Shanghai Saturdays

At the turn of the 19th Century, the city of Shanghai was one of the most decedant, enterntaining, and lavish cities in the world. Now, 100 years later, the City of Shanghai (along with the rest of China) has gone through the turmoil of Civil War, invasion by foriegn aggressors, famine, major industrial failings, cultural upheaval, and major systematic political transitions.

Now, a little over 100 years later, Shanghai is in the middle of a rebirth. And since I've moved back to China and get the privledge of living in such a vibrant city, I thought it may be a good time to revive Rants and Cravings.

I'm really too busy to post daily; what with setting up my apartment, feeling out my job, trying to make some friends, and whatnot. So, I'm planning on posting weekly recaps of my weeks events every Saturday...so now let me officially unveil the new title of Rants and Cravings: SHANGHAI SATURDAYS. Appropriate isn't it?

I've now officially been living in China 2 weeks, and what a flurry it has been. I've made 3 business trips, moved into an apartment, gone to buy furniture, and started setting up an office. I've hired a driver, gone to meetings, and had dinner at one of the 2 Taco Bells in China...in fact, I've eaten Mexican food as much as I've eaten Chinese food. I've also found a place called Buba's Texas Barbeque...you can bet I'll be going back there often.

I've made some new friends, found a church, and work long hours. I've gotten lost more than I've found what I was looking for, and I've had days where I speak more Chinese than I do english (which means I don't talk much, and we all know how hard that is for me).

But the allure of this city is something that makes most of the trials of week one easy to bare. Don't get me wrong, there is no place in the world better than America...and that is clear from the first moment one steps off plane in place like China. But to be living and working here and now, on the cutting edge of a country that is taking off in every way immaginable, is an experience that I know will affect me in some profound ways.

I'll try to share these experiences, best I can, with all of you dear reader. Hopefully I'll be able to share some humour, some insight, and some entertainment with the rest of the blogging community out there.

Oh, and by the way...National treasure is on Star Movies right now, and it is way better than the Davinci Code.