Settled In....

I spent most of this weekend making my new apartment comfortable. I purchased plates, utensils, cookware, dishtowels, and soap. I didn’t go overboard. I kept my choices simple. I still need to consider purchasing a wok. As I have yet to get the electric hotplate to work I’m holding off on this.

I’ve also found that my fridge is impossibly small. I experienced the challenges of a small refrigerator in college (and even in Russia). The one I have here is even more challenging because it is even smaller than the one I had then. Think the size of a picnic cooler and you are on the right track. I look at it and all I can thing is “Abracadabra – supersize.” Despite my attempts at magic it never gets any bigger.

With this size of fridge making any type of meal is going to be challenging. I am already finding it hard to keep fresh produce around. I have resigned to eating a lot of fruit. I also am going to give vegetable juice a try. I opted for something called “vegetable nectar” today at the store. It evidently is a blend of veggies and fruit. I couldn’t find any V8 which is okay as I can’t stand tomato juice. I also picked up some over priced canned vegetables ($2 per can).

I’m posting a few pictures of my apartment. It is set up in a fashion like apartments back home. Meaning there are separate living and sleeping areas.

There are still a few more things I need to purchase for my new pad. One is a drying rack. Like many European countries China evidently doesn’t utilize drying machines. I did a small load this weekend and now have every surface in my bathroom littered with clothes trying to dry. I’d also like to find picture frames for the pics I brought of Cori and Cooper. Right now they are resting by the TV.

I have other family pictures up but I brought them over in frames. I have already had an interesting experience with my pictures. When a housekeeper was in my room she asked “Husband?” and “Yours?” Try explaining to a housekeeper that knows little English that “No, those aren’t my kids they are my niece and nephew,” and “No, that’s my boyfriend not my husband.” I think she finally got what I was saying --- I hope.