Shenzhen week 1: off to a running start

We came down to Shenzhen about 2 weeks ago, but didn't start to live in our apt until this past week, starting Monday.

It went something like this:

Monday: Toilet clogged. Bad.Took Alden for a walk down Gongxin Zhong 4 rd to metro station, discovered a several evening al fresco eateries and the university.

Tuesday: Plumber came, yay! Alden started solid foods- rice cereal! Saw a huge cockroach in Alden's room- freaked out at 4am.

Wednesday: Strained a back muscle- I am totally out of commission keeled over like a hunchback, and cannot lift our little one : (  Got roach traps and set them up.

Thursday: Saw more roaches in kitchen now- HUGE and gross! We didn't catch the one in Alden's room since Timon stepped in that trap...

I couldn't sit nor stand without back pain. Visited sports medicine rehabilitation center in futian, got lost in the sports block and in pain, went to a convenience store to sit down and cry. The fella there listened to Timon's directions and graciously escorted me to the clinic (while holding my handbag) The Dr.s at the clinic were super nice and helped me so I can walk better now!

Discovered several cool eateries on the way home from the metro (1st time) including Liz Pizza and more al fresco eats and a basketball court in an empty swimming pool. 

Friday: Thats today! Apt is still in disarray, and going back to the clinic in the afternoon.

Whew! We look forward to finish setting up house and also visiting the beach with Timon's team from work.

heading to shenzhen

In 5 days we go 'move' to Shenzhen for T's work project. We are packing light, as we'll only be away for 4 months.

Another city, new to us. We don't know anyone there. Its exciting and a tad daunting- they'll speak cantonese there. And since it is farther south it has more of a tropical climate. Beach!

Shenzhen, city of 7 million, made it big when it became a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 1979. Its also one of the busiest ports in China. I've only been there to visit factories and once, a trade show. Shenzhen is in the Guangdong province along with Guanzhou is roughly 2 hrs NW of Shenzhen, with Dongguan slightly in between. Hong Kong is just across the water from us, about 1 hr by ferry! We are really excited to be able to go there on the weekends.

 So the last time I was in Shenzhen was for a tradeshow.... and was booked a hotel room in a hotel that didn't house foreigners. And it was along a dirt road with nothing in the area. And I sat in the hotel room all day since some other complications wouldn't allow me into the trade show.

I'm feeling a little bit like a migrant worker. Packing to the next city for work. Knowing nothing but hoping for the best. I don't know if a hotel is booked, we have no apt so there's no where to ship Alden's crib or anything. 

Anyways, back to packing and list making!