Exercise time!

It sure was about time to check out how the Chinese athletes are doing. Since I didn't bring my sport shoes here, and it is impossible to find a pair in my size, I had to bring my 9.99,- RMB slippers. Though not ideal for the task, I think they did a lasting impression on my fellow comrades, even if they didn't believe me when I said it was the latest from the catwalk in
Europe. (What a stupid foreigner...)

Together with another sudent, Brandon from Australia, I signed up for a "Body-Pump" class.
Our instructor was a cool dude, that pushed us through 45 minutes with intence "pumpin".
I did the classic mistake here, which I kind of knew from earlier sessions. That was: way to much weights. Feels like no problem at all when you lift it a couple of times, but when it's countless repetitions, it's an hole different story! I some how felt like I had to show these Chinese people what we Europeans are made of. In short: It was probably a childish-man thing, and the chinese athletes are in great shape, so so with the guy writing this..
(I guess thats the reason why I haven't been posting anything lately, basically I have been feeling like an old man...)

By the way, body pump was just the same thing as back home, maybe there are some international standards? If there are, I'm pleased to say that China is
(at least in this issue:-) following them.
Well...in the pet store I went to the other day, they where at least not following my standards. Quite a sad thing this, to see how they treat animals in general. In the small cage on the picture, they had probably stuffed in more than 50 small birds. Still I haven't been to a zoo here, it will be too much of a depressing sight I believe..

Anyways....Chinese New Year a.k.a. Spring Festival is soon here, which is the most important holiday for most chinese pople. The climax is reached on the 17th. when it shifts to a new year --> according to the chinese lunar cycle. I'm going to my friend's home village outside Ningbo (between Hangzhou and Shanghai). I'm warned that there aren't any reataurants or hotels there, and really poor. -So i definetely look forward to that!