SILC - The Sydney Institute of Language and Commerce joint venture with Shanghai University subsidized a trip to Dalian.  A small city (so all the Chinese say) of 6.5 million people in between Bo Hai Sea and the Yellow Sea.  We were actually only about 4 hours from North Korea!  Dalian is a young city that has been back and forth between Russia and Japan almost as much as in Chinese hands!  World War II saw three changes alone - quite fascinating and also a VERY delicious seafood area!!  There were 47 of us total - 24 "ex-pats" who are all teachers and a mix of administration and teachers who were Chinese.

We ate WAAAYYY too much and toured around the area as well as having fun with some of the colleagues with which we normally only talk "shop."  On Friday night 20 of the ex-pat teachers took a taxi down to Noah's where there was GREAT Jazz, pizza and good beer.  We had an awesome time talking, listening to music and putting back a few!  Totally relaxing!

Yes, I took pictures - though only just over 100 during the late Friday through Sunday trip.  Luckily I was able to get up and finish grading all of the Finance tests Friday morning!  Gave them back today so all was good.

Unfortunately, my website is blocked from my changing it.  Due to the CPC 17th National Congress, some say.  I can view the site from the other campus but not here?!!?  I also cannot ftp from here - but no worries with the blog (so far) or email!?!?  K? - my other site works quite well too. 

OH - got some great friz (Frisbee) in on Sat - a nice walk along the beach, and more food!  I am definitely going out for a skate tomorrow morning!

We are working on the final for Finance - a joint final so that the students all have the same basis.  Oh, it needs to be approved as well. 

OK - I need to end this long day - 4 am to now (after 9 pm), I am lucky that I am so coherent!

zzzzzzzzzz