I'm sorry for not blogging for a few days but i hope you enjoy reading my updates.

Taking it from where I left off we've been privileged enough to have been learning Taiji and Kung fu every morning at seven. That is missions. Getting up early and then traipsing all the way downstairs for 30 minutes is a challenge but hey nobody said this would be easy :p I love doing it though. Kung fu is intense. Taiji is gentle and peaceful. It reminds me of Ying and Yang ;)

MANDARIN.... well..... it's getting better but it still needs a lot of work. When I say A LOT I mean A LOT. I absolutely love my class. They're all amazing the teachers are soooooo nice. I cannot stress to you how nice everyone has been to us over the last 2 weeks. They have just flown by without me noticing. I'm actually really upset that we will have to leave Beijing because it's been incredible.

The culture courses have continued where we have done some Chinese painting and had a lecture on Development and Chinese Society. Very interesting but extremely hard to stay awake in. The trip has taken a lot out of all of us but only because it has been so jam packed with awesomeness. The lecture ending with controversial questions. The lecturer pointed out that there was a camera at the back of the classroom which I had never noticed but it just showed that anything that is taught in a classroom is monitored. SHOCK!

The biggest highlight of this week was going to the theatre to watch "Chen Yi, The Legend of Kung Fu." It was AMAZING! Kicks and jumps flying everywhere, on stage acrobatics and theatre. It was just so impressive and jaw dropping. Let us not forget to mention that the guys were HOT!!! ;)

On a bit of a downer I have a cold because of the air con but thank you Amanpreet, the lemsip has been my saviour. The food is also getting quite difficult to eat now as it takes alot to find a place to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Oh and haggling, I am soo not good at. When three different people jump you it's not pretty. Shopping here is not like England. There is no fixed price so they try to get the highest amount of money out of you and if you're foreign then that doesn't help either. I need to read Aldaine's guide to haggling later. I got ripped off badly :( for one of my buys but others have been alright.

Yesterday we went to the Beijing 798 art zone. It was very interesting and i also got to go shopping afterwards too which is always a bonus. :D

Me and Aman also went to a Chinese dance class and were thinking of basing our final piece on dance. That class was absolutely unbelievable. The teacher was amazing and the dancing is so graceful, tranquil and just so beautiful. I have to try and make that work somehow. We'll be going again today too. Woop Woop! :)

I am enjoying myself so much here and I have come to love so many different people. Everyone is really great!

I have to go and lead a workshop now with my group so wish me luck. :)

Zaijian

Pooja x

P.s THEY HAVE APPLE FANTA HERE! It's awesome! ;) x