Half In Half Out: Shanghai

The first time I tried, I managed to go across the street, waited for a taxi on the cub side, dodged the fan of water spray created by several taxis driving so fast and so close to the curb as if they tried to rescue me from my enemy in a chasing scene. Then finally, a bus managed to catch me, and sprayed dirty rain water all over my clothes. I can see the bus driver sneering and giggling at the sight of me soaking wet.

The second time I came out, I got a bigger umbrella, flipflops on my feet, a set of exchange clothes in the backpack. I was lucky to get a taxi right away, and here I am in the office.

It is bright and comfortable in the office. People smiled and said hi to me when I entered. There are friendly exchange here and there. After I changed into my dry clothes and made myself a cup of hot tea, I feel beaming with gold.

N’s office on Dapu Road near Xujiahui Road was the Shanghai part of A and N’s trading company. The American office is in New York,  on Canal street a couple years ago, now on midtown east.

The office consists of four people. Two Chinese, one American, one British.

N has been worried recently. Their Chinese partner all of sudden don’t trust them and they have slowed down some business. This happened just when things seem to catch up and they could make profit and they are looking to expand. This happened just when they got a new office space and spent bunch of money to renovate.

They used to have four desks. Now they have ten desks, in addition to N’s private office.

N just turned 30, but he has an air about him that makes him 36. He weighs himself down, and his words are listened to with respect.

上周四去了趟北京，有个非正式的面试。 在国贸CBD那里。 晚上去大学同学那儿住的，同学和表姐家住一个小区， 叫清缘里， 在清河桥附近， 北面， 五环和六环中间。 第二天的飞机是下午一点半的， 正好有时间吃顿早饭， 就约了大鼻子的老罗。 老罗住鼓楼大街附近， 但说好在东直门见面， 他说那里他比较熟悉。

从十几岁就去北京， 回国了后因为工作的原因去的次数更多了， 但是从来都是别人带着走的， 小时候是表哥， 大了是同事和出租车司机。北京的路， 我一点都不熟悉。这其实让我很恼火， 有一次， 急了， 我跟一出租司机商量， 我说我二百块钱， 你拉着我熟悉北京的路和景吧。 记得我们是在园明园出发的， 首先去的是北大和清华， 后来去看鸟巢，还没盖好， 再后来我要去看北京的胡同。中间有经过长安街， 也看到一些有创意的办公楼， 但不知道在哪，其中走到北大和清华中间的那条路上， 我是听说过这里有有意思的咖啡屋的， 然而说拆了， 我就在路边的小饭店请司机又吃了顿午饭。

这次去， 我用了公共交通系统。出了机场门，就是机场大巴， 一号线直通国贸， 车站在国贸中心马路对面。一下车， 有片雪花飘到了我的鼻子上， 我突然意识到， 我又在北方了。真想念啊！