二七广场 Er Qi Guang Chang

A chilly Sunday afternoon spent with Ashley and Louis at 二七广场 Er Qi Guang Chang. We explored the outdoor market, quite similar to the Namdaemun market in Seoul, which I adored.  A busy place, filled with people wanting to buy everything from denim to eyelashes, and of course, indulge in the amazing street cuisine.
   

Can you see me?  How `bout now? 

So. many. people.

Goods galore.

Chinglish.

Good eats.  This is where my money was spent.

The Er Qi Memorial Tower based in the center of the district, which I found to be a useful point of reference when feeling a bit lost in the market maze.

 

 

Followed by an evening of red wine, pizza and a skype date with mom and dad.  Just another glorious day in Zhengzhou.

In love in Zhengzhou

I left home on a beautiful wintry day...

...and arrived in Zhengzhou on a beautiful spring day.

It's been two weeks since I arrived, and to be honest, it feels as though I have always lived here.  I have settled into my job quite comfortably and met some really lovely people.  As I sit here writing this blog, drinking a coffee and eating rice wrapped in seasoned seaweed (which my teaching partner explains is very Korean of me), I feel quite contented. I am in love in Zhengzhou.

Zhengzhou is a city of over eight million people, an up and coming city is the term most frequently used. It has been growing steadily over the last five years and continues to expand now. I live in an area called the 'New District' in the east side of the city.

Check out my 'hood.  My glowing building, with a bottom floor lined with an absurd number of tea rooms.

My cozy little home. It has rooms!!!

The view from my balcony type sun room, which I shall make into my yoga and meditation studio, is glorious!!

And yes, I am bragging at the moment.

But, as some of you know, living in Asia isn't always glorious.  Things like convenience are often exchanged for beauty and absolute awesomeness.  Most days my toilet doesn't work and although it has been fixed numerous times, I still use public squatters often, forgetting to bring my own personal supply of tissue.  My internet only works when it wants to and I pay extra fees just to access North American social networking sites, and in about two months from now, I will come home to having no electricity and gas because the money on my utilities card will have run out.  Is there a way to find out how much money is left versus the usage of utilities? No.  My cell phone works in the same manner.

Does any of this really bother me?  No, not really.  I am not opposed to a pay as you system, but I'll let you know after my utilities shut off during the most inconvenient time.

Did I mention my new neighbour is a very large mall?  Everything is ridiculously inexpensive here and I find myself living an extremely comfortable life. Two hundred Canadian dollars goes a very, very long way.

 And the best?

My favourite little 'Stay Cafe' where I drink the most fabulous African coffee while studying my Chinese language book.

Finally, a night on the town last eve brought me to Target bar, sipping Tsingtao with the Irish on one of my most favourite celebrations of the year.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!