One week in and I thought I might give you some idea of my impressions so far.

VSO staff are really lovely and with only 8 of them in the whole of China, they work very hard. As well as organising work here, they are developing a programme of sending Chinese volunteers out to Africa. I am one of only 4 volunteers in China and I have only met one of them, Glen, who is leaving in a few weeks. Three other volunteers are coming in a few weeks after visa delays, but I'll be in Shenzhen. I am coming back to Beijing in December for a volunteer expo and VSO meetings so we will all meet then. While I have been here I have met the Asian Programme Directors over here for a conference - so the PO directors of India, Phillipines, Indonesia, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea - most if whom are British and former volunteers so that helped in settling in to China. One more day of language training then off to Shenzhen.

Everyone here in China is preparing for an 8 day national holiday starting next friday. It is the Autumn holiday (as significant for families as Christmas at home) merging into the national day. Everyone is buying mooncakes and preparing to go home to families. Not sure how that will work for me in Shenzhen but the city will be quite and I might have a chance to get around and get familiar with everything.

People are genuinely very friendly and, given that Beijing has 20m people, they do not get too stressed about anything. Travelling on buses and subway can be a challenge!. On the bus it is like playing extreme sardines! There are workers ont he bus whose job it is to shout a lot and instruct people to move up into spaces that simply are not there. |You literally cannot move but everyone is cheerfully chatting and laughing. Same on the subway. Not unusual to wait for 3 or 4 buses or trains til you can get on one. After waiting for 4 trains I figured out - I just put my hands in front and shoved someone to make a space for me. Taxis are cheap but not easy to get and often refuse to take you if the journey is too short. you quickly learn to get in the back and refuse to get out! Road traffic is pretty horrendous too and cars frequently cut each other up; but as is the polite nature of the Chinese, they parp their horn to tell you they are about to cut you up!

Some of the things not so pleasant is the habit of men to phlegm up and spit in the street - sometimes in restaurants! And squat toilets - sometimes communal.

Most of the food I have tried is good. Eating out all the time means I have been able to try many things. Breakfast is usually dumplings, rice, vegetables, egg and pickles. Lunch and dinner involves people sharing many dishes - usually too many!.

Things I have liked:

Juhau cha - chrysanthumum tea
Chinese cabbage and vegetables
Pork dumplings
Chicken Curry
Peking duck

Things I have not liked:
Black chicken - tastes like chicken but the flesh and skin are black - and this is only eaten by women. The colour just makes it difficult to stomach.

Things I WILL not try! - streetfood - see photos

Language is going to be a challenge. I have had about 18 hours of lessons from Chen - who says my pronunciation is very good, but out of the classroom I simply panic and forget everything! I am using the basic thanks yous etc but need to try harder! I am told that more people speak English in Shenzhen, but many also speak Cantonese, very different from the mandarin I have been learning. Tomorrow we go to the market to test my skills - should be a laugh!

People here generally have very positive outlook and are polite and kind. A mix of very modern and traditional.