settling down

Link House continues to be a great place to live. We had a welcome evening last week where we all provided a dish from our own country, introduced ourselves and played a silly game. A Link House tradition is that on (or near) each resident's birthday coffee and cake (baked by Hilary) is served in honour of the occasion.



My social calendar is beginning to get less manic, hence I am just beginning to get into my work and construct a working routine. Last week I managed to be out every night, and while these occasions were generally wonderful in getting to know people and keeping up with existing friends, lack of sleep caught up with me on Wednesday, giving me a bit of a sore thought etc which I am now shaking off. There are also a number of people I think I ought to have caught up with and haven't yet.

As well as the welcome party, highlights included seeing Delirious? at the Corn Exchange, continuing my habit of tagging along with ISEC people (hopefully will one day be a bona fide part of group, i.e. manage to make it out to China one summer), and Chin Hwa's housewarming in London where it was illuminating to hear from the Teach First-ers (TeachFirsties?) about teaching in the inner city.

I recently discovered that Chinese people are lactose intolerant and so can't eat cheese or drink cow's milk. I discovered this due to trying to explain cheese on toast to a housemate. (The BBC reports that the Chinese government is trying to clamp down on Chinglish (e.g. "Keep this candle out of children") prior to the Olympics.)

P.S. Have also added photos to earlier post, 'goodbyes & hellos'.