In the cards...

It has been 10 days since I arrived in China, and I have successfully navigated my away around the Great Firewall of China to start this blog. My transition into life in China has been relatively seamless, and I am constantly surprised at how helpful the locals are to us international students. Luckily, I can speak a few jumbled phrases to get by, but there are students on my program that have never learned a word of Chinese. I go to Fudan University, which lies 15 minutes out of the city center and contributes to the lack of any spoken English. All universities are situated in one province of Shanghai, making the area around my apartment a great place to meet people and take advantage of all the city has to offer its students.

I am participating in the Alliance for Global Education's Language and Culture program, which requires 12 hours of Chinese language instruction a week, a contemporary culture and society class, and a Chinese economics course. This program is ideal for other reasons than the course specifications. I have a Chinese roommate as well as an American roommate (from George Washington University). My Chinese roommate hardly speaks English, and we are constantly teaching each other new phrases and customs. Currently all of us roommates have plans to go to KTV, which is the Chinese equivalent to Karaoke, and they take it very seriously. Our living situation is more than comfortable. We each have our own room with city views of Shanghai, and a huge living room, kitchen, and sun room. The concept of sun rooms is very important in China, because dryers are essentially non-existent. Almost every residential complex will have huge windows spanning the facade where residents hang all their clean laundry. Our complex houses all international students, and I have met other students from all over the states, and Europe. In a couple weeks many Berkeley students will become my neighbors when the EAP program begins!

There are about 35 people on my program with the majority coming from the east coast. It's amazing to see how the culture shock has hit all of us this past week. One of the hardest (and easiest) things to adjust to is the prices. Everything here is literally "dirt-cheap." My meals cost around $1-2, and taxis and transportation range from 30cents-$10. If I want to have someone tidy/clean my room and bathroom I pay $1.50. I use this as a coping mechanism when I realize all my friends are in Europe with normal toilets, attractive locals, and cheese.

I had the opportunity to have my tarot cards read when I was in New Orleans this winter break. The reader told me I was embarking on the most meaningful adventures I have experienced thus far, and there will have been nothing in my life more momentous than this occasion. I haven't read to much into this interpretation of my future, but I can already tell that my time here in China will be a life-changing experience that will continue to influence my way of life even after these four short months are over. I look forward to documenting my travels, adventures, friendships, studies, and anything I learn about Shanghai. I have definitely chosen the right time to visit Shanghai as it has been chosen as the location for the 2010 World Expo. The World Expo is to Shanghai what the 2008 Olympics were to Beijing. The construction, beautification, and development of Shanghai's already modern coastline is bustling to get ready for the event that will span from May 1st - October 31st 2010. I'm excited to spend my last 10 days in Shanghai visiting the Expo as it's slated to exceed all international expectations!

再见！

Cam

Chinese Word of the Day: 再见 (zaijian: goodbye)