SHANGHAI = WONDERFUL

Today was our first full day in Shanghai. We arrived yesterday morning after a 13-hour trip on the overnight train from Beijing. I knew before getting on the train that I would either get viciously ill from the moving train or absolutely love it. I LOVED IT. It was a clean and comfortable cot, we had an entire partition to ourselves (4 beds to a room), and I so thoroughly enjoyed being rocked to sleep that my family nearly had to drag me off the train in the morning. Of course, grandma made a new friend on the train: a guy my age who goes to school in Beijing. Depending on how things work out, perhaps we'll all hang out in Shanghai. For serious.

We were all fairly lethargic after the overnight ride so we restricted ourselves to shopping instead of sightseeing yesterday. Actually, we were mostly exhausted from braving the Shanghai train station. The new year is approaching, so a lot of people are traveling to get home to celebrate with their families. It was not only crowded and dirty, but people were actually pushing other people out of the way! I can and have handled bustling crowds before, but there were no rules in this mob! Don't worry, we made it to the hotel safely. As much as I appreciated staying with family in Beijing and experiencing a slice of life the way the locals live it, I'm practically salivating for the constant hot water at our hotel here.

Shanghai is currently experiencing the most snow the city has seen in over a decade, so most of the freeways are closed down. This has severely limited the number of places we can visit, which is slightly disappointing. On the bright side, Shanghai is shopper's paradise! I am wearing a new wool coat that is the most recent LOML (love of my life). Today, we made plans to visit a famous temple in the city. Turns out it's just a tiny temple and the main sight is really the surrounding shopping area. So we shopped more. However, on our way out we checked out some of the famous sights of Shanghai, to add to our experience of the city. I really like this place! It has a feeling and flavor very reminiscent of New York ... my mother pinpoints it as particularly more modern than Beijing. Either way, I'm glad to find a place I like in China ... I was beginning to get worried that I was becoming one of those Americans. You know. Anyway, we've sampled a good deal of the city--including its famous pork bao, which were DELICIOUS--and it's a wonderful place!

My mom and I are currently sitting in an internet cafe (called a "net bar") paying about 75 cents for an hour of Internet usage in a private room. Main room usage is less than 50 cents an hour. Pretty spiffy if you ask me. Now I have to sign off because I really have to pee and I'd rather walk across the street to our hotel than use another squatting toilet. You're welcome for the visual.

Much love!