I learned a new word today!

Well, many, in fact, but one in particular stands out:

酒鬼 － drunkard. Or literally, an alcohol ghost.

It’s only our third night and already the boys on the program thought it was time to play – and teach their roommates – the rousing game of 啤酒乒乓球 … beer pong. I walked upstairs to find a group of people huddle around two tiny 10-cup racks set up on the floor, shooting orange ping pong balls in the dark. As the night progressed, stools were piled to raise the racks, and then said stools eventually got closer and closer together to the point that you could basically reach over and drop your ball into your opponents’ cups. Needless to say, it made for a good time. My own roommate opted to stay in and read a book online; the girls here don’t really drink much, if at all.

Still no internet. The guy came by to set it up so now technically I’m connected, but my login information doesn’t work. I’ve resorted to piggybacking off others’ online access, but not being able to get online myself is getting a little frustrating. Not to say that I’m expecting too many emails from you guys – the few times I have checked my gmail it’s been full of horoscope emails, NY Times updates, and notes from my mom. If you can’t read between the lines, this is a guilt trip to get you guys to write me more. Mom, I know you’re reading this blog religiously… feel free to keep your email frequency at status quo.

Speaking of whom, during tonight’s phone call with my mom it hit me that the Chinese immersion is actually sinking in – there were several moments when I almost launched into Chinese instead of English.

I’m changing rooms tomorrow! My bathroom still stinks, and while I’m adjusting more and more to it, I am not going to turn down the opportunity for a real sink. Maybe a shower curtain, if I’m lucky.

Tomorrow we are hiking in the tea fields. One of the things Hangzhou is best known for is its tea – longjing tea, which I blogged about a few days ago. Year after year it is voted the best tea in China, the very best quality of which is sent to the Queen of England and other foreign dignitaries. Apparently the best Empress tea is plucked in early March – the tea bush’s first bloom – and is only sold in Hangzhou. The leaves plucked in the summer are among the worst in quality (this is all relative, of course) and are commonly chopped up and put in tea bags. This is the kind of tea you’ll find in a Tazo tea box at Starbucks. Us 外國人 (foreigners) are not supposed to be able to taste the difference.

After our hike we all, roommates included, will go for foot massages in town. Clearly this is the part that I most anticipate.

Tomorrow night we’re going to try to find somewhere to party. Will let you know how that goes. Our director has informally warned us against a few of the best clubs here because apparently one program participant got drugged at one last year (after making some poor decisions), and another is said to be where all the Russian gangsters hang out. According to Jeremy, one guy was swiped by the Russians last year and was blindfolded, etc (I think, but this could be a total exaggeration) and thankfully realized once they dropped him off just outside town that they had snatched the wrong person. I guess the warning in my program packet wasn’t too far off.