<tap tap> Is this thing on?

At work we're in full swing for summer courses. That means the kids work harder to cram in all their homework in 6 weeks, and we have to work harder to keep up with them. So during that time, I only get 1 day off a week. Yay.

This is what two foreigners outside a police station look like

It's actually not so bad. The week before two of the guys and I decided to pop on over to Shanghai to check it out. What was unknown to us at the time is that I was travelling with one of them "illegals" taking all our jobs. After checking into the hostel, we get a call from the front desk asking for one of our companions. They inform him his visa expired a few days ago.

"Ah well, sorry about that."

"No problem. We've informed the police."

WHAT?! China, what is with your hotels? The last one I stayed at complained that Yllen had entered the country from Hong Kong. Now for this one, they call the cops for a few day old visa? I'm thinking you don't have a department of immigration, and just wait for someone to get a room for the night. BAM! That's when they get ya.

Arrr, matey!

So we go down to the police station to pretty much stand around and look guilty. It turns out the punishment was nothing more than a slap on the wrist and a "You shouldn't have let it expire." Whoah! For real? Yeah, that was my mistake. I thought I wanted it to expire. Xie xie."

Most of the Shanghai stuff is things I've spoken about before. The Bund, some shopping, whatnot. We did manage to stumble on this bar, and it turns out to be the Captain Bar Aaron and Lindsay wanted to go to. Honestly, we weren't even looking for it. What are the odds?

Other highlights: We ate at a place called the Yummy House, which was pretty yummy. Next door was a tea shop authorized by the HanLin Tea Room. Yeah, so you know that place is legit. That night we went to a club where a black dude was trying REALLY hard to reinforce every negative stereotype about him. And well, that's all I'll say about that publicly.



Even the return trip was unfortunately a bit of an ordeal. We missed our train because we were drinking (oops), so we had to catch a later one. Upon getting to Hangzhou, we start looking for a cab back to Xiaoshan. We find one heading our way, but it was 10 RMB a person.

Immediately I am skeptical. I know a taxi from the train station to my door is about 45 RMB. Why is this 10? Because it's a van packed to the brim with Chinese families. So we're going back to Xiaoshan, this time with 14 people and their luggage in a minivan. Why? Because China. What's that you say, random Engrish shirt girl?

I agree, you should sell all your clothes and keep your thoughts. Right now I'm thinking about eating some ice cream. Do you think I should go for "Rub the almond of the card" or the "Turkish fibert"?