Thoughts At Then End of Week One

As of tomorrow I will have been gone for one week. Tonight we are in Shenzhen (I think-- I've been having some "what day of the week is it?" and "what town am I in?" orientation problems)....so in honor of my one week anniversary with China, I offer you....

Thoughts and Observations, Part One

1. I like China much MUCH better the second time around but I don't know if it has anything to do with the actual country. I'm having a great time but I can't decide if it because of the novelty of the "first class"ness of the trip or not. Surely that has something to do with it....but it is interesting how much your mind-set can change your experience in a country. That being said, I'd hate to think that I'm a snob or that I can be bought, but apparently that's not true. I can be bought-- for the price of one first class ticket and a 5 star hotel. :-)

2. I have a completely awesome job. If this is what being a grown up is about, I can totally get behind that. (good thing I decided that before I turned 30, huh?)

3. Technology and electronics make me happy. I can call people from the Great Wall even if they choose not to answer. I can IM friends and get exciting news in real time. I can get emails that tell me of hilarious dreams someone may or may not have had. I can listen to Coldplay in the back of a taxi. I can download the latest episode of Prison Break and not have to wait until I get home! I can send pictures and stupid videos home while still gone. These are all good things (with the possible exception of the videos).

4. They have 6 story bead malls in China. Really.

5. 8 years later and I still don't like being stared at.

6. I have a much easier time clearing Chinese airport security than Jini does. And I proved this 5 times this week so far.

7. They don't have traffic laws in China. I think they have traffic suggestions....but even the police don't seem too interested in those.

8. There are a lot of middle aged white men hanging out in hotels across this nation. I can't imagine what they are all doing, but I'm sure it's important.

9. I really need to learn to use chopsticks.

10. I don't enjoy pickled jellyfish, but bamboo's not bad. River crab is too much work.....even when a nice Chinese man rips it apart and tears off the legs so I don't have to do it for a second time. Tearing the head off of shrimp is gross. Peanuts as a side dish is something I can get behind. Picking a living, swimming, kind of cute fish out of a tank to eat only to see it's steamed eyes on it's steamed body staring back at you from your table 20 minutes later is kind of depressing.