January 3, 2009- Day 1

I have experienced many things in my life before. I have been independent for quite some time now. Coming to Shanghai by myself will be a “once in a lifetime experience”, as so many people have told me. I didn’t really realize that I was going to be in Shanghai for the next 5 months until I woke up from my flight, being the last person to leave the plane because I was sleeping, and then saw the long line of customs and immigration. Even now as I am typing, it is hard to even comprehend that I will be here, in Shanghai, for the next five months. This is one of the first times in a long time where I haven’t be completely comfortable; where I don’t know what is going to happen, or even have the slightest bit of what is going to happen. We take for granted our ability to communicate with each other by speech. Taking the taxi, I had no idea of how I would be able to manage without Bonny.
I had my first Shanghai meal, and I couldn’t even understand the menu. Luckily I had Bonny to help me, and I just told her to order whatever she liked. I had some of the best duck I have ever had, beef balls, and other food things that I have noticed before at dim sum, but never it never really tasted as good as this. This might have been due to the fact that I was starving and was given two burnt meals on the plane and a cup o’ noodles for a snack (thanks United). Even the scent of the air is different. It is such a pungent smell, it just enhanced the experience already. People are crazy drivers and I feel like I should have died already just by riding the bus.
I not that nervous because I don’t believe anything horrible will happen to me, and I’m not afraid of what could happen. I’m more excited than anything else. I’m excited to eat and eat and eat. To see and be in one of the most busiest and rising cities in the world and to be part of it. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m ready.