Nihao!
First week back to school. Third week in China. Status report: Things are going well.
Despite the frustrations that I felt over the past two weeks, I can honestly say that things are going well here.
Yeah, moving to another country is not easy. Dealing with things that are seemingly out of my control is even harder.
But despite the frustrations. Things are good.
I had amazing Mexican food last week, with even better margaritas. And the restaurant is right here in Xiamen. I had a pedicure. I'm going to have a massage in a little bit. I went for a pretty awesome hike right behind my house. I'm finding western food and chinese food that I like to eat. I've even become an expert bug killer!
I've been very busy keeping up with school work and keeping up with a social life. I haven't been able to devote as much time to exploring the city as I would have liked or even setting up the apartment, but I'm getting there.
Now if I could just figure out how to handle the weather!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Little Earthquakes
Thursday:
Problem: Computer broken. It wouldn't charge and I didn't know if it was because I didn't have an adapter or if the computer was really broken. Lucky for Lucky. Yeah there is a computer wiz named Lucky who just traded out my computer charger cord and asked me to pay $16 bucks for a 'new to me' computer cord. Done. Computer not broken anymore.
Thursday Night:
Problem: The toilet. The toilet had been taking a long time to fill up after I flushed; so naturally I was turning off the water to it so it didn't run all night. Of course, when I turned off the water valve, it snaps off. Fortunately, the water had already turned off, but still the valve control was in my hand and not on the toilet pipe where it should have been. Which meant I couldn't turn the toilet back on to flush. Lucky for the landlord. He came Friday night. Stayed two hours. Fixed my toilet. We shared a coke. It was special.
Sunday Morning:
Problem: No water in the kitchen. Why? The landlord had turned off the water valve to the Kitchen, but didn't turn it back on. I of course didn't know where the water valve was for the Kitchen (I had learned where the bathroom was however). Result: One 'administrator' from the apartment building. One random Chinese man. One landlord. 30 minutes. Valve turned back on. Water in the Kitchen back on. Dishes could be washed.
Everyday:
Problem: Some sort of bug.
Solution: Massive amounts of Raid sprayed, which has resulted in quick departure of apartment.
Solution number 2: Massive amounts of cock roach motels strategically placed around the apartment.
Result: Not available yet. Will know tomorrow when I turn on the lights and see how many little buggers run for their lives.
Oh and thats not including:
1. Random bus rides that last an hour and a half (which actually wasn't that bad because now I've rode all of Bus 501 and know the complete bus route--and where Walmart is).
2. Daily food challenge. Which includes: What meat is that? What vegetable is that? Should that be that chewy? Do I dare to eat that? And the ever so popular next day question: Why does my stomach hurt?
3. School.
Welcome to China.
Problem: Computer broken. It wouldn't charge and I didn't know if it was because I didn't have an adapter or if the computer was really broken. Lucky for Lucky. Yeah there is a computer wiz named Lucky who just traded out my computer charger cord and asked me to pay $16 bucks for a 'new to me' computer cord. Done. Computer not broken anymore.
Thursday Night:
Problem: The toilet. The toilet had been taking a long time to fill up after I flushed; so naturally I was turning off the water to it so it didn't run all night. Of course, when I turned off the water valve, it snaps off. Fortunately, the water had already turned off, but still the valve control was in my hand and not on the toilet pipe where it should have been. Which meant I couldn't turn the toilet back on to flush. Lucky for the landlord. He came Friday night. Stayed two hours. Fixed my toilet. We shared a coke. It was special.
Sunday Morning:
Problem: No water in the kitchen. Why? The landlord had turned off the water valve to the Kitchen, but didn't turn it back on. I of course didn't know where the water valve was for the Kitchen (I had learned where the bathroom was however). Result: One 'administrator' from the apartment building. One random Chinese man. One landlord. 30 minutes. Valve turned back on. Water in the Kitchen back on. Dishes could be washed.
Everyday:
Problem: Some sort of bug.
Solution: Massive amounts of Raid sprayed, which has resulted in quick departure of apartment.
Solution number 2: Massive amounts of cock roach motels strategically placed around the apartment.
Result: Not available yet. Will know tomorrow when I turn on the lights and see how many little buggers run for their lives.
Oh and thats not including:
1. Random bus rides that last an hour and a half (which actually wasn't that bad because now I've rode all of Bus 501 and know the complete bus route--and where Walmart is).
2. Daily food challenge. Which includes: What meat is that? What vegetable is that? Should that be that chewy? Do I dare to eat that? And the ever so popular next day question: Why does my stomach hurt?
3. School.
Welcome to China.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Number 1: The arrival
Nihao!
So perhaps some of you know our lives. Perhaps some of you don't. So I'll give a little background.
We are Ed and Jen. We used to live in Korea. And now we live in China.
Xiamen China to be exact. That's in the Fujian Provience.
And we are here as teachers at a local international school.
As of this current posting date, I (Jen) have been 'living' in China for less than a week. It took me five plane rides, over 36 hours of traveling (with layovers), sitting next to a man who farted (and smelly ones to boot) for 10 out of those 36 hours, finally arriving in Xiamen, meeting and greeting a whole bunch of new people, apartment hunting for 3 days, cleaning (ahem scrubbing the apartment with in an inch of its life) for half a day, all while waking up at 4am. Everyday.
Needless to say I'm tired.
However, with that said, I think I'm adjusting well. The people I've met (locals and non-locals alike) have been helpful and generous. Language learning is slow (how can a tone deafish person learn a language based on tones!??), but I've managed a half a word a day. Yup half a word. I can now say "stop" with confidence. It only took me two days. Food is good. Sooooo good in fact. And today I get to experience a real live Chinese hospital! Let the fun times begin!
So pictures of the apartment and the area are to come (God willing I can get them up on here). More insightful ramblings will be soon to follow.
I would sign off with the Chinese word for good bye, but I haven't learned it yet. Give me a few months.
So perhaps some of you know our lives. Perhaps some of you don't. So I'll give a little background.
We are Ed and Jen. We used to live in Korea. And now we live in China.
Xiamen China to be exact. That's in the Fujian Provience.
And we are here as teachers at a local international school.
As of this current posting date, I (Jen) have been 'living' in China for less than a week. It took me five plane rides, over 36 hours of traveling (with layovers), sitting next to a man who farted (and smelly ones to boot) for 10 out of those 36 hours, finally arriving in Xiamen, meeting and greeting a whole bunch of new people, apartment hunting for 3 days, cleaning (ahem scrubbing the apartment with in an inch of its life) for half a day, all while waking up at 4am. Everyday.
Needless to say I'm tired.
However, with that said, I think I'm adjusting well. The people I've met (locals and non-locals alike) have been helpful and generous. Language learning is slow (how can a tone deafish person learn a language based on tones!??), but I've managed a half a word a day. Yup half a word. I can now say "stop" with confidence. It only took me two days. Food is good. Sooooo good in fact. And today I get to experience a real live Chinese hospital! Let the fun times begin!
So pictures of the apartment and the area are to come (God willing I can get them up on here). More insightful ramblings will be soon to follow.
I would sign off with the Chinese word for good bye, but I haven't learned it yet. Give me a few months.
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