I am 39 years old, single, and have been unemployed for 17 months. Currently, I live alone in Changsha, a bustling southern Chinese city, in a tiny 8-square-meter (86 sq ft) room. The space is so compact that a standard bed cannot fit inside, so I sleep on a simple mattress laid directly on the floor. There is no air conditioner in my room, and Changsha is famously one of China’s hottest cities. Even with two electric fans running nonstop every summer night, the heat is still overwhelming. Sleeping on the floor has become my small, practical way to cool down.
My neighborhood is a typical ordinary residential compound in China, filled with densely packed high-rise buildings. This is where most regular Chinese people live, simple and down-to-earth. After waking up every morning, I prepare extremely simple breakfasts, just basic food to fill my stomach. Since losing my job, I have slowly learned to take care of myself and cook simple meals on my own. Life has become plain but stable.
In my daily life, online shopping has become an indispensable part. Shopping platforms in China offer surprisingly low prices. I once bought a T-shirt for only ¥1 ($0.14, €0.13), an almost unbelievable price for people from other countries. I often pick up my parcels at community package stations, a common scene in every Chinese neighborhood.
Although I have no stable job, no close friends around me, and live in a cramped room, I have gradually adapted to this quiet lifestyle. Sometimes I take a walk after dinner, and occasionally I run into traditional street performers, a fading old street scene in modern Chinese cities. Life is simple, but I am doing okay.
More details, please check out my YouTube video below.

Written by Li. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 International License.
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