>Why don’t I just toss my wallet into the street while I’m at it? I should wear this on a T-shirt when I go to the tourist hot spots.

Some Beijing photos are up. More to come.

>During dinner last week I left to get a bottle of Sprite. The shopkeep charged me 3 RMB. I got back and Camilla asked me how much it costs.

I told her. She started laughing and informed me that shopkeepers here regularly overcharge foreigners because they see us as rich. The real price is 2.50 RMB.

I don’t like it. I mean, I’m not going to scream TMD!! and demand my .5 kuai back, but still…

Also, it seems this practice isn’t limited to foreigners. Shopkeeps will overcharge people from other parts of China too. Again, I don’t know how much ‘overcharge’ is for other place. If I’ve been overcharged before, I have not been aware of it.

I’ll be sure to raise hell next time.

>I’m going to Beijing tomorrow for four days. After which I come back to Wuhan. Next, Tianmen, Hong Kong and possibly Xi’an.

Here is the breakdown:

January 3 – 6 – Beijing

January 7 – Wuhan

January 24 – Tianmen (my girlfriend’s hometown) for Spring Festival

January 27 or so – Hong Kong. An undetermined length of time. An interesting note, Cantonese is the language of Hong Kong, and neither of us speak it. Should make for good times.

Some time in February – possibly Xi’an.

Also, the first five China columns of 2009 will center around teaching the non-English majors last semester.

>

Even the local mascot got in the spirit. Question: was this custom made or custom ordered? Perhaps I will steal it and keep it. I imagine it could fetch a hell of a price on ebay, especially for those full-headed fellows with money to blow.

>I had started smoking regularly and I mentioned to Maria that I wanted to quit.

Maria: Why?

…

I asked her off-hand what she thinks about guys who smoke. I already had a good idea. I just wanted her words on the subject.

Maria: I think it’s good. I see no problem with it.

Last weekend, we were supposed to visit a friend’s apartment and have wine. She asked if we should bring a gift. I mentioned cigarettes, but then wondered whether or not he smoked.

Maria: It doesn’t matter. If he does not smoke, you can still smoke them.

And for my birthday, she joined us at KTV. She brought along a present and I immediately unwrapped it.

An ashtray.

Well I have to use it, don’t I? Otherwise it’s rude.