We found out this week that swords can no longer be shipped in the mail from China so now our whole class is getting ready to leave, packing up and sending things home and it really throws a wrench in things. Mel and I really wanted to avoid having to take our practice weapons to Thailand with us but we may have to in the end. It's not a huge deal but it is pretty frustrating, just another thing to dislike about living here. I had a little rant when I found out but I was really only annoyed for about 15 minutes, which I thought was pretty alright. My mental/emotional state seems to have improved so much in the last couple years, all that meditating and tai ji must be paying off! I think I'll really notice the changes when I get back home and start living a relatively normal life again. I hope I can find a way to continue to improve. Scratch that, I know I can find a way, because it's important to me. Then, later, I can help others to do the same.

It's been several weeks since I blogged so I thought I'd better get back on that wagon. Our internet's been a pain in the butt lately, China has increased it's firewall due to political stuff and now the internet is ridiculously slow. I know there's no guarantee of fast internet with no interruptions at home but there's a tendency after living here for so long to attribute all problems to simply the fact that 'this is China'. We say that A LOT.

Summer has officially started. We're all sleeping with our fans on and eating more ice cream. One of the students who's staying here is a TCM herbalist and masseuse and on his recommendation I've started taking a herbal formula to "clear heat and dampness". So much of what I hate about summer here is a difficulty on my part to physically adapt to changes in the environment. It's hard to sleep, I get frequent stomach problems, lethargy, irritability, etc. and these symptoms in TCM can be attributed to excess heat and damp. I'm just taking a very low dosage but it seems to be working quite well and I'm more comfortable and more pleasant to be around....so far anyway. Herbal medicine can be so cool.

Less than 3 months left now. Pretty exciting....