Rainy Shanghai

Shanghai is more familiar every time I come here; things just don't seem to catch my eye the way they used to. I wonder if this is because I am more comfortable here, or because the city continues to Westernize itself?

This time, the vendors aren't constantly shouting at us and grabbing our arms to come into their stores; they wait until we express an interest. This is VERY different from before. More shopkeepers speak English. More foreigners are everywhere, and they know how to bargain - throwing up their hands and walking out of the stores in mock disgust. There was even a Chinese man dressed in full Stanford regalia waiting for Shanghai dumplings at Xin Tian Di - on the day of The Big Game.

The air quality seems slightly better, though the rains have brought a disgusting sheen to the streets...at least until the scum is temporarily washed away. The city is also preparing for the International Expo in 2010, so there are posters showing what not to do on the streets and sidewalks: spitting, leaving construction materials, dumping dirty water and garbage out the windows, smoking in non-smoking areas...Mom wants to steal one of the signs because she thinks it's hysterical.

We're supposed to go for a walking tour near the Bund today with mom's architecture friend, but I've been having stomach problems since last night and am not convinced it's the best idea. Staying in doesn't hold much appeal either, unfortunately.