Today was a good day. I rented the large room in the apartment I looked at yesterday! I was concerned he would have rented it already, but I heard back from him today and have since gotten all moved in. It was another day with lots of walking and I’m exhausted right now because of it.

I’m really excited to live here. Tonight feels a little awkward because it’s my first night here and I’m getting used to sharing this apartment with a total stranger (one who doesn’t speak the best English, too), but I think I’m really going to like being here. This room is big and spacious which is super awesome. I hope that I can stay here for a while. I think it’s really a place I could get some work done – either writing or drawing. It’s certainly got the room for it.

I went and saw the new Noah movie tonight. I’ve hung out with this Turkish guy twice now. He’s super nice and has been really helpful, but he’s not really my type. I don’t want to lead him on. I just don’t really see it leading to a romantic relationship. I like hanging out with him and he’s been really helpful. I guess I’ll let that develop and see where it leads.

I sent a friend in Minneapolis and email for her birthday today. We haven’t had much contact in the last year, year and half. She sent quite a long message back which was really awesome. I miss talking to her. She kind of decided she didn’t want to be friends anymore and basically everyone knew about it before me. It was actually pretty lame, but I’m grateful she sent me a nice email today. It was really wonderful to hear from her. She also mentioned a 10 day trip she’s taking next year and that she has to save up some vacation days for it. I’m really glad I don’t live in a world that restricted by a job anymore. I’m so over that situation.

Gratitude List:
I’m grateful I’ve finally gotten settled in an apartment I think will be a great place to live.
I’m grateful for the nice, meaningful message I got back from M
I’m grateful I no longer have to hoard vacation days so I can take a trip somewhere.

I did a lot of walking again today. Like a lot of walking. It was nice.

I had contacted 3 people about apartments, but none of them could show me the place until the evening so I decided to spend the day doing more sightseeing type stuff. I really enjoyed it. I walked from where I’m staying through Taksim, over the bridge and to the spice market. I also stopped in a Mosque in Eminonu. After, I walked to Topkapi Palace. It was great to walk through the grounds. I sat at a place overlooking the Bosphorous and drank tea as well. I did that last time I was in Istanbul and really enjoyed it.

So I saw 3 places. It felt just like househunters! I’ve decided on the one I want, but now I have to wait and make sure the guy didn’t find someone else to rent it to in the meantime. Since my phone died I couldn’t call him. I sent him an email when I got home. I’ll try to call him in the morning. The place certainly isn’t perfect, but after several days of a pretty intensive apartment searching I’m fairly confident this is about the best I’ll do. Plus, the place is large and there’s quite a bit of space. I don’t think I’d do well sharing a small space with someone and moving into their territory.

Ok, so now it’s just about hoping the place isn’t gone. If it is I’ll have to keep looking. The other places wouldn’t work, in my opinion. One the guy was a little weird. The other had 5 rooms – 2 Turkish guys and 2 Italian guys currently live there. They had a bong on the kitchen table. Enough said.

Gratitude List:
I’m grateful I was able to find a place I could live in.
I’m grateful I got to walk around the city for fun – not just to look for another apartment to rent.
I’m grateful I was able to talk to both Liz and my mother this evening.

I’m so exhausted. I walked all around the city again today. Tomorrow I will have to try to take it easier, although I know I most likely won’t. I just really want to get this apartment figured out.

I looked at 2 places today. One was a total dump and not as advertised at all. I am not even considering that place. The other was actually quite nice. There wasn’t much for common spaces, but the rooms were clean and the furniture was new. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have a room available for another 3 weeks. I don’t think that’s going to work.

I am going to see a couple more places tomorrow. Hopefully one of them will work.

I also hung out with two guys today. Both from scruff. The first guy helped me a lot with finding the apartment and then getting some internet and phone service on my phone. I was with him for a long time and I’m really grateful for the help he gave me. The other guy I basically just walked around with for a while. He was pretty cute. He had a large, bushy beard. He was younger and into fashion.

I also made it to a meeting which was awesome. All in all a busy, but good, day. I’m getting a little concerned I won’t ever find a place that works to rent, but I think I just need to be patient. Something will pan out, eventually.

Gratitude List:
E and all the help he gave me today
Nice weather after a rainy morning
Making it to my first meeting in Istanbul

My first full day in Istanbul! I had a nice time, for the most part.

This morning I met a guy from the program who is looking for a roommate. We had breakfast and then he showed me the apartment. He was an interesting guy. I didn’t really like the apartment and it was at the top of what I’m willing to pay. I don’t think I’ll move in with him. I just couldn’t see myself living there.

Afterwards I met another guy who is looking to rent a room in his apartment. The apartment was a bit further out than I’d like to be. It would maybe be ok. It was less money and a nicer place, but the room was still not great. I told him I’d think about it, but really I’d prefer something else.

I have to admit, today was a bit disheartening. I only looked at two places, but it was difficult to coordinate getting to them. I didn’t sign up for phone service because it sounds tricky so I can’t call anyone and I don’t have access to the internet when I’m not at the hostel. That means I had to come back to the hostel many times to check the internet and do more searching. I sent out a few more messages so will hopefully be able to look at a few more places tomorrow. I’d really like to get out of this cramped hostel as soon as possible.

It’s a pain trying to coordinate looking at these apartments. I will try to turn this over to God and see how that goes. I also plan to go to a meeting tomorrow in the evening. It’s actually only a block away from where I am staying. I figure I can ask for help and any advice from people at the meeting. Someone might be able to give me some advice.

Otherwise, I’m just trying not to get stressed about this. As much as I’d like to be settled somewhere, I figure it’s better to find some place I’d really enjoy living than choose something so that I can quit looking. We’ll see how tomorrow goes.

I also walked around Taksim and Isiktal(sp?) for quite a while today and then again tonight. I can’t believe how hot Turkish guys are. And they’re everywhere. Wow. Damn.

I made it to Istanbul! It was a very long day of traveling. I’m excited and grateful to be here.

There is a super hot Russian guy staying in the same room as me at the hostel. I walked into the room, which is tiny, and he’s shirtless with nothing but these tiny, tight little boxer briefs on. I tried not to stare. I really did.

My contacts are freaking out right now. I really want to go to bed. I’d also like to continue staring at the hot Russian guy. He’s in his bed now which I don’t have a great view of.

LA Song by Beth Hart just came on.

I get it. I hear you God.

I enjoyed my final day in Shanghai. I went to 3 meetings and hung out with a few different people. We ate and I also went to an art museum. These last few days have really given me some things to think about. It’s been a reflective experience being in Shanghai and being on the cusp of some more major changes in my life.

My flight to Istanbul leaves in less than 12 hours. I can’t believe this is finally happening. I’m excited to hit the ground running and find a place quickly. I’m also really excited to leave China and experience a new culture. This last year in Asia has been good for me. A lot of personal growth has happened and I’ve gained some clarity I was hoping for. There is still a lot to be determined as far as my life is going, but I’m excited for the journey.

Who knows, maybe I will be back in Shanghai. I’m not hoping for that to happen, but I’ve made some great friends here and there is a lot to do. I don’t know where this life is going to lead me. I’m just along for the ride.

Woohoo! Istanbul here I come. Tomorrow at this time I will be on a different continent and starting a whole new chapter in this phase of my life. I’m so excited. A little apprehensive, but mostly just really excited. I’m not second guessing this decision at all. I think this is going to be remarkably good for me. Yay!

I spent a nice day bumming around Shanghai. I went to a meeting at noon and then checked out an art museum. Afterwards I went to the bund area and people watched. It was nice.

I met a friend for dinner and then went to another meeting. All in all a good day. After the meeting I spent hours talking to David. I hate that I’m super allergic to his cat. I’m wheezing right now and not feeling the greatest, but I had a great conversation with him and am glad that I’m staying here. It’s not going to be hard to say goodbye to China. It will be difficult to say goodbye to all of the interesting, nice people I’ve met in this country.

I went to Yellow Mountain a few weeks ago. The fog is usually pretty bad which makes the visible poor. On the hike up the mountain it was clear that what we couldn’t see was really beautiful. I feel like that’s about how my life is after Friday. It’s a cloud that I can’t see past right now, but I’m pretty sure that everything that lies beyond it is really beautiful. I’ve just got to wait until the clouds part and I can get a glimpse of what I can’t see from this vantage point. I’m really grateful I’m taking this risk and trying something different. I’m sure if nothing else it’ll be a great learning experience.

Woot woot! One more full day and then I’m off to Istanbul. What a life I’m living these days. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.

I’m exhausted and grateful I get to go to bed very soon. I really like staying with David in Shanghai, but I can’t stop wheezing and it’s really uncomfortable. I don’t like this at all. I took some allergy stuff not long ago which I don’t think will help a lot. It’s maybe the reason I feel so tired right now. I suppose if it helps me sleep that’s at least better than nothing.

I sent quite a few emails today. I emailed people looking to rent a room in their apartment in Istanbul. I don’t think it’ll be too hard to find one that works well. Considering how much I love walking around cities an apartment that’s centrally located is pretty important to me. I also emailed some AA people asking for advice and whether they knew of someone looking to rent out a room in their apartment. It feels good to finally be making some forward progress on all of that.

Only a few more days and I’ll be in Istanbul! Woohoo! I am going to miss Shanghai and the friends I’ve made here, but I’m so ready to get out of China. And I really want to date and meet guys. Turkish guys can be really, really hot. I hope that dating and meeting guys doesn’t prove to be that difficult. I don’t think it will. At least as long as I can mentally get over feeling so gross about myself and my weight. I’ll have to start praying for some help in dealing with that. Today was better for food and I did quite a bit of walking, but there will still need to be some forward progress made on that front, too.

OMG Istanbul so soon! Yay!

I didn’t update last night because I was simply too exhausted and having to log into this VPN site and then write out an update was simply too much.

Everything went smoothly yesterday. I stayed up really late the night before packing and getting everything ready to go. I did a going away dinner of sorts with J and LE the night before and then ended up going to a cafe afterwards and staying out much longer than I’d anticipated. It was a little stressful at times, but I managed to get my apartment at least a little cleaned and everything packed. The welfare officer from the school came by in the morning and helped me get everything sorted. It was basically a day of people handing me money. I was handed my final month’s pay, I got my security deposit back (yay!) and then went to the bank of closed my account and took everything out. I sent all the money home with western union and am super grateful that I had as much as I did. It’s nice to have some saved up which will give me some freedom as soon as I get to Istanbul.

I made it to Shanghai last night. I’m excited for a few days here. I’ve got to get rid of some of the stuff I’d anticipated taking to Istanbul. I simply have too much stuff and it’s a pain to travel with. I don’t need to take books and things that I haven’t read, and probably won’t read, any further. It’s certainly time to divest myself of those things.

Woohoo! Only a few more days and I’ll be living in a new city and on a new continent. Yay!

I had a really great last night in Ningbo. I went out to eat after work with J and LE. When we finished eating we went to a cafe not far from where I live that I’ve wanted to go to for a while. We continued to talk much longer than I’d anticipated, but since it’s probably the last time we’ll be able to I decided the packing and cleaning could wait.

It’s now 2 am here. My apartment is not clean and I’m not fully packed. I plan to go to bed soon and get up in the morning and finish. I’ve got a bad habit of hitting the snooze button, so hopefully tomorrow will be different and I’ll pop out of bed and start finishing these things. The welfare officer from our school will be here at 10 am to meet with me and the people I rented the apartment from. After that we are going to the bank and the internet place. Those are the only two errands I have left to run in Ningbo so once they are done I’ll just have to say goodbye and leave.

I’m extremely grateful to be leaving tomorrow. I have this strange mix of emotions right now: a little anxiety and apprehension for the future, relief that I’m finally done teaching and leaving Ningbo, some sadness that I’ll be moving on and perhaps never seeing a few people that have become pretty good friends over these last six months and, of course, a shitload of hope that Istanbul proves to be a wonderful place to be for a while.

In 2012 I became willing to start living my life. In 2013 I started living my life. 2014 is all about working towards my dreams and making them come true. I’m ready to be astounded. The future has more promise than I’ve ever encountered and the present moment is filled with peace, contentment and gratitude. What a wonderful gift.