Why I Don't Live in Shanghai

I've been in Shanghai for a little over a week now. I'm here to take care of my two very adorable twin nieces.  They are my cousin,  Lawrence's  (the guitarist from many of my shows) little girls.  And, they have grown so much since the last time I saw them.  I'm so amazed at how good their English reading comprehension is now.  I've even taught them how to sing a few English songs...it's really very cute! 

So, since I've been here...I've thought about writing a book about "Why I don't live in Shanghai"...but, then, I didn't want people to get the wrong idea....so, I'll just give you a few experiences that I had this time around...

1)  I witnessed 2 grown men peeing on the side walks.  Once, in the morning in PuDong during my run around the park.  And, another time at night in PuXi on the way to a jazz club. 

2) Pedestrians don't have the right of way...EVER!  Don't pay any attention to the signs that say walk....because cars don't care!!!  Even when I'm standing there pointing at the sign or putting my hands on my hips with a very angry look on my face....they act as if they are right and I am wrong!

3) In the subway, I look over and see a couple...the woman has her hands on the mans face because she is helping him pop a zit on his face. After she does the deed...she has to show it to him to make the ritual complete.

4)  Pushing is 10 times worse than it is in HK....nobody cares where their hands may touch..they just want to get on the train...you can be an old lady...or a little kid...who cares!  Push Push PUSH!!!

5) The men tend to have starring problems...and it's usually not at your face....and they don't really hide the fact that they are looking..

6)  Probably one that most already know....when you here that noise ...you know, the lets get that gross stuff out of my throat sound...DUCK!!!  DODGE!!!  whatever it takes!!!

7)  lines?  What does that mean to wait in line?

8) picking the nose....everywhere!!!  NOT descretely but very very openly!!  not only that...with 2 fingers!!! how do you do that?  And yes, one of them is definitely the thumb!!!

9)  ask for something extra....like...maybe honey or whatever...and they WILL charge you extra!!

that's it for now...I'll probably update it by the end of my trip....

Let me emphasize... this doesn't make me dislike Shanghai.  I still love coming to the place to visit friends and experience the good food ....and the music scene is very happening. There are still a lot of things that I love about Shanghai and that's why I was living here for a year.  And, it is one of the first places that I like to come for work. So, the above is not meant to discriminate.....I'm sure that this happens everywhere in the world....I just so happen to come across these things all in the week that I've been back.