Ai, You'd be proud of me! I'm writing this ahead of time! We've been stationed in the harbor, to the east of the monastery. And we'll be here for some time, I think. I've been playing the bipa you gave me as much as I can. I'm getting better! Though the others do not seem to like hearing the learning process...so I play louder! Maybe they'll kick me out, and I can come back home. To you. —B