I need to buy a raincoat; previous students consider it essential with Auckland’s subtropical climate.  I’ve yet to buy a suitcase.  Do I go with my duffle bag, a camping backpack, or invest in a fancy rolling suitcase? And how will I acquire my favorite deodorant? It’s a sensitive topic for both my armpits and me, as an avid devotee to my favorite over-the-counter American brand.  All of this goes to show how incredibly unprepared I feel the month before New Zealand.

On Friday, I attended a lecture at Oxford University. On Saturday, I visited Cambridge University.

My first experience in Nagoya turned out to be Influenza.

My first week in Paris could not have gone any better. I have a fantastic host family, the metro system is incredibly simple, and I am already starting to learn Paris from a local’s point of view. Even though I have participated in around-the-clock activities, I know I have only scratched the surface of what this incredible city has to offer.

After 5 movies, 3 hours of sleep, and airline food that was better than expected, I’m in Shanghai!

I’m in my native country! Even though I am Chinese, everything was really strange and unfamiliar at first. Shanghai is a huge city, and everything is in Chinese of course. I try to understand what signs say, but most of the time I only recognize a few characters. Plus, people on the streets talk in rapid Chinese. It makes me wonder what it is like when Chinese people try to listen to people speaking English. Do we speak fast too?