I’ve heard many theories about forming new habits (or routines) and about how many days it takes to do so.  One said 60 days, one said 30 days, another said 21 days, and still another said anywhere from 21-250 days.  Is there really no research on this?  Honestly, I think it really depends on the habit/routine that you are trying to form.  I’m having a difficult time adjusting to my new routine/schedule and how best to use the time in the middle part of my day.  I can’t decide if I would do better with mornings free or afternoons free. 

For now, my very busy schedule is okay.  I’m enjoying teaching what I’m teaching but I’m feeling a little overwhelmed.  I’m wondering if this is a habit/routine that is just taking a little longer to form.  Every beginning to a school year takes a while to get used to.  Maybe I’m just being impatient…

In other news:  Chinese class is going pretty well.  I miss every Monday because I’m in a different part of the city teaching. When I’m there it’s pretty good.  I don’t spend as much time studying as I would like because I am spending most of my “free” time planning my other classes…  Today there were five students in the class (it changes every day).  Two 美国人(Americans), one 英国人(British), one 俄国人 (Russian), and one Algerian (don’t know that one in Chinese).  Class today was probably the most fun of all of them so far just because we spent a lot of time just talking/discussing different habits of people in our home countries.  I felt less afraid to speak…maybe it’s getting better.

When I arrived at class this morning, I parked in my usual place (along the sidewalk with a whole mess of other bikes) and got my iced coffee. (Pretty soon it will be hot coffee as the weather is rapidly getting chillier–46 degrees when I woke up this morning)  After class, I went to retrieve my bicycle from the line of bikes and it was gone! (Now, I know you know that I’ve had two bikes stolen so far…this was not like that.)  My bicycle was not the only one that was “stolen” from the place.  There were ZERO bikes along the sidewalk.  I was baffled as to where my bike could possibly be.  Another man was there and we looked at each other with a “what-in-the-world-just-happened” look on both of our faces.  I quickly scanned the area for any evidence of the recent events.  There were three men in orange jackets pushing one dolly (yes-three men for one dolly) on which was an electric bike/scooter thing.  Hmmm….I wonder if this is what happened to my bike…

I asked one of the men what happened to all the bikes. (in Chinese—because, for some reason, if I am forced to speak Chinese I have no problem)  He told me they were on the other side of the road.  I glanced over and there were no bikes directly there.  I crossed the street in search of the missing 车 and discovered a sort of parking garage for bikes buried behind the entrance to the subway.  It was at this point that I was very thankful that my bike is very recognizable.  It’s obnoxious in color and has a blue seat (most have black) so it was relatively easy to find among the probably 1000+ bikes in rows.  Attached to my bike was a little white piece of paper with a printed note on it.  Later (from a friend) I would find out that the note said that I cannot park my bike in that place anymore and if they find my bike there again they will take it! 🙂  Yikes!  If everything could be so efficient in this country…

So, I need to find a better place to park my bike.  I wonder how long it will take me to form that habit…? Hopefully not too long or I may be walking…

Until next time…