The first few low points...

Yesterday was my first real day at work. I got picked up in the morning since I didn't know where I was going. The office is located at a relatively convenient location right above a major subway stop. After being here for a few days already, yesterday was also the first time that I saw some foreigners, white and Arabic. I saw them at the coffee shop (not Starbucks, but similar). I love coffee, but I think I will have to give it up for now. A cup of cappuccino cost at least 25 yuan, and it tastes like a latte. A bowl of noodles I had yesterday costs16 yuan, for comparison.

I took the bus / subway home yesterday. The subway system is actually very nice, very similar to the one in Taiwan. The bus is also quite new, but here is a little problem. I didn't know how to the ride the bus properly. Apparently you had to swipe your card as you enter as well as as you leave. You can only get in from the middle entrance and you have to leave from the front or the back. If you look white and made the mistake, they would probably just forgive you. Well, it doesn't work with me. Since I look like everyone else, I got yelled at, but I didn't even know they were yelling at me at first.

So that wasn't even the lowest point of the story. I was super excited to get out of work in the afternoon because I was planning to go check out the climbing gym. I found it online, and it looked like a great one (it said where all the locals hang out). So I grabbed my climbing gear and headed over there. Unfortunately, I didn't find this climbing gym. The security guy told me that it has been closed for at least 7 or 8 years. I was really disappointed at this news. I took a walk instead and walked along the bus line that I was supposed to take to go back to the hotel. I probably walked for 1 to 1.5 hours, and probably inhaled a ton of smog since it was rush hour.

There were more upsetting stories after I got back to the hotel, but I'm not going to bore you with it. I complained to the office today and told them that I am sick of being in the hotel, and that I'm ready to stay in an apartment. So we went to look for an apartment this afternoon. The first place we saw was so terrible that even the office guy told the agent that it was not acceptable. We haven't picked one yet, but what I am sure of is that it will be relatively tiny, probably a studio space or a one bedroom.

Sigh. I need a hug.

Sigh.