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Well I decided that I am not really going to write
a journal for this trip, instead I am just going to email you highlights
whenever I can and tell you things that happened since the last time I
wrote. Well I emailed you this morning (at least morning for me,
It is odd to think that I am 12 hours ahead) and told you a little about
the flight, little things like I was able to withstand not being able to
smoke for 13 hours on the flight. The food on the plane was
terrible and I couldn't sleep. Shanghai airport looks like an
airport, you see one you've seen them all. The hotel is actually very
nice, it is attached to the Shanghai Olympic stadium and from my room
window I can see the track and field, it is like a skybox with beds.
No games or events going on while I am here though.
Today we walked around Downtown Shanghai, specifically on Nanjing
Street, which is the major shopping street here. Looked at a lot
of things, but nothing worth lugging 3000 miles, so will keep looking.
People look at me funny also when I ask if they have 10ft inflatable Buddha's.
The only thing I really got for me was a starter deck of Chinese Magic
Cards, not sure what edition, will not open till I show them off at the
round table. I also bought some books, one even in English.
I have learned something about me, I am drawn to bookstores even when
99% of the books are illegible to me. The last thing I have gotten
is 30 Chairman Mao musical lighters, they are red with a picture of Mao
on them and when you open them they play the Chinese National anthem.
I have 30 because it has become the game on the tour to see who can get
them for the cheapest. I am in second with 90 Yuan for 10 and my grandmother
is in first with 80 Yuan for 10. I will be giving a lot of
lighters away as presents in the months to come.
Other than wander aimlessly around the city we walked
"the Bund" and looked at the skyline, it is very impressive
and futuristic, not what I expected China to be. I was expecting
more like Crouching Tiger. Course what is most impressive is that
all the buildings you will see in the pictures I get are less than 20
years old.
Tomorrow, at the god awful hour of 8:30am (8:30PM the day before
for you) we will be leaving by bus for WuXi, I think that is how you
spell it. It is described in a book I saw as a workers resort,
whatever that means. I don't know if I will have email access
there but I will hunt it down.
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