June 13, 2011
*Throughout the journal comments made in real time, while on the ground in China, are designated in italics. Everything else was written after returning. Side notes are random thoughts I had that do now particularly fit in anywhere.
I woke up easy from the night before, got a shower and dressed myself in my lightest summer suit. As I was getting myself together I realized I was not in the possession of my debit card. So, needless to say, I started freaking out a little bit. To make a long story short I had left my card in the ATM the night before when I pulled out cash for the tailor. The hotel opened up the machine and there it was. No harm, no foul. I was good to go by the time I left for our first company visit.
Our company visits were the U.S. Commercial Services and the Chinese Futures Exchange. I took a few notes that day. During the USCS presentation I was aware of much of what they did because of my pre-trip presentation. As for the Chinese Futures Exchange, I was truly lost most of the time. I was also sweltering in the board room. I don’t usually sweat that much at the gym, but I could not get comfortable. I could move I was so hot. The humidity in Shanghai really got to me. The temperature never really bothered as much as humidity.
In between sessions we had lunch at the Seagull restaurant, which again was pretty good. I was stuffed by the time we left. I was curious about something though, I never understood the drink situation at these restaurants. One drink of soda, water, or beer per person? During that lunch I sat in between Sarah and April. Sarah looked like she had turned a bright grain and April refused to eat much of anything because she did not like the food. Sarah eventually disappeared for most of lunch and seemed to come back feeling a little better.
As good as lunch was, it was after lunch that was something special. Several of us walked along the water trying to find a fabled Starbucks. After a pleasant 15 minute walk we found what we were looking for. I immediately went to the bathroom, which like most places in China wasn’t actually in the building, but was down a very sketchy stairwell and through a dark hallway. The paper towel dispenser was empty, so I had to wipe my hands on my pants, but poor Tyler splashed cold water on his face and was left dripping.
I went back upstairs and ordered a bottle of water, which I drank immediately, and a large iced coffee. Then we sat outside along the water getting our caffeine fix. There were several of us sitting there quietly watching the water and the Bund across the river. In that moment I don’t know that there would anywhere else in the world I would want to be. It was one of those small moments you trudge through life to find. I could have sat there for hours, but time was limited and we had to go. Perhaps that’s what was so special, because it was fleeting. Everyone headed back and as we were walking Chris M., James and I discussed our own thoughts and feelings on China so far. It was a good afternoon.
As I said earlier, during the Futures Exchange presentation, I was miserably hot. And I unfortunately could not concentrate on anything other than my own discomfort. I did manage to notice one thing. The presenter, Dr. Peng, had mismatching suit jacket and slacks. They were both blue, but one was pinstriped and the other was not. I also noticed that he played with his wedding ring finger, as if something had been there before, and wasn’t any longer. I could be way off base, but it struck me as odd. On another thought, the room with the electronic exchange information on the walls, where we took SO many pictures, looked like something out of a James Bond film.
After the presentation getting back on the bus was an incredible relief. The AC was on and I was feeling considerably better. We got back to the hotel, changed, and several of us went with Lina to get some food. We walked from the hotel down the street to a string of Chinese fast food places and settled on a place with noodles. As we crossed a major intersection a police officer started waiving at us, he yelled “WELCOME TO SHANGHAI! IS INTERESTING PLACE! YOU WANT TO DRIVE LAMBORGINI?” We were going to get some dumplings, but Chris D. threw a fit, because apparently he did NOT like dumplings. Lina helped each of us order, we sat down, and they brought us our food. I originally ordered beef noodles, because I learned very quickly that chicken always, ALWAYS has bones in it. But I got chicken because they were out of beef, damn. And there were bones. I ordered dumplings as well, so I did not go hungry. While I was eating, my hand began to cramp up from clutching the chop sticks too tight. I was having some trouble eating. I sat facing the entrance and several locals walked in. We were wonderful attractions, the western folks sitting in the back. The one watched in amazement as I ate my noodle. He then broke out in laughter. Even 6,200 miles away a cackle at someone’s expense sounds exactly the same. I then heard him talk to some friends through the gasps from laughing so hard, he was explaining what was so funny; they erupted in laughter as well. It was around this time Chris D. made a new friend, or an enemy, we weren’t really sure. As I left the restaurant I turned to Marlon and said, “You know why there are no fat Chinese people? Because you can’t freakin’ eat a damn thing with chopsticks!” Marlon just laughed me and shook his head.
That night we had the Acrobatic Show, which was fun. I think it was almost more fun watching everyone else in the group freak out watching these young performers risk their lives for our entertainment. The eight motorcycles inside the metal ball was intense. I once talked to a stunt who performed that trick in Las Vegas he said they generally don’t put anymore than three people in the ball at once… eight is freaking crazy! Also, in the beginning of the show there was the couple on the boat, they had an awful lot glassware for two people on a boat in Ancient China… it was supposed to be Ancient China right?
Anyway… The show was over and we left to head back to the hotel. While on the bus all I wanted to do was hit the indoor pool and maybe the gym; preferably the gym, then the pool. Part of me was tired, but I had a considerable amount of nervous energy and needed to figure a way to let it out. By the time we got back the pool had closed, but the gym was open for another hour. So I changed quickly and went down. I exercised with for about an hour. The attendant came in and checked on me several times probably hoping I would leave so he could close up early. I wandered out around 10:50pm and went down to lobby bar to by a bottle of cold water. Sure enough I got my water, checked my email, talked to some folks, took a shower and was in bed by 12:30am. I fell asleep quickly and slept really well.
