Settled in China

A Thursday night at 22h I find myself behind the computer screen. Angie is talking a shower, so time for a quick post to Holland. The last two weeks have been very nice, but also extremely busy. Angie and I are still going strong and the time when I lived alone in this house seems long gone. It’s actual great to share your live with someone like this – I can recommend it to everyone. Angie is very easy going and gives me the space I need to do my activities (work, music, work, Chinese and work). We just came back from IKEA (a place where you really don’t feel like you’re in China anymore) to buy sleeping gear. Next week Angie and I will have another visitor. My friend Esther from Beijing will be in Shanghai for two weeks for to work here for a film project - she does camera. So, now the so far unused guest room is made ready to fulfill its role. By the way Angie found a job as an insurance consultant in Shanghai – she found it within a week (China tempo, what can we say!). It’s great – we wake up together.

Apart from having very little time for social activities all has been well the last few weeks. The Baak-trip will be by the end of this month. So now there are so many many practical issues and things I need to take off for the program. Always so much more work that you think it will be. However it is still 3 weeks to go and I’m well on track (not nervous at all – almost all the company visits in both Beijing and Shanghai have been confirmed and people can't wait to meet the group). It will be successful. This weekend I’ll be in Suzhou to confirm a company visit to the Siemens factory there. Last week I had a few meetings with different Chinese companies – I 'm starting to use my Chinese more and more in when I’m meeting Chinese (they really appreciate it a lot and everything seems to go more smoothly after this). Next to the trip I’ve been working on the entrepreneurship program with the Consulate, where I’ve been twice the last two weeks to discuss the progress. It is looking good, and is developing into a solid concept. These are definitely the two biggest projects I’m working on. Of course I also have other things that keep me off the streets (at night) – just working around the clock (expat style).



Having little time for party doesn’t mean I gave up on my Chinese lessons. Still twice a week – I have a new book (beginner part III – we skipped part II). It’s super advanced and yesterday I literally did my homework until 1 am – after a 10 hour working day. So, I have no problems with motivation on this field. Music is going ok (could be better). Last two weeks I’ve been to Davide three times to work on my songs. Last Saturday I perfected the lyrics with my band mates Cathy and JP at home (instead of going out I seem to invite people to come to my home more and more – cheap and convenient). The band is going great. We did a gig last Thursday – we really got our act together this time – wo men bu cuo! My bass lessons are not going great (have no time do prepare them – so I don’t schedule any (wish I soon get it going again). Eddie my guitar teacher is out of town for three weeks, because a good friend died abroad. When he returns I probably just did the Baak –trip and my work schedule also a little less hectic.

So still alive and feel very settled here in my home with my ‘wife’.