apartment hunting

Today was the first day of my apartment hunting. My company hires someone to take me around an look for a place. So, here I was today, wandering the streets with these 2 small Chinese women, and a translator, looking around at apartments in the city. What is wonderful about China is that alot of the apartments here come furnished already - a bed, cabinets, t.v, dining room table! Everything you need is pretty much there. And while some places can be absolute dives, some can be quite beautiful and so cheap!! I must have looked at about 6 apartments today. Some dives, some very elegant and quite becoming. The translator who came with us, Justin (his english name), was so helpful, and he gave me good hints about the area in terms of restraunts, banks, grocery stores. Alot of the apartments here have beautiful surrounding gardens and a lovely courtyard with children playing in the area.

As I was looking around one apartment towards the end of the day - marble floors, 1 bedrrom, spacious living area and small dining area, I was thinking an apartment like this would probably cost about $1000/month, but in China it about 1/4 of the price! And its furnished. What is even more interesting, is that I have to go for an interview with the manager of the building, so he can get a sense of my "personality" (as Justin put it) and I can try to barter and get the price even lower. I have never been in the position of going around with a real estate agent looking for an apartment that best suits me and my needs and wants. Its kind of scary thing, but its also so exciting. I can shape my experience here how I want it. And I can find a place that I feel good and comfortable in.

Even more scary is working through the question of am I ready to live on my own, or am I still wanting to live with someone else? I haven't answered this question yet. Or maybe I have...