Work...the universal language of pain

So, I finished my first week of work. It wasn't actually one whole week because I started on August 1st and it was already a Wednesday. However, I still call it the first week as it was a very very busy few days. I was so nervous for my first day that I kept waking up in the middle of the night thinking that I was late for work. I know you all get that weird feeling where you think that the alarm already went off and you missed it! Finally at 6am, I just decided to get up and start getting ready. It has been two months since I put on makeup so I didn't want to look like a freak and put on too much makeup. It had to be just right...
I realized that by the time I was ready for work, it was already 8:15 and I had to walk to the office. I hadn't really prepared too well because I didn't try walking the route prior to the first day. That was stupid, considering that I can't read the street signs. I ran out of the apartment and luckily, I found my way to the office in no time. It's quite easy actually. It takes about 15 minutes door to door. It was extremely hot outside so when I was close enough to the office, I had to duck in to a convenient store to cool off or else I'd look like a sweaty hog. The office is extremely nice with awesome decorations. When I get a chance, I'll have to take some photos of the place. We are on the 27th floor and it overlooks pretty much the entire city. The only thing I miss is an office. This office is all about cubbies. We are an "open environment" which I'm so not used to. It's kind of annoying at times because we all have cell phones and when someone's cell phone rings, pretty much everyone can hear it. Augh...so that's going to take some getting used to. I was immediately put on a project the second day I was in the office. I had to go offsite to go listen to an agency briefing for a birth control pill that is ready to launch in China. I learned that some birth control pills are actually OTC (over the counter) here! That's insane. I wonder if people actually read the instructions...probably not so that's why the population here is insane. So my presentation will be in two weeks so I have to get cracking. I am off to Beijing in a few days to meet up with my colleagues and team.
Everyday, I get to walk to work which is amazing. It is a very nice walk and I actually get to pass a very beautiful street (Donghu Lu) with lots of trees (and shading from the oppressive sun). Downstairs of my apartment, there are all of these little eateries and I have been brave enough to go and try all kinds of stuff. My parents are always yelling at me to tell me to be careful of what I eat, but you gotta try stuff that's out there. And, it's soooo cheap. I usually spend about $1 for a dinner. How awesome is that! For breakfast, I always go downstairs and buy my fresh soymilk and a bun and walk to work with it in hand. It's awesome...At work, we have this cafe in our suite that serves awesome lunches for about $4. It's great...can't beat the food here.
As for going out, I haven't done much of that yet. I have been to a couple of bars, but I'm still getting to know people. Kind of hard to meet people here. My colleagues said that it will take at least 3 months to adjust and know who you want to hang out with and where. So I'll give it that time and we'll see... keep your fingers crossed...
As I type this right now, I am on the plane going from Shanghai to Beijing for a meeting with our Asia headquarters office. Those who know me know that I am terrified of flying so flying in China is so not fun for me...I'm going to Beijing for just a few days to see the office and to start on this huge project/pitch that we are working on for the end of the month. I was so proud of myself because I was able to understand an entire presentation in Chinese, but when I got back to the office, I realized that the ppt was all in Chinese. How annoying. I have to find someone to translate the entire written piece for me now. Learning a bit more Chinese characters each day. It's been quite hard being an illiterate walking around a huge city. People do speak English, but it's still quite limited.
I received a notice from the post office today (which I had to ask my maid to read--yes I have a maid now who comes to clean my place twice a week...it's sooo nice) stating that I received a care package from the State. How annoying that they don't deliver care packages and that I have to go to the office directly to claim the package. AND I can't even ask my maid to do it because you have to bring ID. AND for each day that I don't pick it up, they charge me!!! What kind of system is this?!?! So, I thank the person who sent it (I think I know who it is..TJK) and to say that should any of you guys want to send me any future packages, send it to my work where they do have people receiving the items. I am excited to go and pick up my package when I go home to Shanghai.
Off to roam the streets of Beijing because today is the ceremony to mark one year till the Olympics. Everyone is out on the streets partying so I have to go and check it out. I of course forgot to bring my camera. I'm not used to be going on business trips AND being a tourist at the same time. I'll have to carry my camera everywhere I go from now on.
Until then...