things we did since we arrived, last sunday:

* took a ride on the fastest train in the country

* opened a bank account (on a sunday afternoon)

* learned the basic traditions regarding a chinese wedding (including matching dolls and a red egg in the bed, special sweets, three sets of dresses, dragons and phoenixes, etc… )

* ate a traditional chinese “banquet” cooked by a friend’s father in law and then another one by her own parents

* been on the subway close to the rush hour (but haven’t had the courage to try the real rush hour yet)

* only used chopsticks and spoons to eat, so far

* visited several houses looking for a place to live

* got chinese mobile numbers and transportation cards

* were driven on crazy taxis through the city

* sort-of learned how to cross a street (still not very clear though)

* i did two interviews and got a job offer

* plus i went through the wonderful experience of peeing in a typically asian restroom (not something i would like to repeat).

the first taxi ride was specially painful. we were extremely tired and jetlagged and no one warned us the traffic rules around here worked based on the car’s horn. they drive like crazy, switching lanes quickly, honking, as if saying “step away, here i come!!”. can you imagine me in the back seat, scared to death, grasping paulo’s hand, just wishing i could get out? (i suspect ever since, lulu has been asking taxi drivers to drive a bit better or i might start to cry.)
oddly, i haven’t seen a single accident since i’m here. i’m starting to think there’s some sort of magnetic repulsion between cars. that’s the only logical explanation i can come up with.

it’s been a daily surprise, and it’s only just started.