Edna and I

Sensory Overload

So it's been roughly 4 full days and I think i'm slowly starting to get a feel for things, slowly being the key word there. There is so much to take in around me that it is often hard to learn 30 different things at once. But, I'm going to do a quick little synopsis of my last few days.

Day 1....
After getting off the plane, I got through customs surprisingly easy. From the time I stepped off the plane, got my luggage, and was on a bus going into the city, it was only about 10 minutes. Which leads me up to the bus. I knew what bus I was taking and where I needed to get off, unfortunately I couldn't read the bus pass which was all in pinyin, so I just guessed. And fortunately I guessed right.
I met up with Edna, got everything situated for housing for the next couple days, and immediately she took me to dinner to meet a few more newbies to Shanghai that I would be able to band together with.

Day 2,3,4

These days were all very similar. I would get up, shower, get dressed, and follow Edna around like a duckling after her mother. She would lead me from street to street, introduce me to people who we would have lunch with, teach me all the essential words that I would need to have, and laugh at how innocent I was. aka: lu=road, xingdao=most popular in china.

Also, on the last night Edna was here, she took me out on a tour of a few of her favorite night clubs and I got to experience chwan(food on a stick) for the first time. Memo to self, never get the chicken when there is a line because they won't cook it long enough and you will get mild food poisoning. But according to the other expats, that happens to everyone the first time. Took a day, but I'm all better.

Edna left, but she introduced me to the Deputy Consul for Luxembourg. Her name is Jo, is 25, and offered me her spare room in her 4 story apartment with a maid for virtually no rent. She was telling me she needs more company than just her two cats.

OK.....Brief Rundown of the things I've learned and/or seen

1. No one uses seatbelts
2. No one uses headlights, daytime or nighttime
   
3. people are for the most part friendly and always willing to help
4. Don't get invited to a ceremonial tea party (it's a scam) (Don't worry mom, I didn't fall for it)
5. Never eat chwan outside a club at 1:00 a.m.
6. Network like crazy, you never know who can help you out here or who you can help.
7. Iphones are pretty much a necessity
8. Twitter is a way of life here
9. The way to tell the difference between a conversation and an argument is how many people are watching.
10. Food is only considered fresh if it still has the head on it. (InternationalEzra - Flickr.com http://www.flickr.com/photos/41655931@N06/3873508721/in/photostream/
11. I miss blue skies, clouds, and not having everything smell like a porterpotty.
    

I'm going to try and update this more often because there is so much here that I want people to experience with me.

Love,
Ezra

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Finally here!

Ok. It's been a long couple of days, and I have a feeling the days are going to get longer once my translator crutch Edna leaves.

So..back to the beginning to fill everyone in.

I left home on Wednesday, got to the airport in Harrisburg and did all the typical airport-y things, luggage, security, play with my phone till the flight.
The flight to Chicago was only about 1 1/2 hours, even though it was only a 30 minute difference because of the time change.
When I got to O'Hare in Chicago, it was thundering and lightning, perfect flying conditions. Luckily my flight was just one gate over, so I didn't have to go far.
I thought the 15 hour flight was going to absolutely stink. Tall people and airplanes seldom go well together. However, I went up and talked to the woman at the counter and asked if there were any extra emergency row exit seats. She gave me a new ticket and when I got on the plane, I was the only one in that row! I overheard people saying they paid $95 more dollars for an extra 6 inches...I got an extra 6 feet for free.

The plane ride was actually really comfortable and kinda enjoyable, minus this 80 year-old-woman who came up to me and told me her life story for 2 hours. Apparently she worked as Ronald Reagan's secretary. That was the only interesting part of the story I assure you.

Well, I have to run, I'm going out with Edna tonight to meet some more people. You can never have too many friends here. I'll post again about the "Fun" that happened once I landed...those are sarcastic air quotes... i can't type in sarcastic font...

Love,
Ezra

12 Days and counting

Hello all.

Some very interested third parties thought it would be a good idea for me to document my journey into the East.

Currently there are twelve days till I leave. I have my passport, visa, insurance, job, plane ticket, and place to live once I arrive.

I'll be making around $900.00 USD a month. Plus I get free housing, insurance, and free return flight ticket. So I really don't have to worry if I go broke because apparently I have a free flight back to the states.

Which brings me back to my biggest concern....money. A couple friends in China said I shouldn't need to worry about money, but I still can't help being nervous. I spent all day crunching my finances and getting a rough budget together and I should be alright....I hope.

Next step...pack. I'll get back to you once I get closer to my 17 hour leg cramp, also known as my flight.

Love,
Ezra