Arrived in Ningbo!

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I have finally arrived in Ningbo (after a mission of a journey)! It is so strange to finally be here! I am all settled in my new apartment, which is very cosy. I have spent the day cleaning and killing some seriously hideous looking insects and setting up possibly THE most retarded internet connection ever! It took me about 4 hours to follow some useless chinese instructions (looking every other character up in the dictionary) and once I had finally connected I discovered that it takes almost 5 mins to load 1 page. God knows what skype will be like! Anyways, at least I have some sort of access to internet!

Apartment is nice and is loacted within the main campus grounds of the uni. The university is massive though! It is like a self-contained city and has it's own bus and taxi service. I start work tomorrow morning, not sure what to expect. I haven't met any other foreigners yet, spent most of today alone :-( but hopefully it'll get better tomorrow once I start work. I've heard (through the grapevine, might have misheard as my Chinese is actually really pants) that there is French girl living in the same building as me. I'll have to hunt her down tomorrow, so that I can finally venture out of the teacher's block (too afraid to go alone). As I said, after 4 years of studying Chinese, I thought I would at least be able to get by, but no! Either I am actually really shit or they are speaking a completely different language.

Lu (my Chinese teacher) is in Ningbo at the moment (woohoo because, I am friendless) and will be having dinner with him in the next few days, so something to look forward to.

Anyway, I have arrived safely and all is well for the time being... let's see how tomorrow goes! Will attempt to put some pictures up soon. Missing you all and pretty much everything English!

Lots of love xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Comments

[Sara Higgins]

Hey!!
Hey Kat, I'm glad you arrived ok and hopefully are now settling in a little more! Have you had a good first few days? Have you found any other foreigners?! I started work on Thursday as well! Was really nervous but it's all going well so far. There's just so much to learn it's ridiculous! Also a little strange to think I have a "real" job and am now officially doing the daily commute to London! I've already decided (after 2 days) that getting up at 6am to get to work on time is not fun!! Hopefully I'll get used to it soon!! Keep in touch yeah! Missing you!! Sara

[Gary Brown]

Bonjour from Paris
Hey Kat! Great idea to keep a blog. Hope you are settling in OK, hows the job going? Loved that you heard about the French girl and are tracking her down. Don't let her go!!! Have you managed to make any Chinese friends yet? Keep in touch! xx

[Neal Buffery]

Hello from sunny England
Glad to hear your IT skills are still with you Kat. There is one important thing you are yet to cover in your writings... The ta situation. Do you have supplies? Is there an open availability of tea at your location? Please advise soonest. Neal xx

[Rachel Lo]

HIIIIII
Hiya, sorry havent spoken in ages, been busy with sixth form and revision and treking round portsmouth and southsea for tutorials. Need to speak on skype soon to have a proper conversation, mum has ordered a skype phone so that will be handy. Can believe its been nearly a month, only about 9 months or so to go woooo. Its wednesday have no lessons today spent the morning in southsea doing chemistry :s very interesting. Mum believes i am going to run and as she said 'hook' up with my biology tutor because hes doing a phd in environmental marine biology and she made it clear to everyone in the supermarket she didnt want me 'hooking up' with him. Clearly mum reallly knows the kind of guys i like, or just makes assumptions i like geeky men. Brilliant. Anyway hope your well, and mark did mention being really busy as theres a 3 day holiday or somthing coming up. All my love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rachel

[Rachel Lo]

Hiya, sorry havent spoken in ages, been busy with sixth form and revision and treking round portsmouth and southsea for tutorials. Need to speak on skype soon to have a proper conversation, mum has ordered a skype phone so that will be handy. Can believe its been nearly a month, only about 9 months or so to go woooo. Its wednesday have no lessons today spent the morning in southsea doing chemistry :s very interesting. Mum believes i am going to run and as she said 'hook' up with my biology tutor because hes doing a phd in environmental marine biology and she made it clear to everyone in the supermarket she didnt want me 'hooking up' with him. Clearly mum reallly knows the kind of guys i like, or just makes assumptions i like geeky men. Brilliant. Anyway hope your well, and mark did mention being really busy as theres a 3 day holiday or somthing coming up. All my love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rachel

[anonymous]

Hi
Come on if your IT retarded mum can actually find your travel blog the least you can do is update it!! Talk soon, miss you. Lots of loveMumxx

[Millie]

Hallo
Hallo my lovely, how are you doing? give us an update!!! do you have a chinese number I can call you on? are you still on skype!!! I am missing my Kat time and need you to come back!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[jcngai]

welcome to ningbo
Welcome to Ningbo! I came a month earlier than you are and probably knowing a little more Chinese than you do and still trying to adjust!!! Hope you're enjoying your stay here. How long is your assignment/contract?