Standing in a circle of quiet

So, I'm in an internet cafe in Ha'erbin, China.  I cannot get internet connection in my apartment and I cannot get to this page from the internet because China doesn't like anything with the word "blog" in the URL.  And they weren't kidding about that.  

So it's hot.

The faculty that I am teaching are lovely, amazing people.

Did I mention, it's hot?

There are many, many internationals here.  People from Tanzania (not the only negro on the block!), people from Russia and the US, etc.  If you want to teach in china try getting  a gig at HIT.  The university is big into internationalizing right now.

Surprisingly enough, all the signs are mostly in Chinese.  

I find this a bit disconcerting.  Could I learn to speak Chinese?  Probably.  Could I learn to listen and sing and teach and learn in the Chinese language?  I would imagine so.  After a time.  BUT. . .READ CHINESE?  

Give me strength.  

Honestly, one has to question what prompts a person to abandon her homeland for a world so utterly foreign.  

Let me know what you come up with.

Kisses.