I am finally here, within walking distance to my English First School.
I have settled into a 25th floor apartment in Nanshan District of Shenzhen.
Luckily the contract was not too complicated for Phoebe to translate for me and it currently gives me scope if I can get a visa extension to finish the term beyond 60 days.
Yesterday (Tuesday)was a lot of waiting around while the other two new teachers were settled and with a very complex contract for lease of their apartments (rooms in a hotel). It was a case of raiding several bank accounts to drum up the ready RMB for one months rent plus a month’s rent deposit (about 1,000 AUD). Eventually we headed off to find a taxi or as it turned out fight for a taxi to get to Nanshan
Negotiations over my apartment were much less complicated and the representative speaks a little English (certainly more than my Chinese!). Money handed over the real estate was mine for two months.
Phoebe then showed me where my school was and then we had meal representing some of the local specials. Trusting me to get home on my own, Phoebe headed off for her College – even so, she rang to make sure I was not lost-it was a nice gesture but at the time I could see my street so I could say I was fine. I had stopped by the supermarket and stocked up on breakfast goods as well as washing powder as the unit has a washing machine. At 85% humidity this week, clothes do not make more than one wear. Finished the day with a beer (essential supplies), TV and eventually discovered the hard style china bed.
During the night it became obvious it was raining and quite windy, gushing down the exterior corridor and whipping under the front door. Umm , tropical downgraded typhoon “Fengsten” had arrived. Woke up to a very wet day, my last day off before starting work on Thursday. Pushed enough buttons on the washing machine to make it work, did a stocktake of household items ( hardly any included) and donned the gortex and set off for the shops. Returned home much later laden with goodies looking like a drowned rat masquerading as a pack horse. Decided to jump in a cab, then rang the guy from real estate agent and asked him to tell the driver where to take me. Got home safely, assembled my hanging rack for work clothes, don’t laugh but also a 21yuan ironing board and a 35yuan iron as my clothes are quite crumpled, not very professional to be un-ironed. (@ 56yuan that’s not even $10AUD total to be self sufficient in the ironing department). A wok and a cleaver are the cornerstone of the new kitchen utensils in keeping with my location. After all, I do have Chinese bank account, a job, an apartment and a cell phone number (mobile for Aussies) so I might as well have a Chinese kitchen.
A second trip out later filled the fridge with veges and other essentials. What an adventure in the supermarket, veges I couldn’t describe or certainly don’t know how to cook them, eggs by the kilo, live frogs, yabbies, live fish, not so live fish, meats and bits not normally seen – playing safe I chose prawns (cooked and shelled) to throw in my stirfry. Juggling two large shoppingbags, a 10 pack of toilet paper (they didn’t sell in less) and a brush for the floor oh and my umbrella was a challenge and it did not include staying dry, sloshing through the footpath for about 5 mins or 1 km, I must have looked a sight.
My last trip out was to the 24 hour store at the foot of the building to get 4xAAA batteries for the ipod speakers. Discovered my local sells Tonic water ! The next bit of good news will be the successful internet connection in the room then all will be done.
It’s still raining…tomorrow is a school day, might have to buy some wellies to go with my wet suit (78yuan for pants and a jacket to supplement the gortex in this weather). I don’t mind getting wet but in work clothes … not so good.
I have settled into a 25th floor apartment in Nanshan District of Shenzhen.
Luckily the contract was not too complicated for Phoebe to translate for me and it currently gives me scope if I can get a visa extension to finish the term beyond 60 days.
Yesterday (Tuesday)was a lot of waiting around while the other two new teachers were settled and with a very complex contract for lease of their apartments (rooms in a hotel). It was a case of raiding several bank accounts to drum up the ready RMB for one months rent plus a month’s rent deposit (about 1,000 AUD). Eventually we headed off to find a taxi or as it turned out fight for a taxi to get to Nanshan
Negotiations over my apartment were much less complicated and the representative speaks a little English (certainly more than my Chinese!). Money handed over the real estate was mine for two months.
Phoebe then showed me where my school was and then we had meal representing some of the local specials. Trusting me to get home on my own, Phoebe headed off for her College – even so, she rang to make sure I was not lost-it was a nice gesture but at the time I could see my street so I could say I was fine. I had stopped by the supermarket and stocked up on breakfast goods as well as washing powder as the unit has a washing machine. At 85% humidity this week, clothes do not make more than one wear. Finished the day with a beer (essential supplies), TV and eventually discovered the hard style china bed.
During the night it became obvious it was raining and quite windy, gushing down the exterior corridor and whipping under the front door. Umm , tropical downgraded typhoon “Fengsten” had arrived. Woke up to a very wet day, my last day off before starting work on Thursday. Pushed enough buttons on the washing machine to make it work, did a stocktake of household items ( hardly any included) and donned the gortex and set off for the shops. Returned home much later laden with goodies looking like a drowned rat masquerading as a pack horse. Decided to jump in a cab, then rang the guy from real estate agent and asked him to tell the driver where to take me. Got home safely, assembled my hanging rack for work clothes, don’t laugh but also a 21yuan ironing board and a 35yuan iron as my clothes are quite crumpled, not very professional to be un-ironed. (@ 56yuan that’s not even $10AUD total to be self sufficient in the ironing department). A wok and a cleaver are the cornerstone of the new kitchen utensils in keeping with my location. After all, I do have Chinese bank account, a job, an apartment and a cell phone number (mobile for Aussies) so I might as well have a Chinese kitchen.
A second trip out later filled the fridge with veges and other essentials. What an adventure in the supermarket, veges I couldn’t describe or certainly don’t know how to cook them, eggs by the kilo, live frogs, yabbies, live fish, not so live fish, meats and bits not normally seen – playing safe I chose prawns (cooked and shelled) to throw in my stirfry. Juggling two large shoppingbags, a 10 pack of toilet paper (they didn’t sell in less) and a brush for the floor oh and my umbrella was a challenge and it did not include staying dry, sloshing through the footpath for about 5 mins or 1 km, I must have looked a sight.
My last trip out was to the 24 hour store at the foot of the building to get 4xAAA batteries for the ipod speakers. Discovered my local sells Tonic water ! The next bit of good news will be the successful internet connection in the room then all will be done.
It’s still raining…tomorrow is a school day, might have to buy some wellies to go with my wet suit (78yuan for pants and a jacket to supplement the gortex in this weather). I don’t mind getting wet but in work clothes … not so good.
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