22 Nov. 2011: SHANG-HIGH STOREY

The temperature is high (in the mid 20's C), the air quality is high (we can actually see the sun!), and they've put us on the highest floor (7). The university used to own and run this building as a hotel, but most of it has been sold to a bank. The hotel part that's left is weary, faded, and just plain old. Note the banana plant under the bank's neon corrner ---- there's the whole range from pines to palms nearby. Our room is about 360 sq. ft., with no kitchen. All our cooking is with a water kettle and mini-fridge. Note the newest item in the room --- the heavy TV from the 1990's. Still, the mattress is good and the view is to the south so we get lots of light.

There's a newsstand across 10 lanes of anything-goes traffic where I can get China Daily in English. There's a fruit stand at the corner, but the bananas are expensive ----  maybe because they grow at the bank? We've settled in for the 2 weeks and we eat warily at the many "canteens" on campus, but tonight is the compulsory Welcome Banquet. Maybe I should just pretend I'm at my Grandma's Kitchen??