My landlord and a worker just left my apartment. It’s been about four months since I got here and I am now just putting up my photographs.  I would have liked to have put them up myself but apparently in Shekou, something about the walls, one needs a worker to hang things. I still have a couple of items I want to get but overall, my place is starting to feel like home.

Right now, I am trying to decide if I want to go anywhere over the holiday break.  I mean, such a tough decision… Bali, Istanbul, Beijing.  These are just some of my choices.  But part of me just wants to be at home and get settled.  Since I have been here, I haven’t had much time to myself.  Then again, I am here to travel (oh yeah, and work) so who I am I kidding? I will see if I can do both, travel and get settled.  I do have three and a half weeks off.

And then, my landlord said some dangerous words. “It’s okay if you paint.” Translation:  I will be down at the hardware store tomorrow.