2005-08-31 - 6:50 p.m.

Hello friends, family and strangers!!! I am back in Shanghai…woo. Woo hoo. It’s just as hot and sticky as I left it. And the culture shock doesn’t seem to ever go away. My brain just cannot accept some things as everyday occurrences(i.e. those flying snot rockets launched by bicyclists in rush hour traffic aimed unintentionally at my face that I told y’all about) But just like tomatoes, ( I used to hate them too) Shanghai and I have found our little groove. I go to work, to eat, to dance, and then I come home, yell obscenities at the Dozers-the construction workers that is- watch bootleg DVDs or read a book, go to sleep, and then start it all over again. Except I usually start my morning with the yelling obscenities at construction workers part because THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON THE APARTMENT NEXT TO OURS! It’s been 11 months!!! I am beginning to think that they really are building the entire Fraggle Rock set!!! I am so used to the fact that the guys next door and I can’t communicate that I have taken to yelling at inanimate objects. “WHAT’S THAT, TEAPOT? ARE YOU BOILING? SORRY, I DIDN’T HEAR YOU OVER ALL THE DRILLING NEXT DOOR!” Besides, I feel bad for yelling at people for doing their jobs. And teapots don’t have feelings-unless you’re 4 and love Beauty and the Beast.
I started my part-time job as assistant librarian at the Chinese school. My first task is to organize the books into some sort of manner that at least resembles a school library. Here is what it looks like right now.

Let’s keep in mind that I ain’t no librarian. Ha. Most of the kids and teachers didn’t even know that we have a library. Some of these books have been sitting here since the 70’s. Maybe even before that. Here are some of the items I found on the shelves. Oh yeah. I want to read all about John Travolta’s “new role” in Stayin Alive. [funny thing about this- at just about the same time I was taking this picture, Mike Pelino was meeting Mr. Travolta in Florida- trippy, rght?] Let’s not forget the article on Linda Rondstadt’s climb to the top of the charts…and you know all these Chinese kids are just dyin to get their hands on this stuff. They keep calling me “the” librarian and assuming that I know EVERYTHING about libraries. I never promised them an award-winning library. Here, look again. Just because someone gets a title doesn’t mean they automatically become all-knowing on the subject at hand. Don’t we wish that were the case? We might actually have a semi-competent President if it were true. You know the saying…wish in one hand……Notice the Chinese side of the library.

It’s so pretty and organized. Wait, I take that back .I can’t read Chinese. I bet it’s not organized, it just looks real good. Presentation is the key in China. Everything’s gotta at least look good. I have to go now. I will let you know about any other library developments because you know you’ve got nothing better to do than to READ ABOUT A CHINESE SCHOOL’S DISHEVELED LIBRARY????? Go pay some bills already……

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