Not the average expat home in China

This is home. I still don’t have my desk or bookshelf, but soon I will ask a local carpenter what his price is. This won’t be my dream home, but I will be here only for a year. Maybe next one is actually beautiful? This one is more practical and cheap. Maybe like a real good Chinese home.

This is what I wanted. An apartment from a Chinese neighbourhood and that is exactly what I got. But this week I have gotten my share of culture shock or at least I think so. One day just didn’t want to go outside. To be stared and observed. I wanted to feel like I was part of something and not an outsider. So I stayed home and ate potatoes with meatballs.

I have realized that I don’t have to be out exploring all the time. This is normal life here too. I can just read books or blogs. I can relax and not worry about what is outside. Right now there is pouring rain that makes me sit inside the rest of the day. And that is enough.

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