Whale Cuuumm tu Shi nahhhh

They actually let me through immigration, another "get me out of this" gimic I was counting on, and I went to grab a cart (which are free here, damn you nickel and dimers of US airports) to yank my 50 pound suitcases on by myself.
I realized then that I usually have someone at the other side to help with these things, even though I usually travel alone.
Meh.
While I waited for my ride (we arrived a little early), I quickly used the internet to my advantage to test out my VPN to get on facebook and foursquare before hysteria was induced stateside - it worked!
Those first few hours were a blur.
I was greeted by a driver from the hotel who's only English was a very stressed "Whale Cuuumm tu Shi nahhhh" or, as you may pronounce it, "Welcome to China." It was pretty adorable, actually. I laughed and said my first "chey chey" (thank you). He responded with a laugh and "you're welcome" (sorry I don't know what it is in Chinese).
I watched as slums and high rises go by on what seemed to be a very desolate interstate. Apparently that is only the case at 2:30 in the afternoon.
The smog is unbelievable in Shanghai. I'm surprised people make it to 5 years old without lung cancer. As we got further from Shanghai and closer to Suzhou (pronounced Su Joe, with joe being said like a French j, extended out), the pollution lessened and trees increased. There are beautiful walkways along the main street and the street lights are really just light panels with arrows that change colors (one arrow for straight, one for left and right). There is a median on the right hand side that separates an additional lane for mopeds (by the by, no one wears a helmet) and bikes.
About an hour later, we pulled up as bell men excitedly approached to help and say hi. I felt like every conversation and smile was using my last bit of energy. I was approached by several different people ranging in HR and front office positions that said hi. Cathy (the Chinese pronounce it "Cassy," and I have thus far given up on saying it like an American since they don't know who I'm talking about it when I do), is basically my go-to. She works in HR and is the liason between myself and the rest of the hotel. Her English is great, but she wants to learn more vocabulary so she often asks me "how you say" and "what you call" followed by a very colorful description of whatever she is trying to name. She gave me the low down on my next few days and promised to have me to my dormitory soon as she was sure I was very tired, but first she wanted to feed me.
I happen to be approaching my "meal every 2.5 hours" schedule, so I was down for some food. They took my bags and I grab my ID's and my Kindle (I recently discovered there is 3G on it and it even works in China without a VPN and gets on Facebook, yes!). We went to the basement to the staff canteen. I didn't expect much, especially since it was in a basement, but, wow. It was REALLY nice. And even had 3 computers for staff to use and flat screen TV's abound. Really nice modern furniture and a cafeteria-style buffet. The only food I recognized was steamed rice and egg drop soup. Oh and my delicious little cup of Orange Fanta (they really love different flavors of Fanta here even though the canteen only has Orange, they also have pepsi, 7 up, and, of course, hot tea). I had a weird spicy chicken dish that was pretty good, but the rest was a little on the undesirable side. The good thing about eating in China is they don't expect you to finish your food. In fact, if you do, they think you are still hungry.
Side story: this is NOT the case in Paris. I drank wine because I knew I couldn't finish my food and I didn't want to be 2 cases of rude. I finished a glass and was happy with my accomplishment (and beginning to slur my words, too so I stopped talking to avoid embarrassing myself) when they simply pour another glass. So, drink and eat all you can if you want them to think you really like the meal in Paris.
The two girls that brought me down (Cathy and Shine) were room mates in the dorm and spoke amongst themselves in Chinese as I have come to realize a lot of them will do even if I'm at the table. I wondered if it would be rude to continue keeping to myself and pull up Facebook on my kindle in my lap. Then they decided to ask a few questions in English about my trip and where I'm from.
Then back to the Chinese.
Back to Facebook.
I watched as they ate in weird rhythm with their speech and wondered if we do the same. As they spoke quickly they ate much more quickly. By this, I judged we would be done and I would be on my way to a bed in 5 or 10 minutes. Then they would slow down, break from food and only take a bite every minute or so.
Damn it.
We finally left and headed upstairs. They told me I had Wednesday to myself to sleep and recover and unpack. Note: even though I left early Monday morning, because we crossed the date line, I arrived Tuesday afternoon. So I'm generally at least 12 hours ahead of you if you are in the states.
I was so excited just to get to my bed. But first, a tour around Times Square (Chinese copying of brands and American names is incredible and this is just the beginning - I'm thinking I could make a whole new blog full of fake American brands), which is the mall area adjacent to the hotel. It is really pretty with a canal running through it. They have a Papa Johns, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, Toys R Us, and even a Dickies. Yes, a Dickies.
I'm not much of a shopper plus American items are more expensive, like way expensive here than back at home. Why buy here what I can get at home? Although I will probably succumb to a taste of home from Starbucks and even though I prefer any pizza place over Papa Johns and Pizza Hut I will probably end up there at least twice, too. It made me feel a little better, like this experience won't be as foreign and lonely as I thought with little bits of home sprinkled throughout and an open mind.
On the way they asked when I would be getting a phone. I hadn't really planned on it, and they didn't seem to like that answer and wanted to be able to get in touch with me. I said I had e-mail and checked it frequently, but I could tell this wasn't enough. I only make so much a month and didn't want to spend it on a phone, but it looks like I'm going to anyway.
When we arrived I looked around and thought we were in slum towers. I did my best to seem excited and not turn up my nose, but on the inside I was heartbroken and promised myself I had to stay at least through the week.
The buildings' exteriors are not maintained and every balcony uses a clothing line and fills it to the max. The elevator was gross and small, but when we got to floor 15 I saw hardwood doors. They looked like hotel doors. In fact, when they opened the door, the furniture looked like hotel furniture.
It looks like Jing Hope, the ownership company, is using their bulk discount well. Oh, well, I reap the benefits of a REALLY nice apartment with hard wood floors in my bed room. A nice queen bed, desk, dresser, and 2 big wardrobes. My living room has super mod furniture and a flat screen. I have a fridge as tall as me with a really great freezer and even a washer and dryer. The bathroom looks just like a hotel bathroom, vanity and huge mirror and all. No oven or dishwasher which means no pie and I have to get over my random OCD on machine washing dishes.
I looked out the balcony and the complex is gorgeous. A little smog towards the city, but otherwise a nice place.
Here's the photo tour:

My room as you walk through my door (which I have a separate key for, yes, a separate key for locking my room when I'm gone)


My room from the little window sitting area. Most of my mess is hidden in the wardrobes.

My sitting area, which I've really grown to love for reading and writing.

The close up view from my reading nook


My bathroom as viewed from the doorway

The washing machine, which drains into the shower. We always keep that window open to cut down on our energy consumption. If we go over a certain amount, then we have to pay for it and it isn't cheap: hence why EVERYONE hangs their laundry on their balconies, energy is VERY expensive here. I cut my A/C off when I'm gone and no lights during the day.

The shower, which gives out significantly less water as you make it warmer.

The kitchen, as you walk in and standing in the dining area.

The dining area from inside the kitchen.

The dining and living room area, from the front door. Kitchen to the left, then the bathroom, and the door is open to my bedroom, and the balcony is beyond the living area.

The living room and balcony

The view straight ahead from the balcony, gorgeous lake.


A close up of the view.



Okay, now I want my nap. But, Shine insisted on taking me on a tour of the complex and said to meet her downstairs in her room, 1203 in 15 minutes. I really wanted to turn her down, being exhausted and all, but I really needed to know where to get food since I didn't have any.
Instead of unpacking some, I quickly changed out of my suit and tried to get on the internet. Password locked. Frick.
So I left my room, 1503, and walked 2 flights of stairs down only to realize I was apparently on the 10th floor.
What?
So I walked up a flight. 11th floor.
Another flight. 12th floor.
To test it, I went up another. 15th floor.
Hmm.
The leave out the 13th floor because it is unlucky to foreigners. And 14 and 24 because the 4 is unlucky to the Chinese.
Now you know.
We walked around and I realized there were stored within our gated complex as well as a farmer's market type deal and even a hair salon and phone stores. I grabbed some RMB out of the ATM, 300 is the minimum you can take (about $45), since I knew I would have to pay for my medical check on Thursday (95 RMB or $15). Finally we headed back to the building, but went to the housekeeper (the woman who kind of oversees the rooms) to go over an item checklist. Shine translated the page to me as the woman went around my apartment to mark that each item was there. They took nearly 30 long, long minutes as I stared longingly at my bed.
They finally left, I updated Facebook, and fell asleep texting those that had iPhones I could iMessage back home. I still didn't quite feel like I was here, and especially not for 6 months.
30 minutes later there's knock on my door.
Does it ever end?
I climbed up and opened my bedroom door with a smile to my new room mate. Her room is across the living room and she had just got back from work (she is the Food and beverage intern).
Grace grew up with half her childhood in Cambodia and the other half in Malaysia and goes to school in Vermont. She speaks Chinese but can't read it, she uses her mom for that when she comes to town or her aunt whenever she goes to visit her in Shanghai. She has been here for 2 months and gave me the low down on what she has learned about living here and had even left a bottle of water out for me since she figured I didn't have any. I had noticed it but didn't think anything of it earlier.
Needless to say, the girl has been a life saver and is super sweet.
She quickly apologized after our spieling conversation for waking me and said she would see me tomorrow night when she gets home and, if I'm off Sunday, we could go to the store together.
Awesome.
Have a good night.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Much love.