Ban-ing the Shiqing

The past two days, I have been staying with some friends because of a miscommunication in my housing plans. My realtor had told me that I would be able to move in on Saturday. My landlord couldn’t make it. So we planned for Sunday. Again, the landlord couldn’t be there. I was so frustrated! Most of the rest of the things I had to do couldn’t be done until I had moved in! By Monday morning, I felt like I had accomplished NOTHING during the last two days, which is a really rare feeling for me and one which I also hate. I was stir-crazy. I woke up at 5 in the morning and my attempts at further sleep failed. When it was finally a decent hour for me to get up and start calling people, I looked outside, and alas, it was raining. Like hard core monsoon season rain.

After the rain. Stuck in the clouds

It started at 7 30 in the morning as far as I know and didn’t let up until after noon. But I HAD to get out of that hotel. I bought myself a poncho and scooted myself to the school to see what I could do while waiting to move in to my new place.

Did I mention I bought myself a scooter? Or a 电动车as they call them here in the China. It was an awesome experience. 

Isn't it adorable?

Anyway, I got to the office and there were a couple of meetings that I had to go to which made me feel much better. I helped the couple that I had been staying with move into their new place, started planning for classes, and looked into getting a native roommate (mandatory by the flagship program). And then, finally, it was time to sign my contract! I signed it all up and the realtor hired a guy to come help me clean. I felt really bad, but I stuck him with the kitchen and bathroom. I was afraid to look at them let alone touch them. He was a nice man and cleaned them almost to my expectations. I bought some bleach and will attack them tomorrow. 

While he was cleaning, the real fun began. I went to Walmart to buy things to sleep with and clean with. 

Any market in China is always a good thing. First of all, it’s not even its own building. It is the second and third floor of a building in a large shopping district in Nanjing. They have crazy things like weird fish in tanks and kids walking around with holes in their pants peeing on the floor. Quick tip for anyone going to China: Never. Touch. The ground. You don’t know who has been pooping on it: dogs, cats, children, homeless people. If you drop your dumplings, fork out the 4 kuai and get some new ones. There is no ten second rule in China, and it is never worth it.

I got back home last night and was exhausted. I had to walk part of the way home from the taxi carrying all the stuff I had just bought. I cleaned enough to feel like I was sleeping in a sanitary environment and crashed. My apartment is fantastic. It is tiny and on the fourth floor without an elevator, but it is SO China. 

From the outside

I can hear the people in the apartment next to me doing pretty much anything that they do. The shower in the bathroom goes down the same drain as the toilet… which is on the floor… in the middle of the room... which is probably 3' by 2'. I can hang my clothes out the window on the rods that have been installed, and I look down and see piles of dirt and trash right next to 2012 Audis. If anyone was wondering, that pretty much sums up China’s current economic situation. Also, I am on the top floor so my ceiling is slightly vaulted and contains a secret door which I will investigate as soon as I can obtain a ladder.

And that’s pretty much it! Now I am off to get registered with the police department and get a physical exam. From Chinese doctors. Wish me luck!

China pic of the day:

Rat tail kid