The biggest benefit from all of this is that intangible thing called experience. There is a reason why job recruiters have specific requirements regarding experience for most positions. Theoretically, a really smart person could learn as much in a year as an average person could learn in five, but in the end, the five years of certain challenges and tribulations come with them great value.

The other great benefit have been the friends that I have been able to develop very solid relationships with in a very short time; My closest friends include a Yale MBA, Oxford grad from Nigeria, several local Chinese, VP of Anheuser-Busch, etc. etc. – but, these are just the ones to brag about titles, there are several others that are just as interesting and generous – friends from Malta, Korea, China, Nigeria, etc. Dealing with one thing after another has made me rely on others a fair amount and there is a special intimacy that comes with facing challenges together and a certain gratitude that goes with the genuine help and care of others.

For my first three month report card, I give myself a “C.” I have handled these situations reasonably well, but I have also learned a great deal about attitude; as Viktor Frankl suggested, there is a choice we all have regarding how we relate to the world and our experience; we really can choose to focus on the positive/solutions or the negative/problems – and that, my friends, makes all the difference.

I am happy to have most of the major things settled – I still need to get hotwater and internet in my apartment, but other than that I am good to go. I am feeling pretty excited that I will be calling this home. Tomorrow the owner comes over to figure out what’s up with the hotwater, and then I will then order internet.

I went and got my own gym membership yesterday, and have worked out the past two days. I am really excited about this summer and look forward to making some positive things happen.

On the practical tip; Last Friday I went to the police station to register. In Qingdao (and the rest of China for that matter) you must register with the police any time you change residences. This is generally done by the hotel you are staying at, but make sure that you remember to do this if you are going to be living here. It is not a big deal, and there is usually someone there that speaks English, but if you dont do it, you can get a fine up to 1000RMB ($125) and you also have to then go through a bunch of red-tape on top of that.

I had a funny side story during all of this, as well. I went with a friend and while there, I noticed the police lady seemed to have a softspot for me. I didn’t know my number, so I just had her call herself with my phone, so it would show up on caller ID. About 30 minutes later, I got a call from the lady with the school that I was going to work for, and I told her I would call her back when I got where I was going. 2O Minutes later, I gave her a ring and a women answered who spoke English, but it was noisy, so I hung up. A couple minutes later I got a text “Sorry, in a meeting” – this number I didnt recognize, so I texted back “who is this?” response: “I is Policeman.” – Uh Oh! Apparently, I got the two mixed up. I was in a dilemma at that point, and didn’t know what to do – I didn’t want this (unattractive) police women taking advantage of me with her nightstick. So, I called her back, tried to explain the mix-up which only confused matters more…..so far, no latenight knock on my door (I was there to register my address, remember.)