Though Shanghai is a big city, it looks thriving compared to Boston in some ways, but it feels wrong. Here are some of my observations:

1) There are lots of bicycles, and scooters. - Though I used to think that it was good for people to cycle, too many bicycles on the road seemed very chaotic and annoying as they slow traffic down. The cyclists are similar to those in Boston, cycling in the middle of the road, blocking traffic, cycling against traffic, and not checking blind spots... I disliked many cyclists in Boston, and since there are more cyclists here, there are more of them to hate...

2) Traffic lights are not to be followed. - The light turns red and people do not really care and will just ignore the traffic lights. Many near accidents are caused and it is pretty nerve wrecking to drive or be a passenger in a car on these deadly roads. There seemed to be a general disrespect for -- life.

3) BAD AIR + NO SKY. - Phew... The air is very bad and this is the first time in many years my nose never stopped running, and my throat is dry. I just feel bad looking at the gray smog in the air and I KNOW breathing that in is bad.

4) So much NEONs that it is warm. - The city is very well lited, so much that it feels warm under the neons and lights, though it is cold when you are in the dark and the wind blows at you. The city really uses lots of energy, and you know it.

5) Unhygienic people and life. - Everything fells dirty though the city feels new. Spitting is common and the floor is dirty. Littering is a big problem, and you can see in the shadows, vermin moving through the piles of litter. The stench is overpowering, and public transportation really smells as people on public transport do not shower in the winter... (Similar to Boston, but smells more than Sox fans...)

6) Wierd (local) flavors. - There is chinese sausage and rice on pizza!! And a rice pizza. I don't even know why I wanted to try out these wierd flavored food, but it is quite mind blowing. I was having dinner alone in an exotic food place. I ordered a Snake stake... (In Unagi sauce) Braised Bats, Bear's Paw. I ordered fried grasshoppers as appetizer.

7) No internet? - I wondered in the city at night, searching for an internet cafe as I could get any wifi signal in the hotel. I asked around and found several "internet cafe" but they turned out to be "intranet cafe" with no capability to check emails or surfing outside China. Did not really look hard, as I gave up after my 4th internet cafe place.

8) Cheap base necessities, expensive other crap. - Guess jeans that cost US$120?? And Guess rip offs for $10?? Holy shit, this place is bizarre. I'm so afraid to buying Chinese brand toothpaste and other products as they may contain industrial waste. Normal branded stuff are considered luxuries.... Feels like you are in a CVS with mostly CVS brand stuff and the non-CVS brand stuff are few and overpriced... (Like double or triple..)

9) Population density is good for business, but sometimes I feel that there are too many people here.
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I like it better in Boston, but the US does not seem inviting at all, to live or to do business..

-- Iron bowl.