Hm.. I agree with you. Though he doesn't specifically say that he is so good, I know he is. Anyways, this would only be about four months until I take off two months in the summer to train with them every day. It's going to be forty degrees plus every day! There is a reason that they call this one of the three furnaces of China. That will condition me, all right. ;)

- Maarten Sebastiaan Franks Spijker

I thought there were four "furnaces". Don't ask me to name them. I was in Wuhan last year and they told me it was one of the four.

What do you mean by "furnace"? I live in Texas where most of the year is above 70° and we have summers that get up to like 110°.

I think I heard it translated as "oven" actually. It's a metaphor used to refer to cities in China that are famous for being really hot. I'm not sure how it would compare to Texas, but I think it would probably be similar weather.

You've got the right idea. In the winter it is very cold here and in the summer very hot and no AC or heating. Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing (Maybe the fourth is Turpan in Xinjiang, though not sure).

About the Japanese thing: The older generation have a blanket hatred for all things Japanese and the young generations are hypocrites. They are raised to hate the Japanese and you can even ask a three year olde about what he/she thinks about the Japanese and receive the same answer. And then they will go play their Japanese video games.

- Maarten Sebastiaan Franks Spijker

You've got the right idea. In the winter it is very cold here and in the summer very hot and no AC or heating. Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing (Maybe the fourth is Turpan in Xinjiang, though not sure).

About the Japanese thing: The older generation have a blanket hatred for all things Japanese and the young generations are hypocrites. They are raised to hate the Japanese and you can even ask a three year olde about what he/she thinks about the Japanese and receive the same answer. And then they will go play their Japanese video games.

- Maarten Sebastiaan Franks Spijker

From my experience with high school students, if u ask them, you will get different answers. Many jokingly say "we hate japanese" in an ironic way and smile. Many actually like Japanese stuff. You can even find chinese girls saying "sou desu ne?" in every god damn sentence. I blame anime.

UPDATE:

The offer still stands, except that I now live in Guilin. I'm still the only white bloke, but the facilities are even better and the training hall has more flexible hours and also has good floors and weight-lifting equipment. And Guilin is a lot nicer than Chongqing. The teachers and students are more open and the main teacher told me that he had taught a Canadian Sanda in exchange for lessons in Muay Thai whilst the Canadian slept in the training hall! All good things. Welcome any time.