April Comes to an End

Weather: 60F
Time: 10pm Thursday

This is a general post of life in Shanghai now that it the expo is about to kick off and April is coming to an end.

Expo Tickets
I know I have mentioned it before, but students are having trouble finding tickets to the Expo.  The stores who should be selling them all claim to not have any tickets remaining.  It makes me glad that I have a some tickets already lined up.  It is hard to believe how little publicity the expo has had on a global level when I have been living through the expo publicity for the last five months.  The World Expo 2010 is a continuation of what Americans have come to know as the World's Fair.  The same idea as the world's fair that built the Eiffel Tower.  Expo 2010 is the largest expo in the history of the event.  There have been articles here and there online that I have come across but nothing that has gone into as much of a love fest as the local media.  This expo is expected to attract seventy million people from May first to the end of October.  I hope it is as grand as the local media has made it out to be!

Bird Crap
There happens to be a road that connects the dorm to the cafeteria that is lined with plenty of overhanging trees.  As the title suggests, the road is covered with small white splatters to the point where it appears to have been the target of a shotgun style paintball gun.  It has become quite a game to avoid getting crapped on when going to and from lunch.  Everyone in the group gets to play, the rules are simple if you get pooped on you get a point.  The person with the least points wins.  Today, I left the leaders column.  I was having a bad day, so I bought myself some ice cream when leaving the dining hall.  Sadly, I was unable to finish my ice cream because not only did I get crapped on but so did my delicious treat.  Thankfully, the splatter damage was not like someone launched a taco bell burrito at me but much closer to having a gigantic non-delicious ice cream cone melt above my shoulder.  I missed the blunt force of it, just down my arm and shirt.  Nothing life ending, just sad that it ruined my ice cream bar.

Exams & Homework
I spent a large part of this afternoon working on my final homework assignment.  I am happy that school is coming to an end.  I look forward to traveling around China a bit and seeing some thing in Shanghai after school ends.  I have two exams early next week.  I do plan on spending quite a bit of time this weekend studying.  After this weekend and the first few days of the next week - I will finally be available about to go out and see Shanghai again.  I am really looking forward to seeing all the things that HAVE changed since January.  Many buildings have been torn down, walls have been built, buildings have been finished and tourist attractions will be 100% ready for prime time.

Google Voice
The Google Voice experiment has been quite well.  Throughout the trip, I have been able to use text messaging to stay in contact with people back at home.  I would currently label it as a success.  I am planning on keeping my GV phone number when I return to the states.  I am working on figuring out what I will be doing about a new cellphone.  I am looking into Boost Mobile, if anyone has good or bad review on Boost let me know.  If anyone knows of a BETTER pre-paid option, I am in the market.  I am looking for a cheap phone that will get me by until the Christmas season when the new phones will be out on the market with new features.

American Food List
It is only a dream at this point, but there is growing whispers among our group of the delicious food we are missing at home.  There is such excitement surrounding this issue for many of the students on the trip that it is a topic that comes up almost daily.  We never talk about it for more than just a few words here and there because of how much we miss it.  It is usually a few words like, "I really miss grilled cheese" "I want real milk" "I want beef that doesn't taste like grass."  It is an easy talking point for me, but I try to avoid it as much as I can.  I won't lie, the last four months have not been full of the most scrumptious meals I have ever been dealt. That is not to say I have not enjoyed some of the meals, but it clearly is not my first choice of foods.  I am truly looking forward to many American staples that are often imitated but never EVER duplicated.  If it is served at a Fourth of July lunch, it is on the list.  Burgers, Steak, Milk, Chips, MacNCheese, Pasta, Pizza, Garlic Bread, Apples, etc etc etc.  I am really looking forward to being home.

If anyone knows of a good motorcycle deal, I am considering it.  I am looking for a nice cruiser style bike for about 3500 and 750cc or more.  Something comparable to a VTX 1300cc would be right up my alley.

I look forward to seeing all of my friends and family.  I hope we can see each other throughout this summer.

Biber