Since Christmas I have celebrated, or should that be endured, another birthday. Had a fairly quiet day but went out for a lovely dinner with Shirley to celebrate anyway. Went to my favourite Italian restaurant as a break form Chinese food is needed every now and then....besides they also have some rather nice Italian wine with which to celebrate!!! Present wise I was given a wonderful fruit basket, some chocolates and an engraved pen with my name on it so that was nice.

Directly after my birthday we have seen in the new year of 2013 with a whimper....the big bang is saved for Chinese New Year which this year is celebrated in mid February.

We are still in the depth of winter and have had some days of snowing and - degrees. Even native Nanjingers are now complaining that we are having a cold winter this year!!! I had to go out teaching one day when it was snowing....had a bit of a blond moment.....saw it was snowing but not raining and therefore didn't take my umbrella!!! Arrived to class looking a bit of a mess covered in snow and of course WET.....well I was hardly going to admit the error of my ways so just said I forgot it..hmmm

Some of our students are now graduating and we have a number of ceremonies happening over the next few weeks. The air is full of excitement and anticipation for these students - many of whom have been studying for 7 years. I have been invited to see some of my students graduate and it is such a pleasure to watch them as they now embark on the next phase of their lives.

Have also had the pleasure of being the Judging Queen again.....this time it was for the China Daily 21st Century Cup Provincial Final. The winners from this day will go to Beijing to compete in the National final to be held in March and then the grand winners will fly to London to compete in the international final. Needless to say we had many nervous students and some rather overbearing parents to contend with!!!! The one child policy has created a generation of "little Emperors and Empresses" of which China is just coming to realise is not such a good thing!!! Research is indicating that these students are spoilt, self-absorbed and lazy.....have to say I agree with the findings as many have an expectation that life will be handed to them by doting parents and grandparents at a time when China really needs people who are resilient, reliable and hardworking....a policy that has kind of back fired a bit I think!!!

Have finished teaching the undergraduate students for this semester but will continue to have my weekends taken up with teaching the Young Medical Expert program until the end of January. Am really enjoying teaching these doctors but have to admit it is rather taxing having all my weekends taken up with the program....no time to get out and see more of China. Mind you during these winter months it is not so bad as I really don't feel like exploring on the cold but when spring and summer arrives it will be quite a different story!!!

Have decided not to worry about next semester too much yet....even the Chinese haven't worked out the teaching schedule yet so there is no use worrying about things I cannot change or influence as yet. Am busy planning my holidays still...Burma is off the "to do" list as I could not get a visa organised in time....now looking at other options. Also having problems getting flights out of the country - seems that everyone wants to leave for Chinese New Year this year!!! Anyway should all be sorted this week - fingers crossed - and that will give me something to look forward to :)

Bye for now. xxx