14 October 2007

Slice of Shenzhen














I thought you may be interested in some of the daily comings and goings here. I just walked back from the supermarket after my afternoon class, and was struck by all the activity on the street. I spent around $AUD6 ($US5) at the supermarket and bought a large bottle of juice, some chicken, vegetables, bananas, noodles, bread and a chocolate donut!! I love the fact that I can still access everything I need and at such a reasonable cost. So anyway as I'm walking to the bus stop, I go via the underpass. The amount of people in the vicinity is quite incredible, you can do your shopping here and get a hair cut! There were about 6 hairdressers either waiting for business or in the middle of a cut. There are people selling everything from fruit and vegies to gold fish, to what looks to be Middle Eastern sweets! As I continue on I pass about 4 of my students from one of my new classes. They are university post grads, who are hoping to travel to either the US, Canada or Australia when they finish here. The bus costs me around 15 cents and I have to stand, the usual Sunday evening crush. On the way up in the elevator to my apartment on the 10th floor I pass floor 3A. There is a superstition here that 4 is unlucky (the word apparently sounds similar to the word for death) so there is no 4th, 14th or 24th floor to be found! Looking out over my balcony once the sun has gone down, I can see the people in the building across from me. It's a buzz with people sewing and ironing clothing. I wonder where these clothes will end up, for local folk or export, maybe you or I are wearing one of their creations?! So this is small peek into my world, for me it's educational and enticing! (The attached photos are of my neighbourhood).