After passing our 1 1/2 month marker of our time here in Shanghai, Ollie and I were really looking forward to getting out of Shanghai to experience a different part of China. We've definitely settled into life here now - we're comfortable with our surroundings and with our routines. We have our favourite restaurants, favourite things to do, and also have our least favourite things about life here too. Happily Ollie has 2 friends living in China right now with whom he'd spent his elementary and high school years with. Eva, originally from Hong Kong, currently lives here in Shanghai and [View Full Entry]

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This blog entry is quite different from my past entries mainly because it's more of a photo album. I have a lot of photographs that I've taken from different places or from when I was just out walking, many that I'd like to share but don't necessarily have stories to go along with them. So here is my September photo album, photographs that I took which didn't seem to find a place in past blogs. Hope you enjoy. [View Full Entry]

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Well, I'm past the one month mark into my new life here in Shanghai. I thought that it would be very appropriate to reflect on the things that I'm missing from home, from Toronto and Canada, and also the things that I know I'll miss from Shanghai when I eventually return home. I'm sure that as each month passes this list will continue to shift and change as my perspective and priorities change. But for now, here it is! Things I'm missing from Canada: - apples and produce - I'm an apple, fruit, and veggie monster as most people know! For [View Full Entry]

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Today is Monday September 8th. I can't believe it. Monday September 8th means that I've already been living in China for almost a month, and that I'll be going back home in only 5 more. Crazy ... On Saturday we'd originally planned to spend the day at the Shanghai Museum, but due to the throngs of people I decided that maybe it would be best to do on a Monday morning (even though it would be sans Ollie). So I showed up bright and early (it opens at 9, I was there at 10 30) and luckily there wasn't much of [View Full Entry]

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So I discovered that it's not just Ollie who likes my legs .... Shanghai bugs do too! I don't know what it is - the heat, the mugginess, both which make me sweat profusely, but this past week alone I have discovered 21 different bites on my legs (and bum)! At first I got one or two, and I wasn't very concerned, but the last few days after coming in from an afternoon out or a night on the town I would literally have like 8 new itchy, puffy, and bright red bites. I've done a lot of research on this [View Full Entry]

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Today was a pivotal day for Ollie and myself - after months of struggle and my coming to China on a 30 day tourist visa with a hope that I can be allowed to stay for 6 months, we applied for our Chinese Residence Permits. Those of you who are aware of the situation know that after Ollie was assigned a position in China and the ball was set rolling, we discovered that China doesn't recognize common law marriage externally (ie: from Canada I could only get a 30 day tourist visa while Ollie had a 6 month work visa). We [View Full Entry]

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Monday I was out and about, shopping, people watching, etc, and decided to write down a few random observations I found about being a woman living in Shanghai. 1st Random Observation: in pharmacies I've found entire shelves are devoted to "skin whitening" and "skin lightening" products and creams. This must be related to why strangers stop me on the street to tell me "you're beautiful - where are you from?" 95% of all advertisements I've seen use western models in them, usually blondes, even though I'd say 99% of the population here is chinese. I'm starting to get used to being [View Full Entry]

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Friday evening post dinner Ollie and I found ourselves sitting on the couch reading the new issue of Shanghai City Weekend. For you T.O.s out there it's kinda like a glossy NOW mag of stuff to do for the week in the city (ie: Nightlife, Dining, Film/Stage, Exhibitions, Sports/Fitness, Community, etc), except that you should multiple the amount of stuff to do by 10! Talk about overwhelming! Ollie and I decided then and there that while we're here in Shanghai we're gonna get some serious socializing in. Well about 10 minutes after deciding that (but not really knowing where to start) [View Full Entry]

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Today is Thursday, my 4th day here in Shanghai spent "being alone". Technically, in a city of 22 million people you're never really alone - and though Ollie's working during the day the instant I step outside my door I'm surrounded by throngs of people. But being in a city and culture where most people don't speak my language (and my chinese conversational skills are not up to speed) you really do need to find ways to entertain oneself. So far I have found that there's no shortage of stuff to do in this city (providing you have sufficient $$). Monday [View Full Entry]

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Saturday afternoon started with a cab ride into a part of Shanghai we hadn't yet been in the search of a dance studio I'd researched while in Canada. Jazz du Funk is where I'll be keeping up my dancing while here in Shanghai. It sounds like a great assortment of classes for a mix of expats/locals, at a slightly higher price than I'd pay in Toronto, but not exorbitant ($15 for an individual class, monthly passes are cheaper). I definitely need an outlet for my dancing while here, and hope to also study chinese dance, tai chi, and kung fu! I'm [View Full Entry]

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