aDrenais' Book of Shadows

This is my first post from China, and the first made on Microsoft Word. I have ADSL connection over here, but it’s on a 30 hr per month plan, so I’ll have to watch the time spent online. I’m grateful enough, though; I didn’t expect to be granted Internet access this quickly and conveniently. Lukie’s right, it’s time we started taking China products/processes seriously.

I just saw Dad off at the bus station. I’m effectively well and alone in Xiamen, until somebody decides to drop by for a visit. Well, I’m living with relatives, of course, so technically I’m not at all alone. It’s just being in a foreign place that’s giving me the willies, I suppose. As I was telling everyone who would care to listen over MSN, I’m not the free-spirited adventurous soul I thought I was: I was scared stiff when I realized that I have really and truly embarked on my travels overseas. I’m really grateful to Dad for accompanying me all the way to Xiamen; I would never have managed the 27kg worth of baggage I brought otherwise. More importantly, his presence was reassuring, and made the transition a lot easier.

I'm ashamed to say that I spent the whole of today in bed, sleeping. I had this little sore throat, nothing serious, but I made use of it to avoid facing this new routine that will be my life for the next 5 months. I woke up at 8am, went back to bed after taking some medicine dispensed by my auntie (dad's elder sister, whom I call gugu, yes or no?), a retired doctor. She's the first doctor to tell me that I can stop eating antibiotics when I feel better, so..Anyway, I woke for lunch, then went back to sleep, woke for dinner and went to send dad off after that. I'm minimising contact with cousins, shutting myself in the room. This is bad, I thought I would enjoy myself more, instead of this self-imposed exile to my room. I hope this is just a phase that will pass, I sure hope I won't spend the next 5 months holed up in the room!

Typhoon's wreaking havoc on the weather around here, so I haven't been able to take a good walk around the city. According to my cousins it is not all that big, and I'll familarise myself with the city in no time. I haven't settled the administrative stuff either; the setting up of bank account, the sourcing of a local mobile line...Not that I'm in any rush to do any of these things, too. Just feel like lying in bed all day. I just hope that my friend's words will come true: "i'm sure you have an adventurous & gung-ho side of you lurking inside.. it'll eventually emerge when you're away from your close ones.

Shall post some pictures as soon as I get a router...anybody wants to venture what a router's called in Mandarin? :s