I think it's Wednesday. The time zone change combined with the heavy physical and mental labor of the last several days caught up to me yesterday in a big way. I've been finding

that I wake up every night at almost exactly 3 am (2:59 am today). I've been able to get back to sleep every night (slept unaided by Ambien last night), but the hour or so it

takes me to get back to dreamland has certainly taken some toll on my ability to recharge overnight. In the same vein,...

Shanghai Office (Day 5)

I'm plagued by connectivity issues here. My mobile doesn't work at all. The hotel has Wi Fi, but only in the lobby. I didn't have a power adapter when I got here, picked one up here at the office Saturday, but lost the transformer part of my power cable, and my battery keeps running down. I borrowed my boss' power adapter, but he of course needs it too so sharing it didn't really work out. All of this has contributed in a great way to my sense of disconnection...

Today was a scheduled day off from work, and we went to the Shanghai Expo. I was completely and utterly amazed at the size and scope of the Expo. Have a look here: http://en.expo2010.cn/

It is estimated that about 500,000 people visit the expo per day. 500,000. It was funny, too, because we didn't get there till about 11, and the road leading down to the Expo gate was closed and desolate - you'de never know anything was going on. We actually ended up turning around to find someone...

It's funny what becomes really important to you when you're away from home. My passport has been in the top drawer in my dresser for the last 4 years, tucked away in a cigar box along with a few 'valuables' like my daughters Tooth Fairy contributions and my graduation tassel. But suddenly, in Shanghai, my passport is my most valuable possession - moreso than my wallet, my clothes, my laptop. I won't set foot outside the hotel without it. Can't. At home I go months at a time without even thinking...

It's more or less the end of Day 1 for me, but keeping time relative to my home lends itself well to the feeling of dislocation here.

There's a lot I could talk about, but I'm going to focus on two things because I'm really tired and going to bed soon.

First off, it's really weird being a minority. It makes me feel vulnerable, and that makes me a little defensive. I'm keeping a lid on it, but it's there simmering just beneath the surface. I stand out like a sore thumb...