First week in Shanghai

Due to the “great firewall of China,” I haven’t been able to blog ever since entering the homeland seven days ago. As result, I have had to save my entries as word documents. Let’s just say that it has been an interesting few days. As soon as I arrived to Shanghai, I got myself an Asian style haircut (spiky hair on top, long bangs in the front swept to the side, and reddish-brown highlights. For reference, I look like Tai from Digimon). Might as well experiment in China since haircuts cost a seventh of what they are in the states.

After spending a quiet few days with family, Alex Liu and Yifan Chen arrived just in time as the boredom was settling in. On the first night, we visited Kevin Ho, Kevin Wang, and other Yalies doing Bulldogs in Shanghai. They lived luxuriously in massive suites that included a built-in bar, kitchen, two bathrooms, and a laundry room. WTF mate??? As we were chilling and watching TV, Kevin noticed that the ping-pong match that we were watching was actually taking place in a “tiyuguan” less than 200m away from our hotel. We found the place and managed to get tickets to the match, which was dubbed “China vs. World.” It was an awesome experience. We were going nuts, and one of my bloodcurdling cries of “JIAAAAA YOUUU” meaning “LETS GO!” actually stopped play for a while. LMAO.

On the last night in Shanghai, Alex, Yifan, and I were taking a nighttime stroll when we came across a plethora of stores with scantily clad women reclining upon couches. It was absurd. Almost every other store held these women whose legs were spread wide open to entice people walking by. We had passed these same stores in the daytime, and then they had seemed like legitimate businesses. Some were hair salons, other spas, massage centers, etc. However, at night, these businesses transformed into sex shops, and we were approached several times by women who offered “massages,” inquiries to which we wisely yet unwillingly resisted. Later on, we went on Google and did some research. Although deemed illegal in China, prostitution remains one of the country’s largest service industries. With an economy based on the export of manufactured goods, China MUST expand its service sector, but heavens forbid through the trafficking of flesh! Apparently, these stores that purport to be legal businesses during the daytime swiftly transform themselves as dusk settles and exhibit “salon sisters” that are prostitutes.

Alex and I arrived in Beijing this morning for the Duke Study in China program. After checking in, we explored campus, played basketball, and met a ton of Dukies. They all seemed pretty cool and friendly. My roommate is a baller, so I think we are gonna get along just fine. The girls are very attractive, and there’s this very cute Korean girl :D Oh yea, university officials are paranoid about swine flu and are forcing us to wear face masks for three days until the end of our quarantine.

Placement tests are tomorrow. Hopefully Alex and I place into L3. Wish us luck!