Much ado about nothing

Isn't it strange how when you dream loads you wake up more tired than when you went to bed? I am not a good person to be around when lacking in sleep. Unfortunately I had a three hour mandarin, class first thing in the morning, that I was lucky if I learned two words during. Languages have never been my strong point but added to that is the fact that everyone else in this 'beginners' class, has had, at the least, six months teaching prior to coming here. Thankfully my teacher is lovely (and not much older than me) so noticing that I was slipping further down my seat with every new page of the text book (with no english in it), she offered me extra help after class. It was such a lovely gesture to brighten up a so far rainy day. Another two hours later I left, with a very numb bum, but feeling a bit more confident. I did learn another rather interesting cultural belief today though. Apparently, if you hold your chop-sticks near the end, you are destined to marry someone who lives far away (potentially African), but if you hold them near the food end you will marry someone who lives very close to you (geographically.) I'm apparently destined to marry someone from far away (darn it) but I think my chopstick holding has more to do with keeping my hands away from my food.

On another note, the bugs. Sneaky wee beasts. They lull you into a false sense of security, hiding away, and then one morning, after a particularly sunny day, you wake up covered in mosquito bites the size of finger nails (and a thumb.) If anyone knows Chinese for camomile lotion...

Thankfully, however, after all that learning, you can always rely on winding down with whatever toy you happen to find in your cereal box in the morning, hence the photo. Minutes of making fun all round. Nothing like the simple things in life.