Shopping

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I'm still a bit jet lagged today and I woke up early and got breakfast at the hotel for 10RMB ($1.25). I was pretty impressed - it was like Chinese breakfast buffet. I wasn't so interested in the food so I had some porridge with some pickled vegetable and a hard boiled egg. Coffee too! I walked out of the hotel and saw all the other young people buying breakfast foods on the street for 1 RMB. I will go out and buy my own next time.

My first priority was to get a working cell phone. I left the hotel at 9:00 am and none of the stores were open yet, so I stopped at Starbucks hoping that I'd see some other travelers. I really wanted to chat with someone without having to use my struggling Mandarin. It is so tiring having to search for words! Anyway, I got a red bean frappucino for 30 RMB (almost $4.00!!). It was fun just to give it a taste. After I savored my expensive drink, the stores were open and I went to try to "jie suo" (unlock) my Cingular cell phone from home (for the record, it took me a really long time to figure out how to say "unlock"). Anyway, my phone was not compatible and I ended up having to buy a new nokia phone. Oh well. The prepaid SIM card seems pretty neat. I paid an extra 16 RMB a month to get free incoming calls. Anyhow, I'm glad I got it out of the way. Now I can get in touch with my real estate agents!

There is so much shopping here (Xujiahui). There's an entire mall with stores like Coach, Polo, DKNY, Max Studio, Arden B, etc. There are tons of yummy looking bakeries here too, even a Beard Papa. The department stores here sell pretty affordable, unique clothing too. There are so many stores, and they sell everything. I overpacked. I brought too many of my own old clothes from across the world. Oh well. My old Tshirts are like security blankets; it was comforting to pack them.

I noticed no one really wears shorts here. I guess it's because everyone is going to work, but still. Most women wear either skirts/dresses or some kind of embellished pants. I doubt the pants here will fit me, but I think I'll be going home with girlier looking clothes.

As I walked around, I noticed there are weird smells everywhere. My hotel room smells like cigarette smoke meets old damp towels, the street smells like KFC meets sewer, and the subway station is just stuffy. I think the humidity makes odors linger. Yuk.

After all of my packing and lifting I got some pretty gross finger nails and decided I had to remove my french manicure from L's wedding. I went on a search for some nail polish remover and it was $5 USD a bottle! Sheesh! Then I went to a hair salon/spa and found out that a manicure is $6, and I caved in and got a manicure instead. Good thing I know how to say "sanitary" in mandarin. Anyway, they did a pretty good job and I got to practice my Mandarin. The ladies taught me a few words in Shanghainese too. It's always fun to hear women talk in nail salons. One lady asked another, "do you have a boy or a girl?" Instead of asking "how many kids do you have?" they just ask "boy or girl" b/c everyone only has one!

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Photos

No Sun!
It's hot enough without the sun... but some blue skies would compensate the muggy weather!

Comments

[Jen]

Ewwww
Cigarette smoke meets old damp towels? KFC meets sewer? Yuck!!

[TFC]

fobby clothes
don't come back w/ too many fobby clothes that you wouldn't dare wear to work k? :) i miss you!