Janessa and I had arrived in Yangchun, her hometown, by bus, at around ten in the evening. We walked the short distance from the bus terminal to the hotel. As soon as we checked in, Janessa's phone began to ring.

The following article is based (mostly) on something I read online in the New York Times titled "Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person" by ALAIN de BOTTON. It was so pertinent to dating, including Chinese dating, that I had to share it with you.....

“What do you mean?” I asked.

I know a 53-year-old man who has failed with two marriages with women from China. It is unlikely that he will ever get a third opportunity. He is good at so many things, but not relationships with women. It looks like the relationship part of his brain still only works at the level of a 14-year-old. I also know men in their sixties and seventies who have the same problem with the relationship part of their brain.

I often feel sorry for the poor ladies trying to learn English. For those that DO want to go and live in a western country with their partners, learning at least SOME English is a must.

You can play Presidential Campaign 2016 as one of two characters. Either Preacher Hillary or as the Trumpanzee.

It was sunset as I drove through the congested toll roads of Bangkok in the rented Hilux. The setting red sun shimmered and reflected on the plate glass of the high rise downtown buildings. It was going to take several hours to reach Noi’s home town of Kampheang Phet. I had the foresight to bring my GPS with me from England so I was confident that I would not get lost. Progress was slow on the toll roads, ironically called expressways, partly owing to the time of day as it was rush hour. Partly, owing to toll booths only being about two miles apart. I would stop at one and pay. In no time at all, I was forced to stop and pay at the next booth! And, the one after that!

I don't want to sound like a boring old fart, but it's only when you find yourself having to teach a subject, that you find out all the strange bits.