Hello, I am moving to Xiamen very soon. I have never lived abroad before so I am feeling very nervous. I wanted some general advice about how others found moving to Xiamen.
Also I am specifically interested for advice getting around Xiamen and also finding a gym. I don't speak Chinese but have invested in some phrasebooks and dictionaries. I know that there is supposed to be a subway opening soon, and there are good bus routes but these do not have English translation (unlike Japan where I studied for a month). How easy is it to use the bus without knowing Chinese?
I am also going to be working in a small school with few staff, so i am worried about making friends. I hope to talk to locals but I read that few speak English and my Mandarin will be very basic especially in the first weeks when I fear homesickness may strike. Does anyone have any recommendations for meeting other expats?
Any advice or info anyone could give will be greatly appreciated I am feeling very nervous and excited at the same time! But I don't want nerves / fears to take over before I even set foot in China.