The Present Reality of 云南大学 (Yunnan University)

I have made it so Kunming and have moved in to my quarters for the next 2 months (pictures to come in the next couple days). I am very jet lagged and, to be honest, a little scared. Scared because I'm in a new environment and I really have only myself to lean on. My roommate seems to be a really nice guy, but he and I have so far not been able to communicate well enough. I thought my Chinese was a lot better, but I must have fooled myself. Everyone else seems to be communicating much better with their roommates and that makes me feel a little bad, I really hope it is because I am tired. I know this intensive submersion will be hard, but if a miracle can't happen by tomorrow morning and I can't communicate much better than I am now, then the next couple weeks are going to be hell. I am not used to life in a big city, and I really am not used to life in a big city where I am unable to communicate well with the people around me. I have properly removed myself from my comfort zone. I know I am here to learn and get to the point where I can communicate with people around me, but it is just a blow to the confidence to see everyone else talking up a storm in Chinese. I like to think of myself as a conversationalist, and now that I cannot converse I feel very nervous. I'm sure all the weird feelings will pass in the next week though. The neighborhood of my dorm is very lively, but it is a little dirty. I did take pictures today, but I haven't been able to edit them. This is going to be an interesting summer.