I just arrived in China. It's been DAYS since I last had access to the internet  I feel so deprived. But at the same time, I realize how SPOILED us Americans are. We are super pampered according to Chinese standards...we have easy access to the internet, cars, washing machines and dry cleaners! I guess also because of the conversion rate, everything is cheap for us that we take things for granted.
I'm living in the "penthouse" which is the top floor of the foreign student building. We have a communal bathroom that we share with other foreign students on the floor...about 20 people? That bathroom is SUPER gross. The shower is a pipe line that just shoots out water. There are three of them. The first two do not have drainers so they slide down to the last stall where the drainer is located. The toliet area does not have any toliet paper. =( In the main area where the sinks are located, there are clothes on hangers because some students hand wash their clothes. I walk in everyday and see bras, underwear and clothes. The smell is not that appealing either. Since Shanghai summers are humid, hot and smoggy, the weather makes the bathroom stink even more. =( (I'll try to upload pictures of the bathroom later...I'm at an internet cafe.)
I hate the fact that we don't have ice or cold drinks. No freezer/refrig in our building, not even a communal one. So all my beverages have been warm. I don't usually mind warm water, but not when it's SUPER hot and humid. My clothes stick to me...ewwww.  Yesterday, the temperature was 96 degrees and it was POURING! Yes, that's right, pouring!!!! There was also thunder! Shoot....I hate this weather. I'm going to come back home BLACK! I'm getting tan already and it's only been four days!
I went shopping, well not really...but did get to look around a bit. The style is sooo....interesting. If I come back dressing like that, someone please shoot me. It might be a good thing that I'm not into their fashion so much, that means I won't spend that much. I did see one of my FAVORITE stores though, FORNARINA. I think I'm doing most of my shopping there. hehe. The last time I was in a fornarina store was in Italy.
It's odd that I haven't found a tourist area. I mean, I haven't found any postcards or soveniers! I wanted to buy them to send to friends and family, but no luck. Sorry people...will send asap.
Last night I went clubbing with a majority of the people in my program. We first went to Zapatas...what a nasty place. It was super crowded and there were many foreigners, especially old caucasian men. They were trying to hit on the Chinese women. It was a very interesting scene...but not appealing so next time you come to Shanghai, don't go there. The only good thing is the free margaritas for girls on Wednesday nights. But it's not really worth it, not much alcohol. We left Zapatas early to go to Windows, a smaller hip hop venue. There were more Asian Americans there...and younger Chinese people playing pool. That wasn't too bad...but I don't think I like the clubbing scene here that much. I don't want to go to places where foreigners go...I'd rather go to clubs where they play chinese pop music and where natives hang out...
I must say, I am terrified of Chinese drivers or the traffic here. They are crazy, I tell you, CRAZY. But apparently, it works for them. People walk and bikers drive even when there is a red light. NO one really pays attention to the traffic signals. Good thing there are traffic controllers...sorry people, I don't think I can be one here... The taxi drivers are hilarious. I think it would be best to describe them as having road rage, but it really isn't. They know what they are doing, but they are aggressive. They'll cut other drivers off because it seems as though they're always in a rush. I nearly died yesterday with one taxi driver...he almost hit a pedestrian (who was not at all afraid of the car), another car almost hit him because he was cutting him off...he also went on the opposite side of the road to cut another driver off. I wish I had my video recorder to record that experience...especially with the passengers screaming here and there...haha.
So my goal is to meet some local natives here and hang out with them. Thus far, I have meet TWO! Aren't you so proud? They're soo nice. One girl helped me and my friends when we needed help with directions, another guy helped me at the airport when I was trying to find the person from my university. I'm excited to hang out with them...hopefully my Chinese will improve tremendously by the time I return 
| 
