Spirit of Texas Week

If it weren't for Hilary Clinton helping us getting some corporate funding then none of us would be able to come here to participate at the Expo. This time I have to actually thank the State of Texas for being one of our sponsors. So in the spirit of giving thanks, we had a dedicated week to all things Texan. From dressing up as NASA astronaut jumpsuits to enjoying the delightful homey melody of a swing fiddle, we are entertaining everyone who comes to the USA pavilion

Give it up for the Ford Marshall Swing Band from Austin Texas!!!!


After weeks of working the routine: working day and day out, showering, peeling off my sweaty USAP uniform off my skin, sleeping, refusing to wake up after the fourth snooze button I HAVE FINALLY found the energy to leave the prison gates of expo village and enjoyed a night of relaxtion out on the town.
Not only finding the energy to escape but I have crawled out of the lazy hole/rut I have been in lately. No matter what shift I am in AM/PM I lost the stamina to even think about leaving the comfort of my bed, but ENOUGH with the excuses! THe weather is no longer morbid, or torturous to the senses, I can enjoy Shanghai again!!! (without sweating!)

I'm trying to be more proactive/social with my activities; community service, hanging out with my friends, a little spontaneity rather than be on repeat with the work routine. I've had enough!

Tonight I was invited to dinner by Lavinia where we met her very excited and hospitable Auntie figure at the Shanghai Heavenly Restaurant in Xujiahui. It always felt like a journey to get into the city, but it's an illusion that heat brainwashed me into. Afterwards I boarded the subway to the Wooden Box cafe (dear subway: our relationship was broken off for weeks. i"m so sorry Shanghai metro. )The cool breeze rushes past me as the subway speeds towards the next destination and I love the feeling every time.

It feels so mellow to have a glass of red wine and let my ears sail away to the sooth melody of the country swing band playing. The fiddle slowly rocks me into a peaceful state.
This high was the best remedy to ure all the crazy work hours, dealing with tempers and attitude, elitism and prejudice

Thank you Ford Marshall Swing band for great great music
Thank you dear sweet America for all the great music you have produced!

Maintaining my energy (sanity)

The weather in Shanghai has finally decided to take a step down from a raging fever of 104 F (40C) to a calmng 25-30 degrees Celsisus aka 80-88 ish deegress. There are the Indian summer days that come out of nowhere then I turn into a pile of mush. It's not fun.

In order to maintain some amount of sanity as I work and herd in thousands upon thousands of workers...it's good to have the following

1) A good sense of humor and laughing a lot
2) Staying hydrated during these hot summer months (and yes it's been very very hot. If I forget/get lazy and not take a shower when I come home from work I feel like a sticky piece of candy lying in my bed. Not the best feeling in the world
3) Not eating junk food. And yet it is so easy to eat crap upon crap at the expo. I am surrounded by fast food chains (KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger king, junk food at the Family Mart)
4) Playing down people's dumb antics and sensitive questions with rhetorical questions. "Are you Chinese are American?"
Response: "This is the USA pavilion isn't it?"
5) oatmeal w/honey and peaches for breakfast
6) Having a daily workout/sweating like a madman as you dance and entertain people at turnstiles just so they can put up with the 10 minute wait. Whenever the turnstiles lock up when the count hits 500 people, many tend to freak out because 1) their loved ones are already in the overture 2) separation creates panic. I noticed if you remind them "hey it's only 7-10 minutes" then they calm down. Sometimes that's not the case and people duck under and flee into the pavilion. That's my/security's cue to escort them back. this escalates at times when people get very upset, start shouting at me or any other USAP student Ambassador.
"BUT MY KID IS IN THERE< MY MOM IS IN THERE< WHY WON'T YOU LET ME IN???!!!"
7) Daily stretching.
8) Blasting some good music at turnstiles, such as MGMT, Shakira, anything to pump you up. But I will never fist pump in the air.

I've never been nearly knocked down by volume until I came to China. Never would I have thought someone's screaming volume could make me take several steps back.