It has been 32 years since I lived in an apartment. I had forgotten a lot of things about it. So it is also an interesting learning experience.
We have a lot of space in this apartment but it is nowhere near what we have had in our houses. We had basements and attics as well as storage space to buy things in bulk and store them. Here we have to be careful about what we buy because storage space is so limited.
Disposing of garbage is easy. Out in a service area on our floor are two bins. One for compostable (kitchen waste) items and the other for everything else. They are emptied twice a day. We just take the stuff out there and get rid of it. Easy peasy.
If something doesn't work, we call the management office and they send over a repairman. Yes, language is a problem. When we need to communicate, we call our leasing agent who translates for us. But mostly we just show them in, they do what they are supposed to and leave.
We are entertained by someone who plays the piano every evening from above us. I think it is a child because the session starts with scales and warm-ups and then moves on to music. This is lovely. I love the sound of the piano and always enjoyed it when my children practiced.
When you go shopping, you have to plan on what you are buying and how you will bring it home. Taxis are cheap and plentiful so that is what we have been doing but once or twice, we bought a few things and the bag got heavier and heavier as we walked home.
We are in a rather large apartment complex that is encircled by walls with gates in all four sides. Three of the four are for vehicles as well as pedestrians. One is just for pedestrians and bicycles although a motor-bike could also come through. This is the one closest to us and the one that is most convenient for us to take for most of our ventures - going to work, going to the local supermarket, or mall, etc. Last night we went out to dinner at a friend's apartment that is just across the street from the pedestrian gate. While coming back, another guest offered to drop us off on his way home by cab. I refused because it was such a short walk home. Well, the pedestrian gate closes at 10 pm. We were coming back around midnight. We had to walk around to one of the vehicle gates in the other side and then find our way back through the complex. Did I mention the directions in the complex are all in Chinese? No? Well they are. So we had to back track by keeping our building in sight and making a bee line for it.
The amazing thing is that this part of Shanghai is very safe, even that late. You don't feel afraid. The streets are well lit and there is traffic. No loiterers or hangers about.
We are getting in a decent amount of exercise just running errands. Things are close enough that we tend to walk and that is good. It is cold and windy, though. But since I have lots of nice warm handknits, I don't mind it so much. DH is a little more uncomfortable as he didn't bring his warmest coat with him. It will come in a few weeks with our shipped luggage.
The washer and dryer are small. We are doing a load of laundry most days because the washer holds so little. We tend to hang the clothes out on a rack to dry so the dryer has not been a problem yet.
Tomorrow I have to wash our single set of sheets and ensure they dry by bed-time. More sheets will come in the shipped luggage. I figure I'll wash them first thing in the morning and hang them out. In the evening, if they have not dried, I can put them in the dryer to finish the drying.
I took a photo from my bedroom window showing my route to work. I walk the length of the red arrow. It is exactly a little over 2 blocks. The row of satellite dishes at the tip of the arrow is at the base of my office building.
We have a lot of space in this apartment but it is nowhere near what we have had in our houses. We had basements and attics as well as storage space to buy things in bulk and store them. Here we have to be careful about what we buy because storage space is so limited.
Disposing of garbage is easy. Out in a service area on our floor are two bins. One for compostable (kitchen waste) items and the other for everything else. They are emptied twice a day. We just take the stuff out there and get rid of it. Easy peasy.
If something doesn't work, we call the management office and they send over a repairman. Yes, language is a problem. When we need to communicate, we call our leasing agent who translates for us. But mostly we just show them in, they do what they are supposed to and leave.
We are entertained by someone who plays the piano every evening from above us. I think it is a child because the session starts with scales and warm-ups and then moves on to music. This is lovely. I love the sound of the piano and always enjoyed it when my children practiced.
When you go shopping, you have to plan on what you are buying and how you will bring it home. Taxis are cheap and plentiful so that is what we have been doing but once or twice, we bought a few things and the bag got heavier and heavier as we walked home.
We are in a rather large apartment complex that is encircled by walls with gates in all four sides. Three of the four are for vehicles as well as pedestrians. One is just for pedestrians and bicycles although a motor-bike could also come through. This is the one closest to us and the one that is most convenient for us to take for most of our ventures - going to work, going to the local supermarket, or mall, etc. Last night we went out to dinner at a friend's apartment that is just across the street from the pedestrian gate. While coming back, another guest offered to drop us off on his way home by cab. I refused because it was such a short walk home. Well, the pedestrian gate closes at 10 pm. We were coming back around midnight. We had to walk around to one of the vehicle gates in the other side and then find our way back through the complex. Did I mention the directions in the complex are all in Chinese? No? Well they are. So we had to back track by keeping our building in sight and making a bee line for it.
The amazing thing is that this part of Shanghai is very safe, even that late. You don't feel afraid. The streets are well lit and there is traffic. No loiterers or hangers about.
We are getting in a decent amount of exercise just running errands. Things are close enough that we tend to walk and that is good. It is cold and windy, though. But since I have lots of nice warm handknits, I don't mind it so much. DH is a little more uncomfortable as he didn't bring his warmest coat with him. It will come in a few weeks with our shipped luggage.
The washer and dryer are small. We are doing a load of laundry most days because the washer holds so little. We tend to hang the clothes out on a rack to dry so the dryer has not been a problem yet.
Tomorrow I have to wash our single set of sheets and ensure they dry by bed-time. More sheets will come in the shipped luggage. I figure I'll wash them first thing in the morning and hang them out. In the evening, if they have not dried, I can put them in the dryer to finish the drying.
3 comments:
Our apartment experience is very parallel to yours, except that this is the largest place we have lived as adults, and all our stuff is in storage back in the US anyway. Our pianist is in Jr. High and is quite good (she goes to the same school as our kiddo). Also only one gate for vehicles and others for pedestrians and a little washer and pantomiming to the repair people and texting the real estate agent. I suspect it's pretty similar in apartments with expats throughout China. I splurged on more bobbins for my Hansen, though. Welcome!
Our apartment experience is very parallel to yours, except that this is the largest place we have lived as adults, and all our stuff is in storage back in the US anyway. Our pianist is in Jr. High and is quite good (she goes to the same school as our kiddo). Also only one gate for vehicles and others for pedestrians and a little washer and pantomiming to the repair people and texting the real estate agent. I suspect it's pretty similar in apartments with expats throughout China. I splurged on more bobbins for my Hansen, though. Welcome!
China! WoW... Have a wonderful sojurn there and I look forward to postings regarding your cultural experiences. Glad you can keep on spinning and knitting, too!
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