so, again, it's been awhile since i have written, partially due to our computer troubles at home (mother, we do have broadband though, and they have free wireless access in most of the coffee shops), the trouble isn't so much our internet connection so much as the unreliable virus-ridden computer that we're using. teaching is going quite well, i have about 15 students in my adult class, and they're starting to warm up and get less shy about teaching english. i have one student who is especially friendly. she gives me a ride home after class every night in her leather interior peugeot. she gave me a ride home tonight, even though yesterday she had laser eye surgery. i asked her if it was okay to drive, and she shrugged off any concern. in class, she wore dark glasses and let me know that she wasn't really allowed to read, but she didn't think our textbook would be a problem. i guess laser eye surgery has progressed a lot in the last decade. anyways, this woman works for a bank near our school, and in several months will go on a business trip to germany, france, and england, where she must speak in english, so she decided to take my class. she keeps asking me what my favorite food is, so i hope that she will take me out or cook a chinese meal for me.

also today, i made my second attempt to join the library. even though china is an authoritarian country, the maddening arbitary bureaucracy rarely comes through in everyday life (well, at least my everyday life), but i guess i get my dose of it with the library. to join, one needs to bring to 1" photos, a photo idea, about 200 yuan ($24, most of which is a deposit which is returned to you when you turn in your card), and fill out two separate forms. the first time i forgot to bring photos, so i was rejected. (they did let me read magazines in the periodical room, though.) this time i came prepared, or so i thought. i had my photos and my international student id card, which has a photo of me. unfortunately, my card was not good enough, only my passport would work. after looking at my card number (they didn't even bother to look at the card) they merely said "bu xing" or "not acceptable," and no amount of pleading would get them to change their minds. again, they let me read in the periodical room, and i'll have to try again next time.