...the GOOD, the BAD, the UGLY.....and the STRANGE...
The GOOD:
*Markets - There is a market for anything and everything. You want fakes? There's a market. You want fabric or custom clothes? There's a market. Fresh vegetables and meat? There's a market - a little too fresh in our opinion.... Electronics? There's a market. Books? It's called Book City. Jade or pearls? Our friend's got the connection. Eyeglasses? Yep! It's my favorite - 3 pairs of prescription eyeglasses for $100 US! That's a deal!
*Beer Festivals - There have only been a few but it's definitely a plus when they're around so beer options are not limited to Tsing Tao, Tiger and Corona (with lemon, no lime - limes are weird here).
I found a new favorite fruity beer, Leifmans and B can get his IPA fix!
*Easy Transportation - Taxis are CHEAP! Metro is CHEAPER! The metro on average is about 4RMB one way which equals to about $0.65 US! Taxi from our apartment in LA to our favorite bar might cost us $15 US - same distance here in Shanghai 14RMB = $ 2.29 US! Deal!
*We are learning mandarin!
*Easy travel. Though more expensive than we originally thought, traveling out of Shanghai is relatively easy and using Shanghai as a central hub has it's advantages - Thailand next month!
The BAD:
*We do not like Chinese food. And we would totally eat up some Panda Express if available.
*We play real life FROGGER here everyday - pedestrian walkways do not mean pedestrians have the right-a-way and cars do not yield for people on left greens, ever.
*Flys - They are everywhere! Even in cold weather! And even in clean restaurants! I don't get it and it's crazy annoying.
*Mandarin is HEN NAN! (very hard!)
The UGLY:
*Spitting, hocking loogies, nose picking, and snot rockets are all ugly but unfortunately common.
*Public urination. Ugly and again, common.
*Smacking while eating. Loud and obnoxious.
The STRANGE:
*Split baby pants!
*Weather change - in one cycle of a day it went from Summer to Fall; same point in time when all the coats and jackets came out and all women wore their nylons. Though they'd even wear 'nude' nylons in summer so I suppose the darker color just meant it was Fall. Four weeks later....winter! Not many seasons here.
*Seat runners on the subway. If you watch the behavior of the locals waiting on a train, you will notice that they all crowd around the doors looking for an available seat on the train and push and shove their way in to try and reach the available seat before anyone else. Even on not so crowded trains - it's a seat phenomenon.
*Metro station bathrooms most always have a line. In the metro. Bathroom. Gross.
*Brandon is shrinking! Here's the proof:
It's been 6 months of learning, frustrations, and patience but overall we are enjoying our time in Shanghai. Is the idea of China as scary as it was a year ago? No. Will we stay here longer after my assignment wraps? Nope. But...without this opportunity, I doubt I ever on my own would say, "Let's go to Asia!". I'm so glad we have this chance and see and experience life on 'the other side of the world." :)
