Hello Guangzhou

As I sit on my couch (powder blue with a really interesting floral pattern) and look out of my window (29th floor) I can see twenty or so people doing early morning tai-chi in a courtyard. I’ve been up since 5:30, an improvement over yesterday, when my eyes popped open for good at 4:30. My early morning hours have never been so productive.
After two full days in Guangzhou, so far, so good. I’m really, really happy with where I live. I’m on the top floor of my building and I have a great view of the Pearl River from the balcony and a number of windows. I also discovered to my absolute delight that my apartment has a jetted bathtub. Now I don’t have to sell my soul to get one of those; I’m so pleased. I am sure my new co-workers are a little puzzled by my delight over my bathtub, as I tell everyone, but I don’t really care. I’m still exploring the neighborhood, but food (McDonald’s on the ground floor) and pedicures (two blocks away, less than $10 and foot razors to shave off the dead skin, banned in the US, but not in China, hooray!!) are readily available. I’ve made an appointment with one of the other new teachers living in my building to return regularly to the pedicure establishment. My toes are so happy. Transit also won’t be a problem as there is a subway stop right under my building. My apartment karma is very, very good in Guangzhou.
There is much settling in to do. My school has been very helpful with getting all of the necessary moving-in things done, which is great, as I am baffled by the Chinese language in any form. I have a full calendar of work and social appointments to help me get oriented to the city. I have been out to dinner with other new staff members every night since being here. Last night we went to a traditional Cantonese restaurant. The food was excellent. It’s true, you haven’t really eaten Chinese food until you have been to China. So fresh, so tasty. I’m not kidding about fresh. As we entered the restaurant, dinner was waiting for us. There were lobsters and fish in tanks, live silkworms, water beetles, some type of eels and a super-cute unsuspecting duck staring up from a cage. I thought about taking him home to live on my balcony, but decided against it in the end. It’s interesting to be in a place where people aren’t so removed from the source of their food.
Today I meet Lin my Aiyi (maid) and go to the police station to register my apartment I’m super excited about having someone to clean my house and basically run my domestic life for me. I may never cook again. Hurrah! I am also going shopping at a German version of Sam’s Club called Metro. I’m looking forward to trash bags, hangers and other life essentials.
The tai-chi session has ended, which means it’s 7 a.m. and time to head to Costa Coffee to get a mango smoothie and access the internet (can’t get it to work in my apartment…sigh). It’s going to be a great day, and if it ends up not being great, I can guarantee it will be interesting.