Update Smorgasbord

Again, no theme on this post, but I have fallen behind on the updates.

Life in China / Slowly becoming more and more into a person who lives here. Every expat wants to think so but I am making an effort to adjust. I try to take the bus rather than a taxi whenever possible. I am trying to switch my mind over to China standards of cost rather than dividing everything by 7 and exclaiming how cheap that is in US Dollars. Speaking as much Chinese as possible. I have been trying to start conversations with local Chinese staff at my school. Lessons have been going well, although all of the December sessions got canceled for one reason or another. It's amazing what the brain retains. I am remembering random things from my prior learning in Saturday Chinese school and in college-level courses, but those were all in traditional characters. Some of it is applicable and some of it is not. It's bizarre, some simplified characters don't have anything to do with the traditional. Good news to report on the learning front. I was able to work a Chinese language photocopy machine to make multiple double-sided copies of a double-sided document.

Home / I am moving to a new apartment on Tuesday night. Why Tuesday night? Long story, but landlords, lease terms, work commitments, and vacation time have made it such that it has to happen that way, unfortunately. I have been told to just recruit an army of friends to help me make it happen. My new place is bigger, is better furnished, has a walk-in closet and a proper oven. Sweet! I have to pack this weekend.

Work / Extremely busy. Reports are due early next week. We just had the authorization visitors last week. Also, wrapping up for the final week before holidays is quite stressful, not to mention all the additional events that happen in the meantime. I went in early every day last week and am trying very hard to avoid that this and next week. There is a serious rat problem in school. I had one run right over my feet on Friday afternoon. And two mornings this week I have seen droppings in my classroom.

Travel and/or explorations / We had a big group outing to Shanghai on Sunday. We went to the French Concessions area (lovely) and did some shopping at the Super Brands Mall. (Yes, that is what it is called) I have got to explore this city more. I have been told it is about as close to New York City as I will get here. We are spending one night there next week before our flight. Ten more days until Vietnam and Cambodia!! (Via Macau)

Health / Some flu-ey bug keeps threatening me on and off but I have seemed to be able to fight it off. Knock on wood. Several of my students have been or are sick. Carriers... Emotionally, I am missing home, snow, and a little bit of cheesy Christmas marketing and spirit. I may be visiting in late January. More details to come.

Social / Great.

Money / Not so great.

As you may imagine, stress level is at an all time high right now. It is inevitable and I am dealing with it the best I can. Honestly, I can't remember a time in the past few years where I have been stress free. Everyone around me is quite stressed so it's comforting to know that we're all in the same boat, yet frustrating at the same time that everyone's a bit cranky and short-tempered. And I mean that in the least negative way possible.