I've been in Shenzhen, across the way from Hong Kong.  Richard brought me ont he train, and Chen Xiao picked us up.  We have been eating ever since.  I'm staying in the guesthouse of Xiao's mama's hospital work unit.  Today we visited a researcher, who gave me names of Beijing professors and an autographed book.  Then we had tea and dinner with some former Zhongshan Univ philosophy students of Xiao's.  Tomorrow I go to Beijing.

On the last night in Hong Kong, we made the spaghetti, and suddenly I was so homesick.  I didn't want to leave HK, which has become like a home to me, and I wanted my real home.  The next day, when Xiao picked us up, I cried all the way through lunch.  I don't know how no one noticed.  Then I was alone in the guesthouse, a iron rice bowl kind of place, and at first I felt like I wasn't too happy.  But then I felt my sense of purpose again.  I like the philosophy students, very smart and interested to ask me questions about the US.  Their Mandarin is clear, although they prefer Cantonese, and my language ability picked up a little.  Wo hai xuyao lianxi, cai neng da dao yiqian de shuiping.  They wanted to know my impression of the mainland, but I haven't had an opportunity to do much except eat.  The southerners advise me to eat my fill, because later in the north there won't be anything to eat.  Xiao's mom took me to the store, wanted to help me in a massive shopping trip.  The only thing I could think to buy was a hair dryer, Philips, 1200 W, Y145.  Maybe expensive.  First the salesperson helps you try it, then you pay, then you take the receipt back and the salesperson proves that the dryer you purchased works, then you take it and leave.  Vanguard 10000 good store. 

I bought a few things in HK, and now my luggage may be heavy. 

Pictures

We went to a park with a big statue of Deng Xiaoping looking south.  Lots of people play with kites there.  Xiao says they are often migrants.  Kids ran after me, calling "Ni shi waiguoren."  You are a foreigner.  I said I was.  We heard other people talking about the foreigner too.  This is pretty common.  Yesterday they thought I was Russian in my HK outfit.  I agree, I did look Russian.