Jet Lag is Real

“To have another language is to possess a second soul”- Emperor Charlemagne

Course one at a rotating sushi bar

I never thought jet lag would weigh me down. I consider myself to be a semi-insomniac, usually going to bed very late and functioning with minimal sleep. I boasted and bragged to my friends telling them that I wasn't worried about the time difference, and that would be the least of my concerns. I was very, very wrong. Shanghai is 13 hours ahead of New York. This means that my days and nights are completely reversed and my inner clock is feeling it in a hard way. My roommate Ann, who has been here for two weeks already, warned me that her third day was the worst. I am on my fourth right now and I struggled to stay awake the entire day. My eyelids were droopy and heavy while I felt a little light headed and strange all day. The most abnormal part is that when it strikes night time, I can never sleep. I get a random kick of energy, tossing and turning in my bed until I give up all together. I have faith that I will eventually catch up, and be able to function normally as a Chinese student.





China has shocked me in many ways. Far less people speak English than I thought. The only people that really speak are some of the students, but it is their second language that they are studying so none of them are eager or excited to use it. That doesn't bother me too much though, because I aim to improve my Chinese as much as possible and the immersion has already accelerated my skill. The pollution is noticeable when looking at the sky, but I never really feel a difference in the air I am breathing. Sometimes there are bad smells in the busy parts of the city, but they are much like NYC or DC or any other big US city I have visited. When looking out at the buildings and the skyline everything is foggy, and I heard that some days it is hard to see beyond your own hand. The sky is hazy grey most of the day and at night it looks like a mix of pink, orange and brown--never black. It often makes me sad to think of what China has done to the air, and I wonder if it is ever going to be reversible.

Garden on campus

Although I have struggled to adapt to some aspects of China, I am amazed by its beauty and charm. The Chinese culture is unlike anything I have ever imagined and the people are some of the friendliest I have encountered in my life. Everyone is willing to help me, usually with a smile on their face. Granted, many times they are smiling because they are laughing at me and my foreign ways...but I find it endearing. The Chinese seem to have a certain appreciation for art, talent, and beauty that is missing in the US. I often feel positively overwhelmed by the ornate gardens, intricate art work, and stunning architecture. It is safe to say that after four days in this new world I am already falling in love with China and its people.

Cheers!! (Beers are 1 USD)