Sweet developments and a computer crisis

Tuesay evening! This is my first real quiet night since my arrival here 9 days ago. I’m quite tired and already in my pajama after a relaxing bath. The big news is: I found an apartment. It’s on Hengshan Lu, which is a famous street in the middle of the French Concession. This district, you can compare with the ‘Jordaan’ of Amsterdam. Not that there is any resemblance, but it’s also: central-located, lively, bars & restaurants everywhere and everybody knows the place. So I’m happy, and don’t have to spend more time looking at shitty or expensive places. I’ll move in this Friday. Right now I’m still in the house of Michiel and Rosalie, whom left for Beijing this week. So this castle is mine the coming days. They’ve been very friendly and helpful (I’m very grateful).

My household here in Shanghai

I lost my jetlag and rose the last two days at 7.30h in the morning (China time). My work is going well and I feel this ‘new’ live is very different from my holiday-experiences here in China. I had my first ‘business-diner’ yesterday and attended a networking breakfast this morning (where Michiel did a presentation on ‘Media in China’ – he did a good job). Today I visited ASI Consulting, where I probably can rent an office-space for 2/3 days a week – so I don’t have to be alone too much when watching the computer screen. They could possibly also help me to fix my work permit, so then I’ll be here totally legal and don’t have to worry anymore about endless Chinese paperwork. I see a lot of potential benefits for me, as an employer of de Baak, when I'm close to ASI (also for them I see benefits to be close to me). So, I hope we can agree on the practical details. Next week we’ll meet to settle it.

My social contacts are going good. The total of numbers in my telephone is rising quicker than the European stock exchange is falling (so no worries here). I'm happy so many people are interested in me (‘the new kid in town’). However, I need to find a good balance between excitement and rest (one of the challenges). Together with getting exercise, because the Chinese kitchen is the bomb and a I only travel by taxi here. Today I eat the local specialty, which is hairy crab (definitely not cheap for € 30,- a piece / but it’s a one of those thing you need to have tried). My Chinese is still slowly improving and on the lookout for a teacher (don’t expect too much … I'm still a totally Newbie in this field). I joined a music-school where I will start to play jazz-bass with an ensemble-group (they put me in the senior group, so I hope my I can live up to expectations).

The only problem is that I broke my laptop this afternoon. I accidentally made some changes in the system – méi bàn fă! I lost all my files and all the programs have problems / only internet works well. The technical boys of the Baak can hopefully do their ‘magic’ tomorrow and make everything just the way it was. I love change, but sometimes the outcome can be a little worrying. Many kisses from this metropolitan city, where you can also enjoy a quiet evening ….