Human Trafficking or Matchmaking?
19.08.2009
While strolling through Peoples Park on a mild Sunday afternoon we encountered a large crowd gathering – not your typical English corner kids or gambling drunks – but masses of people reading various flyers posted in the square. They were in chinese but clearly describing a person (height, weight, age). At first we thought they were people looking for lost people but quickly caught on to game. They were personal ads about single people – some young, some old, with and without pictures. They were clustered into groups (they even had a section for foreigners) and if you were interested in an ad, you met with the boss (matchmaker?) and she had more info, pictures, etc. (as this photo shows). Not entirely insane but on of those things we had never seen before – but with 1.4b people, it’s gotta be a good business.
Magazines and Tea
16.08.2009
We finally found a place in shanghai to kick our feet up, drink some tea and peruse some magazines. It’s underground in a subway station – a little damp and the tea tastes “odd” – and the magazines are mostly in Chinese – but it’s a start!
Work Cleansiness
15.08.2009
In china, being clean and presentable is a big priority … So much that this “office” installed a shower hose right on site so their staff could clean up before and after their long day.
On the Bund
15.08.2009
Coffee at New Heights at 3 on the Bund with the typhoon coming. Typical and touristy but a must for new Shanghai’ers I think.
