Discoveries: October 2014

One month in with no honeymoon phase. I arrived in Shanghai safely, with a 15 hours layover, I booked a 4 star hotel online. Yep 4 but more like 2 stars. Anyway it was clean-ish and smells nice-ish; plus it came with a huge low price tag, free wi-fi and airport pick up and drop off. With an half decent night sleep, I made it to Jinan all in one piece. Got picked up by my Manager, soon to be friend and go to person for directions, bus routes and stops.

I was so excited that dragging my 3 heavy overweight luggage in a heavy down pour of rain did nothing to dampen my mood. Plus, I just found out I won't be having a room mate for most or the entire duration of the current semester (6 months).

Foreign Teacher's Apartment for my school

Then, I walked into my apartment and my excitement hit an all time low.

Looking back, I can't say for sure what it was but I can recall clearly asking, "how much will it cost me to get cleaners in here? And where is the closest grocery store, I need to buy some household cleaning supplies.

I did get cleaners, paid for by my school but I might as well have gotten nothing because they did such a bad job I had to complain. Yes, I am a very detailed cleaner but even to the least detailed or not so clean person this is an awful cleaning job. I was not surprised though as I was warned I would be getting a so called "China Cleaning" - didn't know what this meant at first but now I do. I was advised to take before cleaners and after cleaners picture of the whole apartment. Which I did but I went a step further to clean by myself every inch of the apartment except my bathroom and then took pictures just so I can show what I meant when I said please clean. Please see some pictures after cleaners cleaned below and above.

After Cleaners cleaned.

After I cleaned

So, what have I done in my first month besides scrubbing my kitchen floor?

I have been teaching from day 3, at an English language school, and from my second week, few public school English classes got added on (some agreement between the public school and my actual school). Visited few historical/ tourist attractions out of many friendly Shandong province has to offer. Shulianxian, The Thousand Budha Mountain, Qufu (Confuscious birth place), Five Dragon Pond, Daming Lake and Batou Springs (highly recommended). Not much has happened but so far, I am adjusting and adapting very well.

I will fill you in on food and commuting in my next post. Stay tuned.