We left the USA 7 weeks ago today and things are starting to feel like a routine, settling into our new lives here in Shenzhen. Wednesday, we started Chinese class again. Pete and I are in the fast paced Level 1 class. It is good cause it will push us to learn more and quicker, but I hope I can keep up with it and not let myself down. We had a quiz already on Friday and I did ok on it, I think. We have a driver from the 4 schools out here in Longgang pick us up(there are 7 of us that live out here) drive us to Futian District where are classes are held. It is nice cause we get there about an hour before class. We can socialize with the other people ... read more

We found out today that there is a Tropical Storm/Typhoon headed towards our province in China. It is to make landfall Tuesday morning around 11am local time. (Monday at 11pm for Eastern, 10pm for Central, and 8pm Pacific). The winds are to get up to 75 mph. We saw the weather forecast on Yahoo that it is too be scattered thunderstorms and rain all week until Thursday but didn't put 2 and 2 together. The English Teacher, Samantha, that told us said school will never get canceled since the student live on campus. BUMMER!!! So we just get to get SOAKED while going back and forth to classes. The positive about it is that it has cooled off some!!!! It is not to be a direct hit to our town so we should be fine and ... read more

If I knew what was going to happen today I don't think I would have gotten out of bed. It all started last night, Yahoo was acting up and I couldn't log in so I went to bed. This morning I woke up and Yahoo acted as if it was blocked. When websites are blocked in China they just appear as a blank white page and say done at the bottom. NICE!!!! now China decides to block Yahoo, when our program specifically told us to use Yahoo cause it doesn't ever get block. So not only do I have to be REALLY patient to use a proxy server to get around Facebook now I have to use it for Yahoo. Great way to wake up. I rode my new bike to the bus stop where I ... read more

Tonight we bought bikes to make our lives easier(or so we think) in China!!! Life in a city with no car and the only mode of transportation is walking or taking the bus is overrated. We decided we needed to simplify our trips to the grocery store by getting bikes w/baskets. YES!!!! No more walks with groceries in tow. Our Contact Teacher, Wilson, helped us negotiate the 2 bikes, 2 baskets, 2 front reflectors, and 2 U-Locks all for 550 kuai=$81. SWEET DEAL, nothing compares to this in Pacific Beach, CA. We hope there are no bike accident stories to follow in our blog over the next year. Check out our new bikes. Oh minor detail, after we paid for the bikes it started to POUR southern China style and we didn't have our umbrellas with ... read more

Here are a few pictures that I took on the way from our apartment to one of the local supermarkets, Vanguard. They sell everything and it is 4 levels, they need to get the cart idea from Target how you can put it next to the escalator to go up to another level. It is always busy in there but today I found if you go before 5pm it isn't as chaotic. Enjoy!!!!... read more