(Would it be okay if I added you on plurk? I am really curious about this - for a whole variety of reasons, among them the fact that it is interesting to hear first-person accounts about this. I'm sorry to hear it's been rough though! ... I've been taking Chinese for a year and a half now and I feel like I can barely speak at all, haha. I can read a lot! But yeah, the speaking....)

He's got no taste buds!! Or maybe he's just magic........

Lots of crying. So much crying....