Sleepy...

Were you wondering what kind of cool places I've been so far on my trips around Southern China? Well, the above picture is a perfect example. Thats right, I got taken to the exact scene that graces the back of the 20 RMB bill. Not only extremely beautiful, but pretty cool for novelty's sake too, eh? The days lately are filled with driving around the all manner of gorgeous backdrops for this movie that is being shot- if Guilin is full of anything, it's full of gorgeous backdrops. I have even been involuntarily nominated "English exclamation checker lady" as I'm the only English speaker on set and the main character in the movie is supposed to be an ABC (American born Chinese). Every scene or two he has some kneejerk English utterance, which is now run by that English teacher girl (aka yours truly). I am resisting the urge to give him extremely odd things to say, though if my resolve breaks the first thing they'll get is a 'Holy Cow, Batman!'.

In other news...what is my other news? Not much. Stuck down here in Southern China through the holidays. I never thought i'd miss Christmas, but I do. I enjoy being around my friends and celebrating the relationships that i've cultivated in all realms of my life. I enjoy cooking and especially baking, neither of which I'll get to do down here in my swank Sheraton hotel room. Swank as it may be, I'd much rather trade it in for the cold and rickety existence that is hutong life. Sigh. Hopefully I'll get flown home sometime around the new year, if only for a day or two...

Since i have no outlet down here in the business center (my room has no internet, so the lobby it is for me), my low battery life is telling me i have to go. Emails would be appreciated, since I can't get to a fast enough internet connection to call anyone at all, and the solitary Southern Chinese lifestyle I am becoming accustomed to could use a little breaking up by friends and family.

Love you guys
Jessie