Second week from two weeks ago

After being VPN-less for the past week and a half, I'm back! It ended up that all I needed to do to make the VPN work was to restart my computer, which is easy enough to do, but with my computer it becomes a long process of multiple restarts until the screen decides to turn on with the motherboard. Anyhow, here I am.
The time has mostly been filled with Chinese and more Chinese. We finished one book and decided to skip a level or two and start on the book the 510 class just finished (I am in 311). Our main teacher, Weiwei, fought with one of the program's directors (who is also 510's main teacher) to convince him that our class was able to handle the book, ending with us getting our new books this afternoon. It is certainly a step up in difficulty, but I think a major piece of that is simply getting accustomed to a new book with a new teaching style.
While that is interesting, exciting, and important in my classmates' and my view, I admit it makes rather poor blog material. So here is some blogging gold.
This past weekend, I acted in a Chinese TV show called "娘要嫁人",  which roughly means "Mother wants to remarry." I believe it comes from the saying: "天要下雨，娘要嫁人," or "If heaven wants it to rain or your mother to remarry, there is no way to stop them." About a week and a half ago, a Chinese young woman came up to me while I was waiting for the bus and, after the usual pleasantries about where I was from, asked me if I would like to act in a movie or TV shows. Surprised by the randomness of the question, I cautiously agreed and gave her my email and phone number. 
This past Friday I got a text from her asking if I had time on Saturday to act in a TV show. The role wouldn't have any lines, would take only an hour or two, and would pay 300 yuan (about $50). She (I think used to kissing up to foreigners) used really strange language that made me a little apprehensive about the whole thing (for instance, when asking for some photos presumably to show to the director and to remember who I am, she texted, "And u need sent me some of ur cute photos tonight:), I will wait.[I was out and would send them late at night]" and later, when I asked her what I wouls be doing and what clothes I should wear, she said "you just wear ur beautiful clothes,  in the shooting place, you will act with another beautiful foreigner girl.")
As I joked with my friends, I might unwittingly be being pulled into a porn video (though how that would be done without my consent is beyond me).
As it turned out, it wasn't. I played the role of Hunter (with lines, as it happened), an American student in China in 1979 who the main two characters try to practice English with. It took much longer than two hours, going late into the night as we waited for our time to shoot, but it was a lot of fun simply for the experience. I was able to practice my Chinese with the agent, the other foreigner (actually from Hungary, but playing an American), the casting director, and a bus-load of Chinese college students who, in the TV show (and in life), were circled around us asking us questions and practicing English (in life they just had questions, pictures wanting to be taken, and hugs wanting to be had [a Dylan hug is, of course, a precious commodity in China]). I was also able to meet a relatively famous actress and director, and see the insides of a movie being made. Really an amazing experience. The episode should air in March, and I will definitely post a link when it does. 
Beyond that, I bought a tailored suit (black pin-stripe) and four tailored shirts (white, light blue, plaid red and black on white, and black), which was a lot of fun. I also bought a winter coat to prepare for a trip this weekend to Inner Mongolia, which is quite cold right now. Luckily I packed my biking pants with me when I came to China.
 Beijing itself is really starting to cool down, with cool days and very chilly nights. I ride my bike to class (about 30 minutes away) about half the time and take the bus (equal or more time) when I am feeling lazy or need to study vocab on the way. Please leave comments with any questions or anything of the sort!