Nee how,

I have been in Beijing for a couple of weeks now and am only just starting to settle in. Finally, I have an apartment! It was a long ordeal of multiple trips to bank machines (15 total I would imagine) just to get enough money for rent and security deposit, the whole deal. I've never even gotten an apartment in Canada, let alone in China, so this was a bit challenging. I'm paying more than I wanted to but everything that I found that was 100% within my budget was disgusting. My place is COMPLETELY new inside. It is very small but super cute and I love it so far. It has glossy yellow Ikea cupboards and a white Ikea table that folds out into a larger table if I want to have people over for dinner. The toilet, tiles, shower head, water heater, etc, are all new in the bathroom. The landlord has promised to buy me a loveseat, curtains, a microwave, and a TV which I am hoping to have in my apartment in a weeks time. I also am hoping to have internet in about three working days so that I can upload pics of where I work and my apartment. I live above a McDonald's and across the street from a Bruce Lee restaurant which is a fabulous combination I think. I'm also 20 minutes door-to-door walking from the school which is wonderful. There are a few drawbacks, however...
I have to walk back behind the building to get into it down a very scummy alleyway that I'm not impressed with. The building is very gross and institutional inside, too. Oh, and I live on the 14th floor but the elevator attendants are only on duty until 12am (or 10:30pm like last night!). Boo.

I have yet to do any sort of cultural activity in Beijing besides eating and drinking. I am going on a school trip on Saturday to some caves. At the end of the month I have a week off so I hope to hit at least one section of the wall, Lama Temple, the Ming Tombs, Tianamen, the Forbidden City, and maybe the summer palace. I'll update as soon as I get settled in my place with internet and a pillow!