like a new pair of shoes.

There are many oddities that need attention, or maybe don't, but definitely illicit wander. There are a number of burning questions that i had upon the the thought of living in Shanghai. Like why is it that it seems it takes twice as many Chinese words to translate an English phrase. And now i know, that it is because there are no conjugations or changing of verbs relative to a tense, and so you must add a string of varying modifiers in order to make sense. For instance, "Ma?" must be added to make a question, "Le" to indicate the past tense, and "ge", to count things. The articles are really what keeps this Rubicon of a language together, without it, any logic it seems to claim at all would be futile. And then there are the tones of course...its not Chinese grammar that is a hurdle, its tone, and vocabulary, and oh, good luck learning those 30 000 plus characters, ill just stick to pin yin thankyouverymuch. But really on the upside, I am learning quite a bit of mandarin, despite my refusal to study at all for my lesson today. fail.
Or perhaps, why in a place of such a checkered political past can the people visit their embalmed leader of the past and weep over him, and better yet, print his confident innocent looking face on their money.
How can a place where "the good of everyone" seems to have a permeating presence, claim habitat to a bunch of people pushing and shoving and spitting and yelling to get what they want?
Why is death such a token thing here..and eating not?
How can a people who seem to be obsessed with technology and the furthering of it, and who seem to be incredibly intelligent, not repel the idea of the government having such a strong hand in their media?
Or maybe i wanted to solve the elusive mystery of the peace sign, that everyone flashes along with the a smile at the slight whiff of a camera. I figured that one out too.
And really, i have yet to understand, how in a country where it is incredibly rude to leave your chopsticks in the bowl after you have finished eating, is it totally socially acceptable to hack and shoot gelatinous phlegm and to relieve yourself (yes, in that way) all over the city?

life is funny.
I feel like ive really done something good for myself by coming here. Financially yes, but also, ive learned things that i would not have cared to learn otherwise, and that is good for anyone i think.

Forget Sartre, Camus, and Aristotle. This weekend Fiona extended the only philosophy one ever needs to know as we dodged a blue taxi through the green man crosswalk on Shannxi Lu.

"Oh just do whatever ya want jessy! youre gonna DIE in 50 years or whatever!"

Said in a sarcastic and very matter-of-fact northern british accent...That pretty much sums it up for me. yup. shes brilliant.

Zai Jian

j.