Monday Dec 24
It is 23 degrees Celsius on Christmas eve . I am in shorts and a tee shirt.
Another performance by “HELLO” This one at the Business college. Only Roger and I could go. I got a promotion to led vocals. Only four songs as part of a big party. We did “Jingle Bells”, “Yellow Submarine”, “I Feel Fine” and “Hey Jude”
Roger and Lilly live in 301, just down the hall from me. I go past their apartment to get to mine (310). When we got home from playing at the Business School, Lilly, found a present attached to the door knob of their apartment. I commented to Roger, the recent victim to the female conspiracy of marriage, that on of his female students is a secret admirer, and left him a present. This, of course, back fired when the note attached to the present said “ To Ron English”. It appears I have a secret admirer who is also dyslexic, mixing up 310 and 301.
Turned out to be Tina, from the Overseas class. Roger teaches the Overseas class too, so he knows her. More on her tomorrow. The gift is a beautiful good luck ornament to hang in the home.
Tuesday Dec 25
Just another Christmas day. No snow. Cooled off to 16 overnight, but didn't snow.
I ran out of my room to the invisible tree, and saw Santa gave me what I so richly deserved ... nothing. I started to work.
Due to an announcement yesterday. The University was now closed on both December 31 and January 1. This means several things. I can stay in Shanghai longer, I now lost a review class for Overseas students, and to get my exams in for printing at least seven days prior to the exam, they had to be done today.
I had to get THREE exams ready for printing by 5:30 PM. I had all but three of them ready. I worked all day, and only got two done. I went to Maggie in the office. Told her I already had tickets to Shanghai leaving early the next morning. and only had two of the three exams done. I told her can email them to her tonight or she can wait for one until Wednesday. She opted for Wednesday. I am so lucky. She is so nice.
At 4 pm, got a call form the six dorm mates at overseas college. Selice, Fiona, Winnie, Zoe, Cissy and Tina (the dyslexic girl from yesterday) all live together, sit in the front row, and want to take me for Christmas dinner. Their nickname for me is “007" from one day I wore my sun glasses (prescription) to class.
They will meet me at 6 PM in the front of the building. I meet them there, in shorts and tee shirt. They are all freezing and bundled up in winter coats. They all want ME to keep them warm. This is a good thing, They take turns cuddling as close as they can to keep warm. We head off to a restaurant in the centre of Jimei.
I start on Tina. I tell her I did not get any present. She says she hung it on Room 301. I tell her I live in 310. She gave it to Roger Loy. Now she is upset. I tell her she should call me “070" (zero seven zero) from now on, not “double Oh Seven” After 30 minutes of harassment from me, with help from the other five, I tell her the truth - that I got the present. But now, I tell her Roger is upset. She gave him a present meant for me, and he didn’t get one. He might fail her.
At dinner we eat “steak”. More like a chopped steak. Drink and laugh. I find out Zoe, the “quiet one” of the bunch, is a wild practical joker. We have a nice dinner, then head off to KTV.
Singing, laughing, having fun. Winnie and Fiona have incredible voices. They get me to play a number of English songs. We pick them all, and I know most, and several are out of my range. I do “Don’t Let the Sun go Down on Me” and “The House of the Rising Sun” as two of the better songs I sing. Winnie and I do some harmonies. After two hours, we call it a night, and they walk me home.
Another great evening. A little packing, and ready for the morning.
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