It sucks that there are so many restrictions on the net in China. Almost every free webpage service is blocked. Somehow Blogspot and Netscape.com's webpage servers have gotten through (maybe cause AOL Time Warner has been pressing hard to invest in China).But I'd like to use a service with FTP access. Then it would be easier to do more cool things with the site. (For example, I wanted to install Blog Amp. Instead I have to manually tell you that I've got Talib Kweli, Mos Def, and Park Ji Yoon on repeat.)

I feel less isolated today. Was on IM with my bro, Vic, and Nelson today. I also spoke on the phone with my mother's friend, who is helping me look for an apartment here in Shanghai. I saw Joe, a friend of my cousin Tracy's husband, Jeff. Joe is an awesome guy. Really friendly. Him and his wife, Harriet, are the epitome of the new Shanghainese yuppie. They are very...modern. I hate to say "Westernized" cuz that's so overused, and I also don't feel that that's what they are. They are firmly Chinese, but have a very cosmopolitan attitude about them. They're not really that into tradition for tradition's sake. They're in their 30s and don't plan to have kids. For them, they have what they want. Steady careers, a car, a nice apartment, they get lots of exercise, and they have access to most things that they like. They seem genuinely happy. Good for them.

Tonight I'm also having dinner with a bunch of Fudan kids. My classmate from last term, Yoshiuke, is celebrating his 25th. Man, did he change in just a few months. He used to have hella curly hair that looked like Junichiro Koizumi's (the Prime Minister of Japan). But he got his hair cut back in Nagano last month. Now he looks a lot like Ichiro except with way more facial hair.

I understand the desire to deal with barbers in your home turf. My first-ever haircut in Shanghai resulted in me unknowingly agreeing to a cheap perm. I took no photos of myself during that period...it is too painful to recall...