Settling into Guangzhou...

I didn't mean to be so quiet over here! I thought with no kids around I'd have more time to blog, but every day races by.

So, I've been here a week and a half. The first five days were really intense- I definitely got hit by culture shock as I realized a) I can barely communicate and b) food is so different. The Western grocery store in our complex is smaller than I expected, and when I found my way to a larger Chinese store, I didn't recognize the majority of the products. That stressed me out a bit as I tried to imagine how I will feed my family in just a few short weeks.

On the other hand, I work and live in a very modern part of town, so I really don't have it too bad. There is a Starbucks around the corner from the U.S. consulate (yes!). There are also like 3 other coffee shops in the area. Plus a million Western and Chinese restaurants. Our work location is really ideal. There are malls all over the city and plenty of familiar influences. I could eat a Western-style lunch and order in English every day if I wanted to, but I don't!

Zhujiang New Town- greener than I expected!

Yet communicating in Chinese is really hard for me still. I tried to order lunch the other day (just wanted to get the green bean dish my friend had eaten the day before) and I realized I didn't know how to say green beans. So I looked it up in Pleco and tried it- blank stares. In Chinese, you never know if the word in the dictionary is the right word, or if you're saying it right. I kept bumbling along, trying to get some sort of vegetable dish, but the person at the lunch counter grew tired of me and moved on to the next person. Finally, another worker told me there was "qiezi". I'm like 'qiezi, qiezi' - oh, eggplant! Yes, that!! It was good. But boy, was that embarrassing. And yet, I'll be going through that daily until I figure out a number of dishes that I like and can order them correctly. I think I'll pick up their menu and translate it at home.

My other issue is helping the taxi drivers find my home. I kind of know the landmarks now, but don't know how to say "drive along this road for a while and then go here" kind of language. We did learn that at FSI, I will admit. A long time ago. I will be receiving 3-5 hours of tutoring every week so I hope that will help. I had my first session this week and the tutor is wonderful.

I think work will be fine. Yes, some differences, and adjusting to an even bigger community, but I know the work. It's living in China that is going to take the biggest adjustment. I will confess I am worrying about the kids and their adjustment to this very different place. But that is why we signed up for this adventure, I know.

Pearl River Promenade. There were tons of people out dancing/exercising/doing tai chi. 

So far, I really love it. It's fascinating and very comfortable here in GZ. I was scheduled to go on a lychee picking trip today a few hours outside of town, and I was looking forward to seeing more of the 'real China.' But because of the typhoon passing through the area, it was canceled. Not a problem, as I have plenty to do here at home and in GZ!

Liede Bridge and Canton Tower