First Days in China

First Day in China.

We made it. It is a long, long day just over 24 hours from the time we left our SeaTac hotel until we stepped foot into our new apartment in Shekou. It was tiring but we had nothing really out of the ordinary during the trip. All of our baggage made it. It had been unpacked and not very neatly re-packed but all items seemed to have come. We met our traveling companions Ed and Becky with their 3year old Owen in San Francisco. We were in the same row of seats with them and were able to help each other out. I have to give major kudos to anyone that is traveling that distance with a small child. Owen did great, time change, 36,000 feet tight seating, strange food. He is into anything related to fire fighting and quickly points anything he sees, like a blue fire extingisher, out. We traveled by van from the destination to our final destination. Four border passport checks later and a very interesting ride and we were home. I am now more than ever convinced that I will not ever drive in China. 120 km and a good 6 feet behind the car in front of us was normal driving, while our driver balanced up to three cell phones and had conversations on all of them!

We are on the 19th floor of a building that has 20 floors, so one is still above us. Our apartment is better than we expected. The building is somewhat old but our place has had some remodeling and is pretty nice. We have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room/dining room, and a small kitchen with a laundry room off that. A total of about 1200 sq feet I am told. It has some furnishings and we will be buying some additional things.

After we were helped in dropping our bags in our place. We went to dinner with other QSI families that had just arrived in the past week. Britt, our principal, took us to a great restaurant. Very authentic Chinese food, served in the traditional Chinese methods. Lots of great dishes. Much of it I did not recognize but it all tasted great and I tried everything. We learned hot to wash our plate, cup and chopsticks with tea prior to eating. This is one of Britt’s, (The school director’s), favorite places. We don’t know the name, he said he just calls it the red lantern place.

Since then we have been on information overload. Everyone is discovering new things and places to purchase needed items. We have lots to learn. So far we today, now yesterday since I must go to Starbucks to get the internet until mine is installed, we have eaten at a few different restaurants. Britt took us on a short walking tour that included going to the school and taking us and another couple out to lunch. Had our picture taken for visa, tried to buy mobile phones and services, and took a bus to Wa Maa. Otherwise known as Walmart. (Sorry Bill but there are not a lot of choices for us yet) We were there with another couple and their two girls they had gone a few times prior, otherwise there had to be 10,000 Chinese there at the same time. Sunday afternoon is not the time to go. I know my pics don’t show the crowds due to the fact that I wasn’t suppose to be taking pics at all, but I snuck a couple in so you could see it isn’t like Walmart in the US.

Met a great couple in our building that have been with QSI for 17 years. They are Dutch and have a 13 year old son. He, along with many of the other teachers I have met has a Mac laptop and is also a very avid photographer. Case is in charge of curriculum and a few other things and his wife Evona is one of the Art teachers. They have a three bedroom apartment that faces the other direction on the 9th foor.

We are going to try again today to get cell phones and will also try to call a few people from Starbucks which is very noisy and kind of expensive. Actually about 20% higher than the US.