keys in my hand and goin with the season...

Today, I signed the contract for my very own apartment. And, I now I have the keys in my hand. Literally, no confusion, no frustration, some anxiety, but more excitement.

I'm learning there is no need to complicate, but to just go with the season I am in , and be strong, and enjoy the new experience of living on my own. 

Now, I'm just brainstorming the first thing I want to do when I move in.

one rooftop and invitation

one rooftop and invitation, originally uploaded by blue.eyed.girl.

a brand new day: finding my very own apartment

Joshua Radin says it perfectly in his song "Brand New Day"

It’s a brand new day
The sun is shinning
It’s a brand new day
For the first time
In such a long long time
I know
I’ll be ok

Today, I found my apartment. After going back and forth in the same area of Beijing, and beginning to become extreemely skeptical that I would find anything in the next couple days, I made one last call. Little did I know this call would lead to my finding an apartment! As my agent and I made our way from the subway, just a short 7 minute walk, I looked around and knew that I would like this area of the city (Shaungling)  - a few supermarkets, a shopping mall close by, a gym, a fruit stand and a hospital across the street from my building.

After I walked into the apartment, I seemed to instantly feel that this was the place for me. It felt open and bright as soon as you walk in. This one bedroom, one living room place has large windows, lots of storage space, and just a generally good feel! I wish I could somehow describe it better. Being this was the first place that I was finding just for myself, I wanted it to have the feeling of being home and a place that expressed who I am. I felt this as soon as I peeked my head in the door.

I feel excited and scared all at once. Like I have stepped into something that I know will again change my life. I'm excited to have friends stay over, and to have my parents come to stay there in a few months, to put up my photography, to find a place for my keyboard and to go to my new church just a few stops away. This place represents something for me. I guess I will be finding out this "something" along the way as I beging my life in Beijing.

Tommorrow, I have my first day at my brand new school. Looking forward to meeting new students and new faces!

After a few frustrations last night, and sending a few emails, and looking on thebeijinger.com, I got about 3 phone calls this morning to look at more places. I'm even getting picked up from my hotel to look at the apartments. This feels much better and I feel like I'm getting to see more of what I am looking for.

This is so consuming in everyway. But, the day is looking better.

apartment hunting in beijing

Started apartment hunting yesterday in Beijing. And while my real estate agent didn't make such a great impression over the phone, I told myself that I might be just a culture difference thing, so I met her and we went to our first few locations.

1st apartment - Just a few stops from my school, the location was great. With some amazing restraunts, a starbucks, and this amazing Chinese style college close by. My agent and I met a rather talkative friend of hers to show us the place. Just a short walk from the station, I thought it was going to be a gooder. We arrived to what looked like a jail. A jail. I said to myself, ok, we will just take a look. Walked inside to steel and piping everywhere, and while I convinced myself that it was just the outside, I was wrong. The apartment was a dive. An absolute dive. Think of your first single college dorm room, make it smaller, more ugly and dirty...and then you have that apartment. A bed, a sink, and well, that was pretty much it. I said to my agent, "Ok, next apartment."

2nd apartment - was in the same area, just a little further away from the station. Alot further! So much so that I would need to get a bicycle to get there (but, that is actually ok with me. I miss riding a bike!) This time, it was in more of a community. The building itself seemed very Chinese - bicycles parked out front, no elevator, little lighting in the hallways and just a general run-down quality to the place...I started to become skeptical. After going to the 11th floor, and the agent attempting to open the door about 3 times, we made our way inside. This time, there was an actual bedroom and living room. While a little dirty, it was ok. But, I kept thinking to myself, "Would l want to show my parents this?." I could imagine myself cringing, and holding my breathe and hesitantly saying, "So, uh, mom and dad, I'm sorry, but this is my apartment." That was enough to make me move on to the next one.

3rd apartment - Even further from the the station, but I was optimistic that things might turn out better. This time, the building was in good condition. Security guard and lots of trees around. We walked into the apartment and I was pleasantly surprised. A good size living room with nice furniture, and further down were a pair of sliding doors into the bedroom, and the kitchen then was on the enclosed balcony. While the bathroom had alot of pipes sticking out and some of the walls were a little rusted, this was the first one that was actually liveable. So, I said I would think about it.

4th apartment - this one was close to the train station. Literally 2 minutes on foot! While the area seemed more quiet, with seemingly not too many restraunts around, the building itself was really nice. Marble floors in the hallways, and security guards, and well-lit hallways, I thought this might be a good option. I walked into the apartment with the agent, and was pleasantly surprised. It was a studio (which I am not really keen on), but so spacious! Nice wood flooring, large windows at the back, good living area with nice tv and storage units. And the bed on the opposite side (which I would probably buy a divider or something to separte the bed area and living room). And kitchen is rather spacious. I had my doubts about studios, because I don't like sleeping in the same room I eat in. But, this apartment changed my mind. So big and lots of room to move things around. Another bonus - there is a small gym at the bottom of the building and a supermarket. I have to think about this one. The apartment itself is really beautiful, but I'm not sure what is around the area. I want to be close to restraunts, cafes and other things like that.

What is also making this process a little uneasy for me is my agent. Not really sure about her. She doesn't seem to have alot of knowledge about the places we are visiting. She said we would go looking for more today, but she wasn't able to find anymore that were in my price range (and my range is not unreasonable!). I'm just too darn trusting alot of the times. I need to be more aggressive with this. I'm getting a little anxious. I just called another agent and he is looking for me.

 I just need to remind myself that it was only my first day. And, I have time to do this, so I shouldn't rush myself. I feel proud of myself in a way, keeping my wits about me and staying level headed. This time last year, finding an apartment in China seemed so daunting. Not really having any perspective on Chinese culture or society also made the process even more challenging. This time round, I know what I want.

I just know that somewhere there is an apartment in Beijing with my name on it. Just waiting for me. Finding an apartment completely for me, I'm realizing, is not just about a place to live, but its going to be my space. Just for me.

It feels good to write about this. To hear myself think. more to come...

beijing, day two: random acts of kindness

Today, I got on the subway to go to one of the centres to figure out some logistics about my school and contract. I got out at what I thought was the correct station, and I soon discovered I was lost in the middle of Beijing. I managed to hail down a taxi and got my TLC rep to speak to him in Chinese for me. I was on my way.

I heard something interesting about Beijing taxi drivers before I came here. Sujis (or taxi drivers) in Guangzhou only seem to care about getting to the destination and doing so in a way that can make them the most money. In Beijing, I've heard that taxi drivers will start up a conversation with you, ask you where you are from or talk about Chinese culture or something. Indeed, I soon discoved this is in fact true.

Later introducing him self as "Charlie", he was asking me how long I had been in Beijing and why I am in China. He told me he had never seen Canadian money before, so I gave him a toonie and he was obviously enthralled with it. I told him I love Beijing and I already have such a good impression of the people and the city. He told me the only thing he really knew about Canada was from hearing in school about a Canadian, Dr.Norman Bethune, who came to China in 1938 during the war and performed emergency surgery in the battlefields, and trained doctors and nurses. For many Chinese people, he is a hero. I told him I heard his name before and was happy that he thinks so highly of my country.

As I got out of the taxi, I asked him how much, and as I reached my hand into my purse, he exclaimed, "No.No.No. Don't worry about it!" I told him that I couldn't do that, I would feel too bad. He said, "It was nice to meet you, and welcome to Beijing!" He then extended his business card to me - including his Chinese name, his job title, and randomly his brother's phone number. On the back of the card it reads: 

"I love peace. I love life and I love you all. It will be my biggest pleasure to show you a real Beijing. Enjoy your trip to China from a good taxi ride."

I seriously don't get it. What is going on that I have these random acts of kindness? I can't believe it. So far, everything is going so well. 

I will be apartment hunting tommorrow with a local agent here. I'm really curious to see apartments here. I wonder what an adventure this alone will be. 

...

The night I left Guangzhou, there is something I will remember forever. I wanted to share it with you.

As the night of my goodbye party came to a close, and there were just myself and a few students left, I sat with them and we talked and enjoyed our last few moments together. These people were my first impression of China and the Chinese. They helped me to become a better teacher, and a better person. I felt so sad to be leaving another group of great students.

 As we got up to leave, we asked the bar staff to take a picture of us. As I was standing there with just 10 students, one of them reached out to hug me. I felt her starting to cry. These students who I now consider my friends, all started to crowd around and put their arms around us. It was quite a strange sight, in the middle of a practically empty bar. We laughed, and told each other that this year has been so memorable. I told them that they make my job so meaningful and wonderful. One of them then said so heartfeltly, "Jane, you are the best wonderful."

We all burst out laughing with joy, while she then questioned, "What, is my grammar not correct?" We assured her that she said what was in her heart.

I guess for people who are in a teaching role, we never really know the kind of impact we have on students. We just try to do our job and have fun. On the flip side, I don't think students know the kind of imact they have on us. I try to carry that with me wherever I go.

beijing, day one.

Last night, as I said goodbye to the students and friends who I have met this past year in Guangzhou, I was reminded of how lucky I feel to be doing what I am doing and meeting the people I am meeting. As I sit here in a warm scarf I got as a gift, in my hotel room in Beijing, I'm so excited to be on a new adventure in the capital city of China!

I was welcomed to Beijing by a fresh zero degrees, and met a rep from my company to take me to my hotel. The city looks different from when I saw it back in November, with no leaves on the trees. An almost bleakness in the air. Beijing is known to take on this quality in winter. Still, there are characterisitics of this city that I think can surpass even the bleakest of winters. The old streets, the bicycles, the people walking the streets.

 As I hopped in the van with all my luggage, I looked out the window to see a low, red sun in the distance, and locals riding bicycles. The hotel even invites a kind of image of what Beijing is for me. From the outside, its almost temple-like. Inside, is a courtyard, with a restraunt with glass walls, and my room has a giant king size bed with Chinese style architecture.

I'm on my own again. This time more confident, even more excited for the adventures that lay around the corner. Speaking of which, I venture out to grab a bite to eat tonight and to explore Hutong (famous alley ways in Beijing.), and a local Beijinger elderly man grabs my attention and asks me where I'm from. With my broken Chinese, I tell him I'm a teacher, and am from Canada. I ask him where I could get something to eat, and this guy not only takes me to a fantastic local restraunt, but he pays for my dumplings. 

Now, having been in the south of China for the past year, I felt myself growing skeptical of help a stranger would give me on the street (in Japan, I never felt that way, but China has somehow increased my suspiciousness. Don't know if I like that). It was so refreshing and welcoming to have a local show me a restraunt.

As I walked back to my hotel, along the hutong streets, I had this feeling. A quiet expectation that this will be a year like no other. The next few days will be filled with apartment hunting, meeting my new coworkers and staying bundled up.