Complicated Mood It’s been a long time since I wrote a text. This is the 17th months I came to shanghai. Hardly had I hung out, partly due to dread of congestion in the subway, partly the capricious weather. My company is not progressing as fast as we hoped. It’s said that we’re relocating to Taicang City this June. Economic depression affected all; there will be no escape for traditional industries such as the chemical industry. Under this circumstance, each has to think over career prospects. A mood of pessimism pervaded the company. Although all go to work on time having little to do. I had a haircut last night. And it was the second day of the second months in the lunar year which was the Spring Dragon Festival. The elders said everything will go well in the rest of the year for whoever barbers on this day. I’d rather believe it is a truth than not. My new hairstyle is neat and short. They say it decorates my face well, looking not as wide as before. Though it didn’t sound t at all like a compliment, I was quite pleased myself. It addition，the charge for it is 85RMB. It seems to me the tertiary industry is worth boosting. As the saying goes: A good year is determined by its spring. Starting from the head, there is no end to elevate.

Less Is More I still remember the scene of New Year's Day in 2011. Cao was intending to update her QQ blog. Yang was preparing for study abroad. Everyone faced the graduation. No papers, no offers. Besides endless experiments, meals, and shopping together, we would watch the moon by the lake and sing as we went back to the dormitory under the starry winter sky. At the same time, Ge would recite some poems. This guy enjoyed talking about life and dreams. In retrospect, life was all pleasure. In a twinkling of an eye, our life becomes having no common ground but memories. Even meet on QQ occasionally, we appear to have nothing to talk except house, marriage and baby. And these topics may not take a few minutes. It is unavoidable. It is high time for all of us to submit year end reviews. Mine was almost a copy from the net since I can't say I enjoy this work. I was disgusted with myself, impatient and irresponsible. Nonetheless, I know it is going to work out. It stays just because I don't make every effort, in other words, never meant to resolve it. I had a surgery late in November. After discharge from the hospital, I have been absent-minded, hardly working. And it is believed that there is an obstacle for every lady in her 27. Now I am convinced that my obstacle is settled. This year went out. I win a few, lose a few, with pleasure and pain alternate. Hope follows life. All I need is boundless energy and unremitting application. Wish you all the best in the new year!

My driving lessons-part 3 Indoor test was on Oct 12 in Suzhou, and we arrived there a day earlier to get a good sense of the environment. The entire test was over within five minutes, a little tense though. Later we practiced in a fixed place -a community main roads all around, complicated traffic close to test environment, facing more dangers and challenges. Luckily, we were more scared than hurt. We took another practice test in Suzhou on October 21. Just like last time, we left early, 2 days ahead of time instead. This test was held outdoors, more roads, monitors, and traffic signs need to note. Things didn't go very smoothly this time. Two guys had second goes before they passed. We had a feast together later for celebration, which also meant separation from each other. After coming back, I returned to review the textbook and the printed exercise set, because there was another mock (theory test) for me on October 24. With another written notice, I went for the formal test on October 28. Two days later the license came to me by EMS. It was then that my driving lessons ended. It is widely believed that the process is troublesome and time-consuming. Still keeping in with the mentor is vitally important. If asked to give an advice, I would say it was a good opportunity to develop physical coordination, intelligence, patience and courage. Nobody would ever refuse to learn something new. In short, it was worth it.

My driving lessons-part 2 Continual training started from September 13. Reversing into the garage, right flank parking, moving along an S curve, turning at right angles, stopping and starting at the specified place of a slope, they are the content of indoor test. There are primarily three practicing places: one is my driving school in the west of Kunshan, another is in a town near mine, and a third one is in a rural area (graves around). My mentor decided where to go and notified me in the previous evening. There were 8 people in the classes. Considering residence and office hours, only 4 people took part in the practice each half day. I mostly went for it in the morning. My mentor came and fetched me several times owing to the heavy rain. I rode an e-bike borrowed from my co-worker during the remaining days. Usually I got up at half past five or earlier in the morning, rain or shine. In fact, I enjoyed the journey with fine day. There were scarcely vehicles and pedestrians so early on the road except the cleaner. I sang and admired the view roadside while riding, shrubs, colorful flowers and the scent of osmanthus. With luck, I could even hear the singing of birds. How could I approach these sitting in the office? At the thought the loss of asking for leave didn't seem to matter. The practice was not always an easy one. I got time off for good behaviour. Conversely, if I misbehaved, severe criticism (yelling, digging, no beating) were sure to follow on. I made mistakes of various kinds: running the red light, overspeed, stepping the gas when I ought to clap the brake, switching without signalling and countless flameout. I was forced to stop when a driver in an Audi A8 L W12 tried to overtake. Its right car door was scratched by the rearview mirror on the bonnet. And the driver asked for money for repair. It was morning peak and we were in a hurry, not at fault, ought to solve it by an insurance claim but we did as he said(my mentor paid 500 RMB, because he was in full charge when teaching). It was worthy to be mentioned that we were asked to assist traffic police to direct traffic at the intersection on September 27.

My driving lessons- part 1 I received my driving license on Oct 31. I was pretty tired all these days, but it was tremendous relief the minute I saw the license. Here are my experiences. Considering I might be bound by marriage and children in a few years and driving lessons take considerable time and energy, so I should take good advantage of the time now. I compared the relative merits of several driving schools in my city and chose one finally. This school has good reviews online. I signed up in Mar.3. It was Sunday and the hall was filled with people lining up for payment. I paid 5281RMB and they collected my information on the temporary residence. Afterwards, I shifted to another room to wait in the line. They took me to a picture and charged 21RMB. And I was asked to attend the theoretical training lessons on March 10. Several hundred people assembled in a big room. A worked explained in details how the entire test is going, charging items and dos and don'ts. He also emphasized that it is unnecessary to give money or presents to the mentors. How ironic it is! There is no denying that there are really some clean guys. Everyone was given a textbook and a DVD. The book's content is about the construction of automobiles, traffic signs and driving skills. And the DVD is an exercise set including 750 single choices. I read through the textbook and the printed exercise set. Next I repeated the test by an on - practice system. I took my mock on March 18. The qualified standard is 90 or higher (total score is 100). As soon as the scores came out, they distributed us a written notice of the date, time and location of the formal theory test. I was arranged on April 1, Kunshan Vehicle Administration Office. I was up at 6 before catching 2 buses. With appropriate preparation, the test was absolutely a pushover. After the test, I called my mentor (designated or self-selected) when I would practice driving. My mentor replied quite positively I had to wait until mid-September. I was thrilled to hear that although I had to wait long before that. September is the best time of the year here since it is neither too hot nor too cold. Unexpectedly my mentor asked me to practice driving in June and July once respectively. A scorching sun, a spooky practice field (surrounded with graveyards), all made me a little dizzy. Turning the steering wheel and running a straight line was the first step.

View of exotic love and cross-border marriage(part two） First, Chinese are more implicit and constraint, not showing passion easily, few promises. In contrast, foreigners are straight forward and open. Have you ever heard "I love you" lingering on a Chinese guy's lips? Doing is better than saying. Second, Chinese are used to living and working in peace and contentment. It is hard for them to leave his homeland or comfort zones. On the other hand, foreigners prefer something new and adventures. They don't think moving house is a tough matter and even enjoys it. However, Chinese have an old saying: One moving makes you poor for 3 years. Last, Chinese think life should go like this: love-marriage sex. Loyalty and faith are essential to happiness. Cheating, breaking up and divorce bring shames. These ideas are stamped on our ideas, just like many a man married only a virgin in the past, the few relationships the better (attitudes are changing though).While foreigners go this way: sex-love-marriage or co-habitation for many years without thinking of marriages. Co-habitation and premarital sex is discouraged in China. Single mom won't receive any support from the government. An illegitimate is not legally protected actually. The kid will encounter a million of troubles getting education, careers and medical treatment besides contempt. Because his chance of acquiring a H is slim. Chinese can't get along without it. It is often reported that Chinese girls are deserted; divorce, abortion and one night stand are nothing new. Chinese therefore have no confidence in interracial /marriage. What's your opinion about this topic? Welcome to join in the discussion.

View of exotic love and cross-border marriage(part one） One of my language partners is confronting this problem. It is beyond him why Chinese guys disapprove of Chinese girls dating him. He tried to find the answer from me. But I am a lady, not sure how guys feel about it. And not many people are of one mind even I become a man! It is my view that a great number of Chinese ladies don't think a long-distance love/marriage has a good prospect as well. I'd like to state a view generally accepted by the Chinese. If a Chinese girl is in a relationship with a foreigner, Chinese tend to believe she is a gold digger/seeking an opportunity for immigration/feeding her vanity (some folk think mixed-race kids are wiser and prettier. I bet they don't master genetic biology).But they don't work in reverse. If a Chinese man is in love /marriage with a foreigner, he will be considered highly intelligent and competent. My language partner felt it was racism and was in a furious mood. I was sympathetic and embarrassed. I see it as cultural differences but racism. The Chinese don't hate any people from any country (except who does not admit guilt for wars and slaughters, and only a saint can forgive everybody).To be honest, I know very little about love and marriage, not to mention multinational ones. I shall say some reality I know.

Fauxductivity In the past two months, I had been busy with swimming class and certificate safety engineer test later. Last weekend I took the test in Suzhou, four parts in 2 days. What a relief when I came back dropping onto the bed! On the one hand, I was overwhelmed by the pressure of the test, and on the other, I was exhausted by the journey. I prefer walking than staying in the vehicle. I don't like being kept in a confined space. I scarcely had time for shopping before I brace myself for a new challenge! And I am gonna take a one-month continuous driving lessons from this weekend. So I hope the weather will hold up over the next days. My wrists are sore worse. I shall reduce typing, more voice chatting instead.

Preferences I participated in an English exam and dropped in on my younger sister last weekend. And I found my spelling was terrible-I didn't even know how to spell fortieth or lengthen! I have been depending on keyboard input for so long time that I am uncertain at times whether I recognize what I write down. My younger sister told me about her family life plans. At her words, I seemed to see images of my future. Life sinks down here-a marriage, a mortgage slave, a career and one child. We haven't talked properly since she married. She has a mild nature while I am a little impatient. I cannot always master my temper. And I am used to getting her advice and encouragement. My swimming class was suspended as a result of grazed arms. Therefore, I have much time available in the evenings this week. I prefer lying in the chair with my legs on the table when left alone, listening to music, reading, or dazing. I have no immunity to funny stuff: jokes, pictures and comedies, for instance. I have just finished this film: Despicable Me. It made me nearly fold up. What touched me are both Gru's insistence on dreams and his affection for the three girls. And no one can deny that to love and be loved is the supreme happiness of life.