Week 4 Nov Shanghai

Week 4 Shanghai

Well, I finally getting over of my flu, the world changed. I have a lot more energy to deal with this world that is never stopped.
At week four, I finally get into the routine of my daily life, not much like in the hotel apt, that I had to get up at 6AM, go to the gym, then go to the dinning room for the same old food like lots of unknown fruits, and canned like in Europe from Del Monte looks alike, and you know it is not, but pretend it is anyway.
There is only two type of cheese, Swiss and white cheddar that the taste is totally foreign for me. There is also ham, if you call that. The breakfast included cooked mushroom, cold pork and Chicken dishes, again mixed in with unknown vegetables, Danishes and muffins that must be steamed instead of bake. There is all kind of juice, the hotel said that it is 100% pure juice, but this boy can taste “Tank”, when it is “Tank”.
I was brave enough to try their milk, it does taste like fresh milk, and I gave them that. They also serve salad in the breakfast bar; fresh prepare Omlet at the Omlet bar, as well as traditional Chinese breakfast. It is kind of funny to watch the businessman from China vs. businessman from over seas. We have our cereal, with mike, Yogurt milk. Some fruit, or Danish and toast while the others take everything traditional and western food all mixes in together in one plate.
The worst experience yet is cold espresso? Have you ever had coffee that is luke warm? That is all you get. I wanted café Americano; they give me some hot water, just like everywhere else in the world. Even in Starbuck. That is discrimination. You get water down coffee, and pay extra cost. They are not the only one doing it, so I suppose it is across the global dream up this to ripe us off. I suppose if we wanted to be treated equally, we should drink more espresso. I actually have not been drinking coffee that often any more. And I did not miss it.
I finally had some real eggs, toast, not omelet, since I move to my own apt. I had toast with very strange very light bread. A far cry from all the yuppie breads I use to in NYC. I buy whole wheat bread here as well; the problem is the wheat is missing. I can’t find any trace of them except on the package label. Amazingly I found Skippy. Not the dog, the peanut butter, and Hormel ham, as well as preserves. I pay a fortune, because the “local “grocery store I found these things was cater to expat like myself.
Just to put grocery shopping into prospective for you, if you want “ONE bush” of broccoli wrapped up in plastic, you pay 15 RMB about $2.30. If you go down the street to the same store in the chain, that is cater to locals. You can get a bunch like in the US with a rubber band for 3RBM, about $0.5. Where do you think I will go to buy my veggie? But then when you get home you have to wash and soak it over night, and then clean it, and the cook it, or use the Microwave. Or should I say a leaky Microwave, because steam escape from the machine, and I do not know where, I suppose if it cook fast I will take it. Microwave is not common in China, and you have one you are very lucky. I may die of radiation exposure I will take that chance.
I also have one of those Mini ovens, the one that a lot of you had in the kitchen, because you have too much counter space, and need something to put there. I often think they are for decoration. I can’t find the practical reason to have one until now it is Godsend. I know I can’t actually cook a turkey in it, it will be a challenge. But the lack of a toaster oven, this is the next best thing to make toast in the morning.
Of course this week, is all about food, since I work all week end last week, and no time to go to the over price Japanese grocery store, the best in all of Shanghai. I venture into the local jungle in search of meat. I found them all right but actually had enough courage to buy them is another story. I though I saw the word “ Chicken” in the freezer section. When I rush over to pick up my hunt, I drop them just as fast. The head and feet inside the bag scare the daylight out of me. Do chicken actually have heads?
Never the less, I am going to check out a Chinese-French grocery store this weekend. I meant French name but actually all Chinese products. May be I can find some frozen breast in a bag. Funny I have yet seen any fresh chicken. I am not obsessed with finding chicken, but Steak or beef is virtually unseen. Pork on the other hand is all fat and no meat. Where is lamb, or even Billy goat, at this point? I am so tire of cold cuts. I will even buy a monkey. LOL
However bacon is everywhere. Diet in northern China is so horrible. Sweet and sour, deep fried and spicy all over the menu, otherwise there is also lot of preserved vegetables. That is usually in the unrecognizable brown color. At least Kimchi is red and white. No thanks.
I am rather resourceful. I found real Yogurt. It looks like Dannon, but it is not. However it taste OK. I even found pepper cheese, and then of course I pay $10 for a small piece. Never the less that is taste of home. I also found the real oak meal, Natural valley cannoalla bars and fake Kraft cookies. I am all set for snacks, except my stable popping corn. As you can tell, I know how to live like an expat. No worry there.
After days of hunting all over Shanghai, the hope to find William Sonoma all but shattered. I struck gold in a department store I found the blender I was looking for. The fact is that I learn my lesson well, can’t just go and tell the clerk what you need. The just stare at you, and then tell each other that you are an idiot then ignore you.
I am smart, I went to Google translate, write down the Chinese translation, download a picture, and then go shopping. Even well equipped, there is no guarantee you will find what you looking for, like in the case of a toaster, they have no such things here, just like ice tray. You can find them.
This time I found my blender. At first they keep trying to sell me the Chinese imitation, when I do not bite, instead, I am looking at the Phillips brand, the only other foreign brand on the shelf. They told me that it is three times more expensive, when I told them I do not care, they told me in broken English that it was made in China as well. That may very well be, but it is the principle. I wanted to buy American products. Not that I ever buy any Phillips brand in the US. That is beside the point. After they try to keep my earning in China, the least I can do is to spend it on American products. They can’t stop me there.
Never the less, except clothing I think the entire product lines in China are intimations. I saw P&G products like Tide detergent, or Colgate, but I do not see any label trade marks. As you can see I do stand out, and the store clerks starting to notice me, not because of my height, and of course handsome face and perfect hair. Ha ha. Rather they knew I pick up produce study labels, and often go to the manager’s office and demanding answer, while 80% of the time they do not know what I am talking about. They found that I am too strange, and try to avoid me. This is only week four I have 2 years here. Ha.
The other day I was looking for bubble bath gel. It is nothing strange for a man to look for bath gel. The Brits do it all the time. I turn the store upside down having 6 clerks running all over the isle looking for product for me. I will take you shopping when you come visits it is always a scene. I finally found then after 30 minutes. I suppose I have too much time on my hand.
One time the clerk took over my shopping cart, and ran it over to the cosmetic counter, demanding them to check me out, while in it is all but only house whole cleaning items for my maid to clean house. Everyone in line with cosmetic is looking at us franticly checking out at the counter, when they are not equipped to check out large items. After it is all done, she rolled my chart out to the parking lot and found me a car to drive me home. Am I really that helpless of a foreigner, or she wanted to get me out of the store fast. The entire ordeal lasted just 15 minutes, record for check out time ever.
This was one week of shopping experience. I can go one for another 10 pages, but I will spare you for now. Tomorrow, I had to go back to the same store. I can’t wait to cause another scene. Oh yea, I will tell you my IKEA experience next. That was even funnier.
So here is my life in Shanghai on week 4th One month and three days.
Stay tune. More fun to come.