Summer's here again. It's not just a temperature or a season here -- it's a taste in the air, green in the trees, a spicy scent that's pervasive but you just can't put your finger on. I tracked it down in the store once and found a little ...fruit? Nut? Vegetable? Herb? Brown thing. It reeked. But the smell is everywhere here, and it's something that grows on you.

It was overcast this morning, spitting rain just a little as I biked frantically to work, praying that I'd miss the downpour that never did arrive. The haze was close, too. You can tell how polluted it is every day by how far away you can see, and the distance wasn't very far this morning. Oh well.

I dunno, though. The weather is really making me nostalgic. I love Chengdu in the summer... The winter? It can go to hell as far as I'm concerned, but I really do love it here in the summertime, despite searing heat and incredible humidity. If I never feel sweat dripping down my back again, it'll be too soon. But I know I have that to look forward to in a month or so. Bleh.

Believe it or not, I've found a home here. Granted, I may spend hours on recipe websites longingly staring at recipes for food I could NEVER cook here (no oven, no microwave, can't get most ingredients), and I may wish I could stop teaching so darned much and get some time to myself, but I think I've finally found some equilibrium.

I had more to say..but it's just not coming out. To bed with me.


I'll leave you with a picture of one of my students. Kay's a sweetheart -- soft spoken, intelligent, truly a joy to have in class. Picture was taken by my boyfriend at English corner.