Tree chopping day

In China there is no health and safety rules like in the UK and so trees were being cut down in the middle of the pavement to which people were forced to wade through sharp branches and nobody really blinked about it. I was just thankful to be wearing my boots and jeans - I wondered how those girls were walking through in leggings and tights....

It's been raining again in Shanghai. Yesterday was a clear day, there was even some sun.... but sods law dictates that once class is over the sun is gone and the rain is back (oh yes). For over a week now EVERY morning (bar yesterday) it has been raining, and I mean POURING. I get to class totally wet and in a horrible mood and want to crawl back into bed.....

My reading teacher made the comment that this much rain in Shanghai is unusual, which makes me wonder if I bought the English weather with me or if I'm just that "lucky"...! My teacher says it could be because it is the year of the Dragon and in China, Dragon's are in the sky and control the rain......

I spent a great deal of time conversing in Chinese with my Korean friend (this is how we communicate) which was nice and a good way to learn Chinese. Its amusing because we were studying the chapter on how is the best way to learn Chinese - which methods one should use and I have to say I do agree - you should talk more Chinese, listen to more Chinese, and not be scared to make mistakes. My teacher adds to that by saying making mistakes is the best way to make progress because you learn from mistakes and remember them.

I then went to the study room and did some homework which works out better because I remember more from class being in a similar environment as opposed to my room where I'm easily distracted by having an internet connection! I then went to calligraphy class where my teacher helped me write my name in nice strokes ^^

I came back and started working on a cross stitch and then my flatmates came back and we went out to a restaurant. It was a small place where you really need to know it because as a foreigner you'd not think to go into such a place. We had dishes that are from the area in China called Congming and it was very spicy. The fish was so fresh it was still alive, they only kill it when you order it. It was some kind of catfish. You then order other food to add to the hot pot. The fish is roasted and added into a spicy soup base and then you add vegetables and meat into it. Its a very social thing to do and we were there for hours! The fish was so delicious and fresh and I tried some kind of noodles made from sweet potato.

We each paid 54RMB! Amazing deal and since it is so close to our flat we plan to go every Wednesday ^^