"Don't be such a sPithead," says Keyanu Reeves on Amercan television's showing of Speed. But the Keyanu of Tokyo's bilingual Su-Pee-Do says the real thing, and it definitely adds to Japanese te-le-vee viewing, it does.

It will be easiest to make a small list of things that have happened in Tokyo post-China.

• I've gone back to work like a champion. Somewhere, deep down, I'd missed it. Well, I'd missed the students, anyway. Students and esteemed colleagues both.
  
• It's been cold and fallish here, bringing back aromatic and visual reminders of my arrival.
• My China buddy fled the country for the beaches of Hawaii and Chicago. Gone!
• My housemate Megan also fled the country for the sands of Melbourne. Gone again!
• We (me, Megan and friend Haruki) went rowing in Inokashira Park's pond and totally showed up the competition with our huge guns.
• For the first time in quite a while I missed last train at 1 a.m. and had to walk home -- 6k -- in a skirt, Mary-Janes and pouring rain. With Meg. And an umbrella. So ok.
  
• I've been assigned to a group kids school once/twice a week. Fun.
• My Japanese has improved after all that heavy kanji use in China. Unbelievable.
• I got an email saying my Uncle Dave and his wife Sherrie had their first baby - Maxwell! Congratulations!
• I finally finished the whole epical Hitchhiker's Guide quintrilogy. Relief.
  

So, it's been a busy week in some ways. Torridly emotional in others. Even relaxing in one or two. Now our apt. is a two-girl affair, just me and Fijian Olivia. So, if anyone needs a place to crash give me a HOLLA. I think we're going out on Saturday. You're all invited!

In summary and in conclusion, two pictures from China: 1) The unisex bathroom on the 29 hour trip from Guilin to Shanghai and 2) The polarized Li River in Caoping. Sugoine? Clicking either there or here will whisk you to a magical land of additional photos. Enjoy!