I'm home!

Okay, well, maybe not.  But upon arriving back to Shanghai this past Friday, quite honestly, it really felt like I was back in a place that was really familiar.  As if it were home.  It started from the airport, and then the ride into Puxi, and then getting to my friend's place that I have to stay at for a few days before production starts.  Since I've gone down these "roads" before - and only recently - it really felt comfortable.  Crazy.  I would have never thought this possible.  5 years ago, if you would have told me, "B, 5 years from now, you will be hosting a TV show in Shanghai..." I woulda either laughed at you or punched you in the face.  Impossible. 

Streets within the city are familiar, I told friends I know here that I'm back in town, and by my second night, I was visiting spots I've been to and know well...dare I say that I'm becoming a regular around here?

I'm still absorbing it, but I'm here for about 3 months this time to shoot a new reality show called Shanghai Rush for the International Channel of Shanghai -- an English station here.  (Good thing, cause since my last visit here 4 months ago, I feel like my Chinese has declined!)  On Saturday, we had a photo shoot for all the contestants and myself, Sunday was interview day, and then what little we have of this week before the show kicks off on Thursday, we have been in preproduction mode like crazy.  It's more so the producers who are under the gun, but on Monday, I was in the production office amidst the crazy hustle bustle doing some work on developing my host character.  I gotta say, I'm loving the way the show is coming together.  I love the producers and the crew, everyone I have met so far has been great!  I've only met 1 of the teams in person (a mom-son combo from the States/Mexico, cute) but I've been studying up on the rest through their interviews, photoshoots, and background profiles.  Seems like we got a very eclectic bunch!  I can't wait to dig in...I'm going to remind myself how lucky I am and have fun every step of the way.

I still can't believe I'm here.  My feet are on Shanghai soil.  And I'm about to host a reality show, which, well, I've never done before.  It's about as far away from my life in the States as humanly possible.  (I suppose going to Mumbai to host a show might be even crazier for me.)  We're doing a lot of this on the fly as we go, but from what's been described to me, and from the feeling I get with the team working on this, it's going to all come together nicely somehow.  No idea how we are going to get there, but we will.  We must!