In My Little Corner of Beijing

There have been many requests to see what the accommodations are like here in Beijing at the International College of Beijing so I have done by best to take a few pictures.  I actually just finished rearranging my room to make it more up to my 'style'.  For some reason they had it arranged so that the desk was right under the T.V. and the sitting area facing the bed...but after a little rearranging I have a semi-living room...see...

The T.V. only has one English channel (the same channel my parents get in Eastern Montana...lol...and it is not very interesting).  So I hope to perhaps purchase a DVD player and some seasons of American television on DVD...I hear they are cheap around here...just need to figure out where to buy them.  You can also plug USB ports right in so I'm hoping to maybe put some DVD's on a thumb drive and hook it up...but that's getting more technical than I'm used to...I might have to Skype some friends to figure that out.

Back to the living quarters.  In order to have a 'living room' I needed to move my desk and work area behind the 'living room' so here is my 'office' in all its glory...

I'm actually quite pleasantly surprised with the results and how it makes it feel much more homey to me.  Right next to the 'living room' and 'office' is the 'bedroom'.  Here is what my Chinese bed looks like...

But in order to truly experience it...here's what you do.  Go down to your basement and find a piece of un-level ground.  Throw a sheet on the spot, grab a pillow and lay down so that your feet are elevated higher than the rest of your body...wala!  You've just experienced Beijing beds ;-)

O.k. now on to the kitchen...well, here it is...

If you look really closely you can see that this is pretty much just a hall.  But this hall leads out to the NEXT hall which has a water cooler and a microwave for us all to share.  Also, you can make out the little tiny refrigerator with my bowl and cutting board on top.  (Note:  This refrigerator is new.  I previously had a fridge about twice the size which had a really nice sized fridge and a very good sized freezer to it.  The only drawback...the fridge didn't work...so a crew of Chinese maintenance folk came in today while I was working on a syllabus and did the quickest switch I've ever seen in my life!  Thankful to have a working fridge...but really missing the extra space and the freezer :-(  Maybe they are just trying to fix it?)  Also right next to the fridge on the side closest to the cameraman is a little set of drawers that locks...that was inside the desk area but I moved it over here for extra food prep space...good idea?  Hmm...only time will tell).  Behind the fridge is a huge closet and then off the the left of the closet is my bathroom.  A private bathroom is very much appreciated...woohoo!!  And here's what it looks like...nothing spectacular, looks pretty much like a bathroom in the States.

There is a really nice shower over to the left that I am thankful for.  It works very well!

And so there you have it...my little corner of Beijing.  It is more than enough space for me.  I've decided to stay in this little room as I think the apartments are too lavish...and plus, this little space is free...can't beat that!

Bye for now have ee ping peegio for me!
Gary
(Note:  I know that I don't spell the words like pinion says they should be spelled...but the pinion doesn't help most Americans unless they know the tones...the above is the phonetic way for ordering one bottle of beer at a Chinese restaurant...if you need more...liange should do...if you are super thirsty...san...and don't forget, if you want the waiters attention...FUYAR!!)