Back to being a human again...

I am so excited to report that I am FINALLY over this damn illness (knock on wood of course!) It was the worst experience I think I have ever been through (besides the whole Bali sickness in 2005). For two whole weeks, I think I must have been to the toilet about 100 times. I don't even believe that is an exaggeration! Anyhow, I will spare you the details and just say that I am going to watch what I eat now. Then again, the doc did say, "you are in China Hsiao so you can't avoid these things." Great...
Anyhow, for the past few weeks, I've just been struggling to get by and get my work done (both work-work and schoolwork). I of course am procrastinating right now and decided to put up a little update on what's happening here. Shanghai is finally getting warmer! I'm so excited about that. The only bad thing is when the weather gets warmer, the streets get more crowded and the city becomes a bit "smellier." I don't care... the sun is out and that's all I care about. Past week, I went out to a friend's birthday dinner at this really nice restaurant (where I will be taking my visitors of course!) called Face and we had a fab time. It's just nice to catch up and have dinner and a couple of drinks. It was a weekday so I was good and went straight home. However, last night, that's a WHOLE other story. Last time, I went out with some of my girlfriends and partied a bit too much. Got home around 5 am (then again, I'm sure some of you guys are like "wait, that's nothing new for Hsiao." Had to get up this morning for a conference call with my school classmates, and boy, was I out of it. I deliberately set my alarm for 5 minutes before I had to take this call. I think everyone on the phone knew I had just rolled out of bed. :) Last night, we went to the place called "The Shelter" and it's an old bomb shelter in Shanghai that is now an underground bar. Totally cool, with a great DJ so for those of you coming to visit, I'll def take you guys there. A bit smoky but then again, IT IS CHINA! I sometimes think that I should start smoking JUST because I'm in China...ha.
Outside of my house right now is the sound of freaking machines drilling holes in the ground because they are building this massive mall thing in the middle of summer. I might have to look for another place to live cuz it is RIDICULOUSLY loud. And trust me, they do this ALLLL night long too. Cheap labor... that's why houses go up in like 5 days.
OK I'm rambling now. I thought I'd just post something here to let you know that I've survived this giardiais parasite. I think that's how you spell it. Not fun I tell ya...not fun at all. Anyhow, I'll try to post some photos when I do get a chance to take some. Right now, I have been a lazy bum. I'm planning my next trip to Kyoto for some fun in Japan. In May, I'm off to some remote part of China with some friends from work so that should be fun! I can't wait! I need to take advantage of these travel deals :)
Until then... miss you guys. xoxo