I think I like it here!

I am so excited! We got such a fabulous apartment in the French Concession! It is on a beautiful, tree lined street, right at the top of a very hip street, with lots of cool hang outs, nice resturants, shopping....The house is one floor up from the street and it is in "The most famous apartments in Shanghai" with a beautiful green art-deco frontage. It was built in the 1920's and the landlord has maintained the elegance and beauty! This was the 2nd place we looked at and we were almost immediately sold! It has all wood floors, the main rooms have wood paneling up to waist high, and the ceiling has a simple, but nice molding alond the edges. You walk in to a big foyer (I'm laughing because it's bigger than my old bedroom!) and to the right there is the living room, which is long and 2 of the walls are just windows. Then there is a large bedroom that I'm designing, and yes, we have a large futon available for guests. I suspect we'll put the desk in there too (It came nicely furnished). The froom the front day if you walk forward a little to the right you come into the biggest bedroom I've ever seen in my life! (I'm laughing again because you could fit my whole NYC apartment inside the bedroom!) I have no idea what we'll do with all that space in there! You couldn't even put a tv across from the bed on the other wall because you wouldn't be able to see it! The long wall is all windows and we have a big balcony that overlooks the street. There is a bathroom attached to the bedroom, with a tub and everything (a rare thing here)....And the storage space is unbelievable! 2 large closets in the foyer, and the bedroom has a huge built in wardrobe! So then right of the front door is the spacious kitchen, with a water tank, microwave, fridge/freezer. It's funny, the counters are all a little low for us (not built for us)! Off of that is the dinning area. Then to the right of the kitchen, there is a washer and dryer and the wall there is all windows and there is another bathroom that has the sink inside the shower! It is a gated complex, and it is very cheap for all that it has. A real bargain too because we looked at some other places that cost the same and they weren't nearly as good! So YEA!!! We move into tomorrow!
So then the question came up....how do we get the first, last and desposit money here when all the money is in the USA!? What a nightmare that turned out to be! Well, in the end I got citibank to raise my maximum withdrawl (NY banks closed on the weekend and starting Monday, all of China takes a week off!) It was a little stressful, but I'm real proud of myself for coming up with a solution! So after I got that settled yesterday we went to celebrate with a real brunch! Eggs benedict never tasted so good! So last night we met up with Todd and Nathan at this club. They had some good djs spinning hiphop (Apparently one of the only official hiphop parties in the city). Then, 2 Chinese guys and one Japanese guy all got up and rapped! It was unbelievable! I think they were really good too! It was so strange and briliant at the same time! I bought one of the guys cds and will put one on my myspace page. It was a really great vibe there too, and we danced and had a blast! Then we went to Logo, which is my new favorite spot! We found it on Friday when it was reggae night, and last night was just as cool. Very laid back and private feeling, with great music, and cool people. Yesterday was the best day I've had since I got here! Made some new friends and am feeling very confident about things.
New Address:
Room3, No.1, Lane 1360,
Fuxing Zhong Lu
Shanghai, China 200031

House Phone nUmber:
021-6437-0555

Our Cell number (I'll get mine worked out soon, but this one works for both Norm and I):
137-6118-5830

Hi guys!

So I know it has been awhile since I wrote last and the truth is....I'm a little speechless! Believe it or not, I will do my best to describe this incredible and strange experience I am having. Well, first of all, I have no idea where I left off! It has been confirmed that the internet here lives under fierce supervision inwhich blogs are not allowed to be viewed and websites like Wikepedia are just plain blocked. Therefore, I can't read my own blog! So excuse me if I repeat myself a bit. When we first arrived there was a typhoon! They expected it to be a lot worst, but really it just blew over. It rained very hard and the streets were all flooded. I just stayed inside for the most part. Not the best intro to this city. So funny though, we left NYC in a horrific, scary torrential downpour, when we got to London we experienced that same diabolical storm, so it just seemed fitting we should have this here! So on Friday of last week we met up with 2 really cool, sweet Aussie hispsters who've been here 5 and 4 years, through a friend through a friend through a friend. We went to some of the trendiest Shanghai clubs and it was great to get out and see the whole scene. At the first place, a new place called Collection, I was almost overwhelmed with all the good looking 20's 30's expat crowd! Then we went to what we labeled "The Plumm" of Shanghai. Standing outside some guy said Virginia and I said, "I'm from Virginia!" Turns out he went to Fairfax high school, asked me if I knew some people from Chantilly, etc! What a small world! Talking to Todd and Nathan (our Aussie friends) was really interesting and I am learning a lot about the Chinese culture. A big thing they were quick to point out is the other thing besides money that is important to the culture is 'showing face." We went to the Glamour bar after that, and the night was truly a refreshing relief! Made me feel like I could get used to this place and was so happy to meet such cool people. I've gone back and forth a lot this week from saying, "I love it here," to "I hate it here!" The hate part is mostly just coming out because I realize how important my friends are to me and how lucky I am to have so many, and I just miss being able to be as social as I want whenever I please. Things are very cheap here for the most part, but there is a bunch of stuff you can't get here, like brown rice, books, Ice, decaf coffee etc. My brow has been in a constant inward twitch! Lat night we went for dinner and stepped out on the street behind our hotel. Lots of street resturants with big pans cooking over coal. We try to go to places that have pictures of the food and you just hope the one you point to isn't duck necks or duck tongue or pigs knucles, or cow tail....Walking that back street was very interesting. A lot of people hanging around, drinking outside of homes left open. Lots of people on bikes, the smell of sewerage from outhouses, the many massage parlors with girls sitting in the windows. So many funny names for things that obviously don't translate well to English, like "Sincere Sewerage," and a resturant advervising "Benevolence" Hipster girls wearing shirts that say stuff like, "Rear Your Fair." I wonder what that means to them....I wonder what that means to me?! I almost bought a shirt that said "NEW YORK 5 COOL-COOL SHIRT" In fact, I might go back and buy it! So They found my lost suitcase! YEa!!!! I don't know if I said this before but Citibank (ie Shitibank) for no apparent reason decided to issue me a new banking card even though mine didn't expire for 3 months. They sent it to I'm guessing, my parents house in VA and DEACTIVATED my card!!! And I'm in China, and ALL my money is linked to that card....So I called and was VERY Disgruntled...that was a week ago. Yesterday I picked up my new banking card. What a nightmare! Looking for a house or apartment this week. There are incredible 2 bedroom, 2 bath houses with gardens, fireplaces etc for about $800 US dollars a month! As far as our business goes the ball is finally in motion. Bob's surgery went well and he is expected to be here next week sometime. We have a lot of interest in the project and the proposal looks exquisite! Once we are settled into a place we will most likely go backpacking for awhile around West China. Must go and do some of that work now! Signing off, Amelia

So...

It is still very weird because I am not allowed to view my blog! I hope that last one posted (someone comment back to me). So weird.

Wow!

So it has taken me days to get into my blog! I was sure, because the server would not recognize it etc, that this was censorship at it's best! But, I've been proven wrong! Flew into Shanghai 2 days ago. Our business connect who was supposed to have met us in Hong Kong weeks ago, but had valid reasons for delaying it, Still isn't here, and it is getting quite lonely! Don't get me wrong, Norman and I have been working on the proposal and keeping each other happy and engaged, but not being able to communicate with virtually everyone is frustrating and isolating. I've had a few Lost in Translation days. The hotel we are staying at here in Shanghai is very nice, the size and structure of a very nice NYC apartment! So we got picked up by our connects friend's friend's who hardly spoke English, but were very nice and welcoming to us. The first night we checked into the hotel and then were taken out to the most famous restaurant in Shanghai. When you go out to dinner in China, whoever invited you orders all the food for the table and treats you as well. We had about 15 courses (no joke) including crab, fish, dumplings, noodles, sugar dumpling, soup, baby shrimp, and a tofu dish that smelled like a waste sewer (I'm not exaggerating!)....and I couldn't say much about the decor, but it was a pleasant experience. The next day we had a business meeting at an ungodly hour, came back and the typhoon weather started to come in. Norm went out to be the hunter and gatherer (in the pouring rain) and I opted for a massage (costing under $20 US dollars for an hour) then the typhoon came in! It wasn't nearly as bad as they expected, but the roads flooded etc. Today we found the grocery store and are about to have our first home cooked meal in China! Now that I figured this blog thing out I will keep updating it more often! Oh yeah, my 64 pound suitcase I sent back to my parents house from London with all my favorite clothes, scrapbook, books etc? Lost. Yup. Lost....huh...this hasn't been an easy last few days! Looking forward to some sunshine and some friends....missing you all! Love, Amelia

Gambling

So last night we went up around sunset to The Peak, one of the highest views in Hong Kong to see the city at night! I had brought sandwiches imagining a romantic picnic type thing....well, we took this old tram up the hill at a Steep degree! Once we were there though it became obvious it was just a giant shopping mall that you go to the top of and look out! There was no hint of trying to make it an educational/informative experience, another example of how the past has been completely erased here. It was beautiful though and I put the pictures up, along with a link to the video I took from the peak. After our "picnic" (sitting in Pacific coffee!) we decided to venture out. We walked all the way up to the real top of the hill, past all the expensive homes that must have the greatest views! We were literally standing on top of the world! Today I did some local navigating and then came up to our hotel and looked out to see there was a race on the track outside! Just got back! I bet on a horse that came in 3rd! That's not good enough to win though! Luckily it was only $20 ( about $3 US dollars...if I won I would've got $100) There was a huge crowd of white people there all drinking and betting....The Chinee were all seated and taking it all very seriously! About to watch the next race from the hotel room on the 25th floor! The TV is on so we can hear what's happening and watch at the same time. Very Fun!

Addresses to...

...my youtube video posts (I have 2).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44aNn5vCBgI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdEnQ1jPwfk
Hope it works for yoU!

adding to my China Playlist....

6. Asian Girls - The Telephones (how could I forget that!)
7. Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
8. China Pig- the White Stripes
9. Chop Suey- System of the Down
10.Everybody Wants to Rule the World-Tears for Fears
11.Shiny Happy People-R.E.M.

Okay, I'm beginning to stretch it! Keep the suggestions coming though!

The World keeps getting smaller...

I put up some new pics just now on www.flickr.com/photos/ameliakallman. We switched hotels over to the island of Hong KOng and have the penthouse with a beautiful view! We went over to my friend Pemberton's sister's apartment for dinner the other night and had a lovely time! Her husband is also from FAIRFAX VA (Where I'M from)!!!! How amazing is that? They have two adorable kids too! The oldest one is 3 and goes to a Chinese school where he speaks Chinese fluently and you can tell he is very bright. We had a nice meal and then went to a famous dessert place where they serve hot or cold sweet soup that has gooy filled dumplings! It was definitely like nothing I've ever had before! I had a black seasame soup. They are both very well traveled and we had a great time hanging out. Then Norman and I went to Lan Kwia Fam, the club/pub area were we witnessed groups of young drunk Europeans watching Rugby! We opted for some good people watching while sitting in a sandwich shop. It was surprising how it could've been anywhere.

The weather here is semi-tropical. Today it is about 90 degrees, but the humidity is down and there is a nice breeze. We are staying in the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Happy Valley, right next to the Hong Kong Jockey club. It definitely feels a lot more real here than it did in Louis Vutton-land. Last night I went to hear a guy who we met in the hotel do a lecure for the English Speaking Union. Then we had a nice dinner, had to argue over the bill after they decieved us telling them, "We're from New York. We're bad people. Take care of this, ok?" Haha...they did of course....
Tonight we are taking the tram up to the peak, they highest point in Hong Kong to watch the sunset and have a picnic. Tomorrow we hope to check out New Territories (old-style China). It is so safe here, people are very friendly and subservient. This morning at breakfast one of the waiters was standing between me and my table and another waiter shoved him out of my way apoligizing profusely! It was kind of funny, but a good example of what I mean. It's very nice and civilized here. VERY clean, no liter anywhere. Also, they have under passes to cross the street and we walked through a long one where homeless people had their areas set up and it was so impressive how clean and tidy each area was. You could see that even though they were there, they still had some pride and dignity. We figured they all must have been at the race track (gambling is huge here).
Business is working itself out. We now have so much interest I have a feeling when we get to Shanghai we will be very well received and entertained. Finally getting the whole sleeping thing down (it has been a real struggle). Went to Times Square yesterday (we are right outside of it) and found an English bookstore that made me a little home sick....I won't take that kind of thing for granted again. Anyways, having a lovely time. Looking forward to Shanghai and getting into some kind of a routine or pattern. Norman has been fabulous and we have been keeping each other laughing constantly! Just took more pictures I'll upload. (Saw a huge iguana just chillin on a grave stone! We looked at each other for an uncomfortable amount of time!) Miss my friends and family! Love to you! xx

Umm....

Okay, I just loaded the 6 photos I managed to take yesterday. I realize I must do better than this. Excuse my culture shock, I will try to take better pictures in the future. Also, I just noticed, the steering wheels of cars are on the right side like in England, but the traffice pattern is the same as in the states! So weird!

I'm a liar

So any claims I made that I wasn't jet-lagged was a complete lie! I didn't get to sleep until about 5:30 am and woke up begrudgedly at 2pm today! Last night we went to a night flea market. Everything was so cheap I went into shock and hardly bought anything! (A problem I must resolve immediately!) Ate a lot of Chinese food yesterday! (It's not the same in the states). It is so bright here, though it appears foggy (must be the pollution). We took the ferry across to Hong Kong (we are actually in Kaloon right across the harbor). It was amazing what we walked into...Gucci and Versace-land....not what I expected! And it went on and on.... finally we found the real Hong Kong, where we were the only tourists walking through streets and streets of markets. Did you know severed fish heads stay alive for five minutes after they are cut?! gross. :) Amazing faces, strange smells, rich and poor right next to each other. A lot of old Hong Kong has just been completely replaced with the new. I got 2 t-shirts w- American Eagle labels for $50 which equals $7 US dollars. Everything is really cheap, though Hong Kong is the most expensive Chinese city, so I'm holding out till Shanghai. I will try to post some pics I took yesterday on my flickr site. My computer is about out of batteries so I need to go...one last thing...Oh, 2! I'm in a starbucks right now (never thought I'd be so happy to be in one!) and the have the ID magazine here! Also, I saw communist party police yesterday and boy do they look scary! They have regular police too, but these guys carry machine guns as tall as me! Also, there is a lot of 'designer' style here but no real punk/alternative style, no rebelious teenagers, lots of suits and ties. Surprising after US and London, seeing so many 'yabos.' London's having a real problem with their undisciplined teenage population right now, with 11 year olds getting shot by other 11 year olds. That kind of stuff doesn't appear to happen here! Anyways, more later.....xx

Hong Kong!

Oh mY Gosh! I am So excited! That seems to be my latest catch phrase! Hong Kong is so cool! It looks like TImes Square on crack! It is an expensive city. We are staying in the Marco Polo Hong KOng Hotel right between Louis Vutton and Chanel! Also a great big billboard of Calvin Klein Model Jamie Burke (Who was a fan of mine in NY) is right across the street (gag). It feels very safe here. Smells a little funny. We just got some groceries and they gave us 14 little stamp/action figure guys with names like "Memory Bread" and "Hard Tone of Voice!" Had a good laugh over those! I am going to meet up with my friend Pemberton's sister who lives here! I'm So excited! haha....I sent out a bunch of postcards before I left London and will keep them up! In this day in age with emails and stuff I think a postcard is a really nice thing! xxx

Leaving for China Tomorrow!

I want to send you a postcard! I fly to China tomorrow evening so I need it asap! (I'll send you one from China too if you're lucky!)
I'm packing right now, I can only have a total 59 lbs of luggage and at my "final" packing I still have 80 lbs worth of stuff! Every extra pound cost about $80! Ahh! Things I miss: warm nights, that buzzing feeling you get in September in NY, being part of a community.... Things I don't miss: Subways in the summer, The smell of trash in the summer, and having a cellphone.
Top Five "Going to China" SOngs:
1. Chinese Rock- The Ramones
2. China- Tori Amos
3. China Girl- David Bowie
4. China Pig- The White Stripes
5. Hong Kong Garden- Siouxe and the Banshees