I actually live in Lvshun (pronounced Lushun), which technically is part of Dalian, but not really. The main part of the city is about a 50-60 minute bus ride away from the school. There are a ton of restaurants on and around the campus including a coffee shop, and I am looking forward to getting online and using Facebook for the first time in a couple of weeks. Dalian is quite clean, at least for Chinese standards, and it’s actually one of the cleanest in the country for its size, about 6 million people. To me, it still seems a bit dirty; there is trash in the waterways and someone of it looks grayish. In other areas, the waterways have been taken over by green algae. It makes me appreciate living in an area of the world where I do not have to worry about having access to clean waterways and potable water.
The Dalian Medical University (DMU) Campus is quite spacious and pretty! It’s located near the sea and my apartment looks over an area full of commercial fishing. There are trees that line most of the campus and lots of green space; there is even an outdoor running track and a few on campus gyms and basketball courts. Although this is a public university, it’s guarded; we even have a security guard in our apartment complex on campus. Every time I see them I try to either way or say, “Ni Hao,” (Hello) to them; they’re quite nice. I leave leftover bottles outside of my room because the guard can take it somewhere to get paid. I think it’s probably a system that is similar to what we do in the U.S. with aluminum cans.
My apartment is quite basic. I have a bed and dresser, table and couch and TV (I try to watch it, but Chinese confuses me like none other), and a kitchen that is missing a stove. I am not 100% sure if it is common to have a stove in China because I saw plug-in burners at the local Walmart in Lushun. Luckily, another teacher left a plug-in skillet at the school and I am using that until I leave. The shower tends to overflow, but I do not have a squat pot, so I guess it’s all right!
One of my favorite things is the view of the sea from my apartment; the last few days the full moon over the sea is beautiful, I wish I could capture it but my camera operation skills are not at that level. Maybe one day I’ll get a great shot from my balcony. My bed, and most beds in China, is super hard, like a rock; I’ve made myself a bed on my couch because it is a bit softer and it’s a lot more comfortable. I can actually sleep quite well on it. I do not have A/C in my apartment, but with the sea breeze and fan I purchased on campus, it works. And the sunrises! 
Yes, there is a Walmart. An interesting thing I noticed in Walmart was that when you buy produce, you have to get it weighed before you take it to the checkout lane. I, unfortunately, did not notice this immediately and the cashier said something to me in Chinese and gave it to another worker to take it to get weighed, live and learn. Another thing I have learned is to buy produce for only a few days because Chinese fruits and veggies are not grown with as many pesticides as they are in the States; yay for organic produce!
Actual Chinese food is different than what we have in the states but I bet you knew all of that. From what I have seen, Chinese food is fresher and less saucy than in the States. I went to a restaurant called a “Hot Pot.” At this place, you create your own sauce (i.e. peanut sauce, sesame seeds, garlic, etc.), have your own burner and pot (usually with a broth) to boil/cook whatever foods you order. When I went with a teacher from my school, we ordered noodles, pork, lamb, greens and a flat, flaky tofu (sounds gross but it was super good), which are separated into small portions for you to cook individually. It was a really interesting food experience to say the least! Also, Chinese dumplings are awesome, but never get the microwavable ones; once you have freshly made ones, you will never go back!
Stephanie is teaching abroad with API in China.
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