At long last I've arrived in my home for the next year the beautiful city of Chongqing. Shortly after our arrival we were picked up at the airport by our wai ban (foreign teacher coordinator) Mr. Ma. After lunch we were allowed to move into our apartments on campus at Sichuan International Studies University. Here is the location on googlemaps if you want to take a quick tour virtually. https://www.google.com/maps/place/%E5%9B%9B%E5%B7%9D%E5%A4%96%E5%9B%BD%E8%AF%AD%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%A6/@29.5718062,106.4379075,659m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x36ecc9575a319833:0x1b926b5cd5d4f6c6!6m1!1e1
I was very surprised to see just how green Chongqing is and how well nature is incorporated into the campus and city. Throughout the city there are palm trees on top of buildings as well as all sorts of beautiful trees and plants growing everywhere. Our campus sits on a mountain inside the city which provides some spectacular views but it is a tough walk around campus. My apartment is very nice with a bedroom, a small kitchen, a living room, balcony, and study. Definitely enough space for me. I am particularly happy with my view from my balcony. (below)
After getting settled in for a few hours our first day we went out to eat the traditional dish of Chongqing, Hot Pot. If you haven't had it I would recommend caution before testing it as it is without a doubt the spiciest dish I have ever eaten. As you can see in the pictures below, Hot Pot consists of two pots one within the other being heated from below. The outer red oil is the spicy traditional flavor while the inner white pot is just a place to cook the ingredients. You choose what you want to put in and throughout the meal you fish out the ingredients you put into the meal earlier as they cook in front of you. The combination of this meal and the incredibly hot and humid weather here in Chongqing made for a somewhat sweaty but delicious meal.
We have spent the last 2 days here getting situated and learning how to get around the city and enjoying all of the spicy food Chongqing has to offer. The rest of the teachers show up on Monday and students are already starting to trickle in but we don't start classes until Sept. 7th so I have a few more weeks to enjoy and explore. I think we'll be heading to the Three Gorges Dam next week so be sure to look out for another post next week.
As always missing you all,
Adam
As always missing you all,
Adam