Before I tried to leave last week, I went on a weekend-long shopping spree. I bought a giant bag to haul my stuff home in and a huge stash of souvenirs for my friends and family. I also bought another Nintendo DS for myself. Why? Because my fat roll of 100 RMB bills might as well have been monopoly money.

While I was buying the new DS (a spiffy new DS Lite), I got my older DS modded. More specifically, I got the firmware upgraded so I can play pirated ROMs. I also got the requisite SD card cartridge to hold those ROMs. I'm not sure, but I think this also means that I can write my own software for DS now... I've been wanting to try that for a while.

So now that I have two DSii, I've been able to lure Very into playing. She loves it. I've created a monster. She'll actually play some games by herself now so that she can whip my ass when we play a two player game. She's quite the Meteos player, actually.

I've had a DS for almost two years now and this is the first time I've ever used the wireless multi-player features. It's kinda sad really. If I'd known how slick the multi-player was, I would have thrown down for a second DS a year ago. I think after I get a job back in the states I'll buy another Lite or two for even crazier multi-player action.

I don't remember why, but I held on to 1500 RMB. It turned out to be the smartest thing I did last week. That money is just enough to hold me until I fly out of here next Monday.

Back to the Countryside

Very and I went to PingQuan for the weekend. We left on the slow train Friday afternoon and got there around nine in the evening. Then we taught a few classes on Saturday and Sunday before taking the horrid 4am train back to Beijing. Only it wasn't so horrid. Very had been doing it the hard way the couple times she came to visit me in PingQuan. She would get a standing ticket and then wait for a seat to open up. She would then attempt to sleep for the rest of the train ride.

I was not at all interested in waiting for two seats to open up. The first thing I did was ask someone where we could buy a sleeper ticket. Five minutes and 80 RMB later, we were traveling in the lap of luxury. We both had a good night of sleep and arrived in Beijing refreshed and ready to do something with the rest of our Monday. Needless to say, Very won't be waiting for a seat on that train ever again (unless all the beds are full).

Slozo's Wedding

I was in the country and I missed Slozo and YiJie's wedding, agh! I feel bad, but I don't think it would have worked out so well with my financial situation. Sorry, you two.

Here's to a wonderful life together. As soon as Very and I get to a post office, we'll send your gift off.