Shanghai is pretty much… indescribable, and certainly not what I expected. A few words come to mind: psychedelic, yummy, boisterous, practical and smelly. A few things that seemed odd at first, now I hardly notice:

• The sky scrapers and bridges are lit up at night with brightly flashing, ever changing patterns.
• Horns have a language of their own: tiny toot means pay attention, two short toots means keep moving, one long blast means my vehicle is bigger than yours, and so on.
• Motorcycles drive anywhere they like, including the sidewalks and outdoor markets. The other day, a guy was shopping among the tiny stalls of a market, bought several items and never got off his bike.
• Often, the sidewalks are impassable due to the number of parked bikes, so everyone walks in the street.
• There is no adhesive on the envelopes.
• There is no need to queue up in line, just crowd your way in and keep your elbows out, talking loudly.
• Split pants for babies are very convenient, just hold out the child and let him go on the sidewalk, no need to change diapers.
• Store clerks tend to crowd right in between me and the shelf two feet in front of me, needing to restock, refold or clean at that moment. They make sure I know that I am in their way.
• We hear firecrackers on Saturday mornings from the temple.
• Large fur lined gloves are taped on to the bike handles with duct tape. Stick in hands and rev it up. Very practical.
• There are rarely women’s shoes in the stores larger than about size 7. The clerks giggle and gasp when I ask for my size.
• There are street sweepers who seem to be responsible for a particular block. When their broom wears out, they pull some branches off a tree and bind up a new broom with string.
• You can’t imagine how many things can be transported on bicycles and tricycle trailers. Just name it.
• Many neighborhood restaurants have a large wok burner or 3 ft bun steamer right out on the sidewalk in front of their dining room.
• “Hey lady lady, want buy watch?” is the common greeting in the markets.
• Chinglish signs are hilarious, such as on an elevator: “Not use lift if catches on fire”.