Mid-terms

November already! Hard to believe. Students have mid-terms this week (some as many as eight), which means no class Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. We'll probably take the opportunity to travel somewhere, but where and how remain up in the air.

This afternoon I went for a badly needed haircut and then to the bank -- mundane activities, I know, but in China they become mini-adventures. At the bank I withdrew all the money from my WITT account, including my airfare reimbursement, and deposited it into my own account; 12,000 yuan in 100-yuan bills makes a tall pile. The first time I deposited a few thousand yuan I felt self-conscious carrying so much money -- that is, until I saw people come up to the counter with stuffed gym bags. On the way back I stopped in at a massage place to check out the prices, and ended up staying for a 30-minute back massage which cost RMB 25 (about $3). This may become a weekly indulgence.

Photos from the CCTV Tower this weekend are here.

China Fun Fact: The U.S. and China have agreed to establish a direct phone line between their respective defense ministries, the first China has ever opened at that level with another country.