Mandarinwhitegirl's Blog

Saturday August 29, 2009 Happy birthday Mom & Dad! I look back now (only after 1 week) and reflect on all the simple things I took for granite. For example not having to write out your whole user name and password for websites such as Facebook or having a refrigerator, or fast uploading of pictures. It took me hours just to get 30 pictures up online.

Every morning I have been going to the convenient store right near the hotel to buy yogurt for breakfast. It is always the same women working at the register. Just yesterday, the women grabbed my hand when I was paying and said “welcome”. Then she told me my tea and yogurt was 5 Qui which she really meant to say 8 so we were both a little confused, but managed to figure it out. I am learning some basic phrases such as how to ask “how much does it cost?”, but it is not very useful since I can’t understand anything that is said back to me in Chinese. I have to have the person write the numbers down for me on paper. Thank goodness for universal numbers!

Just like any big city there is a variety of food. I was ecstatic when Monwei (Wayne’s sister) told me we were going out for Mexican food last night. Margarita’s and guacamole! Delicious!

I was able to look at apartments today. They are actually really nice and am so excited to find one and move in. Hopefully the landlord will except the offer my friend Andrea and I put down on one we liked. We’ll find out tomorrow. It is in an awesome location and is really funky.

In honor of my parent’s birthday today, I decided to get a massage. The women gave me this flower pajama set. Before she left the room, I stretched out the elastic in the bottoms and told her I didn’t think it was going to fit. Possibly, Jillian J. would have been able to fit into them. She came back with what I believe to be the mens set, but i didn’t care because it fit. It was by far the most amazing massage I have ever had. I think the day spas should stop the Swedish massages and switch to Chinese massages. The massage focused more on pressure points and stretching the muscles. It cost me 140 RMB which is equivalent to about $20 more or less. It doesn’t get much better than that.

I went into EMart (similar to a Wal-Mart) by myself tonight. The 1st time I went in this store, about a week ago, I was so overwhelmed I walked right out. Not tonight! I spent about 1 hour walking isle after isle buying some things I need for school, peanut butter, and chocolate. In the school supplies isle were the little boxes that have all the buttons and when you push a button out pops the pencil sharpener or the ruler or eraser. Do you remember those?

So Tuesday is the big day. I still don’t know my schedule or grades I will be teaching, but I should have them by Monday night. I have said goodbye to using yes or no or looking for straight answers, and adopted the term “maybe”. It is so commonly used here to answer any question. “Maybe you can do that, maybe it is just another block or two, maybe we can that for you”.

I really am loving Shanghai and wish everyone could be here to enjoy this fascinating city with me! So start saving up and get your butts over here! Enjoy you weekend. ♥