vigorously pointing out the entranceway, while I, being in a zombie-like state and wanting just to dump my stuff and see Michelle just shrugged and pointed up. Then of course, up we went (are you following this?!). Anyway I got to our door, pressed the doorbell...and...nothing. Was Michelle fast asleep? I kept ringing, then knocking, then banging, then calling out... Where was she? I was hot and bothered. 20min later, our next door neighbour came out to my little commotion, and offered me the use of her phone. So I called Michelle's mobile phone, which she immediately answered, and I said "Where are U?" to which she said, "Where are U?".

"I'm outside our apartment."

"Oh... ok...well I'm outside waiting for you."

"OK...well I'm here. How would you like to come and let me in? (said with lots of love)"

Well the story goes that Michelle wanted to surprise me by being outside when I pulled up in the taxi. But she had just left the elevator seconds before I got in, and she went out the right entranceway, whereas I walked in the left entranceway. Bizarre really. And poor elevator-man...he really meant to help.

Changing topic again. Guess how much that cost? All those drinks, water, icecreams, crackers...? About $8 in Aussie bucks. Of course, these weren't for us... But the point is: How cheap!

Changing topics again: The weekend before I left for OZ, Michelle and I went to a 'Food and Rhythm' festival which Dora helped organise (my Chinese Language School classmate). I would describe it as a mini-Woodstock. A different scene to what we're used to, to say the least. But a good night was had. A bit of music, (Dora was DJing a bit), food, drink, games and friends.

That's Dora pumping out the rhythms.

And the cook...And Alex, Nuno and I playing bochi.

Well, that'll do for now! The weekend is beckoning.

To all that I had a chance to catch up with in OZ - cheers! ...it was great doing so! See you in about a year's time! Or pack your bags and head on over here for a great time in a great land!