Guys, just a quick update on the China situation...

It's been a rather interesting experience so far, and I must say that I've encountered new situations and challenges.
1. My appallingly lousy chinese has made daily communication with people a challenging task, be it PRC colleagues, the agent of my apartment, waiters, sales people, etc.
2. I've been feeling rather repressed when those situations arise cos I can't express myself proeprly, so to those ppl, I probably appear rather dull. Sometimes, to avoid ppl thinking I'm mildly retarded, I qualify by saying that I'm not local.
3. Office work has been very challenging. Although it's an international firm that I'm working for, there're often correspondences that involve chinese parties. So, I've been compelled to do some translation work which, unsurprisingly, I really suck at. Imagine translating legal documents and technical legal and shipping jargon when I can't even read my fucking secondary school textbooks properly.
4. The lack of family and friends for company has resulted in me having about half my meals alone, and spending idle/chill time alone mostly. I've been getting used to it, and although it can really suck eating alone, I tend to have more time and space to think, appreciate the present, its activities and its surrounding occurrences, as well as do whatever I feel like doing without considering the accomodation of others. There is a certain valuable freedom in this that I particulary enjoy, when most situations are situations that involve just myself and inanimate objects - it's man vs wild where you don't have to give a flying fuck about other things. But of course, that privilege can only satisfy me this far - the company of others, doing things together, shared experiences, and the relationships enjoyed still can't be trumped. But for now, all's kool.

From Shanghai with love.