Shanghai, China

Departure

Didn't sleep again this last night. I already had 80% of my stuff packed up from the night before, so all that was left for me to do was sit and wait. I knew it was time to go when I heard the garbage man whistling again. I went upstairs to grab to tell Eddie that I was about to leave and he came down to walk me out. Woke up James as well to say farewell and to bid him a safe journey (fucker's going to Africa!).

Eddie and I pulled my stuff out to the curb and flagged down a cab.

154 RMB and 30 minutes later, I stepped foot into the Pudong Airport.

Getting ripped off in the Pudong Airport

Sitting here, getting hosed on beef brisket noodles, I felt a little cheated that I was placed beside a smoker despite my request for a non-smoking seat. The waitress politely explained that I was indeed in the no-smoking section and seemed confused that I was still able to smell the second hand smoke. I gave up trying to explain myself and tucked into my 50 RMB meal.

The waitresses, I noticed, were quite amazing. They all spoke at least three languages (Mandarin, English and Japanese) and seemed to be able to do calculations instantly in their heads - though lots of Chinese people are able to do that. I just don't happen to be one of those people.

So, what did I learn from my stay in Shanghai? I think the most important thing is that I'm not Chinese. At least not the way people in China are Chinese (and isn't that the very definition of it?).

I have never felt like more of a foreigner than in my time here. Hong Kong comes a close second to making me feel out of place. Having given this more thought, I am convinced that it's one of those jnd situations that makes me feel this way. Because I do get a lot of what's going on , but not all of it, the stuff I don't get is much more apparent. That is, I'm noticing all the differences.

In other places, I take for granted that I know nothing and go along my merry way. That or I am just Canadian through and through, and no amount of party propaganda will change me.

There are other insights and epiphanies that I had during my time here, but they're not very interesting, so I'll spare both of us the write up.

Oh, wait, there is one more thing: if you're going stay with someone, stay with Aussies. Never have a I met a more hospitable, easy-going lot than those from down under. Eddie and James took me in and treated me like family. Anything and everything I could have asked for was dealt with on the spot and I never had to want for anything. They could take a joke and could certainly deliver one. Hard to find people like that. Apparently, there's a continent full of them, floating somewhere in the South Pacific.

At this point, I had forgotten about finding my identity and was fully concerned about how I would find my way out of Incheon airport and meet up with my friend James, in Seoul. Again, foiled by the fact that I did no preparation. I never learn.