Ai ya!

Sometimes it sucks to be here.

Aaron's internet connection just evaporated. "Oh fuck"

Matt and I were going to meet up with Lisa, David, Monica, and Aaron at the all-you-can-eat sushi place for dinner. We got there and the restaurant was closed. Why? Because of this. They're closed until things quiet down a bit.

The water smells funny. We're drinking bottled water but that smells funny too. Why? Check out my previous blog entry.

I had two cabs stolen this evening-- I hailed them but was elbowed out of the way. Lisa lost a cab too. Why are people so rude? Is there even a way to say "excuse me" in chinese?!? Frustrating.

Many things don't work very well. Our clothes are never really clean. Things break a lot. I don't find food very satisfying. I miss fresh vegetables, cheese, good coffee. Everything is dirty and buildings are ugly. People spit on the street and drive on the wrong side of the road, on the bikelane and sidewalk. Baby shit mines the sidewalk (watch where you step).

There is no such thing as a queue. If you want something (to get on a bus, to buy a ticket, etc), you have to push. Even the little old ladies with canes-- you have to push them out of the way.

Matt and I fought our way through crowds of people at Lingyin Temple.

Maddening.

Some days it is completely exhausting.