At last, the long-awaited update that's been in the works for weeks!
Not really. This is just a short post to keep our eager readers satisfied even though we've been inactive for so long.
Last night, we had a gathering with some of our classmates. First, we ate at the Korean restaurant located on the first floor of the building of our apartment, the one we pass every day and sigh with delight at the pleasant fragrances it exudes. With a little help with ordering from our Korean classmates, it lived up to its expectations, every dish being delicious. Afterward, all seven of us (a few of our classmates were absent) went up to our apartment to watch a movie and munch on all kinds of snacks that we brought with us. The movie was a typical Hong Kong romantic comedy - a little predictable but still fun, and good Chinese practice for us all.
The other big news here is that our dear friend and nearby coffee shop owner Jinpeng is moving on Wednesday. He's heading to Yunnan province (which is southwest China, down near Vietnam) to train for 11 months with an organization that teaches the ropes to people looking to be involved with NGOs and non-profit organizations. Also, he's taking our other Chinese friend and chef extraordinaire Kevin and Swedish wanderer Bjorn with him. Basically, half of our friends here are leaving. We're glad for them and wish them luck, but all the while wishing they'd stay here with us for a little longer.
The other strange thing about Jinpeng & Co's move is how quickly it happened. A couple weeks ago, they were accepted into the program, and they decided that if they could sell the coffee shop, they'd head out. Well, they sold the place two days ago, at which point it immediately changed hands, and now they instead hold train tickets for the 40-hour ride to Yunnan. I suppose that's how things work here. We had to basically accept our apartment 5 minutes after we saw it or it would be rented to somebody else. In China, one must act quickly or be left in the dust. Well, it's good training for life, I hear.
Thus, you all can no longer send us mail via Jinpeng's coffee shop, and so here's a new address:
Tom/Lisa (Ma Tai Ming/Zu Li Sha, if you want to use our Chinese names)
c/o International Student Center
Harbin Institute of Technology
11 Si Ling Jie
Nan'gang District
Harbin, China 110004
We still encourage you to send us mail. It's cold and lonely here (actually, our apartment's pretty nicely heated, and we still do have a few friends), and we appreciate whatever you send us from back home.
The coming two weeks are the midway point in the semester and that means one thing: MIDTERMS! Hooray! So we must get back to the studying of hundreds of Chinese characters. I hope all is well back home. Send us emails, mails, packages, boxes, bags, toys, coffee, etc. We'll try to return the favor.
Editor's (which means Lisa's) note: Best not to send us packages at that address quite yet. We haven't made sure that the Student Center won't mind the deluge of mail. But we will check this week and let you know.
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2 comments:
I was certainly satisfied by your post. Your outing with the Korean students reminds me of the days of old at CNU.
So the ice festival can't be too far off, eh?
jeff is going to vietnam for interim. maybe he will see your friends. (that's a joke).
now that i have your new address i can send something. i will stop being delinquent.
Jeff and I were matching carrots for Halloween. it was great. wish you'd been here.
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