dream out loud

Tomorrow morning, the kids are coming with the parents to meet teachers and see the classroom. My room is far from ready for them but it as good as it can get for the first presentation. I figure I’ll just keep fixing it along the way.

It’s official! As of today, I have been in China for ten full days. Ten things about the ten days so far, in no particular order:

1. Saw one Olympic event.
2. Moved into a new apartment.
3. Made new friends.
4. Started a new job.
5. Celebrated a birthday.
6. Moved countless pieces of heavy furniture.
7. Five mosquito bites.
8. Very strange medical check by the Chinese government.
9. Three bruises.
10. Much cake eaten.

Yikes! It’s a mess and I’ve got four days to set up…

Today I got up early and talked to people at home online. This time difference takes a lot of getting used to. After they left for dinner or bed, I went outside to explore my new neighborhood since I was too tired to do so when I arrived yesterday.

I found: a Korean grocery store, a few massage parlors (real ones), a few hair salons, a strange restaurant that looked like a 70s airport lounge, some bakeries, a laundry/dry clean place, and I forget what else.

Between all the buildings in my complex is a stream, some cute bridges, playgrounds and public exercise equipment. I can’t explain what it is – maybe I will have post a photo. It reminds me of a playground for adults. The real find was… a dance studio that has ballet, yoga and belly dance classes. Within my complex!

In the evening I went to a small get-together of the primary school faculty at Lowenburg’s alongside the lake. Nice area – I am definitely going to be spending time here. There are lots of shops, restaurants and I hear that there’s a light show on the water on Saturdays. I met a teaching couple who live in a complex across the street from me and they have been exploring the neighborhood since Monday. They were telling me all about stuff that I haven’t found yet. The strip with KFC, Starbuck’s and more American stuff.

I got to dinner about 15 minutes too early so I sat by the lake and felt the most relaxed that I have been in about a year.