Frustrating Fifth Week

Hello all!

Well, firstly, a thousand apologies for not speaking or otherwise having contact with anyone the past 10 days! The internet in mine and Charlotte's apartments has been down since last weekend, and even though I've mentioned, pressed, nagged, everyday since then, it's been to no avail. So no internet = no communication with anyone at all. I've also been nagging since I got here about the fact that I have no stove and thus the inability to cook anything besides toast at my apartment. I also discovered this moring that my washing machine is broken, there is a large lake surrounding it, so Charlotte's clothes are stranded inside and no more clothes can be washed until that gets fixed, so judging by the speed that things get done around here, I'm going to need to go shopping soon! Add to that the fact that I still haven't been paid for anything - training, plane ticket, or working; and the fact that I have a cold and I had to miss my race today, plus all the little things that can make life very frustrating here - the smells, the noise, the traffic, the pushy people, and everyone telling me to go to the hospital for a simple cold, and it's been a bit of a rough week.

On the bright side, I'll soon get a vacation, which even though I've only been here for a month, I feel like I need! I'm going to Hong Kong in 10 days! My friend Jackie from work, her sister and I are flying out on Thursday, November 15 for 4 days of a whirlwind tour of Hong Kong, to take advantage of a school holiday that we're having. I'm really looking forward to seeing the sights and lights and trying all the food, and seeing the markets and maybe even making a side trip to Macau! And, I started a Korean class this weekend too, which is so good! I'm very excited to work on my ability to communicate with the general population!

Well, not the most uplifting post, but I think fairly normal for people here about 4-6 weeks in. So I am positive that things will get much better very soon! Fingers crossed! But I miss you all, and I hope you're having a good week, that you all had a very fun Hallowe'en, and that I'll be able to hear from you again very soon!!

Lots of love and hugs
Laura