One Foot Out the Door

The people over here...

sheena_marie — Fri, 1 Jul 2005 20:43:00 GMT

.....stare. I'm not kidding. I get started at so much over here it's not funny. The women aren't as obvious about it as the men, but they all stare. Apparently it's not as bad (the staring that is) here in ZhuHai as it is in other provinces, but still...

I actually managed to make one little girl stop, drop her jaw, and watch me all the way down the street. I think she forgot she was carrying her little brother 'cause that kid was slipping. Of course, this was the day that I'd just washed my hair and left it to dry... you all know how curly my hair can be when it wants to be.

Have got out and seen some of the other districts in ZhuHai - Jida and Gongbei. I had to go and visit the other branches of the school. Jida branch is next door to this two story, mock palace complete with garden and water features. The mountain it butts up against is covered in forest and massive boulders. It's known as the boulder forest. Gongbei branch is in this luxurious hotel!

I've started doing some tentative cooking. I've been living off steamed buns and dumplings (from the frozen produce isle of JUSCO) with fryed vegetables. Not exactly fancy, but it's food and it's saving me some money.

They moved a bed into the spare room of my apartment today. Looks like my days of living alone are numbered. Oh, well. As long as she's not the bitch from hell I'll be happy. At least it means I won't be footing the entire electricity/gas/and water bill by myself.. and I'll hold off getting the dvd player until my flatmate arrives. That way we can go halves on a dvd player and save ourselves some more money.

I start training on Saturday morning (and then have English Club that night). I've got a party for Canada Day tonight. I won't stay for very long 'cause I'll have to get up early tomorrow for training. But I'll turn up. It'll give me a chance to meet some more people.

Anyway, must run. Have to go and get some dinner and possibly buy some alcohol for this party (I still can't get over the fact that the grog is in the juice isle over here!)

I am...

sheena_marie — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 16:54:00 GMT

alive. Have now been in Zhuhai *counts the days* 6 days? (My days are so confused at the moment it's NOT funny!!). It's an interesting place.

I currently have an apartment to myself on the 4th floor (of 27 floors). The bathroom takes a bit of getting used to. I could literally sit on the toilet to shower. It's air-conditioned, which is an absolute MUST at this time of year. The old saying is true "It's not the heat, it's the humidity". It's been around 30 degrees, but with 70-80% humidity. There was a couple of days there where there was regular thunder and lightning (aparently, according to Ellen, there was 2 weeks of one constant thunderstorm).

I can see a harbour from my kitchen window and hills off in the distance (there are literal MOUNTAINS all through the city. Buildings will jutt up against them). When I walk out of my apartment (holding my breath 'cause it's a tad bit smelly), catch the lift down to the first floor, walk out and look to the right I can see a MASSIVE Chinese gate/archway thingy framing a bridge. I think there's a huge Pagoda restaurant at the other end of the bridge where one of the 114 or so islands are.

Across the road from me is Jusco, which has Tim-Tams for about Y5.6 (which isn't too bad). I've made it my mission to introduce everyone here to Tim-Tams It also has in the toy section a HUGE selection of Gundam models from many of the different series as well as a heap of other Anime stuff. So far I have resisted the temptation. It's also got a supermarket that has ENGLISH signs as well as Chinese. Most of the teachers shop there even though it's apparently a tad bit more expensive. It's also convenient.

I've been introduced to two restaurants that have English menus (thank GOD!). One of them also has a picture menu. The food here is soooooo nice! My chopsticks skills are getting better (I've only dropped stuff on myself once, and dropped numerous things on the table).

According to the teachers the first necessity I have to buy is a dvd player as dvd's are so cheap here. I've been told that I have to go to Gongbei (one of the areas of Zhuhai), where I can get one for Y250 (which is REALLY cheap). The next thing I have to get is a mobile phone. I'll probably go with either a motorola or a nokia, they've got booths EVERYWHERE around here.

I also have to host the English Club on Saturday. There are teachers taht have been here for months that haven't done it yet, I've been here 6 days and I get to do it. I don't know whether to look forward to it, or worry.

Later!

I am here!

sheena_marie — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 18:57:00 GMT

Arrived in China safely yesterday afternoon.Have managed to go shopping by myself and am about to go and try to get some food for myself (food that isn't KFC or McDonalds).

Later!