Girlfriends are pricy

I love my girl, but the fact is, girlfriends are expensive. I am just lucky she doesn't like really expensive things. Even so I have been going out to eat at restraunts and going to hankou a little more often than usual. I bought her a watch, really because she was always hunting for her cell phone to look at the time. She keeps her phone in a really hard place to get to, so it made sence, anyhow I have been enjoying my relationship very much, things are moving forward and we are having a good time, savign is difficult but I will manage to get it down soon, after september should be easier.
I have been speaking with Tom through text a little more lately, haven't really seen him more than a few times in the past few months. He is on the summer fun schedule at his job so we don't have a common day off any longer. That will change soon, so ... I hope to spend more time with him. I have alot of people to divide my time amongst these days, it's getting harder and harder to do so. However, my girlfriends classes will be starting up soon, so she will have less time and I should have more to spend with Tom and Everett. Last I spoke with my brother he had some idea of what he was going to do, however I won't speak for him.
Ate a huge fish the other day with Janice, it was really really good. the meat practically melted in your mouth, it came with bean sprouts and tofu noodles. It was great, and for 30 yuan you can't go wrong. We left the place full and happy, we weren't even upset about the conterfeit Coca-colas we bought, they were actually local brand future cola in a coca cola bottle. I could tell the difference pretty easily.
Anyhow my residency has been extended until february, and I a probablly going to extend my contract another year. I would love to come home for a couple months, but I am not sure when I am going to be able to afford to do that. My school will pay for my flight one way but I still have to manage the flight back, and you never know I may bring someone with me for a visit :) Gotta get ready for classes guys, have a good day.

Custom

I think the green hat thing isn't done a whole lot now, but I am sure it's still done by plenty, but yeah this is an older custom.
Savings isn't going well because I owe so much money, girlfriends are expensive as well. but after september it should get easier, planning a trip in october for national holiday, not sure where yet though.

The green hat

I never see anyone wearing the green hat, the only people wearing green hats are beggers who find them in the garbage (Most likely from very depressed and upset husbands or boyfriends, and the army who wear both their dress hats and their winter "Ruskie" hat, they are both green. I am sure many of the "Green Hats" are rendered into shreds by several means. If you do wear a green hat in public people just look at you like a looser who is getting cheated on and doesn't mind showing it, trust me I have been there. My girl won't let me wear mine when I am with her, not because she doesn't like how it looks, but because she would get to many questions and embarrasing passing glances.
No the hat is a silent transaction between Husband/Wife Boyfriend/Girlfriend that says, "Sorry I'm cheating on you, and I quite enjoy it, and besides you have probably been doing it for months/years anyway. Divorce me if you want, otherwise don't give me any shit."
And yes, old fashioned is deffinitly something I would consider charming ... I guess I am not into charming all that much these days. I digress, it's charming and even a little cute, but it isn't for me, at least not forever. Anyway guys, time to get to work, later.

Inflation Hits China

It was bound to happen, prices on some goods (It all started with a pork shortage) are going up and wages aren't. This has a me a little concerned at the moment, but apparently the global economy isn't that great right now. You know it seemed to me that I had just grown used to inflation because it's almost constant in the states, but when I first got here everything was nice and stable, after a year things start to change. Citizens are complaining and there is talk of the government issuing subsidies towards wages to make up for the difference. The government here is mroe efficient than you may think, if they are going to be issuing anything to the people they are going to wait as long as they can to do so. And who knows if "Out of towners" are going to get the same thing as everyone else. Anyhow I hope so, second hand goods are still cheap and very popular in China, people will almost always buy something second hand if they can.
As I mentioned in my last post, my relationship seems to be going very well right now. She and I have become very close and I am starting to really love her, at the same time I am struggling with moving her more towards a western way of thinking. The Chinese way of getting into a relationship is very outdated and old fashioned, it doesn't work very well in the modern world. I maintain this is why you can't toss a rock in wuhan without hitting a brothel ... or at least a hooker. Many chinese men cheat and from what I understand a few women as well, all aspects of a relationship aren't explored before marriage, and many times they don't work out. However when infidelity does occur, it's not really that suprising to either party involved. You know if your wife buys you a green hat in china, it means she is cheating. I have a green hat that I quite like to wear, I do get some strange looks.
Anyhow, she is opening up very well to a different way of thinking, it's like I am a teacher in my professional life and my private life, it's not so bad really.
Well I have alot more to talk about, but I have to get ready for my classes, I have taken to long as it is. I will try to get more up later tonight if I can.

Chinese-American Relations

My relationship has took a very interesting turn last night. Not the complete turn all of you may be thinking about, but almost. It's so great to have a girlfriend again, especially a young and unselfish one. It's nice this time around the be the experienced one as well. She and I went to Hankou and back yesterday by bus and boat, I am going to try and get some more videos up. I have a reputation now as one of the most popular YouTube Wuhan people, teeth are killing me, think I'm getting a cold, more later :)

The fastest speed test i have ever done