Getting Around In Changzhou

Well I am sure we will eventually learn how to get around in Changzhou, but without speaking Chinese, it sure is difficult.
We decided to try to find the train station on our own (a fellow teacher told us to just take bus 33). Well, we usually take bus 26 or bus 11 to get to the city and have learned where they take us to.
Now bus 33 is another matter. We live in the Xinbei district where all the government offices are located. I can't even take a city bus to school because they don't run down here.
So we decided to walk down to the Jingling hotel (about 3 blocks away to see if the 33 stopped at that bus stop). Sure enough it doesn't. So we decided to walk on to the next section (about 3/4 of a mile). There was no stop there so we walked up that street about a block and found a bus stop - but wouldn't you know it, no number 33. There apparently are no bus routes posted anywhere (online, in town, etc.).
I guess we will just get on one of the buses we know and see if one of the stops has the 33 bus no. listed somewhere along the way. If so, we will get off and wait for the other bus. If not, we may have to take the ever-familiar "taxi". :-)
As we go wandering off . . . we hope we can find our way back home.

Getting in the Groove

Well, we are trying to get in the groove of things. I finished my first 6-day teaching stint. We intended to go to the city on Saturday evening, but Jim was suffering with his sinuses so we just rested. Today was a relatively quiet day with both of us just recuperating. We said intense thoughts about our flock at home and my mom. I sure hope she is recovering from her surgery all right.
One of my colleagues told me about a free internet service called Skype. I signed up and bought some minutes so that I could call folks who don't have it on their computer. I think I totally surprised Heather and Dru and some other folks when they heard my voice from my computer (I had to have headphones with a microphone).
I am including some pics I took around school and when we went to Wuzhen Gardens. This is one of my classes of Thai and Korean students.

We took a boat ride down the canal at Wuzhen.
Well it is getting late and I'd best get some rest. Tomorrow starts another week.

This is a view of the two staircases from level 3 classroom up to level 4 and 5 classes. I know it is a little difficult to imagine, but the entire length is covered by light blue polyurethane. We have had quite a bit of rain lately and we can hear the rain almost like on a tin roof. :-)

Goodnight to all - we think of you often