I think back to when I lived in Fargo. Funky downtown apartment, no TV, within walking distance of loads of good stuff. That's not too far from where I am now. I like that.
Well, even though I am a native speaker of English, I learn new English words all the time. I joined the techo-revolution and bought a digital camera. Very happy with it. The fun part was dickering over the price; think going into Best Buy and taking 20 minutes to lower the price $10 or more. Fun right? Well, you get some borderline ridiculous statements when you do that in China (it's expected).
Danny the Salesman: "I am giving you the USB cables (um, doesn't that come in the box), the battery and battery charger (same), a bag, and the camera job." I had to stop the guy there.
Me: "Camera job? What the hell is that? I'm a native speaker of English and I've never heard that word before."
Danny: "It's the thing that you put the camera on. You put the camera on so you can take pictures of you. (stands in front of camera and does the peace sign. Why do all Chinese take pictures like that?) Let me show you." Goes to the counter and pulls out a tripod.
Me: "That's a tripod. Kind of like iPod but with tri in front. Tri means three and it has three legs."
That was interesting. I still need to figure out when I will be using my "camera job" to take self-portraits. Sounds kind of lame, but the thing was free like the USB cables that I was so lucky the guy was generous enough to throw in.
The little things...
When I think of Shanghai now, I don't think of the big tourist spots (I just went to Nanjing and the Bund for the first time yesterday) anymore. I think of the little things, both good and bad.
The guy in the subway that has the job of keeping everyone in lines so that the people getting off the metro can get off before the people getting on can get on. You have no idea how many times I've either felt like a salmon or a fullback as I was trying to get off the metro. How brilliant do you have to be to just wait? Are you really surprised when I accidentally smack you in the face when I am pinned in, really don't want to stand next to the guy with halitosis, and it's my stop?
I love to just walk around. For some reason, this has become one of my favorite things. On the weekends, even though I may be dog-tired, the first thought is when I'm going to go walk. Usually with minimal purpose, I find it infinitely interesting to walk around in Shanghai and China in general. There are stores that sell fake purses next to an fix on the spot scooter shop next to a fruit stand next to a shop where you can buy live fish. I've seen large slabs of meat next to laundry (that was pretty funny and gross). These walks definitely fulfill my need for randomness, maybe even exceed it.
And the ever popular question: why do people feel the need to spit in the street? Not just spitting, bringing up mucus from what sounds like the toe area and then spitting it right in front of my feet? Also, didn't your mom ever teach you to cover your mouth when you cough? For 20 minutes...in my face? Crazy. I recently read an article in an expat magazine about the World Expo (some may know it as the World's Fair) in 2010. Someone with some foresight to say that Shanghai needs some manners. The article listed several of Westerners top complaints (refer to what you have just read) and then person on the street interviews. The comments boiled down to "Yes there are some people who need manners training. I think I could benefit from it but I am too busy so I can't go." Yep, they just don't care and will keep plugging along and expats will continue to roll their eyes and repeat the mantra "That's China!"
The next week should be interesting. I've had some things fall into my lap and through work I will be going to Lijiang in Yunnan province. If you've ever heard of the Leaping Tiger Gorge, I'll be about 2 hours away and am hoping to see it. I also need to fill in some stories so I might be back logging the blog, watch for new stuff.
Well, even though I am a native speaker of English, I learn new English words all the time. I joined the techo-revolution and bought a digital camera. Very happy with it. The fun part was dickering over the price; think going into Best Buy and taking 20 minutes to lower the price $10 or more. Fun right? Well, you get some borderline ridiculous statements when you do that in China (it's expected).
Danny the Salesman: "I am giving you the USB cables (um, doesn't that come in the box), the battery and battery charger (same), a bag, and the camera job." I had to stop the guy there.
Me: "Camera job? What the hell is that? I'm a native speaker of English and I've never heard that word before."
Danny: "It's the thing that you put the camera on. You put the camera on so you can take pictures of you. (stands in front of camera and does the peace sign. Why do all Chinese take pictures like that?) Let me show you." Goes to the counter and pulls out a tripod.
Me: "That's a tripod. Kind of like iPod but with tri in front. Tri means three and it has three legs."
That was interesting. I still need to figure out when I will be using my "camera job" to take self-portraits. Sounds kind of lame, but the thing was free like the USB cables that I was so lucky the guy was generous enough to throw in.
The little things...
When I think of Shanghai now, I don't think of the big tourist spots (I just went to Nanjing and the Bund for the first time yesterday) anymore. I think of the little things, both good and bad.
The guy in the subway that has the job of keeping everyone in lines so that the people getting off the metro can get off before the people getting on can get on. You have no idea how many times I've either felt like a salmon or a fullback as I was trying to get off the metro. How brilliant do you have to be to just wait? Are you really surprised when I accidentally smack you in the face when I am pinned in, really don't want to stand next to the guy with halitosis, and it's my stop?
I love to just walk around. For some reason, this has become one of my favorite things. On the weekends, even though I may be dog-tired, the first thought is when I'm going to go walk. Usually with minimal purpose, I find it infinitely interesting to walk around in Shanghai and China in general. There are stores that sell fake purses next to an fix on the spot scooter shop next to a fruit stand next to a shop where you can buy live fish. I've seen large slabs of meat next to laundry (that was pretty funny and gross). These walks definitely fulfill my need for randomness, maybe even exceed it.
And the ever popular question: why do people feel the need to spit in the street? Not just spitting, bringing up mucus from what sounds like the toe area and then spitting it right in front of my feet? Also, didn't your mom ever teach you to cover your mouth when you cough? For 20 minutes...in my face? Crazy. I recently read an article in an expat magazine about the World Expo (some may know it as the World's Fair) in 2010. Someone with some foresight to say that Shanghai needs some manners. The article listed several of Westerners top complaints (refer to what you have just read) and then person on the street interviews. The comments boiled down to "Yes there are some people who need manners training. I think I could benefit from it but I am too busy so I can't go." Yep, they just don't care and will keep plugging along and expats will continue to roll their eyes and repeat the mantra "That's China!"
The next week should be interesting. I've had some things fall into my lap and through work I will be going to Lijiang in Yunnan province. If you've ever heard of the Leaping Tiger Gorge, I'll be about 2 hours away and am hoping to see it. I also need to fill in some stories so I might be back logging the blog, watch for new stuff.
2 comments:
Hi Shanna, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog. It is facinating to read of your adventures.
The Fighting Sioux Hockey team is going to the Frozen Four again. Mike and I went to the gamesw this weekend.it was a blast seeing the Gophers upset by a small eastern school! We beat Michigan in the /First game, then Holy Cross in the (Region) championship game. I let you know in a couple of weeks how the Frozen Four tuurns out. I don't imagine you hear too much about hocky in China! Love, Barb
Hey Shanna! Sorry I missed your call the other night. I was in Minneapolis and my cell battery decided to not hold a charge anymore, i.e. it was dead and I didn't realize it untill much later in the night. We ripped the town a new one and it was a night for the record books. The one call from China and I missed it. All I have is lame excuses and am going to hang my head in shame and cry in the corner.
Hope to hear from you soon and take care,
Scotty
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