Ni hao!

Ok, this is going to be tough. Everything on the computer is in Chinese but I'll give it a shot. Can't actually see the blog either - I think there's some sort of security thing going on - maybe Blogger said something bad about General Mau.

It's different out here!

There are a lot of people everywhere - and I mean a lot. Westerners are something of a novelty - people stare at you at point blank range and shout Heelloo! when you walk past (just like the book said). I've had people come up to me and ask me to pose for photos with them, it's hilarious! And that's in the capital city! I can't imagine what it's going to be like when we get out into the countryside! There was this kid the other day that grabbed one of the guys in the group's hand and held onto him the whole way to the bar we were going to. Then he thought it would be funny to try to shove his hand up everyone's bum. That was first night - pretty embarassing! Mostly the kids are just amazed at us. You walk onto the tube and everyone's jaws drop.

The others in the group are cool. The're all about my age - most of them younger actually. I'm sharing with a Canadian guy called Chris who seems pretty cool so far. Actually there's abig group of 5 that all went to Cambridge Uni and did law together that are a bit more difficult to crack. They seem to want to do everything together which will hopefully change over time but when I have spoken to them there's one or two that seem determined to educate me about the entire history of China. I guess some of it is interesting but I hope they manage to chill out (or oot as Chris would say) soon!

Other news: it's unbelieveably hot, sweating all day. No squirts yet but it's on the cards - I've already said I'll eat anything to the guys in the group - looking forward to eating 'Tiger vs Dragon' (cat stuffed with snake).

No photos yet- need to get to a camera shop. Loads more news but not much time, having a great time. Later!