… with this city. I love the street I live on down to the very stains on the concrete. I love Wunan Kindergarten. I love my kids (even when they color on my clothes). I love field trips to the Pearl Tower (even with 15 crazy kids who at any moment might disappear). I love the people I work with. I love my other CIEE Shanghai Teachers (and without whom life would suck). I love how close Ikea (or excuse me Yi Jia) is to my apartment. I love the farmer’s market down the street that has a stench you can smell from ten feet away. I love that I no longer am surprised by what I see at the aforementioned farmer’s market (pigs legs, squids of all sizes, frogs, swimming eels, unrefrigerated meats of all kinds… I’m mostly there for the fruits and veggies). I love my proximity to Wagas (a perfect mimic of a Western Cafe right down to the very salads). I love that I now know how to use a rice cooker. I love that I can have groceries delivered (or really ANYTHING delivered). I love that Chinese people let Westerners get away with anything because, well, I’m pretty sure they think we’re a) stupid or b) performing some strange foreign cultural ritual. I love singing on the subway. I love the amount of Jazz I’ve heard since arriving in this town. I love the sound of this city in the early evening. I love the complete lack of open container laws (shout out to Katie Sichau). I love that I can eat a whole meal for under 1 USD. I love constantly wondering what the hell people actually do in Pudong (I feel like right now is when I should start rapping about the West Side). I love that walking out my front door is an adventure. I love seeing turkey’s wander the streets free. I love the amount of amazing Thai food in this city and that I’m now addicted to Tom Yum. I love that I’m within 25 minutes walking distance of my favorite bar. I love singing a certain song from Team America in front of the Iranian Consulate . I love not having to drive, and instead just hopping in a Taxi. I love being halfway through a soup when I’m told it’s whale fin soup and wondering if I’m eating Shamoo. I love loving this city!
But I do miss all of you guys! Comment to let me know you’ve visited the site or Skype me! You might catch me at your night time around 6 or 7. It’ll be my morning, so the quality and length of our conversation might depend on what kind of early morning haze I’m in or if I’m running late. Also, you can catch me in your A.M., which is my night time. During the week, I usually pass out around nine (you try teaching 3-5 year olds), so you’ll have to get up early.
