Concordia has done a really great job of helping us acclimate to living in China AND guiding us through starting new jobs at a new school. They fed us an incredibly delicious breakfast and lunch every day, and everyone has been very welcoming and warm.
They took us on “field trips” to IKEA and Sam’s Club, and helped us navigate the MANY apps that are necessary for life in Shanghai. We’ll have to do an entire post just about the apps! In IKEA, there were people lounging on most of the furniture in the displays! Whole families were spending their day playing on their phones and eating picnics (We presume they were enjoying the free air conditioning!). This little cutie was having a nap in a beautiful bed.
We have bonded with the other new hires, and have really enjoyed hanging out with our new friends and colleagues. Most of us are in the same apartment complex, so Lean has become “The Pub.” It is usually happy hour in China, which is code for BOGO, and the next drink arrives just as you finish the last. Matt is working on the apartment bar, so we will be ready to host our own happy hour soon!