Ah, Mondays: everyone's favorite day to loathe. The day where the freedom of the weekend is abruptly replaced by the harsh cold (and very much mosquito infested) reality that is the cubicle. Wait, what's that -- light at the end of the tunnel, perhaps? As I settle in, unpack the laptop, and gather proper Chinese language directions to the physical exam required for my work permit the sky opens up in the form of the front desk receptionist. This time she comes bearing gifts: a plug-in Raid mosquito repellant (oddly absent from the US website), and a Texas style hat with a brim. "It's the large size!" What, are they trying to tell me I have a big head? (I think D would agree.) Since I've arrived at the office I've been the staple diet for the local gang of mosquitos intent on giving me a proper initiation -- not anymore, you bastards. May they rot in the dark underpinnings of the raised cubicle flooring forever. As for the hat, the only use I've found for it thus far is to politely request that the receptionist model it. I know -- it's shameless -- but when she first showed me the hat a week ago (ostensibly a smaller size, since you know, they had to order the larger size for my big head) and plopped it on her head with a giggle I knew everything was going to be alright.
Buckled down with work I decided to eat in today hoping to save a precious hour wandering about in the humidity that is SH. First up: the local IT stash. After a brief survey I discover that the collection was only good for sugar and light snacks. Just when I thought my case of the Mondays had returned I was once again saved by the receptionist -- you can order out and she takes care of everything. She kindly presented me with the menu and began to translate for me. "Noodles?" I asked, as she began to run down the list of still very foreign looking characters. "Fish... Chicken..." "Chicken!" Expecting her to ring me when it arrived, I was startled when she arrived at my cube with a friendly shout of my name and my lunch in hand. The best part was the price: 8RMB. That's $1 for a full meal ordered and delivered to my cube in 20 minutes, including a mini-mango for dessert. Mondays aren't so bad, after all.
