The Opener

Readers,

After due prompting I've elected to give this Travelblog thing a go. Why? Well, I guess I'm seeing enough that is new and peculiar on almost a daily basis here that it could merit notation. Presently listening to "Come Together" by The Beatles. It's a number that I played every weekend (basically) for 2 and a 1/2 years with a rockband, Grand Theft Audio, back in my home state of NSW, Australia. It's got quite a tricky little bass riff in her which made for a little more fun on the otherwise fairly plodding and straight-forward lines required on the bass guitar. Dancing around me in my apartment with his favourite toy, a plastic clothes-peg, is Gizmo, my kitten. He's just been de-fleaed and vaccinated and seems in fairly good spirits in spite of being cooped up all day in this tiny place (relatively tiny). I've fashioned a leash for the little guy which I attempted to unleash upon him today but he fought like fury against it and I was left astonished at just how much fight he has in him (although, you should have seen him at the vet's, a veritable monster). What to tell, I've been with flu for a month now... it's like my immune system is just baffled by this virus and doesn't seem to be able to make heads or tails of it. Fortunately, it's in no way incapacitating and other than leaving me operating below par it's not a drama. What do I think of Yangzhou? Strange, sexy, odd, beautiful, alien, not so unfamiliar... and as many other contradictions as you might imagine. I am shocked at how Winter just decided to move in straight out of the blue and take it's freezing grip two days ago. And yes, it's fall (we call it Autumn in Australia by the way) and it is set to get a whole lot colder yet, no? Well I'm itching to get me some gloves, a beanie, more clothes... etc. And such will be done ASAP. Food? We are eating well here... some might not take to kindly to pig's feet, duck's heads and intestines of some sort but the majority of this gear is a big winner is my book. And let me tell you, with the price of groceries sky-rocketing back home in OZ, all this food here, whether it be the free food at school or the incredibly reasonable prices out there, is just awesome. I appreciate being here in this place. This place rocks. Why? I've never been treated so well and had the opportunity to work with so many dedicated and friendly people... we all got our dark days and nasty moments but on the whole I'm digging this experience teaching here. The children are all angels at heart and though they may exhibit their demonic sides I really believe that we are with fundamentally good people and that we ourselves are too. Okay, didn't cover what I expected to, but this is just The Opener after all.

Adios,

Peter (Maxwell) Bower

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