Reporting from Workstation 9

11:30pm: I'm just about to doze off after a tiring day, in my twin sharing room's bunker bed. My last roomate(a 16 year old girl from Indonesia) returned home a few days back, so I had the room all to myself. Suddenly I hear keys being turned, and I wonder If it's my neighbour. It's too loud, so somebody's trying to break into my room. I sit up a little panicked, and very curious. The door opens and lo-behold, there stands a chinese lady with a towel and toothbrush staring at me. I turn the lights on, and for the next ten minutes I am subject to something I couldn't make head or tail off. I caught words here and there, but in the end, managed a "Wo bu shi Zhonggua ren. Wo bu mingbai ni shuo shenma"..translated "I am NOT Chinese. I cannot understand what you are saying". More than trying to understand my plight, she assumed I was familiar with the gibberish she was throwing at me and continued merrily, probably telling me what a terrible day she'd had, but I managed to stop her a little later and said "ni dung wo, wo hoilai"..meaning "wait for me, I will return". Then I asked her if she was planning to stay in the room. She was very excited that I finally understood what she was getting at.
The reason I was so confused was coz I has booked my room for this friend of mine who was to move in, in a few days. So I went down to clarify, with the manager. After that was done, as I was returning to my room, I felt immense satisfaction, at having been able to communicate with the poor soul. I couldn't wait to get back at try out more of what I'd learn.
I went back and we settle on who sleep "shange and xiage"..up and down. She said something, but I asked her " Switch OFF?". She nodded enthusiastically "OFF!".