Finally part of the world again!
on Kirsten VSO (China), 14/Oct/2009 10:57, 34 days ago
My flat in DanfengNormal0falsefalsefalseMicrosoftInternetExplorer4st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }/* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;}Finally, after almost six weeks inChina, I’ve got my internet problems sorted out and I should now have regular access to my blog and facebook (at £6 a month to myUKproxy server.)It’s well worth it, though, as I also have access to BBCiplayer and ITVplayer, which means I can now watch the X-factor and see the Christmas Dr Who!!)Anyway, it’s impossible now to go back to fill in the last month’s experiences so instead I’ll pick out a few highlights in photo form and give the basics in writing of how things are in general.I’ve settled well into Danfeng.I love my flat (small but private– though a kitchen sink would be a plus!) and I like the town a lot.It has far more available food and clothing than I was expecting.I can get almost everything here for daily life (except decent bread– sob!)and inXi’an, which is 3-4 hours away by bus, I can get books in English (limited choice of course.)One thing that I can’t get at all inChinais magazines– I’m missing Delicious and Good Food mags already!People here are friendly and, as I’m the first white person EVER to stay in Danfeng,they’re pretty curious.The stares are slowly becoming fewer though, at least in the few streets that I use every day (from my flat to the school and to the one supermarket!)I also have a few“friends” which makes me feel part of the town;- the baker who I buy bread from and gives me a daily monologue in Chinese that I can’t understand a word of- the hairdresser down the road who sits on a stool outside her shop as she never seems to have any customers but smiles at me every time I go past- the old, old man who seems to be the foreman of a building site (though I’ve never actually see him do any work) and who keeps beckoning me over – which so far I’ve chickened out of!I also have two little friends - Han Liang (6) and his big sister Han Yue (8) who appear at my front door every few days with a present for me.Sometimes it’s homemade biscuits, sometimes fruit or nuts and last night it was an omelette in a carrier bag!They won’t take anything from me though, and run away as soon as they’ve given me the present.I’ve lots more to say, but will keep how my school is for another time.Oh, and for the buddies who love me, my address isVSOKirsten GouldLongjuMiddle School, Dan FengSHAANXI陕西省丹凤县龙驹中学,726200ChinaShould you have the desire to send me a xmas card/birthday card/Delicious magazine ;-)just copy, paste, print it out and stick it on the front of the envelope!