Tuesday, 2^nd July, 2019 1740

It's not often in China that you encounter “odd”people but during the past week I have managed it twice.

On my way on the bus to my last day on east campus there was someone who kept breaking into song – in Chinese of course. He was behind me somewhere but I couldn't see who it was, it was a rush hour morning bus, the sort in China where people are jamming their handbags or their buttocks into you when you are fortunate (or smart) enough to have a seat.

Not a soul batted an eyelid even though he would have been immediately eliminated from China's Got Talent. Just my luck, he was travelling all the way to the end, same as me.

As the passengers thinned out near the end of the journey, he took to pacing the bus, giving involuntary movements and occasionally clutching his shaven head that was adorned with sores. I have absolutely no idea what was wrong with him (except maybe Tourette's) but of one thing I am certain - I doubt very much he was receiving any care.

Am I any better than everyone else who simply ignored him? Maybe not, for when he started pacing up and down the vehicle he was looking everyone squarely in the eye. The Chinese feigned not noticing, I stared back, daring him to even think about doing anything. I admit that like most people, I have limited knowledge of what to do with mad people, even less when they are bonkers in a different language! The fists clench even if the temper is held in check.

And yesterday I went to the jing-jo shop. The customer who entered before me struck me as somewhat odd. A man aged somewhere between fifty and my age, clad in slippers and pyjamas! Male. Pink pyjamas.

In Chizhou female students would often go to get a takeaway on campus in their nightwear but never the boys and I have never seen a student here regardless of sex doing it. He spoke to Mrs Jing Jo, bought nothing and walked out. Using body language I expressed the opinion that during mid-afternoon it was somewhat strange for a middle-aged man to be out and about in pyjamas. Her body language in response was pretty clear!

So Monday will be Annie's last meal with us. She is not leaving China until 2^nd August (from Chengdu after she does yet more Peace Corps shit) but she leaves this university next Tuesday to go and do even more Peace Corps crap at another university for thirteen hours a day and for ten days – unpaid.

So I had asked her and Alice to come with me tomorrow lunchtime for a Whopper and shopping at Metro. Tonight Annie cancelled, citing that she had been summoned by the director and Brenda. Clearly they are taking her for a last lunch and best of luck to her but it reinforced my hatred of the Chinese “snap our fingers and you drop everything” mentality. As any regular readers know, I never renege on arrangements made from a subsequent invitee regardless of who it is. I don't like it being done to me and I don't do it to others.

As I was taken by surprise at her earlier than expected leaving I have planned next Monday as being a none-to-little cooking day type of meal. For over a year I have promised that one day I would give her smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels and so I will. Despite my own preference for plain, I have ordered (at her suggestion) “everything” bagels as well. Tomorrow I hope to buy the salmon and cheese, if it is a problem we have time to order online.

If she has to cancel following another invitation from the school then I will never forgive her.