Thunderstorm comes

First, off my food report: I didn't do too well today... "breakfast" was 11.5 kuai, lunch (at an extremely mediocre Japanese place which the coordinator recommended--I had wudong (which is to say udon) noodles with awful beef) was 25 kuai, and dinner (another delicious bowel of niuroumian at the Chinese place on the second floor of Cafeteria No. 2) was 14. 50.5 kuai is cutting pretty close to the approx. 60 kuai budget. First and last time at the Japanese place. The Chinese place 10 feet away is 10 times better.

Second: a thunderstorm comes! It drives away the smog and smoggy smell, and it smells like rain now. The wind's blowing like crazy--it blasted some particles into my eyes and throat on the way back from dinner. A few flashes of thunder have lit the campus, and a few droplets of rain have fallen. I've got my window open to smell the air and hear the storm coming.

Third: Opening convocation went well. I was one of the only fellows dressed up anywhat, and I didn't even bother with a tie... I sensed beforehand that it would be, for most, a shorts and t-shirt affair. Signed the language pledge. Had a few quasi-conversations with a couple of Yalies from my 2nd semester section in Chinese afterward.

Fourth: Great textbook! The vocab looks intense (around 50-60 items a day, including a large helping of new characters), but it doesn't seem as bad now that I'm digging in. I also have to memorize a passage for tomorrow.

I can hear more thunder... I love thunderstorms.