I must have come out of the wrong exit and walked in the wrong direction. I saw a foreign guy in Costa coffee so I went to ask if he had a map. I think also because I was just so frustrated and needed a conversation. He was kind enough to check online on his laptop and drew me a map too. He also handed me an English copy of Time Out Shanghai which has been really useful - I need to find where these are so I can pick them up for myself. He also told me I was really brave to be out here on my own - I sometimes wonder if I am so brave or if it was stupid.... there have been times it has been so trying. To think I've only been out here for a week and I'm mentally exhausted from trying to communicate....
I walked along East Nanjing Road, recognising many places I'd been before. It was a little strange that I got to the same store when it started to rain, exactly what happened to me last year..... I found a side street with some stationary shops so I went into this small shop. The lady there also had a cat in the shop it was rather cute sitting about my feet and jumping up on the counters and such. The lady was also very nice and polite, running the cost of each item to me. All in all it came to about 80RMB.
When I left I found more stationary shops although these were much bigger and more expensive. It seems quite difficult to find a whole box of pens and I'm having to buy them one by one. The rain got more heavy and as I waited to cross the road this woman crossed and got hit by a man on a scooter and they both were on the floor. It was quite scary to see but luckily neither of them were seriously hurt. I know people look at me odd sometimes that I wait until the green man light appears before I cross but I'd rather spend more time waiting than nearly getting run over. I'm also so tired of near misses by cars that insist on going even on a red light and people are crossing the road!
I found a noodle place and was quite proud it was my first time in an actual restaurant since arriving in Shanghai. Some places like this have buttons at the table you can push for services which makes is helpful instead of waving your hands around (although some people still did this). I had some won ton noodles, beef satays and a coke came to about 80RMB.
I left and started heading towards what I hoped was People's Square but I came across this cute store called Keyroad. Inside was very cute cartoon things, from school bags, to hair accessories, to stationary, photo frames, mugs, soft toys etc. It was so busy in there but I bought a few things for my room and left. Next door was a toy store with lots of models, soft toys, keyrings and rows and rows of gatcha machines.
As I left I by chance got a taxi (its hard to catch one in the rain). I used the advice the guy in the coffee shop gave me and gave the taxi driver the cross road my road was at and he seemed to find it without too much of a problem (I still had to give directions once).
So finally made it back, have packed my bag and all ready for my first class tomorrow. It is exciting but I'm also nervous.....
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