I know there's a song that talks about the difference a day makes but it certainly took more than a day. It took about 60 days to start to feel like we could survive here. But somehow, things always get better with time and patience. 
The first time we went in here none of the stuff seemed edible because it is so dark and wet and smelly in here. Now I go at least twice a week and pick up our fruit and veggies. All the fruit is here on the left side and is sold by one vendor. Then you walk to the right, into another section and there is a big long isle down the middle that has a ton of different veggie vendors. It's common for the stands to not post prices so you never know if the people are charging you more just because you're a foreigner. I went to several different vendors before finding a girl that we really like and she gives us a really cheap price. We love our veggie girl! I got a big bag of green beans the other day for 1 RMB! I don't love our fruit people but they are the only fruit vendors in this market so I go to them. 
I went into that store where we bought food the first night we got here and somehow it wasn't the dirty, crowed place that it was that first night. It was almost like a mini-walmart! They not only have snacks, they also have shampoo, toothpaste, envelopes, rulers, umbrellas, all kinds of stuff!
When we've been out all day and come home, it actually feels like home. The tub is still disgusting no matter how many times we have scrubbed it. It needs to be re-caulked badly.
Despite the little things, it's nice to come home to our apartment.
Despite the little things, it's nice to come home to our apartment. This is where I go to buy our fruit and vegetables.
The first time we went in here none of the stuff seemed edible because it is so dark and wet and smelly in here. Now I go at least twice a week and pick up our fruit and veggies. All the fruit is here on the left side and is sold by one vendor. Then you walk to the right, into another section and there is a big long isle down the middle that has a ton of different veggie vendors. It's common for the stands to not post prices so you never know if the people are charging you more just because you're a foreigner. I went to several different vendors before finding a girl that we really like and she gives us a really cheap price. We love our veggie girl! I got a big bag of green beans the other day for 1 RMB! I don't love our fruit people but they are the only fruit vendors in this market so I go to them. Instead of going to Carefour every time we need a food item we go to a small local store about 10 or so minutes walk from our place. These are the sights we pass on our walk. This will give a feel for what life is like in our neighborhood.
-pipe coming out of who knows where, bowl, and women doing her wash
This is very typical and can be seen several times per block. The pipe part is kind of unique but the rest is typical.
The shop with the yellow sign is selling curtain rods and there is a lady sitting behind a sewing machine making drapes. On the white table they are also selling cheap DVDs. I just love the random combination.
More shops...
The classic table on the right is outside of a "restaurant" and some guys are eating noodles for lunch.
Randomly you will see a barber shop like this set up in an alley. I hope to see Jimmy get his hair cut at one of these at least once. That would be awesome!
Clothes hanging to dry on the right and chicken on the left.... hanging to dry? I have no idea!
And to end... here are those cute people I live with!
