Methinks I'm going to do this a bit differently. I still have yet to finish the last chapter and only God knows if I'll have or make the time to go back and get it done. I'm already over it.
Shanghai, at one point, held the hopes of a new start here in China - less pollution, more blue skies, water... Keep in mind that my two outstanding memories of being here last (with respect to weather) were a torrential shower while in a Didi at night, and a very comfortable walk to the new school on a tree lined street under blue skies with a fresh and calming breeze blowing over me.
Now that we're here, Shanghai skies are either pregnant most of the time with blue gray water vapor, or the pollution here is only slightly better than Beijing; though I will confess that breathing is a whole lot easier without the taste of dust in my mouth.
Finally secured an apartment after a mini-fiasco with our first promising prospect. After paying the deposit, things began to unravel quickly. Thank God we got our deposit back (contractually speaking, we found ourselves in a bind). The landlady and the agent were pieces of work. She was focused on relocating to Vancouver and he was focused on getting paid. Not hating on either of them, but their focus wasn't on the customer, so...
After switching agents, we viewed a few more apartments - all of which were pretty cool, some more than others. We finally decided on a place that is... wait for it... situated in a mall. I'm still trying to let that sink in. It is mad convenient with local and mall grocery stores nearby, as well s a plethora of restaurants. It is less than a thirty minute walk to school, and we have metro station access within the superstructure of the mall.
Since Bali we've been familiarizing ourselves with the city. We're now set up on Mobile and Ofo. The metro system is just as efficient as it is in Beijing. People have a different energy than in the capital. There's an edge of annoyance in the air. I don't know if its toward all foreigners in general or just me. In Beijing, the curious stares were more dismissive.
Mosquito bites are more of a nuisance here, especially when I get them on my cranium. They puff up quick, like hives, and grow into small mountains of inflamed skin. When I was back in Chicago, the mosquitoes there didn't feel like they were attacking me so much as they were welcoming me home. I know this sounds crazy, but the mosquito bites at home felt... healthier.
Okay. Thats enough rambling for now. More to come.
