Today is a total "I Hate China" Day and let me count the ways:

1. On my way to catch the bus I took my normal little shortcut and totally fell, getting dirt on my freshly washed pants and all over my hands. So that wasn't a great start to the day. And while waiting for the bus with all the little primary school kids, they found it necessary, as they do everyday, to talk about me.

2. I have four classes on Wednesdays and in all of them I caught students cheating during the exam I'm giving. Needless to say I got angry. But what made me go over the edge is after I send a student to his headteacher (the headmistress left for the day) the student's English teacher tries to give excuses for the student. "He doesn't speak English that well and didn't want to disappoint you." WHAT??? I replied that that wasn't a good enough reason and I was told to give this exam and I will punish cheaters. The nerve! Had I said something like that to them, they would have gone off on me. I'm sorry you and your school don't take what I do seriously, but I do. And if a student cheats on an exam he/she will be punished.

3. "Last minute" schedule changes. Niels' schedule got changed today due to some event that the administration didn't find important to tell him about until yesterday, which meant one of his classes would be taught right before dinner. The plan was we were to meet at 5:25 for dinner and then go for a walk afterwards. I get there when I'm supposed to and sit there. And sitting turns to waiting. And waiting. I waited for an hour for him to meet me. They decided to reschedule another one of his classes but didn't tell him until right before it started. The total lack of communication is mindblowing.

4. Having students scream "lowei" or "weiguoren" which pretty much mean foreigner. COME ON. I've been here for 8 months, you see me every single day. Get over it. You are rude and have no manners. As well as my friends tell me that they're just being curious. Sorry, bad manners isn't curiosity.