September 6, 2001

• Namae wa desu ka?  Watashi wa Simon desu.

  
  

  Fudan University is one of Shanghai's top universities.  It ranks in the top ten (I think 7th) in China and has an immense and beautiful campus.  Although not as picturesque as Queen's University (my alma mater), Fudan is definitely much larger.  In the center of its main garden is what looks like a 30 foot statue of Mao Tse Tung standing proudly head high and all.  Surprisingly to me though, is that the majority of the foreign students are Japanese (about 60% of them).  Many are also Korean, I room with one of them.

  
  

  With a student population of over 13,000, I am but one of many.  I am also placed in the foreign student area of the school, an area enclosed by its own gates with 4 large residence buildings.  I room with one other person, I call him Soong (his name is too long for me to remember), and he speaks fluent Putonghua and Korean but no English which is good since I won't be tempted to speak English to him.  Our room is quite ghetto though.   It's about 10x12 with two beds, two desks a 6 foot high dresser, and a 6 foot high bookshelf.  There is a window that spans the entire width of the back wall, a phone, a fan and two electricity jacks.  No Air Conditioning, no heat.  I live on the fourth floor (thank you Daphne for warning me that the lower levels are quite shabby) and pay $3.50USD a day.  The entire floor shares a bathroom and kitchen, and if it weren't for my exposure to Loveboat (Taiwan's overseas study tour) I'd be horrified by the restroom's facilities.  You ever take a shit on a squatter?  Thankfully, there is hot water for the shower.  However, there is no shower head for the pipe, so the water just comes out like it would for a garden hose without a head.

  
  

  I have met a couple Europeans and Americans (about 7 or so) and am quite ashamed that some of them can read and speak more Putonghua than I can.  What is also interesting is that the bond that links me with many of the Koreans and Japanese here is the Chinese language.  And definitely very shocking, for me anyways, is seeing big black dudes speak fluent Putonghua.  I'm reminded of Chris Tucker and his unsuccessful attempts at asking for directions in Rush Hour 2 yet see these black guys busting it out as if it were their mother tongue.  Definitely really cool, I could never picture Keith or Eastman doing that!

  
  

  Although we are all here learning Chinese, it is already apparent that the different cultures stick together.  The Japanese and Koreans all have their little cliques.  There are a few Brazilians that chill with each other, and the blacks hang out together as well.  I somehow doubt there will to much co-mingling.  I will have to try to work my charm into some of these groups.  The Japanese and Koreans here, seem to party it up pretty much.  At night, a few of them have their stereo's on full blast with the latest hip hop or dance music offerings.  It was good to hear some Tupac last night.  A lot of them seem to have quite a bit of cash and have bought little mopeds and rev their engines late at night while driving around the street just outside our residences.  Their fascination with Western culture has prompted a few to approach me, they want to practice their English.

  
  

  Class starts on Tuesday, and since I've been able to make some friends since moving in yesterday, it looks like tonight will be my first night out in the town... woo hoo!  Mmmm... beeeeeer.... (Mental note: must watch money!).  Well... until next time.  Sayonnara!

  
  

  Simon is adjusting to Shanghai pretty well so far and is thinking of boogeying down tonight

  • 11:23 pm
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