yes, i have made it here safely! this will have to be another short post as i am at the world’s ghettoest internet cafe in the outskirts of the city, and the browser is crashing on me and making weird sounds despite pressing the mute button repeatedly.

anyway! being here has been such an adventure!  this is my first time getting on the internet. life in a foreign country without internet is tough. or a phone, for that matter. right now i’m living with the parents of the person i’m working for. it’s about a 30 minute bus ride into the heart of the city but it’s another world. nothing here is in english and the feel is very very local. i like it though. the auntie and uncle i’m staying with are SUPER nice and keep trying to stuff me with food. they can’t believe americans eat so little.

yesterday i ventured into town to hang out with my mom’s friend auntie karen. she is BALLIN’. okay, she owns this little boutique in an expat nightlife district flanked by uniqlo and beijing’s one and only apple store. her driver picked me up and took me to this salon where she was getting her hair done, and then we went shopping and she treated me to dinner at this swanky place on a rooftop. it was pretty cool. so i guess i like beijing. :)

going to look at some apartments today. i hope i get some internet and a phone number soon so it’ll be easier to reach people. love & miss y’all…