It's been awhile

I can't believe its been three months since my last post.  So to any of you who are still reading this blog I apologize.  I have not dropped off the face of the earth but I have been busy.  Here's a brief synopsis:  We went to California for just under a month, then spent almost a week in Hong Kong, then back to China only to be told by our landlords that we had to find a new place to live as soon as possible.  I have many blogs about the last three months all stored in my head but at this point I think its best to move forward.  Its September and a new school year has started so we are busy teaching and also still settling into our new apartment.  Our new place is just a few blocks from our apartment so its not a huge adjustment but when you walk to get groceries even moving a few blocks can change where you shop and eat.  Also our new place is in a small building which means no elevator and even nosier neighbors.  But being on the third floor isn't a tough stair climb and we have a good view of the trees and street below.  I would like to include some pics from our new place but its not quite up to my standards yet.  For one thing we have two queen beds that are leaned up against the window in our living room/second bedroom.  The landlord didn't want to get rid of the beds for us so we are trying to find a good home for them.  I may just break down and find someone to come and haul them away.  Oh yes, did you notice I said living room/second bedroom?  Technically our new place doesn't have a living room.  Its a two bedroom, one kitchen, one bathroom, and no living room.  Its not a strange thing for apartments here to not have a living room.  On the bright side both bedrooms are roomy.  The bigger room is what we are using as a living room and guest room.  It was important for me to have a place for guests and this was really the best we could do.  Prices are getting higher every year here, we basically pay over 100 US dollars more a month now for a smaller place.  But its definitely cozier than our last place.  (If cozy-ness carries any weight with you this is a huge plus.)  I will try and include pics as soon as we get rid of those extra beds.  For now, here's a couple pics of our old view.