So it seems like Shanghai is going into a rainy season. Luckily not an incredibly rainy season.

It’s been raining on and off for the last two weeks, with just a bit of sunshine in between. Not that I’ve been outside that much this week, but I’m hoping to get a bit more active since it’s I’ve only got three months left here, even though I’m still hoping to shorten it down to one.

I’m a bit annoyed today actually. I’m getting crossed information from my school. The EF section in Norway tells me I can’t get any money refunded for quitting my course to months prior to the actual end, the school itself told Monique that it’s possible to get money refunded if we decide to go travelling for a month – as long as we have a regular (and not intensive) course, which I do, and students with previous experience say it’s supposed to be possible to get money refunded. So what’s the difference between taking long, non-paying break, from going home a while before? I’m confused.

Kinda reminds me of exactly how clever my previous school was with giving information too.

Njeh. I’m having a good time right now though. Me & Monique, one of my flatmates, are currently eating an early dinner at Abbey’s Road, my favourite place after Boonna Café and before Café Gino. Gordon Bleu. <3

And now, completely unrelated to the post;

• Pay the writer! A comical, and logical, video rant by Harlan Ellison. From the feature documentary, “DREAMS WITH SHARP TEETH”.

Just a link, since I can’t get into youtube.com at all at the moment. :)

I’ve been in Shanghai about four and a half month now, and I’m actually loosing track of the time.

I came around the 25th of September, left China again during December for 3 weeks, and now we’re already at the end of February.

It’s a bit weird, really, but I’ve almost not written anything at all about the things I’ve seen and experienced. It’s been so much! People don’t behave like back in Norway in general, both in a good and in a bad way.

Good stuff; The Chinese are so hospitable! (One of my previous room mates definitely didn’t agree to this one, but still.) They’re kind, helpful, and eager to strike conversations whereas my fellow Norwegian people in most cases would never strike up a conversation about nothing in particular while standing in the check-out queue in a grocery store. I’ve also had some people follow me around for quite a while to help me find places whenever I’ve gotten lost.

Bad stuff; Too much curiosity (seriously, getting stalked while shopping clothing or groceries is not fun, and trying to “discreetly” peek from behind shelves is extremely creepy), incredibly impatient people (compared to the South-American and South-European people, Northern-Europeans are incredibly impatient, but seriously – the Chinese in the subway are unfortunately way worse), street sellers (Bag? Watch? Dvd? Plada? lookie lookie! You want sexy massage?) and beggars – I’ve had beggar children HANGING on to my leg to get money, even though I clearly stated I didn’t have any change to give (and my chuckling Canadian-Chinese friend definitely had, but they didn’t bother him).

I guess my reason for summering things up so soon is that I might go back home two months before planned, for reason I won’t share. I love Shanghai though, the mood, the way warmer temperatures, the culture, the ooold culture, the food, the club scene, and so much more. I’ll definitely come back, I just don’t know when yet.