Apartment Hunting: A Picture Walk 1

Below are a hodgepodge of pictures we have taken while apartment scouting.  I hope this can help you get a better idea of an average apartment you may rent in China.  Note that most of these furnished and decorated apartments are between 3,000 - 4,000 RMB (500 - 600 USD) per month. All apartments are in Kunshan either in Butterfly Bay or JiTian.

Apartment Hunting: A Guide to Renting

Yong Jing Wan

Home hunting is my thing, even if I'm not in the market for one.  House, apartment, villa - I'll see them all!  In China it is especially fun because of the vast contrast between apartments.  Some are very minimalistic and spartan, while others are "tuhao" - meaning someone who has a lot of money and no taste. 

Our current apartment is "tuhao."  It looks like Liberache has puked gold all over the walls and curtains.  There is an interesting gold mirror framed like a large painting adjacent our dining table.  We also have this strange red, white, and blue flashing lights in our foyer, and our bedroom contains upwards of 19 individual lights, not including the LED strip accent light. 

In my experience, I find that decoration is one of the lower priorities you should have when you choose an apartment. Below are my guidelines, and I hope that it can help you in your move out to Kunshan or to China in general.

1. Location 
   Determining the location of your home, I believe, is the most important criterion.  Our first apartment was spacious and had subtle decoration with western-style flair.  It was perfect in all ways except it was not well connected to restaurants or public transportation.  We luckily used this as a short-term living space until we found one that better suited us - one that was walking distance from the Oasis Bar & Grill. :-)
   
2. Commute
   It is important to take into account the time it takes to commute to places you visit the most - like traveling to work, your favorite restaurants, the high speed train, bus routes, and any social outings you may partake in regularly.  I now live on the west side of town and if I relied on the bus to take me to the high speed train station, it would take me a 5 minute walk to the bus stop, a 5-20 minute wait for the bus, and a 45 minute bus ride to the train station.  Thankfully, there are no transfers or it would further increase my travel time.
   
3. Population of Apartment Building
   I recently found out you should be looking for apartments that aren't overcrowded.  I have never had a bad experience with this, however, a friend of my recently moved out of Butterfly Bay for this exact reason.  Sharing two elevators with the other tenants in her 36-story building was not easy, especially with 6 families living on each floor.  The commute down the elevator can take over 10 minutes!
   
4. E-Bike Charging Stations
   My husband and I both have e-bikes, and it is necessary to keep them fully charged if you wish to take long excursions.  Neither bike can fit in the elevator up to our apartment where we could charge them.  So, I have found three other somewhat viable options you can think about - all have been Banerjee-tested:
   
   1
   You can remove the batteries from the bike and carry them upstairs.  This is doable, but you get dirt all over your hands and clothes.  Batteries can be extremely heavy, and it makes it difficult to bring up groceries all in one go - overall, very inconvenient.
   
   2
   You could make your own power outlet, dangle it out your window as if you were the Rapunzel of extension cords, and charge the e-bike at ground level.  We have done this successfully when we used to live on the 4th floor, but now that we are on the 32nd, it's a lot of wire!  Also, it's quite dangerous.  I would never recommend charging on rainy days.
   
   3
   You might rent a charging station in the parking garage.  Not all apartment complexes have this, inquire before renting.  There is a minimal fee incurred, ours is 30 RMB a month.
   
   Note
   You can buy e-bikes that are small and fit into the elevator, however, depending on how populated your building is, it may make it difficult to fit in the elevator as you may be greeted by an already cramped space.
   
   Some apartment complexes have charging stations on ground level.  These can be busy and often charge money by the hour (4 RMB - 10 RMB to refuel your whole tank).
   
5. High Speed Internet
   Most apartments have internet and include it in your monthly rent.  It's slow and cannot handle too much usage at the same time, a terrible pity for those like me who like to multitask a variety of media.  For example, I cannot video chat with my parents on Skype while Chitrak is watching TV.  Running Netflix through your VPN will work in short spurts, and will often stop to buffer.
   
   High speed internet is available in certain apartment buildings and can be determined through a quick call to China Mobile, China Telecom, or China Unicom.  
   
   Note
   Your VPN will slow down your internet, no matter high speed internet or not, making it longer for certain webpages to load. 
   
6. Kitchen Size
   A lot of kitchens are small.  In newly developed areas, people are increasing the size.  If you enjoy cooking at home or entertaining people, this may be something you should look into.
   
7. Water Heater
   High-end apartments will typically have a water heater with endless hot water. Do be careful:  some have tank water heaters and in my opinion are very small.  It would time out after a 15 minute hot shower.
   
8. Furniture
   Most apartments are furnished and include important appliances like washer, fridge and A/C.  I make a quick sofa softness check and scale the fridge for size.  The more decorated they are, the higher the rent.  Beds are hard typically everywhere, but an investment in a mattress pad can ease your backache.
   
9. Development of the Area
   If you are moving into a developing part of town, understand it won't be as active or have the amenities like an established expat city like Shanghai.  For example, in the past 6 months we have had an increase of taxis (now it takes 20-30 minutes to find a cab versus the 30-45 minutes), and an important bus stop near our school has just been updated with English translations.  In the past year, we have had 3 expat restaurants open up in the area.  Places that are developing and take time to do so.
   
   
10. Noise
    You will encounter a lot of noise in China - from the resounding e-bike alarm systems, deafening firework explosions, and annoying blasts from car horns... oh wait - and construction.  You can't escape noise, but you can define what is acceptable to you.  I recommend visiting the apartment you want to live at different times to see if it fits your criteria.  

Good luck in your search for your new home.  If you have any suggestions or comments, I'd love to hear from you. 

Bo Jue Da Di

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Apartment Hunting: The Checklist

Our visit to Bo Jue Da Di, our current apartment.  We loved the kitchen and decided to rent!

We have changed apartments a few times in China and have a good handle on what's required in a move.  There always seems to be something you overlook, so I decided to make a list.  I hope this can help you too.

The items below are a guide in helping you pack and think about your new China apartment.  Some housing elements may be provided by your landlord or company.  If not, you can always try to negotiate them into your lease.   For example, we asked our first apartment's landlord to update the fridge and TV.  She did so, and managed to have everything in line before we moved in.  On the other hand, when we asked our current apartment's landlord to put a small flat screen TV in our bedroom, she politely declined.

Asking never hurts, but know it is up to your landlord's discretion.  

Your local grocery store or street side seller can help you get the basic cleaning supplies and rudimentary items, like trash cans, for your new home.

Housing Elements

Kitchen Stove Microwave Microwave Oven Water Dispensing Machine & Water Bottle  Fridge Dining Table for 4 People Coffee Machine Basic Kitchen Utensils: potato masher, spatulas, ladles, draining spoon, turner, spaghetti drainer, can opener, vegetable peeler, measuring spoons, measuring cups, mixing bowl, salt & pepper shakers, dish towels, pot holders Basic Pots & Pans, Wok, Rice Machine Set of Plates, Bowls, Silverware, Coffee Mugs, Glasses (for 4 people) Food--Coffee, Cereal, Sugar, Salt, Instant Noodles, Milk, Bread Mixer Blender Big Waste Basket

Bedroom(s) A/C unit Bed Night Stand Bed Sheets & Comforter / Bed Spread* Beds are NOT the same size as back home, please buy your sheets in China.  Fitted Sheets are difficult to find.  Bed Sheets can be found at most grocery stores. Pillows & Pillow Covers Hangers for Closet (for shirts and skirts) Mattress Pad* Beds are hard.  A variety of mattress pads can be bought here, typically at a "home store" like HOLA or a street side kiosk. Clock / Radio Waste Basket for each Bedroom

Bathroom Hand Soap Body Soap / Body Wash with Scrubber Toilet Paper Tooth Paste Set of Bath Towels, Hand Towels, Rags Broom, Dust Pan, Mop Toothbrush Holder Laundry Basket Bath Mat Waste Basket for each Bathroom

Living Room A/C TV Coffee Table Clock Satellite TV DVD Player

Utilities Internet Clothes Washer Cell Phone with SIM Card Taxi Cards for Suzhou/Shanghai/Kunshan on Key Ring Teacher Orientation Book Clothing Rack, to hang dry clothes VPN Ayi (maid) Magic Jack Computer Ironing Board & Iron Cleaning Supplies: Soap, Scrubbers / Sponges, Rags, Bleach Welcome Mat, Outside Front Door

Don't Monkey Around

And I'm not talking about the three monkeys sitting on the bench behind me ;-)

 I will be going to India this Fall and I am incredibly excited - a chance to visit with family and experience more of India.  I hope to come back with more of my fun tales.  Here is one I wrote on our trip back in October 2012 when we visited Shimla.  Enjoy!

At the zoo, you sit behind a glass fence and think to yourself, “Hey, look at those cute little monkeys!”  On the contrary, my dear friend.  In fact, they are not so cute at all.  All confidence dwindles when, from atop the trees, a loud chatter and violent shaking from the branches demands your attention.  Your pace quickens, eyes scanning the view above. Clutching on to all your precious belongings, a sudden and growing concern of a possible monkey-attack creeps into your mind.  It doesn't help that your brother-in-law points out a limping older woman staggering in the distance, commenting nonchalantly, "Oh, she was attacked by monkeys just a few weeks back.  She had to go to the hospital afterwards."

Oh, brother!!

I find myself trying make peace with the little rascals if we meet along the roadside, as I nervously whisper, “Good monkeeeeey, nice monkeeeey!”  They are not so darling face-to-face.  With the rude, cockiness of a teenager, they don't even blink twice walking up next to you, eating your food, and even inviting themselves into your home without invitation.  On one occasion, I witnessed a man enjoying his dessert on a bench outside a sweet shop.  A monkey came up behind him, plucked the cake off his plate, and walked leisurely down the street, shamelessly munching away. 

10-4!

Can you spot the monkey?

This is a langoor...  a really BIG monkey!
And that woman in the picture?  That's my mother-in-law!  :-)

To other good reads on my Shimla trip, please see my story called Honey-Man and Him-AHHHHHHHHHH-layas!

Communication Once Abroad

Communicating in Chinese

Smart Phone

The best way to get around town is to have a convenient and easy to use translator handy at all times.  Smart phones are the best, multi-functional tool to help you in these everyday situations.  They are convenient to carry, have free and travel friendly applications (I have listed some of my favorite below).

Try downloading applications like Google Translate.  This application allows you to translate English-Chinese and Chinese-English.  It displays Chinese characters and pinyin.  You can make the text bigger to help taxi drivers read the address.  It can translate words AND phrases, has a listening button so you can hear what the translation sounds like, and keeps a history of your searched words.  If it is on your phone, you can translate virtually anywhere you have an internet or a wifi connection.

Apple:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-translate/id414706506?mt=8

Android:  https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate&hl=en

The Ol' Fashion Way
Write down the things you want to say onto a piece of paper.  Take it to a colleague at work and have them translate it.  If you are looking to be more independent, use your computer to access Google Translate (https://translate.google.com/).  Print it off - most people can understand this translation.

Taxi Cards
 Most Chinese taxi drivers do not know English.  Something that may be perceived easy to  us, like requesting to be dropped off at "McDonalds," is not as easy as you might think.  If  you  are looking to visit a particular place,  always make sure to prepare the address into  Chinese characters.

Some organizations in town, like housing realtors, give taxi cards away for free to promote their business.  Some companies make them for their employees.  In Kunshan, the only place I have seen "taxi cards" available to the public is the Kunshan Expat Association.  They charge 50 RMB.  They are useful if you don't know your way around town, but take caution, places can shut down or change location.  Call before going.

The Kunshan Expat Association does hand out selected taxi cards on the last page of their free monthly magazine.  Most of the important ones are here.  You can find an archive of their magazines at their website http://www.kunshanexpat.com/archive.



Communicating with Friends & Family Overseas

There are a few affordable choices when calling your friends and family overseas.  Many of them share similar features - I have and use all of them :-)

1.    One popular way is using Skype.  You can make a regular phone call through the internet.  If you are calling a landline, there are fees.  If you are calling another Skype program, it is free.  I enjoy video chatting with my family on weekends.  It is friendly to use and so far, reception is great in China.  (To video chat, you need a video camera and microphone).   http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer/

2.    Another great option is the as-seen-on-tv Magic Jack.  This device can allow you to make calls from anywhere with the use of the internet to Canada or the US for a flat fee of $40 USD a year (rates may change).  The Magic Jack gives you a local number in Canada/US so your friends and family can call without any long distance fees.  You also get voice mail and caller ID.  Voice mails are emailed in the form of an mp3 format.

Magic Jack just recently added their app to the andriod/apple market.  Downloading the app allows you to use all of Magic Jack's features without lugging your computer around with you.  There is a limitation - currently, your Magic Jack number can only be registered to one cell phone.  http://www.magicjack.com/index.html

3.  Viber is another app you can download onto your phone.  It is similar to Skype except it leans more towards a social messaging platform.  You can leave voice mails, send pictures and videos, and text internationally to other Viber users free with an internet connection.

Viber is great - it is a free app and provides a lot of features.  The downside being Viber can only call other Viber users.  (You can call telephone numbers, but it requires payment).  This means the person or people you chat with must have this app.  You have no telephone number.

I love using Viber to make calls when my other apps fail to provide a clear connection. In my experience, reception is very good.  http://www.viber.com/

4. WeChat is the best social platform within China.  I have met less than a handful of people here that do not have this downloaded on their phone.

"Nee yo way shing ma?"  Do you have Wechat?  I always ask new acquaintances.  They giggle and we then exchange our information.  This is a great way to establish a relationship with people in the community, even if you do not have a common language.  WeChat just added a translator to its messager, making easier than ever to use. 

This app has not caught on back home....yet.... but it is the best way to keep in touch with friends in China. 

You can message, send pictures, video call, leave voice mails, and even communicate in a "walkie talkie" feature.  Be sure to register it not only with your mobile phone number, but with a password and email account.  (Otherwise, if you change phone numbers, there is a good chance you'll lose you account and all your contacts.... I'm speaking from experience!).  http://www.wechat.com/en/

5. Whatsapp is similar to WeChat and shares most of its functions.  The only difference being it is the Western version of WeChat.  Most of my friends use this back home.  It is a great tool, but be warned, for Apple products, there is a $.99 app fee.  http://www.whatsapp.com/

Accessing the Internet

Virtual Private Network “VPN”

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network.  A VPN is a program that protects your computer from hackers.  It does not allow outside people to see what you are viewing on the internet.  This allows you access to things that are censored in China, like Google Docs, Facebook, Twitter, Pandora, Netflix and Youtube.  Depending upon the package you get, some VPNs are free while others can be over $100 USD. 

Days to School: 14

Last year, first day of school

Can you believe a full year has come and gone?  Not long ago, I dressed in my favorite navy dress, placed my ID badge around my neck and road off to school as a grade 1/2 teacher.

Days left before school starts:  14.

Cheers to the new year - and to the newest "kiddos" in our CISK family!

Classroom entrance

Classroom back wall

I made table tubs for shared classroom supplies.

Enjoying lunch in our cafeteria.

Learning how to care for our "Math Tools."  (AKA:  Not toys!)

Team Building

Sharing our favorite sweets - fruit roll ups

Halloween and a birthday - celebrations don't get better than this