I’m gonna preface this entry with the following statement: I have never been through an actual hurricane, so I may not be the best authority to turn in the face of a storm. Scratch that. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m…
Chinese New Year, and other reasons to not get out of bed
Yesterday, I came the closest I’ve come to facing my own mortality since coming to China. Strapped to the back of a scooter cab, clutching the overcoat of the 5’2″ shifu with one hand and my glittery cell-phone case with the other…
"I'm a morning person who hates mornings" aka my daily routine in Shanghai
This week, I turned my daily routine on its head. As a result, I’ve worked four nearly 16-hour days. I’m groggy, disoriented, and exhausted. I officially and unexpectedly started my new job, caught completely off-guard when told we’d be switching offices last…
Christmas (Guacamole) in Shanghai
It wouldn’t be Christmas without my (newly-dyed) hair being accidentally dipped into gluten-free très leches cake halfway through dinner. Wouldn’t it? This morning, faced with the prospect of cooking a Christmas dinner for 9 people, and no menu plan in…
Hot Dog Bar Shop and other Silly Things
Nestled three doors down from my new apartment is the Hot Dog Bar Store (we call it hot dog bar shop for short, though yes, we know it’s inaccurate). Part Western-grocery store selling expired chocolate chips and vanilla soymilk, part actual…
Fast Internet, and other things that don't exist in China.
Moving has been exhausting. From the hassle of taking countless trips to IKEA (which nonetheless bring the joy of 1 kuai ice cream) to not realizing that I would need even the basic of necessities in my unfurnished apartment (sure, having a closet is…
Giving Thanks
This is a time of tumultuous change. My apartment, the nature of my work, my ‘purpose’ for being in Shanghai are all rapidly changing and evolving. At long last,I feel like I am finally in control of my expat experience (the…
China's biggest (in)conveniences.
I really need to stop feeling guilty about taking cabs. I realize I’m acting stupid, muttering curses under my breath in Russian as I climb up six flights of stairs through a darkened alleyway (complete with clap on! clap off! lights). Over the past…
How I became trapped on the 27th floor, and other major life decisions
This week, I experienced free-fall. On my way to Baker & Spice for morning yogurt with apricot granola, the elevator in my building collapsed, jolted, and I became entrapped between the 27th and 29th floors of my apartment complex. A thump, a crash,…
Chocolate, Chess, and the Elmhurst
This weekend I saw a side to Shanghai I hadn’t seen before. It was raw, crumbling, boarded-up, and really quite visceral. Saturday was one of those perfect afternoons where things just seem to go right (except the weather, nothing ever goes…
Coming home
I am not ready to go home. I don’t think I’ll be ready for a while. And that in itself is kind of frightening. I’ve been having a few internal crises about being here in China. I can feel that I’m already…
My first Shanghainese meal (and its consequences)
Today, I got my official welcome to China. It involved me, a toilet, and half an hour of continuous vomiting. The good thing is that my general malaise about being in China is gone. I think this country is brilliant…