Week 7

So, I've been here for 6 weeks, and am heading into week 7 here in Sujiatuo.  The initial culture shock has worn off; at least I think it has.  Last night I woke from a deep sleep to find myself thinking, "Holy shit, I'm in China!!  Have I lost my mind??"

I'm becoming a little more independent. As the saying goes, "If you want something done right, do it yourself."  That applies here too.  I sprained my knee.  Not sure how, but I woke up with pain on Sunday.  Saturday I did a lot of jumping around with the kids, plus we went picking strawberries.  I may have done it it at any point that day.  Anyway, Amy sent Tracy to the drug store to get me something, and they came back with a medication for joint pain.  Not what I needed, and of course it didn't work.  So ... I used Google translate, and went to the pharmacy myself today.  I'm still not convinced how rubbing odorless brown liquid on my leg will help, but I guess it can't hurt.  What I really needed yesterday was an ice pack.  Anyway, I have some Bufferin and an ice cube tray now.  Between that and my Chinese medicine, I should be OK in a day or so.  Luckily I don't have to teach until Saturday so I have a few days to rest it.  So much for sightseeing this week.

There are renovations going on in my building; have been since I moved in.  Hammering and drilling every damned day.  A lot of these units are unoccupied, and are new.  Unlike in Canada where condos are likely sold before a shovel even hits the ground, these were built before they were sold, and as a result, there are quite a few still empty.  Here, empty means the interiors haven't been completed (no flooring, no fixtures, no baseboards, no kitchen and bathroom fixtures, etc); the owner does that after it's purchased, at their own expense and to their specifications.  Up on the top floor, someone bought multiple units and removed some concrete walls (noisy).  In 302, next door to me, they're renovating this week.  I am hoping they hurry up and finish.  I've heard so much hammering, it's almost like white noise now, but the noise from drilling concrete might be the thing that pushes me over the edge.  They begin at 7am and work non-stop until 7pm.  China has been a noisy place for me so far.  Between my apartment, the school, and on the bus where the TV is always blaring, there's never much peace and quiet.


I've posted a few more photos, including some from the field trip with the kids: Click here to view them.


Until next time, love to all. XO