a little coffee

A few days ago, Chris and I finally moved into our new apartment.  It took several dustings and moppings and then many more days of single trips here and there to move all our stuff.  Totally worth the hassle.  This apartment is newer, brighter and much, much nicer than our former dismal concrete pit (aside from the vague, asylum-like quality our newly painted pale blue walls take once the sun sets).  

But nothing is easy in China (or perfect even though they try so hard).  The water heater in our shower is dangerous crap.  James, our helper-Doodle, had to show us how the damn thing works (it’s covered in Doodle buttons), only to have a high-pitched mechanical voice tell us “something is wrong.”  Well, balls.  Because it had just been working.  James left, Chris and I tinkered around, thought we got it working.  Chris took a shower, only to have a couple small waves of electricity shoot through his body when he bumped the metal hose attaching the shower head to the water tank.  Yikes!  So, until we can get the university to replace it, we’ll be taking showers at our old apartment.  Blarg.  

Aside from that headache, the only major (permanent) down sides are: we now have five flights of stairs to climb instead of two and the apartment is much smaller.  Chris and I now have to share a study whereas before we each had our own.  This makes me self-conscious because I periodically talk to myself when I’m writing or reading.  Just a means of processing thought, you see, or expressing outrage or glee but now Chris is sitting around responding to my “what the hells” and other random mutterings.  I figure only a matter of time before he either starts ignoring me or I drive him bananas.  

One of unforeseen bonuses of the move is the view.  Being one floor below the roof, we have a spectacular view of the neighboring area, giving us a little different perspective on Doodle life.  I’ll end this entry with photos taken from two sides of the apartment.

From the kitchen window: Elementary school students being all Doodly at recess. Note the ping-pong tables!

From the living room window: the old apartments next door. (eek!)