online liberation

Finally, after one week without internet access, and my only form of communication with the world out of Shanghai being a call with mum, it feels good to be reconnected! If we didn't have NTU VPN, we'll probably not get to facebook, blog, tweet or youtube! The amount of censorship and restrictions in China is just unbelievable.

Week 1 went by pretty quickly, and as with trips to places I've never been to before, the 'wow' factor on all things new has been pretty high. Some random observations include:

Shanghai's skyline from 5000 feet looks like a motherboard circuitry. Pretty amazing sight.

Shanghaiese love continental cars. The first 5 cars I saw were Volkswagen. All cabs are Volkswagen. The first overseas car maker to set up shop in China was Volkswagen.

The weather on the first day here was crazy. Imagine 40 degrees and the sunlight piercing your skin literally. If I thought Singapore was bad enough, I was wrong.

The Shanghai train system was co-developed and designed by Singaporeans I think. Its okay to think that you might have just arrived at Bugis or Harbourfront train station because everything just looks so similar.

The people here, hmm for one they'll win any pushing/shoving competition any day. I stood in front of the train door on the way to work, and I did not have to take a step myself. People from behind just push themselves, along with me into the train. Rude, inconsiderate probably too, but my landlady just throws all these conventions out of the window. The nicest lady we've met in China so far!

The food here, abit of a mixed bag. For starters eating out, or ordering takeaways are so cheap here you could just eat out for every meal. But the food is abit too oily and salty for my liking at times, and so we've finally bought our own rice-cooker, complete with some pans and pots to cook a few meals at home. Probably on weekends, when we don't have to come back from work devoid of all energy.

Work's great. Office culture in my department is healthy and not a hint of politics from within. Everyone addresses everyone else by first names (which by the way is a whole office of christian names save myself) and the things I've been doing in office are interesting! Here's to 20 more weeks of interesting office hours!