Friday

Ate: best damn xiao long baos (soup dumplings) I've had so far in Shanghai...and I've sampled a LOT.

Sighted: wanna-be gangsta sporting a spray-paint Princess Di graphic T, thug jeans, and hairstyle reminiscent of early K-pop bands. Also, this morning--a man going for an early morning run in his poly-blend paisley-print boxers.

Met: new Italian friends who were fluent in my native tongue--Chinglish.

Ending the night: a stroll from Xujiahui back to my apartment, perfect breeze, ice-cold honey kumquat tea, musing.