Eight Looooong hairy legs

Wow. Another great thing to keep me from sleeping at night... Coming home this evening we were stomping on the floor before going up the stairs, as we usually do to scare away any rats that might pop out to frighten us. First we saw a little cockroach, which Arthur flicked in my direction, then stomped on. So my nerves were already strung from that little experience. Then we saw it... the biggest ewe spider ewe that ewe I've ewe ever ewe seen... ewe. I'm getting the willies just thinking about it. Oh my goodness. It was so huge. And it's on the second floor. I hope it doesn't decide to make its way up to the sixth floor. But just the knowledge of its existence makes me believe there are others just like it roaming around. Oh, it's so gross.

Here are some going-ons:

I booked my flight home, I depart June 26. But I don't know when I'll arrive yet, cuz the travel agent here was not able to help me with any US domestic flights. So he got me as far as LA. So I have to figure out how to get from LA home with the tickets that I've already purchased. I'm not too worried about it. I'll make it somehow.

Friday night we were invited to a piano concert at a local university. Arthur and Anna's good friends are the teachers. They come from Russia. They teach piano through an interpreter. The concert was piano duets from the students, the teacher couple and their kids. They were amazing. It was so wonderful to hear them play. And the kids were also amazing. Alex is 13 or 14 and Marsha is 7. They did a piano duet together, and totally surpass any thing that I was ever able to do on the piano. Alex did a solo, and I swear he must be a child prodigy. It helps that both his parents are enormously talented. How do I describe the perfection? I'm so jealous! It was great. There were many other foreigners there from other schools to watch the concert. I was not talkative at all, and kept to myself. I could give you all kinds of excuses like I was tired, and Brenda had gone off on me earlier so I was miffed... which those are true... but most of all, I just felt absolutely nothing in common with these people, and didn't feel comfortable with them at all. When foreigners (caucasian English speakers that is) get together, it's usually this big China bashing session to complain about all the things that annoy them. It's so exhasting. I'm sure you're wondering why they are even here at all. When it all comes down to it, they like being here, they like talking bad about China, they like teaching these kids.

This weeks lessons was an introduction to the Final Project. I will be grading the students on an English performance. The grade won't count for peanuts, but hopefully the thought of getting a grade will give them some motivation. This is the first time that I have told the students that I will not be coming back next term. They are pretty sad. Some even named their teams "We love you Leah" or the topic of their performance, "We will miss you." They are so cute.

This morning I hung out with one of my students. She bought me breakfast. Real wontons. They are not at all like the wontons in the States. They are steemed and have meet inside, and in a peanut sauce. They were pretty good. We watched a korean movie together. It was a super cute movie. I had a nice time with her. She is one of the closest students I have.

This evening was really nice. We foreign teachers organized a dinner at a restaraunt and invited several of the Chinese teachers who have helped us throughout the year. It was a really nice time. We rented a private room, and ordered a ton of food. I tried to take a picture, but my batteries died. I think all my rechargeable batteries have lost their juice.

It's almost midnight now, and I have to teach bright and early. Only four more weeks to go. It seems like this last couple months is going so slow. But I'm sure it will all be over before I know it, and I will miss it like crazy. I can't imagine never coming back here. I really want to visit again some time. You can't just live somewhere and not have some attatchment to the people and the place. I won't miss the mold or the cockroaches or that spider... that's for sure. But this is a life that has become a part of me. It's kinda going to stink not being able to share that with any one at home. See, that's why next time one of ya'll are going to have to come with me, so we could reminice together like, "remember that one time in China..."

Good night.