I should be used to this by now

 (clam farms in Qingdao, I think)

Words/ phrases I hope to never hear again after leaving China:

- That is lovely
- "just so-so"
- It is so interesting
- delicious foods
- "and so on..."
- What a pity!
- Nice to meet you.
- play with my friends

This list will probably grow longer as my second term progresses, but I am kind of sick of correcting the same mistakes over and over again.  Plus, I can't correct flat out awkward or old-fashioned English.

Otherwise, my weekend was fun because I met another English teacher and we went to "hike" around the 石老人 ("stone old man") area of Qingdao but ended up climbing a random rock.  It was a really windy day but was a nice change from winter -- it was great to be outside again!  We did wander across a strange "Bear Performance Park" where we took photos like this:

 I think this park is some sort of zoo meets Banjo Kazooie ride -- pretty scary, huh?  I also treated myself to a latte from Starbucks on Saturday before coming back to my apartment.  America!

I start Chinese lessons again this week and it's finally warming up just a little.  There was a giant storm on Sunday, complete with thunder, lightning, and flash flooding.  Considering that I am on a coastal town in the north, I didn't know this was possible.  It's nice to get back into a routine of things here, but I am eagerly awaiting my first long weekend vacation!