Tales of Interest

As I write this, I'm updating my photos. There are some good ones in there, mostly of pictures around where I work and the weird statues there, and an abandoned carnival. Trippy business.

Regarding the last couple of posts: for the most part, Drama is over. Water under the bridge, everyone's talking to each other, hip hop hooray.

I've been trying to start writing again, in a big serious way, but I've been having a hard time getting started. Simply the act of sitting down to good ol' MS word is a beast of its own, but especially starting from scratch. I'm gonna give it another shot tomorrow.

In the constant fight against ennui I've taken to wandering the city. This is, I think, healthy behavior. I haven't really found much of note yet except the carnival and bar therein, but I've only done it a bit.

In this regard I've found I kind of need to learn to be less dependant on the company of others. I'm used to kind of having a posse at all times but it is clear that my priorities and the priorities of the people around me (the Chinese people I'm keeping in touch with, my students with whom i'm buddy-buddy, and the other foreign teachers) are vastly different.

All told, even if this time I've spent here doesn't translate into a job directly, I'm glad I came out here. I've had a lot of time for reflection. This is most definitely a time when i could use a bit of meditation. I'm not much interested in my Chakras or aligning my Qi, but I feel like I'm gonna come out of this with a better idea of where I want to be going, even if I don't really KNOW any more than I do now. Part of this is doing what I need to do - taking bus rides into random parts of town, wandering around, drinking coffee at starbucks like an arrogant twat, writing, et cetera. If i hang out with other people there's either going to be a lot of drinking or a lot of video game playing and while both of those are fine pursuits (one could argue there is no finer), I don't want it to take up the lion's share of my time.

I'm starting to take a hard look at my winter break. Gots to get my priorities in line. I want to go everywhere and do everything, but there are only so many weeks.

Anyways, so far I have not had any startling revelations of "oh my god i want to be a fireman when i grow up", but I know how to find the abandoned carnival in Xi'an.

As per the usual I'm doing well, trying to keep busy. I think I need a creative outlet. Writing's an obvious choice but they have to sell musical instruments here. I've got a rad keyboard waiting for me at home maybe i should try and pick up a cheapo one here, learn to make a decent racket.

Oh, before i forget, I had an Idea the other day (speaking of instruments). How many of you other people have instruments? I had this weird idea that involved me getting a keyboard and recording something and then sending it to other people and them playing other instruments over it. I dunno. Is that something other people would be interested in? Dad, I know you have that guitar and know a couple of chords :) .

Well, anyways, I'm alive, well, and done waxing poetic for the evening. Enjoy the pics! In my arrogance, I assume you will look at them.