Hello again. So, i just got back from a crazy hot pot dinner. For those of you who are unfamiliar, hot pot is a traditional Sichuanese dish, similar in principle to fondue. Everyone gathers around a pot of boiling oil and a pot of boiling broth, then dumps in various meats and vegetables to cook. And when I say various meats, I mean various--I was probably able to identify only 1 type of the multitude I ate. That was probably for the best, though. In Sichuan, hot pot is very very spicy, so everyone drinks either beer or a type of milk I was also unable to identify. I eventually requested soda, as it is considered improper for women to drink overly much alcohol in public. The Chinese traditionally have a stereotype about Western women, garnered from imported film and television, that we are all big drinkers and therefore loose. The PC has been pretty firm about encouraging us to try and prove those stereotypes wrong. And so I drank a lot of Pepsi.

Our group at the hot pot restaurant was large. I live in the same apartment building as three of my fellow PCVs, and all of our host families know each other. so we basically move as one huge conglomeration. Tonight it was decided we were going to hot pot. I sat with my friend Ben's family, and they are a total riot. The beer was flowing and at first I kept saying "gambei!" when we'd toast, thinking that was the Chinese equivalent of "cheers." But they'd always giggle at me, more than usual, that is, and shake their heads. Eventually they told me that "gambei!" means "bottoms up!" Whoops. I wasn't really emptying my glass; in fact I was taking baby sips to show my modesty... Ben's grandma (called Neinei) is hilarious, she was toasting with all of us, and i've now become buddies with his cousin, too. When you are welcomed by a Chinese family, you are often encouraged to call them by their familial titles, so I was addressing them all as "uncle," "auntie," "little sister." They've decided to throw a birthday party for me on the 22nd...so I guess you could say I was warmly embraced. It was great fun.

Today was a good day for several other reasons, which I'll detail. First, the sky was out. That may sound strange, but in a city with dense smog, seeing the sky seems almost miraculous. Also, the weather was cooler than normal, so this morning three of us played basketball against some Chinese boys who live in our neighborhood. It was so nice to get some exercise, and kind of funny to have the Chinese realize we weren't all basketball superstars, simply by virtue of our American passports. I mean, I'm almost a basketball superstar, but not quite.... Lastly, we made a pilgrimmage to Metro, as giant store rather similar to Sam's Club (it even requires a membership to shop there) and I bought another shirt and a pair of pants. Shopping in a foreign country is always interesting, and it rises to another level in China.

I ought to be off now. Tomorrow I've been told that someone is coming to install an internet line in my room at the apartment, so if that happens I'll be able to post more regularly for the duration of the summer. May all be well with you. Until next time.