3rd week down and 7 to go! We are no longer learning the sword (Matt never wanted to in the 1st place so when he found out that we would need to do it for at least another few weeks before moving on he was not happy!) and have now set about mastering the goon (long pointy stick). Lots of fun, lots of lumps on my head and lots of close calls with my gonads... Che, the absentee manager of the acadmey, told us on Friday morning that on the Sunday morning, we would have to give a performance in Si Ping as part of the National Workers Day (lasts a week... go figure) celebrations. He failed to mention that the performance would be broadcast on the provincial tv channel to over ONE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE!!!! After plenty of practice of our form, we were ready to do our bit. Just as my group was about to go on stage, one of the translators came over, stopped us, and told us that we could not do our piece due to a time shortage!! The fact that I had spent my weekend practicing for it was a little irritating, but what really got my goat was the half hour wait we endured at the start of the show which would have allowed us to do the performance several times over!!! the cheek of it all.... Luckily though, the acts that followed were so hilarious that I have completely overcome my rage. Dancing chinese men wearing head-pots is a sight to behold!