Dry by winds.

My teacher cohorts took me out to eat fantastic sichuan food, and then to Ali Baba, the foreign bar here in Tianjin. It was lovely. A club featuring a live band that played all our favorite songs from 2004 followed; I'd never heard "Get It Started" by the Black Eyed Peas sound so great.

So, I'm not sure if hair conditioner exists here? I was at a supermarket today, and looked at a huge wall of hair care products for about 30 minutes before a saleswoman just plucked a bottle off the wall and handed it to me, pointing at some Pinyin.

Everyone speaks Mandarin here. There is a handsome, blond white guy sitting across the room from me who is carrying on perfect conversation with two Chinese men. I am making learning my first priority. Well, after finding a map of this city. Also, after learning what street my apartment is on.

The kitchen situation: so, I have no kitchen. Paola, a teacher, explained that it's probably because my bathroom used to be the kitchen since having a private bathroom was not a huge priority until recently. So, that's why there is no kitchen. Buying food is apparently cheaper than cooking, though, and Paola has a huge perfect kitchen, so if I need to cook I'll go to her house. (SHE MADE GNOCCHI AND BANANA CAKE YESTERDAY.)

So, I think technically I am completely fucked in every way? But the novelty of it all hasn't worn off, and I have a feeling I'll be comfortable by the time it does. Thus, I am a-ok.