Friday was the end to a slightly less than fantastic week of learning. It was topped off by a fantastically stolen bike. My steed, alas, has been thieved from me. I am, as now, steedless.

Today was spent pow-wowing with the Professor and Cowboy. After a rough start (as witnessed via Skype by my parents), things eventually worked out, and we got a few things accomplished as far as interpersonal relationships.

Then I went down to Wangfujing in order to purchase a Chinese-English/English-Chinese dictionary. Handy to the max, and my tutor wants me to have it. So I got that and Light in August by Faulkner at the bookstore down there. When I finished my shopping, I headed up to Xizhimen to meet the Professor and to go to a cafe. However, we got texted by some friends to meet in... Wangfujing. So I turned myself around and went right back where I'd been, and we met up. We had a good time walking around the souvenir shops and whatnot. I ate a couple of fried scorpions, which, I must say, is a bucket list item. I also secured a pretty amazing domino set. Hard-hitting second-language haggling was successful at saving more than two-thirds the asking price. From RMB 465 to RMB 130. I will take a bow if you ever applaud.

Tomorrow I'm going to a Chinese fellowship.

T