Monday 27^th November, 2017 1815

Only 27 shopping days until Christmas, if you do that sort of thing.

And as miraculously as it mysteriously blocked overnight, the toilet unblocked overnight.

Last night I sent a text reminding Janet I had emailed regarding the exhibition and whether the school bus was running normally. If the driver doesn't know to expect me he will simply sail past leaving me frustrated.

She finally responded at 2245 with a simple “you do not have to go to campus tomorrow”. I knew that. But I wanted to show my students I cared enough to see their work. Another text was sent but was not replied to until 0630 this morning.

I of course was fast asleep and the phone was off by then. I became overtired waiting for a reply and even when I did finally relent at 0300 and called it a night, I think it was way past four before I actually nodded off. I had already made the decision to make my way independently and go this afternoon.

It turned out the exhibition wasn't open until after lunch anyway but when I rose at nine a student texted to say she had been tasked with meeting me on campus, when would I arrive? Considering I teach there every week I hardly need a guide, I just needed to know where it was being held. As it happened it was fortuitous, for I discovered that in addition to the art exhibition there was a dance show.

Everything commenced at 1430 but events conspired to see me arrive perfectly late at 1450, just in time for the end of the interminable opening announcements. And a bloody good performance it was too. Most of them were my students, although it was hard to recognise them in their costumes.

The various dance routines (two hours worth) saw really beautiful costumes and the dances and music were also eclectic. There was music and dance from Mexico, India, a Chinese version of Riverdance, you name it.

If they put as much effort into learning English as their dancing I would be one very happy teacher!

The art show was surprisingly good too, considering art is not what they study. Were they for sale and I had the money I would certainly have purchased two or three. Hardly Old Masters but really good nonetheless. Later I was collared outside when some of the performers were taking photos to post online and send to their families. Naturally, after taking my own snaps I had to pose with them for their photos.

So I have done the right thing and a good job I went today because they won't be dancing every day this week, or at least I doubt it judging by how packed the theatre was.

I was also buttonholed by a girl who introduced herself as the Captain of the English Club. They are holding an English Corner next Friday and wondered if I would come. Given that on east campus I am a big fish in a small pond and they have never failed to treat me very well, I am minded to go even though it will mean one hell of a long day after getting up at 0500. The girl had dreadful English, unfortunate in her position of Captain of the English Club I thought, every second word was “nigger” (Chinese for um or er or ah) and I told her to get my students to remind me next week and I would see.

She informed me she has my class next week! It speaks volumes that I was unaware she was my student, she can't have said a word in any of my lessons!

In the school bus on the way home we pulled up at traffic lights in heavy traffic. A people carrier to my left suddenly disgorged half a dozen uniformed men wielding camcorders. They pounced on the car behind them, threw two men out, ordered the rear passengers into the front and then sadly the lights turned green so the show was over.

What puzzled me was that they weren't police, their uniforms were military green but their arm badges simply said China Transportation. Considering the two men evicted from the vehicle were simply sent away and there were no arrests and nobody in the bus could explain to me exactly what function this “hit squad” fulfilled I found it all most odd. Searching the web provides no answers either. Very odd indeed.