the house is beginning to feel homey.

we're finally starting to settle a little. not much but a little. each day that passes we pick something up from the street or TrustMart (the Chinese Walmart - which is Super packed sardines style ALL THE TIME) to furnish the house. a couple rugs here, a pillow or two there, a shoe rack, etc.

i've recently begun purchasing pirated DVD's on the market. the quality of some are pretty bad, unwatchable, but the low risk, high reward of it is just too good. you can get a copy of the newest movies out for 5 rmb...thats around 75 cents. to ridiculously cheap.

Mai Kao wrote about the anxieties of eating out. she's right. however, when you get it right....boy is it good. lastnight we had my favorite food so far in Shanghai. they are kind of like potstickers, but not wontonish...more like fried kalapaus. its got four elements to it that make it super delicious. first, the top is nice soft and bready. second, the bottom of the dumpling is pan fried til its browned and its crunchy. Thirdly, when you bite into it, you get a pleasant surprise of a little quas (broth) that tastes off the hook. and lastly, the pork inside the dumpling is amazing. four elements combined to make one culinary beauty.

We also went to eat at a HOT POT place. its kind of like chinese fond due. pretty good stuff man. the first few days the food we ate here was pretty average, but lately, wows mans.

josh out.