Well, it certainly feels as if I’ve been walking the circumference of Belgium a few times in the last days. Although my sleeping schedule is slowly creeping into the local time zone, it seems I’ve been testing some limits of my body, and stomach.
The internet here in general is nothing but frustrating. Not connecting, and none of my three email accounts seem to be working properly; making successful communication a bit difficult. Two mornings ago, I went to the outskirts of the city for a foreigner physical check-up, making sure I’m healthy enough to reside in this country. Or rather too-healthy would be the correct term, as all the toxins, pollution, and bacteria are so adversely affecting me. Anyways, of course the night before was the first night eating in a Chinese restaurant (Peking Duck night) which turned into me getting stomach sickness, and probably no more than 3 hours of sleep. I was instructed to skip breakfast, so when during the physical check up and they had to take my blood (cringe).. it was actually no surprise to me that I fainted. This has happened so many times before, and under much better conditions. I did ask if they had a reclining table instead of a chair for me, but as none of the nurses spoke English I didn’t get so far. Basically I put my head down as soon as my blood was drawn and was next waking up to faint questions in the background I soon realized were directed at me in order to determine consciousness. Thanks to this generous American who was nearby, I slowly recovered during conversation, finished the last of the medical checks, and was then treated to lunch at the Marriot hotel since he is the recent new manager. Not a bad contact. Regardless, I felt quite disheveled the entire morning as one would after fainting in a mass medical checkup center. Of course I was carrying my traveler’s backpack, warm from the day and clammy from the incident, in jean shorts, T-shirt, and a sports bra that clearly showed I didn’t care what I looked like for the day. I didn’t even bother showering that morning, guessing I would be back well in time before Jan arrived and that would be the best time to freshen up. So in this backpacker/sick woman state, I followed this full-suited man and his assistant into the fanciest Marriot hotel I’d ever seen. At least three floors of lounge, lobby, restaurants, designer lights, everyone in suits; all falling at the feet of their manager. After a delicious and much needed (with no fear of un-cleanliness) meal of Indian food, I was so nicely introduced to a couple that works at the U.S. Embassy. “Wonderful impression to make, Laura… you look like filth!” I couldn’t help but say in my mind. “Way to make the good connections count..” But there wasn’t much I could do, so I was as lovely as possible in such a state. Then I got to make a call my mother, who still thinks my fear of needles causes this fainting reaction; but really I’m okay with them. Okay, not totally okay, but even if I’m relaxed.. And heck, I’ve fainted from getting those yellow drops in my eyes, and my ears pierced. Somehow, and for whatever reason, this is how my body reacts to particular situations and I seem to have no control over it.
Well, spending the morning in the fancy hotel area was to say the least a stark contrast to the area of ‘my’ hotel. But honestly, there was so much less ‘China’ in that business, financial area. It wasn’t, however, so far from where I will be working so I better get used to it.
Last night we met up with my father’s cousins’ girlfriend’s sister. A slightly distant, but turns out invaluable acquaintance. Josie, is her English name. She speaks wonderful English (best I’ve heard from a Chinese person in Beijing yet), and is very interested and “motivated” (as Jan pointed out) to integrate into English-speaking social circles, and help us get settled. We went for dinner at a Korean restaurant where we ordered more food that would fit on the table, and everything was served raw where we cooked it over a small grill in the center of the table. It was quite exciting, delicious, and thankfully agreed with my stomach.
This morning we met Josie to look at apartments where we saw at least 7 before lunch time, but most either a little more expensive than we would like, or inconvenient to get to and from the subway station. It keeps being mentioned to us that so and so is ‘close’ to the bus stop, or the subway station.. then after walking over a half hour we finally get there. I’m sure us under-exercised Americans have a quite limited idea of what ‘close’ means, but it seems Beijingers have a totally different reference scale. As mentioned, Beijing is the size of Belgium. Walking two ‘small’ streets on my map could easily turn into an hour, and I’m a relatively fast walker. So far as distance goes, everything in Beijing is farther away than it seems.
Though no apartments were found in our first look, options seemed available, though expensive. With a long work week ahead, hoping for the best as Jan looks for more options on our behalf.
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