Experiencing Temporary Technical and Cultural Difficulties

So my computer is wireless and the modem at my apartment doesn't understand this. So up to now I have been coming to the internet cafe around the corner. Soon I will be able to surf the entire net in the comfort of my own communist flat, till then it's surfing amongst the surfers. Not so bad really - imagine having to send letters - actual letters!
I have yet to see the sky from all the smog - China has a grey sky with no distinct clouds. Just a grey, hazy sky. So I must pay attention to the ground and all the people going by for my amusement. It has been at least 95 degrees everyday I have been here. I have decided to start my exploration of the city and neighboring towns once the temperture drops. So, as of now, I have only gone shopping for my apartment. Today I went to the Wal-Mart here in Jiaxing. What a trip! They have everything the Wal-Marts and Targets have only in Chinese. However, they do not accept "Meiguo Ke" - American Credit cards. So I had to pay cash. But I didn't have enough on me. So, I found an ATM machine about ten minutes away and to be safe I withdrew 3000RMB (about US$270). I was hoping this would be enough. I was a little worried that I would have to put things back - No one wants to hear "I need a void. Manager to register 16, please" in Chinese. But as it turned out my total was only 685RMB (US$85). That's right 85 dollars. I was expecting US$250 or more and it only came to $85. Need it be said that China is very affordable. I think not! I furnished my flat for about 1500RMB which is about US$200. Hen Hao! Very good!
I taught my first class yesterday. It was fun and I got through it well - at least that's what my collegues said. I will be teaching four days a week with four or five classes each day. I will also do "Crazy English" during morning exercises. I don't quite know what it entails, but Kelly, my Chinese supervisor, has a book that I can refer to. Something about yelling short English phrases as loud as I can which the students repeat for fun! Lots of laughs, I'm sure.
Jiaxing is not a small town. It's bigger than Trenton or Newark and much busier. Lots of taxis, motos, electric rickshaws (although that's not what they call them - I haven't learned to correct name yet) I took one from the ATM machine back to the Wal-Mart - it cost 3RMB (about 40 cents). There is a military school nearby, and a couple of colleges and universities, too. Education seems to be important here.
I got a cell phone with the help of Lilian, an ex-pat from Camaroon who speaks fluent Chinese. What an ordeal! She insisted on haggling because that's how the chinese do it. But with our non-chinese faces the clerks wouldn't budge. After about 30 minutes of raised voices (can you imagine hearing chinese with an african accent - actually, it's pretty) I got one for a good price.
So now I need to figure out chinese phone numbers - oh lord this country is so different! But that's what I wanted - difference and diversity. And I got it!