this little boy was playing in a puddle like any little boy might - the longer that i spend here in China (Huaihua) I realise that we are all the same - ofcourse China is different - it is infact the most "different" place, butwhen i least expect it something like this happens that reminds me that we are all the same, no matter where we live, how we live or what we do.
photo. mhobbs

walking home this afternoon (monday), from the western campus - about 20 min walk - i noticed this wall - apparently this sign and many others like it are advertisements for various people and services - this one advertises a guy who has a truck and will move your furniture etc - when moving home. love it!!
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on the bus - "hello little man".....
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id card
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today sunday, I went into the city - Huaihua, to get a SIM card for my phone - !!! Actually I tried to do this the other day - (without any success) I went to buy a sim - "hey you cant do this - you have no Id Card" - "yeah that's right im not chinese' I said ....She looked at me blankly.. So anyway i asked one of my students to help - me - ofcourse she said you need an id card - but im not chinese i said again - "what about my passport" - i suggested - no not enough numbers in the passport number. So after some hassle with this and after 3/4 of an hour i got a new SIM card......ATLAST.
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Amy cooks me lunch - a student of mine - from the english department - cultural studies department
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this morning - i had a class with class 8 - year 2..during the break i went out onto the balcony and had a cigi (Mmm I know i should stop) some of the students joined me - its odd - that in the class most of the boys - dont say a word - but outside they are "full" of questions.
photo. mhobbs

boiled duck eggs - walking along the street - after having a hair cut yesterday - 5 Yuan !!! wow I noticed this small "offering" duck eggs for sale.....I oppted for steamed dumplings down the road. NICE
photo. mhobbs

i was having a break from my morning class - (which had began 45 mins earlier at 8am!!) and one of my students came up to me, a boy of about 20. Who during the previous 45mins hadnt said a word to me, except when i called the "roll" for the class - - "here" he shouted along with the other students in the class - he had learnt to confirm his attendance by shouting - or in most cases simply saying "here!" - This boy came up to me and without hesitation - (which in itself is unusual for a Chinese student, the students are usually shy, to the point of being physically sick on occasion) asked me for a "lite" - " Hey Mark" - he shouted, " have you got a lite for my cigi?"...."Ofcourse......." I replied, "here......." and I passed it to him...He used this time looking me in the eye and said - again without hesitation, " I like your class, I will always come.........." "Thanks"......I said. "I hope you enjoy it......."
photo. mhobbs

view from my window from the second floor of my appartment...note the snow...bloody cold!!!!
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waiting for the train to Huahua - in Beijing - masses of people children, older couples - and others.
All not really waiting just passing the time.

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my appartment building - I'm on the first floor - at the end!!
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the blue building on the left side of the image is where my appartment is - within the grounds of the university that I'm teaching in.....
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view from my teaching building...the max temp today was about 16 then it started to rain and man it got colder......Quickly!!!!
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16 years later
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I have arrived - in the PRC...It is the begining of my second year teaching - This year Culture, History and art. With alittle politics thrown in for good measure. Im teaching in Huaihua, Hunan Province.