settling in shenzhen: an introduction

My goodness. So much has happened in the past fourty-eight hours that one post would not do this whole experience justice. And so I have decided to have a series of "Settling in Shenzhen" posts to give a more complete picture of what it has been like for me to start a new life in China. Stay tuned. It will most likely be an on-going series. But first, a foreigner's first impressions of the city:

Shenzhen is incredible. Drives along the coast offer beautiful views of Hong Kong and the sea and walks through the city at night lend a vivacious, brightly-lit atmosphere to the bustling metropolis. Everything is, indeed, very modern. The air feels clean compared to the smog one endures in Beijing and, though it is very hot, it is nothing the girls can't handle with their trusty umbrellas (I believe umbrellas are considered on of the most necessary possessions in this country - they are used for shelter against rain and sun alike). I am so excited to get to know this ever-changing city and the people who inhabit it.