Yesterday marked the end of my first week in Shanghai. If I had to say one thing about this city so far it is that this is without a doubt the future. Literally everything here is huge and fast and overwhelming, and it is clearly moving forward full speed ahead. After the first few days I feel much more settled: settled class schedule, settled room, settled cell-phone situation, settled stomach.... and I am starting to feel more comfortable speaking. That being said, speaking to taxi drivers is still a struggle. Not only do most speak (only) Shanghainese, but if they do speak Mandarin they cant understand my tones, or I can't remember basic directional phrases that would help us communicate. Taxi drivers here tend to be pretty angry people, and like all drivers in China they adore beeping. If I never had to hear another BEEP HONK BEEEEEPP in my life I would be happy. Actually, the first days when I walked around campus I was a little confused by the signs posted up with a picture of a trombone and a line through it indicating that it's not allowed. Well, this sign is either forbidding marching bands or beeping. Unfortunately, I think it's the former as I have yet to see any musical instruments, but beeping can be heard on campus every minute or so.
Anyways, have to do a little studying because yes we were given homework that is due the first day of class. Who ever said studying abroad was going to be a breeze?
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