Pet Peeves: Enough of the Niceties

We’ve moved out of the honeymoon period, and now are at the point of becoming more acclimated to Shanghai life. With that, comes some observations…

Top Pet Peeves

• Internet connection is s_l_o_w, unstable, and often blocked
  (frequently websites are inaccessible, particularly blogs)
• The food is awesome, but if there was ½ as much oil, it would still be too much
• Everyone talks SO loud – whether on the phone or to each other
  (it really sounds like people are mad all the time)
• It would be nice to have a cell phone connection that lasts more than 10minutes in a car
• Did we mention the rough toilet paper? As Nabeel said, "never underestimate the value of your a… "
• Spitting…and other bodily fluids and sounds: whenever. wherever. ICK!

Things that were pet peeves, but are now rather charming…

• Without their little crotchless pants, little kids peeing on the street wouldn’t be as cute
• The sheer size of Shanghai means there is much to explore. If you wake up early enough, you can even explore with only 10M of your closest friends. (Population estimates vary from 18-30M depending on who you ask, and what assumptions they have made about unofficial population numbers.)
• CCTV Channel 9 is affectionally called "propoganda TV"
• There is no shame in hanging laundry outside to dry for your neighbors to see, especially if it’s colorful undergarments