Third Month's Budget and Christmas in China

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I'm finishing up the semester. Yes that's right, of the nine month contract, two months are paid vacation! I love Socialism with Chinese Charactaristics!

I had a good discussion in my class about China in 20 Years. I had them discuss good things that could happen, bad things that could happen, how to achieve the good things and how to avoid the bad things. "Increasing Economic Growth"- good thing, "More pollution"- bad thing, "India Will be #1 in Population" -good thing (they say), "Aging Population in China" -bad thing. I made a point to show how the good things and bad things are linked together- economic growth leads to more pollution, slowing of demographic expansion leads to an aging population. I was very impressed by my student's saavy. They seem to be well-informed, reasonable, concerned about their fellow human beings, and optomistic about the future. I wish I could say the same thing for my peers in the West. Of course, its possible my students are simply putting on a show for the foreign monkey, but I doubt it.

Lots of Christmas decorations everywhere. One of my students asked me why Chinese people celebrate Chirstmas (only about 2% of the population is Christian). My response- the Chinese will use any opportunity possible to have a party!

From November 21 through December 21, I spent 2,563.6 RMB. Almost exactly half my monthly wages. Still too much.

I plan to travel to the South in January for some warm weather, which shall lead to an increase in monetary expenses. I can adopt a more Spartan lifestyle when school starts again in two months.

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Comments

[FG]

warmth
enjoy your sojourn to the south....be with you in spirit. On the last day of the year is the full Cold Moon, which is also a blue moon, being the second in one month. so you can do and say all the things you only do once in a blue moon. Love you Bren.

[Leo]

‘the Chinese will use any opportunity possible to have a party’ ？？？？

[Aunt Pat]

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and happy 2 month vacation!

[alfred e. O'Brien]

wow
Two months vacation is a wonderful gift--enjoy. grandpal AL sends much love.

[Minna1004]

traveling to the south? where are you headed, if you don't mind my asking? i'm in nanchang now, was researching trips to hainan for a break from the cold. :)