As I promised myself I spent the weekend having a bit of a look around. As it turned out I didn't actually get very far from where I live as there is so much close by. I'm 5 minutes walk from Xinjiekou which is THE main shopping area with HUGE shopping malls and a plethora of underground shops. I'd go into one mall, end up going underground and then resurface in a completely different place!! Too bad if I wanted to be somewhere in particular but it didn't matter as I was only looking......even popped into Louis Vuitton and Versace for a look!! They even had a pianist playing in this mall on a bright red grand piano (photo attached). Apparently there is a large underground clothing mall but I didn't find that - which is most unlike me - although I don't need any clothing right now.

I also found a decent Chinese massage centre. My neck and shoulders have been playing up since I arrived so I decided not to have a traditional massage but to have the Chinese shiatsu massage (AKA Chinese torture).....I thought the traditional massage was thorough but this massage was pure agony to my aching, twisted muscles.....plus I think the lady might have had an argument with her husband that morning and took it our on me!! Her strength was awesome - feel like I've been hit by a truck but should feel the benefits in a day or 2.

Nanjing is yet another Chinese city that had massive amounts of construction going on. Everywhere you look they are putting up huge skyscrapers or digging holes in the footpath. Mind you the footpath is a hazard in itself. You not only have to dodge the potholes and uneven surfaces but also the motorbikes who use the footpath as a short cut through traffic!! Don't get any ideas Matt....

I managed to get hold of a map of the city which is in English....all the other foreign teachers who have been here for ages haven't found one so they were all very envious of my hunting skills. I was one very determined lady because I know there is no way I'll find my way around without one......where there is a will there is a way.....seems such a little thing but makes a load of difference when you cant read the street signs!! Looking at the map I could be here for years and still not see everything - there are so many sights and parks to go to as well as multiple festivals held throughout the year. For example the Plum Blossom Festival is just starting....I just need to find Plum Blossom Mountain!!

Got my resident permit today so all bureaucratic paperwork completed!! Matt you will be pleased to know I also got my phone sorted out. This is one very strange country....you have to get a new Sim card each time you move (or it costs you a fortune to make calls/sms out of province) and each province has its own way of setting up your account. Anyway to cut a long story short, my new mobile number is +86 1820 5094 722. They have such long numbers here and I had only just remembered my last one...oh well have to start again...

There seem to be so many bakeries, patisseries and restaurants close by that I won't ever get bored with food.....if the campus food gets a bit too much I'll just pop out and spoil myself. Mind you eating out costs about 6x that of eating on campus and on my wages that is a lot

Am spending this afternoon preparing for my classes tomorrow. They are all very interested in Australia and what it will be like to do Nursing there.....I can feel a PowerPoint presentation coming on once I get some photos depicting Australia's health system in a positive light!!!!!! Will get to meet my postgraduate students tomorrow evening so will tell you all about them next time.

Bye for now. xxx