Winding Down

My time here is quickly coming to a close, and I haven't written much because I've had quite a bit to handle as of late. Today was my last day of class, and my first day of exams. The next two weeks will be spent studying until my eyes are dry and cracking into dust onto the pages of my books. Honestly, I don't know that I will pass this semester's courses. My entire grade in each class rides on one test for each. All of it. The Chinese testing system really knows how to put the pressure on. I'm going to try not to worry too much about this, though. I know I've learned so much this year, even if it isn't immediately apparent.

Originally, I was kind of heartbroken about returning to the states, but now that the heat and exams have settled in, I guess I can deal with it. Besides, it isn't China that I'm going to miss the most; it's my China-fam, as we've been calling it. I have met such amazing people here. Now isn't the time for writing a reflective piece because I have to go study, but there might be one in the near future. Until then, I am in studying hermitage.

Hotel Construction

The hotel we moved Andrew into after the end of the shortened lease has become an old standby. He Jia Binguan is a pretty good, pretty cheap place to stay in Wudaokou, for only 158 kuai per night. Previously, all the rooming had been done in the main building, but this time they utilized the second building. I'm not entirely sure why they decided to do this, but I've learned that it's better to just not ask questions for some things.

There's alot of construction going on in that building, however, and it starts at about 6 in the morning. Today, it was particularly bad. I walked into the room, and the first thing I said was, "Wow, they've got quite the team of unskilled monkeys working around here, don't they?" because that's what it sounds like. It sounds like they've given monkeys hammers and let the banging commence.

We joked that there's actually a team of seals and babies working with them, too. Because of how Beijing businesses contract construction workers, however, a reasonable number of workers (5 monkeys, 6 seals, and 2 babies) would have to have give way to something ridiculous (30 monkeys, 20 seals, and well over 200 babies). That explains the noise.

I went to the desk and got the room changed this morning. I don't mind a seal in a hard hat even so often, but you've got to consider sleep quality sometimes.