Mount Jiuhua (jiuhuashan) with Lydia (shen hui)‏

I went to Jiuhuashan on Friday with a friend. That's the first time that I have traveled with someone other than to their home. It was nice to have someone for company who can speak Chinese. We stayed overnight and came back on Saturday. She is fun to be with. It was her birthday last week so I told her I would treat her and she chose jiuhuashan. I had never been there so that was ok. It is a nice place. She has no one to talk English with and she is very anxious to practice. We had a good time. THe hotel was good. Nothing fancy but comfortable and free internet and good shower. My legs are a little stiff from climbing so many steps up the mountain. The weather was great. The scenery is beautiful but not as nice as huangshan, I am told. That will be my next trip.

I never got to go anywhere with Judy because I always thought that there was lots of time. Then, suddenly, she was going to Africa and the opportunity was gone. I learned my lesson. Never assume that you have lots of time to do the things that you want to do because maybe next week or next month she will be gone or I will be gone and then the opportunity is lost. So now if I have the chance to go somewhere with a friend I will go as soon as we can. When Lydia suggested jiuhuashan I said yes right away. I had the days free and I know that she wants to move to Shanghai in April maybe. So we won't have too many chances. I will visit her in Shanghai sometime. I want to go to the Shanghai Expo so I will stay at her place when I go. She is comical at times. She seems naive but she talks about many things that many girls would be uncomfortable with, I think. She laughs a lot and that makes me laugh and feel good. I don't laugh enough, I think.

I went to class today (3 periods) but the school canceled the class; only 10 students signed up. That is good for me. Now I have no classes on Mondays so I have a free day. I have 6 Oral English classes and the last I heard there was only one of them that was full. Maybe they will join some of the classes together. That would be nice!

The weather is starting to be springlike. It will soon be time to get my bicycle out. I can't wait! I love riding my bike. I feel free. I can go anywhere without being limited by bus routes or schedules. In the fall I rode to Caisiji. It took me about 30 minutes. It's a nice park to visit. Some day I will take a whole day, pack a picnic and go out into the country to explore. It would be great if I could find someone to go with but I will go on my own anyway.

I won't have much free time for awhile. I have more than twice the classes that I had last term so I am busy but I like it. I had too much free time last term and that is not good for me. I need to keep busy.

Don