Sorry it's been a few days....

Things have gotten extremely busy over here! I have barely had time to breathe much less have time to write anything down (not to mention that my computer's adapter cable got fried, so I haven't been able to use a computer since Wednesday). Since our three day weekend, classes have really started to pick up and by classes, I mostly mean Chinese. I'm just going to say that Chinese has to be one of the most complex languages invented...it's really amazing, but incredibly difficult to try to learn. I think it's easier because I'm living here now, so I hear it all the time, but still. Fluency is far away, let me just put it that way.

I am practicing a ton and the music just keeps piling up. At this point, I am in three ensembles: orchestra, a piano trio and a string quartet, plus private lessons and 15 hours of Chinese every week. And I have to fit a practice regiment in around all of that, which is kind of interesting. However, it seems that whatever I'm doing is good. At my lesson on Thursday, He Xuan, my teacher, told me that I am going to perform the Bach G minor Sonata on October 15, at one of the student recitals. Mind you, he did not ask if I wanted to perform, he just kind of said that I was going to. All in all, I think this is a good thing.

What else...what else...so much has happened, so I forget things really easily. We went to a symphony concert the other night. It was at the Oriental Art Center: 

And before that we went to the Cantonese Opera. And we have eaten a lot of delicious food and have generally just been working very hard. From now on, the internet and my computer should be pretty stable, so I will update with more stories, etc. because I will actually remember them. Oh dear.

And here's a few more pictures just to make this update slightly less boring for you all:

Peking Opera House of Shanghai, Yifu Theater

The story I did not understand.

Badass dragon lady!

Seriously mini-fridge.

Joanna and a funny sign.

And here is the tiny kitten in the bag shop that they wanted to give us...it was adorable, but we live in dorms. Oh well.

Alright...goodnight on my end!