Be One with the Thunder

( Just call my name and like a hero I'll be there. Your knight in shining armor on a valiant white steed. )

Dear News,

What?

No Love,
Tengfei Ying

WHEW! Those were hard. It's all easy and down hill from here. Thank God. So. Break plans? Anyone?

I'll be spending the majority of it with my family, but I have some time set aside to visit friends in China and Korea. [The following is in Korean] If you're going to be in Korea, feel free to call my cell. I can come to you. I'll probably be staying with my grandmother, but she's got a car and I know how to drive! Woohoo. [The following is in Chinese] I'll be staying with my friend Xua Xiang Zi in Shanghai. Call the cell if you need me or want to hang out. We've got transport!

Call me, text me, owl me, whatever me. We'll have fun. It's break. Fun is required.

Hnn. I have nothing against winter. I generally like the season. The snow is beautiful, the holidays are great, it's a perfect time to cozy up with those you enjoy spending time with. But the cold always bites me first. It's like we fight every year before laughing it off and getting along. I think it's because of the shoe-thing. Boots are even worse than sneakers, but it's a horrible idea to go tromping through the snow in sneakers.

Decidedly, I miss the summer.

I hope you're enjoying your winter-related books, club! We'll discuss it after we get back from break. The end is great.

Well that was a fun weekend, everyone.

How about we just have a game of cards?

So many ladies. Tonight is going to be fun, I can tell. So little time. I'll be dressed as Zorro. Though I wish I had the foresight to change my costume before now. All black costume...very dark haunted house.

I hope I don't scare anyone.

( Private to Miss Hyo-Rin )

( Private to Miss Mamori )

Another game of basketball tomorrow, anyone?

I'm really enjoying this.

Edit: We'll play on the court at 6pm! See you there!!

New piercing, yes or no? Thoughts? Suggestions?

I'm only curious.

[Private to Mamori]
Miss Mamori. Lunch this weekend?

The locals are very friendly. I went for another walk today and stopped in at a cafe for an iced coffee. It was PACKED, which I thought was weird because the coffee shops in China were never so overly crowded. It wasn't even that hot out. There was only one seat left at a counter, so I sat and looked at an advertisement on the counter while waiting for my drink. Two young ladies (high school seniors) started talking to me, asked me if I was foreign. I said, "I hadn't realized it was that obvious!"

They gave me their numbers on a napkin. I couldn't resist calling them back. They were the nicest young ladies I've met outside of school. We're meeting up Saturday night to go to a party. I'm very excited.

I remember now why I do things with other people during breaks. They're very boring on your own. Fortunately, my parents are okay with me going out alone. I've taken a few walks around the neighborhood, now. I'm trying to get acquainted with the area but it's very hard when you can't read the signs. Well, I can read them. But in Chinese. They're not close to the same, but I can find my way back. What a shame. It's almost too bad the world does not have one universal language. That, though, may bring culture to cease to exist.

Book Club
I'm looking forward to hearing about what you've read over the break. I need some new material to read, myself, so if you've got something let me know! When we return our first meeting will be that Thursday. Don't be late. I've been working on a new method of storytelling I think you'll all enjoy. Bring your friends! It's tricky magic but I think it'll go over well.

By the way, we'll be starting to read "Genji Monogatari" (The Tale of Genji) and I'm pretty excited. I've never read a Japanese romance before, so this should be interesting. I've heard good things.

Private to Miss Saorin
Would you like to go out before the break is over?

Jeng San told me that someone's cat was picking on him? He'd like it very much if he or she would stop trying to catch him. Seeing as he's injured and can't fly very well at all (it's kind of like a limp in the air, he can only make it across a small room) I'd really like it, too, if you all asked your kitties to leave him alone.

They can play with Shuang! She won't claw them, I promise. Just fly higher than they can reach. She's very fun on her good days.

Do you all really believe Miss Hyo-Rin would ever do something so cruel as to break up our cute little Nozomi and Takamatsu-san? I'm willing to bet a younger year student made up this rumor, one who does not know any of the parties involved.

Such a vicious place this school is! Aaah, I miss the quiet halls of China. At least it keeps us on our toes.

( Miss Hyo-Rin )

I'm very concerned for my country. I think I may have actually known that girl--though don't take my word for it. There were so many students and I knew so many of them.

I don't see the harm in having everyone register. It's for the safety of the community, after all. I think in the long run it would benefit both the wizarding world and the mundane one.

That was a close game, today! I was on the edge of my seat. I usually don't follow Quidditch as it's never been my thing, but I figured I could come out and watch the first game of the season. Admittedly, I was a little amazed. Congratulations to Tsukiyomi winners. It was a great game, Susanoo. I'm sure you'll get them next time.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Inari has to bring out for us.

Book club will not be meeting until July 1, which is two Wednesday's from now. I look forward to hearing what you have to say about the books we've been reading. I'll also be reading a section from our next novel. I've thought long and hard on it and I think you'll all enjoy it.

( Private to Hyo-Rin )

Shuang was being nasty to me, today. I think she's jealous. I spend time with her everyday, and it's not any different than it has been. She refuses to talk to me now. Instead, she just stands on the rail or on my arm (if I'm lucky) with her beak pointed at the sky away from me like she's pissed. I have no idea why. I've tried to think of all the reasons she might be unhappy but I came up with two things;

1) She knows I've been spending time with Miss Saorin, who she has yet to bond with of all of my female friends. I have no idea why. It upsets me.

2) She's had a fight with one of the other hawks concerning territory and lost. I saw her circling the other day and asked her about it--she avoided the question completely. Can you believe her?

FREEDOM! Never has been being able to tell the truth felt so good. HA. TRUTH! Where to start...oh I don't know. I'd like to apologize for the things I said, but a large part of me believes it would be pointless. We were all aware of what was happening to us. Those who were liars merely had to lie. Everyone could easily just turn it around to yes was no and vice versa. But for those of you that were hurt, I do feel guilty despite the fact that I couldn't keep my mouth closed for the life of me.

Written in Chinese...
Are you all feeling better, now? I hope so.

Written in Korean...
I don't know if Miss Saorin will forgive me. I'm considering giving her a gift. But what drives me mad is that I can't come up with reasons why I feel so terrible for having hurt her feelings of everyone. I have this desire to not apologize, though. To just run as far away from her and this place as possible...

I don't like what this means.

FML.

This is. Just. Great.

I'm glad I didn't get turned into an furry or a girl, though. BUT WHY THIS!? Ugh.

Perfect. Really. Just perfect.

I would love it if you all came and talked to me. Miss Saorin, you should come and talk with me the most. You know how much I hate it! Ahhh......

What a week~ Mmm. And better things in store for this coming one. I'm looking forward to the mixer. Mostly because I'll get to meet new people, which is always fun even if you are Japanese~ I'm getting used to it now--this place isn't SO bad. But even more good news is that I'll be attending with Miss Saorin. Speaking of...Miss Saorin, do you think Genbu-san would like to hang out with Jeng San later in the week?

Jeng San isn't doing well, sad to say. I doubt he'll ever fly again. I've tried everything I know to do and asked several of our professors for assistance. Poor thing seems like a lost cause. I've decided to keep him for a little while longer. He doesn't do much but sit on his perch (I bought him a small one) or sleep in his nest. Though he did attend class with me earlier this morning, sitting on my shoulder. He's a very calm little bird.

I decided to skip out on going "home" this week. I don't know anyone in the area that my father has moved us to, but a few other students have remained on campus that I know so I'll be relaxing with them. Probably more with the animals and Shuang than anything, though. I did find an injured bird on a walk this morning. He's currently with me, sleeping in a nest I made. Poor thing. I think he was attacked being so small and easily targeted. Doesn't seem like he could fly well before. I doubt he will now...

Mother will punish me if I try to keep another animal. Ahh. The pains of loving creatures. To watch him suffer, I can't stand it.

Miss Saorin! I decided to plant tiger lily in my garden, as well as strawberries. Wait until you see the lily petal colors, though. I bet you'll be impressed!

( Viewable Only to Chinese Students )