Here I go... I arrived in Kunming on Sunday night and already I can't believe how quickly I am adjusting to life here. Each day of this week I keep reminding myself it's only my second day, it's only my third day, so today it's only my fifth day here. I have worked everyday this week, found a language teacher, a language partner, a shared apartment, and bought a monthly yoga pass to a studio in the center of Green Lake park (Kunming's treasure). Most excitingly, my Chinese is coming back to life. I can feel it dusting off old grammar patterns and searching for more articulate words. Beyond that I am not willingly to give my Chinese more credit. Not yet.
I arrived Sunday night and was greeted outside baggage claim with two signs and two people-Zoe, my Chinese coworker, a Yunnan native, and Yao's father. Yao is the vice-pres of Minds Abroad. I worked with her and Carl, the pres, this summer in New York but I had no idea that her parents were helping in the Kunming office. It has been a wonderful treat to have them around. They only speak Chinese and have quickly adopted me as their American child. They also cook an insanely delicious lunch, mostly vegetarian for me, at the office everyday. I have vowed to never miss a meal.
On Monday, my first day in Kunming, I contacted a friend from Oberlin for a language teacher suggestion. She recommended Annie, a Chinese woman from Qingdao who has worked for Where there be Dragons. It's a perfect fit. I already adore her. Zoe my coworker offered I also contact her college roommate, Xiaobei as my language exchange partner. Xiaobei will be going to school in Australia next year so she can use me to brush up on her English and I can practice my Chinese. Maybe we'll become buddies along the way.
Immediately upon arriving, I realized living in a Minds Abroad apartment would not work for
me. I need a little distance from work and my personal life. I set out to find myself a new apartment and I think I found a great option. The place is a great location, coincidently on the same street as my friend Julie, from my SIT trip and my Chinese language teacher. I can rent the room monthly so I do not have to make any long-term commitments. The apartment has two huge rooms, one of them is occupied by a French girl teaching French in Kunming. I move in on Wednesday, I feel positive about this spot.
Well it seems my daily routine has taken shape, at least for these next few months. Four days a week I will start with language class in the morning then I will go have my home-cooked Chinese lunch and work four hours a day five days a week. After work I hope to meet up with Xiaobei and maybe squeeze in a yoga class. I also need to look for work on the weekends to support my daily expenses. Hopefully this should not be a problem considering teaching English opportunities are ubiquitous. Somehow I know I'll manage to find time to meet local friends and become integrated in my neighborhood and around town. I welcome this new opportunity with a lot of excitement and gratitude.
