As I look back on our first week in China, all I can really do is laugh at everything that has happened. So many different and new experiences! Rachel and I are without a doubt on the other side of the world. We are not in America anymore, that much is for sure!
I have no clue where to start, everything is so different that is it worth mentioning. Everything from how the Chinese drive and dress to what they eat and how they shop. It is so vastly different. I suppose the best way to explain everything is chronologically.
Our first night in China we stayed at a hotel in Shanghai. It was one of the better ones, with more of a western feel to it. Even with that being said, it hardly felt western. In China we have yet to find a soft bed, most of them feel like padded boards with very little give to them. Surprisingly, we are grown to find them a great comfort at the end of the day.
The Hotel we stayed at was the last place with a western toilet. Unless you buy something different, all the toilets we have seen have been squat potties (pretty self-explanatory). Put simply, it is a hole in the ground/tile. And you don't flush the TP, that goes in a waste basket. Very different than what we're used to! :)
After a 8 hour train ride, we were greeted by Tim - who is able to speak fairly good English. After saying "Xie Xie" (Thank you) most of the day, it was a complete shock when he replied with "You're welcome". I have have a much greater appreciation for people who speak English now. They are immediate friends!
So, we get stuffed into a tiny car and are driven to our first apartment. The question is which is more exciting: the driving or getting to the apartment? At the time, I would have to say driving. Imagine a city about as busy as NYC, and then get ride of 90% of the traffic laws and that is about what we experienced. Cars passing in the intersections, others running red lights, the more adventurous ones drove on the sidewalk, every now and again you would see someone driving the wrong direction and blaring the horn. Then you have the pedestrians and bikers to thrown in the mix, they would basically walk or bike wherever was easiest for them. The best way to explain it is, there is an equal responsibility given to everyone on the roads and sidewalks not to hit anyone or get hit by anyone. Everything else is free game!
Tim drives us through the crazy streets and takes us down some seemingly random back ally where the car barely fit and while pointing to ahead says, "Your apartment." Most of the other building around weren't in the best of shape, so I was very thankful when Tim showed us our place. Third floor of the nicest building in the square. And since we are on the third floor, we also get the whole roof to ourselves!
We hall our luggage up the stairs and open the door to our apartment and brace ourselves for what awaits....
First words about the apartment... "They left the windows open!" It had been raining hard all day and we were welcomed with a flood a water throughout most of the house save the bedroom and "Kitchen". Even with the water, we were very impressed by the size and everything that came with the apartment. A "Spinner" (Washer), two beds (both very hard), a fridge, a water cooler, a mobile closet for clothes, some couches, a few cooking items (Ricer cooker, stove, wok, etc), and that was about it. We didn't have a lot, not even a kitchen sink... but it was home, finally.
Tim took me to the "Supermarket" and Rachel stayed to clean the flood of water (First time we had really been separated since the wedding - strange feeling). We had to buy some water (You cannot drink the tap water in China), toilet paper and toothpaste (ours got tossed coming on the plane). Finding everything was easy enough, but knowing exactly what I was buying was something else. Everything is written in Chinese, only the logos look similar. Then we went to a separate side shop to buy water - it was the only thing the man sold. Large jugs of water, bottled water, water dispenses, small bottled water, different brands of water, and anything else related to water. Then the man delivered the large jug of water to our house and installed it for us. In America I would have been grateful to have someone show me where to find it, this was something else.
Rachel and I start to unpack and get settled into our apartment when we hear a knock on the door. I think/hope it is Tim or Mabel, maybe they forgot something. It is neither of them! The lady from the second floor, whom we named Maggie (who I believe is our landlord), decided to come pay us a visit. Only one problem, we don't speak Chinese yet... She is talking a mile a minute and we can only look and smile :] lucky for me, I could just call Mabel and have her translate for me. It was by far the funniest situation I have found myself in yet. Women yelling at me - I don't understand - Smile and wave...
We shut the door and could finally go to sleep after a long two days of traveling and adjusting to culture. So ends day two.
Things that we are thankful for:
- Tim had someone install a kitchen sink for us, and it should be operational by the end of the week.
- Jeremy managed to find a pair of shoes in his size - much harder than it sounds in China
- Walmart sells peanut butter and jelly!
- We are beginning to get to know the other teachers more, despite the language barrier.
- Interactions with and visits to the local kindergartens for advertising (They say it is work, but it is our favorite part of the week so far!).
- Contact from friends and family back home! Please continue :)
Things we miss:
- A Normal American Sunday spent with friends and family
- A toilet we can sit on.
Blessings from some grateful pilgrims,
Jeremy and Rachel
