Sitting in my hotel room in Xi'an at the Long March International Hotel. I have found the internet service to be a bit spotty but now have a work-around to access Google and Gmail!
Spent yesterday looking at apartments and the 3rd one was the winner. I will post pictures of it once I move in (which should be tomorrow). The 1st one was a real dump, the second one better, third one hit the spot. They had more to look at but they were more expensive so I said don't bother. The apartment is basically right across the street from the school - maybe a 5 or 10 minute walk tops. It was occupied by a teacher from the school last year and he left behind many items so that I won't have to shop for them (silverware, dishes). It's on the 11th floor of the building but I forget what number the building is right now (there are several buildings in the complex - all 20 stories tall).
Met up with a Canadian teacher that I'll be working with - his name is Ryan and he taught in Switzerland last year. He's just a couple doors down in the hotel. He's not having so much luck finding an apartment and is out looking again today.
This morning we had to head down to the International Health Center in downtown Xián to get our second physical (apparently the one we did in the US doesn't count here). Our school contact, James is his English name, took us down there and handled the translations. We took the city bus and thankfully the one we took was not crowded - some of them you see the people are packed in like sardines! James is a funny guy - he has little patience for the bureaucracy and calls everyone "stupid". This afternoon it looks like not much to do so I'll probably walk around a bit (but not too far - don't want to get lost!). Crossing the street here is totally insane - and the lanes on the road are mere suggestions for the cars. But no one thinks twice about it!
All of the scooters and motorcycles you see are all electric - good for pollution and noise! I definitely don't miss all those Harleys going down Burnside Street! Helmets and safety equipment are of course nonexistent.
My first Chinese meal I couldn't even tell you what everything was. It was good though! I know there were bean sprouts, mushrooms, dumplings and some spicy stuff with some kind of meat. Ryan is married to a chinese woman Molly and they picked it all out and were impressed with my chopstick skills (which are pretty bad!). They said the spicy dish was pretty hot but it didn't seem all that bad to me...
I've got to get something to eat!
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