I'm not sure what it is about this country, but sometimes I find myself enjoying myself much more than I would have thought possible. The country is centered around society, and coming from America where people enjoy their private space immensely, the communal aspect to Chinese society is a new thing for me. This afternoon there wasn't any electricity in the school for some reason. Usually at lunch I enjoy a quick nap and then make my way to the computer room where I mess around on the interet, sending emails, corresponding with potential employers, etc.. Without electricity however, this becomes an impossiblity. I wandered around the school grounds for awhile before I found a friend who asked me what I was doing. I told him nothing because there was no electricity. It's no secret that I spend time on the computer whenever possible, partly to relieve boredom, and partly because it's basically my only conduit to the outside world. Upon realizing that I was free, he beckoned me to go to the teacher's dorm for something which he couldn't quite explain in English. At first he took me to a dark room where a group of people were enjoying a game of mah-jong which is a tile game akin to Dominoes. After a few minutes there he asked me if I could play cards. I said I knew a few American games, and had a rudementary knowledge of a popular Chinese card game called pu ke. He led me down the corridor to another room. At first sight it reminded me of a den of theives. People sitting around a makeshift table made from a cardboard box, while four people played the game. I was made welcome with cigarretes, but quickly the attention turned back to the game. It was enthralling. The players would slam down runs and pairs trying to beat the person who went before them with a higher denomination of a run or pair. I had been introduced to this game before and could play a little. I was asked to play, and promptly payed my 3 kuai entrance fee into the game and sat down. Pu ke is played with two decks and at the beginning of the game each player takes a turn taking a card so ones hand is almost impossible to hold. I was far from their skill level and could barely keep up with the pace of slamming down cards. It was obvious that I sucked, and as soon as my one hand was over (I lost my 3 kuai) I gave up my spot to someone who could actually compete. The little tiny room was filled with about 10 people and the comraderie was excellent. The players were intense and the people spectating were fully enamored with the game. After watching for 45 minutes or so, I myself was exhausted even though I wasn't playing. It was time to go presently and I got up with a friend and walked back to the school grounds. It was a fully satisfying way to spend my lunch break. Not only did I realize where the teachers and workers of the school dissapeared during lunch, but it felt like a was a part of the faculty instead of just a foreigner, who taught English. It was some of the best 3 kuai I've spent in a long time.