So today was the internship fair and a whole bunch of local and international companies had booths up. It was pretty well done and also nice that so many companies came just to recruit us NYU students for just a semester. Last night they e-mailed us a list of the companies that would be recruiting and I highlighted all the ones that I wanted to talk to and believe it or not I was able to talk to all of them. (I steered clear of the one and only finance related internship. that booth was SWAMPED) Usually events like this at Stern are usually finance focused but this time it was mostly marketing and media related internships. YAY! Now to the good news...
I got a job/internship! Or at least I think I did. It is with a Chinese film company in Shanghai called "She & Jul Films." The executive producer/director graduated from NYU Tisch. I talked to them for a while and they are looking for someone who has a business "background" and is also creative. I would be helping them secure rights for screenplays, financing new projects, product placement planning, and preparing presentations for clients. They asked me to meet with them sometime next week. I'm not sure if that means if I'm actually hired or not... :( They should be more definite. A nice big ol' "HIRED" stamp wouldn't hurt anyone. Basically, I REALLY REALLY HOPE I GOT IT! Keep your fingers crossed! Knock on wood! Cross your heart and hope to die! (carlos)
So this past week of classes have been crazy. We were told that we could "shop around" for classes and sit in on classes that we weren't really registered for. Classes in Shanghai are on a "block scheduling" so that each class only meets once a week but for THREE (3) hours. I was originally signed up for an advertising class and a photography class. However the advertising class is too much like the marketing class I took last semester and the photography class wants us to buy a $50o camera that I will most likely never use again. So "shop around" I did. I was on campus everyday from 10am to 8pm and sat in on basically any class that sounded remotely interesting. Good thing I did that too because I think I finally have a schedule that I am pleased with. I dropped advertising and photography for a "Shanghai and Globalization" class and a "Cultural Currencies" class. The currencies class is about the different ideologies of the West and China and how its changed over the years. The teacher is also kind of hilarious. She's a Jew from New York who doesn't mess. She also says "shit" a lot. That makes me happy.
On a completely different note, I was jogging on a treadmill at my gym here a few nights ago when the song "Back In Your Head" by Tegan and Sarah started playing on my iPod. I bring this up because the same song started playing last year when I was writing the final paper for my "Writing the Essay" class. The lyrics of the song helped me get over the NASty case of writer's block I was having at the time and I actually also quoted the song in my final paper. Anyways, when this song started playing it reminded me of how far I am from home and also how much has changed since then. Not just me but also everything and everyone around me. I was overlooking Washington Square Park the first time and now I'm overlooking Zhong Shang Park in Shanghai. Oi Vey!
Speaking of my gym, its pretty cool. The equipment is nice and its decent sized and in a really great location. Its on the twelfth floor of this awesome building thats 100+ floors and has these blindingly bright blue neon lights that run up and down its sides at night. The first ten(ish) floors is a mall. Its got H&M, Starbucks, Cold Stone, Calvin Klein, the usual. But it also has some stores that I think are either Chinese or maybe European that has some neat stuff. Prices are the same as America though. The couple of floors underground is Carrefour (where I buy just about anything and everything. its where that GIANT wall of Pocky was). The floors above the mall is a really nice hotel called "Renaissance." It's where I will be living when I when the lottery.
On to the pictures! First are the ones I promised of my apartment and the rest are just from going out...
"OPEN SESAME!!!!" (Because they are obsessed with them here)
This is our door. We use a card to get in instead of a key. You wave it in front of the handle and it unlocks. Magic!
Dining table. Also where I am writing this blog. The jeans on the chair are Carlos'. I folded them for him and he yelled at me. Unappreciative.
THIS IS THE BIG RED BUTTON THAT IS NEXT TO THE PHONE THAT HAS NO BUTTONS. I HAVE TO RESTRAIN MYSELF FROM PRESSING IT EVERY TIME I AM NEAR IT. Me thinks its a direct line to Mao. You press the big red button (red for communism) and Mao picks up. Maybe I will press it on my last day here.
Chock full with all-American staples. OH except the bread is sweet, the milk is OVERPRICED, the American cheese is not in English and thus NOT american, and the yogurt is like water. oh China.
Mah cabinet. I got the ramen from the RAMEN AISLE at Carrefour. There was actually an endless aisle FULL of ramen. Top to bottom.
My bed. Good thing I don't know how to count. Those pictures on the wall were extras from the frame that I brought. I overprinted. In the end it turned out perfectly. I was two short so I put in postcards from Arizona instead.
Part of my HUGE closet. Even with all of my clothes hung up it is only a third full. Guess I just have to buy more clothes.
My desk. For some reason everyone in the building seemed to get a different desk. Mines one of the bigger ones I think. (that thing hanging to the left is the frame I brought from home)
Chinese Pepsi! and some sort of tea. they are crazy about tea here. Who knew?
The stone that Trina from my internship over winter break gave me. It is supposed to protect me from all sorts of evil if placed facing the door. Hopefully it works. (Hi Trina!)
The stone that Trina from my internship over winter break gave me. It is supposed to protect me from all sorts of evil if placed facing the door. Hopefully it works. (Hi Trina!)
My bathroom. I havn't quite figured out the water here yet. It is either BOILING hot or ICY cold.
Sink.
Sink.
These are the switches in the bathroom. Like my shower, I have no idea what any of these buttons do. I still switch them back and forth everyday though. Maybe one day something will happen.
Best thing about China: the school supplies. More specifically, the English written on them. The left one says "Kevin is a cute boy who has an active heart. Peggy is a sweet girl, she looks forward with a joyous heart. Come on! Let's go to the sky. We would play with you together. Enjoy the happiness." The right one says "Everyone needs friendship. no one can sail the ocean of life single handed. The term, friend, covers a wide range of raeanings (i think they meant MEAnings). it can be a nodding acquaintance, a comrade (nod to Communism), a confident, a partner, a playmate, a brother, an intimate etc."
We were all missing American food so we went to Hooters. Yes, there is a Hooters in China. Several actually. Burgers were delicious!
Justin, found your blog -- amazing post! Your apartment is RIDICULOUS. SO nice!! Ahh!! And I can't wait to hear all about your travels! I have family in Shanghai and have been there a few times, so I'm feeling rather nostalgic right now haha.
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the bathroom buttons ... switch the top left and the bottom two on the right and it will blow hot air down into your shower.
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