Here I am again, my fourth week in Wenchang complete and another weekend in Haikou gone. The mood over the past few days has been a sombre one; we have said farewell to members of our group, good friends have now left us for home. It's bizarre to think that they are returning to family, friends, english lifestyles...reality, while we continue our adventures here, almost in a dream, knowing that at some point we will have to awake and return to the monotony of life.

Our previous weekend in Haikou had also been rather emotional. Goodbyes began and a lot of heartache was in store. By Monday, I was thoroughly exhausted, having had three hours of broken sleep the night before, sandwiched between far too many people and feeling somewhat emotionally drained. That evening though, I found salvation and have since been the happiest person in all of Hainan, maybe even the world!

Last week's teaching went well, I discussed time and daily routine with my classes; they were horrified to learn that in England, lessons don't begin until 8.30am/9am and that school finishes for the day at 4pm. In comparison to their 7am start and 10.30pm finish, I felt quite lazy and almost embarrassed. However, I was happy to see some more confident students emerging, many have braved some brief conversation with me and get frustrated when they don't understand. Their effort though means more to me than anything, they put a smile on my face as they huddle around me, desperate to ask their previously rehearsed questions.

I still dreaded that final class on Friday though. Much to my dismay, I walked in to a class of about seven students, seven out of seventy! On enquiring about the whereabouts of the others, I was informed that they were "playing basket ball". Personally, i'd rather have a room packed with troublemakers than no one. The few students struggled to understand the concept of Hangman, the presence of three cleaners sweeping the back of the room throughout probably didn't make matters any easier. I wished them luck with their exams and told them of my plans to visit Haikou. Oddly enough, this caused a great many gasps of sadness and utter horror! I had to calmly explain that it was just a weekend trip and not a permenant stay.

The weekend itself was, although a lot of fun, very sombre. On Friday, we ate pizza at a western restaurant. I find it very odd that, on leaving, people choose to have their final meal at a western venue, when they are returning to an eternity of western food! Surely they should indulge in a final chinese feast?! Although, it has to be said, that a couple of the guys, after consuming three hamburgers, also got chinese steamed dumplings - jiao zi - kebbabs - coal heated, poo-resembling meat on a stick - and chicken's feet!

We ventured to the usual Allen's bar, where I merrily greeted our FAVOURITE barman. He is an utter star, the only one who knows how to make a G and T and by far the cutest of the bunch! We danced to the cheesy tunes, took many a photo and eventually, left for various destinations. I hug-walked with the lovely Jim, who will be leaving next weekend. We discussed our many memories, the first night we arrived and our adventures at 66, his devotion to the Tigers and the recollecting of the in-depth discussions we've shared. We purchased some chao mein, bu rou, and then went and Facebooked.

I sat in the internet cafe, waiting for time to pass. The hostel was lacking in bed space, five already crammed into one room and the other...well...it was out of bounds...6am came around and I awaited Stephen's emergence from the room, he being due to leave at 6.30am. He didn't rise till 7am, despite my knocking-on-the-door efforts. I was shattered. However, this was overcome by my utter dismay at saying goodbye, Stephen being a dear friend to me; we'd shared a lot over the past weeks and have many a memory; tears just couldn't stop themselves.

The day was, as a result, rather dismal. I captured three hours of sleep before venturing to a tea house with the charming Zoe, my Wenchang companion and equally treasured friend. We had coffee and eagerly planned our travelling adventures. For those of you I have yet to inform, I am now returning on 2nd August, as Zoe and I will explore Western China, Laos, Thailand and Malaysia. That's the hope anyway!

That evening we went to Geoff's, a western bar that is actually quite depressing, Coldplay being the choice of music, not only the most solemn band in existence but also one of Stephen's favourites. We facebooked until the wee hours again and I managed to nab a free bed, although was eaten alive by its resident bed bugs. That's what happens when you take a boy's bed, a boy who hasn't changed the sheets in his four months of being here!

Sunday. Another day of farewells, this time to the lovely Wolmar and Himesh. Wolmar left first, my sunset-songs, balcony-chats, drunken-walks-home companion. Again, tears were shed. Zoe and I then decided Wenchang was calling and farewells were said to Himesh, another balcony chat friend, Jim, mentioned earlier, Anisha, the loveliest girl i've ever come across and Cat, who we may meet in Laos! We clambered into a taxi, big arse bag of rice, muti pack of toilet roll and two hundred bags of tea with us, as the remainder of our depleting group waved us off.

That evening, we toasted those who had departed with our free lipton, "chunk", chocolate and lemon flavoured teas, suprisingly quite tasty, before falling into bed. I sat on the balcony watching and listening, as two choirs of students sang in the centre of our empty road. Eventually, my eyes could take no more and my head hit the pillow.

The rain poured down today, i'm still drying off from my walk into school! We are going to a local tea house later and are intending on buying buns for tea. All is well here in China, I am very content with every adventure each day brings. Who knows what'll happen next? Stay tuned to find out.....