time for a new post

What do I talk about? I have so many things! Living in Shanghai, other foreigners, Obama's coming inauguration; where do I start?! First, the New Year. The regular New Year. Chinese New Year isn't until January 26th. But I can't wait for that! So far, I have planned to go to Hong Kong and the Yunnan Province (for some beautiful mountains). Anyway, Shanghai New Year's Eve is amazing. There was so much excitement in the air! I was surprised on how much of a bigh deal it was here in China, considering the Chinese really only care about the Chinese New Year. But then I heard it was only Shanghai and Hong Kong; cities with Westerners. It was like New York City. There are many, many parties at prestigious clubs and bars requring 4954549435RMB to get in and you get dressed up and drink lots and kiss many people. My night started off as taking a long, hot shower and getting dolled up in my best dress. I went out with Chris, Franziska, Lieneke and a bunch of other Europeans, one Canadian guy and one Chinese girl. Franck met us later. We went to a REALLY bad Japanese teppanyaki place for dinner. The reason we went to a horrible restaurant was because Chris thought it would be a good idea to start calling for reservations on 6 pm New Year's Eve. So, we just picked the first place that said, "yes, we can have a table for you."

Well, we got there; we clearly noticed that it was not a 5-star teppanyaki restaurant. It was in a basement of an office building behind the escalators. The place looked like Church Street Station Bar in Oxford, OH. For those who don't know that place, it's really dirty and really smelly. Unlike Church Street's tacos, the food wasn't fantastic. The food was mediocre but edible at least. But we drank LOTS of sake to make up for it. Then we headed to an awesome party at the Museum of Contemporary Art in the middle of Shanghai's largest park, People's Park. It is RIGHT in the center of the city. I feel like I have bragging rights, "Oh hey, I spent my New Year's at MORCA in Shanghai, China; China's most comsopolitian city!" One of the cheapest cover charges in town (I was actually very surprised by this) and FREE drinks inside! Oh boy, I went a little overboard on the vodka. Anyway, Franckie met up with us there with his pals and we just danced the night away. I also ran into David Wang, a cool Chinese dude. As midnight struck, there were fireworks going off from People's Park.

Then I went to get some more vodka (bad news) and then around 2:30ish, I got really sick. I told my friends that I had to go home. So I walked out and started hailing cabs. NO cabs would pick me up; mostly because I look white and obviously I don't speak Chinese. I can speak Chinese enough for cab drivers, but they never give me a chance. So this random young Chinese couple gave me a ride home. When they dropped me off, they began demanding 100 RMB from me. I kept saying no in Chinese and then the girl, who turned out to be a bitch, started screaming at me in Chinglish (English and Chinese put together). I was starting to get exasperated and a little scared. I was starting to wonder what I had gotten myself into. I was drunk and sick and just wanted to put my head in the toilet. I tried to get out of the car, but the guy blocked my car door. I started to scream things at them with my very limited Chinese and telling them that I will not give them 100 RMB. Finally the guy moved away from the car door for a bit, I took this chance to make a mad dash out of the car. I started running like hell in heels towards the front door of my apartment building. Thank god that my apartment lobby doors automatically locks! Well, it didn't matter anyway, because as it turns out, they didn't chase after me. Whoo, that was quite an experience.

Once, I got home, I just put on music from my laptop and passed out on the living room couch. Next thing I know, I was being woken up at 8 am by Chris and two random, VERY annoying German guys. They just kept saying really idiotic bullshit things. They asked where I was from and so I told them, "America." They were being very sarcastic and saying that it was the best country ever and how much they "loved" Americans. Then they asked what I do here in Shanghai. I responded to them that I was an English teacher. Idiot German Guy 1 to Idiot German Guy 2: "Of course, they can't do anything else there; their real skills only consist of speaking English." "Oh, Chinese students prefer American English to British English!" And some more mindless drivel coming from them; I just tuned them out. They didn't even think to make fun of me in their own native language. Like they were a fine example of German people. Then I walked away from their moronic banter and went to bed.

Well, that concludes my New Year's in Shanghai. Shanghai for the holidays? Good times all around! After being in China for two months, I have learned that I do come across some shady Westerners. Those German guys weren't the only ones. There are some foreigners who are here purely for partying reasons and to "work hard" at their internships. Most foreigners I meet are either English teachers or have internships of where they sit at a computer all day and play online games. But there are also people that are definitely worth your while. Those are the ones that I can hold an intelligent conversation with who are mostly here to learn or work in international cultures field. Since that I did study foreign affairs in college; it is definitely easy for me to talk to them. Well, it is now 2:30 in the morning here and I am getting really tired. Heading to bed now. I have more to say but it will be put off until tomorrow. Just hold tight.