Bits of an email to Scott

Back in the days when I actually took the time to write emails to people about my life here, I would copy the bits into here that I thought might be of pulic interest. I haven't done it in a while, but here is a bit of an email I sent to my friend Scott:

...
I haven't actually been to Shanghai yet, that trip is planned for the
beginning of May, but I do know a little bit about it. Shanghai is a
modern, clean, cosmopolitan city. It has western designer clothing and
starbucks, a subway system, and a public trash removal system - all
things the rest of the China lacks. It is similar to Beijing, but
Beijing is a bit more polluted. Beijing is in some ways more
"Chinese" than other cities because it still has the old style hutongs
and culture sites galor, yet I experienced huge culture shock going to
Beijing after spending 3 months in Southern China. I found a city
saturated with Western influences - it shattered my view of China.
Shanghai and Beijing are very different from most Chinese cities in
their architecture. The cities are constructed entirely of buildings made of
white tile and blue windows, all turned a few shades towards grey from
pollution. And there is no sense of public cleanliness. People keep
their homes very tidy, but that usually means picking up the trash and
moving it to just outside their door. Most cities don't have trashcans
- all trash goes on the ground and people spit everywhere. There are
no public works of art aside from whatever might remain of traditional
architecture.
...
I try my best to hang out with locals, to eat at
local restaurants (not western cafes), and avoid foreigner street in
general. I have a handful of Chinese high schoolers that are my
friends from an English school where I know some of the teachers. The
people I work with are all Chinese and we go out to lunch together
quite often. The other day we did Italian (they wanted Pizza) and
tomorrow we are going for Dai food (a Yunnan minority) and hua guo -
hot pot. I'm also taking a yoga class at a VERY Chinese gym and
*trying* to make friends with the other women in the class. They are
proving a bit tricky, but I trust they'll warm up to me over time.
...