So, I have completed my days here in Beijing and now in Shanghai again. It is weird to be in another city, especially for my first business trip. I'm so used to traveling around the States (and those of you who know me well know that I was barely in NYC because I traveled so much), but it is still very foreign that I am traveling IN China. Anyhow, Beijing is a weird city. I guess it is because I'm getting so used to Shanghai. Shanghai definitely is more of a party town. It has a way better nightlife and just seems more alive. People here say that Shanghai is the NYC and Beijing is the Washington DC. Don't get me wrong, I loved living in DC, but once you have lived in NYC, you know for a fact that it's really the nightlife city. So just imagine, Shanghai is pretty much the NYC of Asia.
I had a great time in Beijing though. People here are less "harsh" than the Shanghainese. You still see the people spitting and all, but they seem a bit less "loud." Shanghainese people tend to just scream when they talk so that's something I have to get used to. I know that will take some adjusting, but I know I can conquer it right? Also, the taxi drivers are a bit of an ass. They try to take you for a ride all the time. They think that I can't speak Chinese so I always spring it on them at the last minute when I am about to get out of the cab. See, when I step in a cab, I start speaking English because then the cabbie won't talk to you. I hate it when cabbies talk to me. I get annoyed because I just want to relax! So they think I'm a foreigner (which I am of course) and can take me around the city for a little spin. See, in Shanghai, taxi drivers may try to do that, but if you feel that you've been taken for a ride, all you have to do is ask for a receipt (which is automatically printed out from the meter and it has all the info on it, drivers name, date, etc) and have the driver sign it. You an call this number at the bottom of your receipt to file a complaint and the driver will not only be fined a huge amount of money, but they will return what you spent and three times that amount. Most of the time, when you ask the driver for a receipt, they will try to bargain with you if they know they took you for a ride. They will say "ok, ok, just pay me $20 less." However, to my stupidity, I thought this rule applied to ALL of China...I found out it does not apply to Beijing. So I learned another lesson... Each day I learn something new...that's what I tell myself...
Beijing was crazy while I was there because on August 8th, they were out in the streets celebrating the Olympics. One year till the Olympics officially starts here. I'm soooo excited for it. I'm already looking for tickets. I have just secured tickets to the Women's World Cup Soccer here in Shanghai. Will be watching and cheering the US women on when they play Nigeria. I'm attempting to secure tickets to the Venetian tennis match between Federer and Sampras (who is coming out to do this exhibition match) in Macau so I'm going to fly to Hong Kong to see it. I gotta go! It's so great when you can actually afford tickets to go see things unlike NYC.
Not much else to report. Oh, I am looking into taking TaiChi lessons so will let you know (and I'll be sure to send photos too!). Until then...
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