Smells like....work.

Shanghai, which is Chinese for really #@$#ing big city with tons and tons of small people driving like psychopaths


The Lupu Bridge, which I climbed with Ash's dad last weekend


Hong Kong plaza where I live...I'm on the 22nd floor (see me?)


OK, it is time to get back on the blogging train, because work has begun but the adventures have not ended. I am working in Shanghai, China for anyone who doesn't already know this. It is a natural extension of the summer abroad, even stranger at times, and I'll be here for 3 months.

While I'm chillin' in Shanghai, Ash is at home stuffing her face and gaining weight. She claims she is pregnant, but I'm a skeptic and will believe it when I see it. Until then I'll believe this is just an excuse to eat crap and buy new clothes, two things any girl loves!

Well, I do want to share some of our experiences with everyone out there, since I am unavailable by phone all the time (buy you can still email me). This has been an awesome experience...but a funny one. I'll try not to talk too much about work since it bores me and you. The funniest part of our lives right now is that while I work in a city of 25M where my only friends are Ashley's parents, she is working in CA and living with my parents!!!!! Talk about the twilight zone, we are both spending more time with one anothers' parents than we do with eachother. Fortunately all is going well (except with my parents' dogs, but I'll let Ash blog about that)...

Now, on to the fun stuff. China is a crazy place, and this has been quite a learning experience. First of all, I have learned that in offices here people leave their cell ringers on VERY loud, and run back to their desk when they get a call. This may not seem like a big deal, but in an office of 200 people this is a hilarious sight to see! Also, it is not rude (either this or they don't care, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt) to answer a cell in the middle of a meeting. Picture this from a couple days ago: meeting with 50 people including the head of China himself, and someone answers a call in the middle of the meeting! In their defense (it is a weak defense) they were talking quietly but the call went for a couple minutes!

Also, conducting business in a foreign language makes for hilarious moments as well. Simple questions become very complicated and the communication process is exhausting. On a side note, I have to remember that I'd be even worse if we did this in Mandarin or any other language...I'm not saying these people aren't bright but the language barrier makes for hilarity!!!

Additionally, I am frequently approached by women of the trade, and Pimps. Yes, I said pimps, and I am not joking on this one. I thought how strange it is that the sex trade is out in the open here, only to remember prostitution is legal in NV as well...I guess I'm shocked how common this is all over the world.

Ash comes next month, and we should have some fun adventures and better pics. Until then we'll try to be better about blogging regularly...

Sorry for the lack of pics of me, but there is no one else to snap them! As for the random thoughts shared above...I'm just getting back into this blogging thing.