September 2, 2008

Typing this entry while sitting in a 747 that just passed to the south of Osaka and Tokyo heading into the Pacific. Listening to blues provided by United and the lyrics are about a nineteen year old woman whom the singer cannot satisfy. Went to the main museum in Shanghai which is housed in a very modern building in the middle of a park (the People’s Park) which used to be the race course for the British. The city is broken into various districts, which include the French Concession. This is a reminder of the various powers that controlled Shanghai in the past. In addition to the French, there were the British, German and American concessions. Drove to the airport with Mabel who is a strong Hillary supporter. She said women have had their rights increased greatly recently. Learned yesterday McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate. He must really feel confident of winning the presidency to have elevated someone without any foreign policy experience to a heart beat from replacing 72 year old man. Arrived at O’Hare where a rapper got on the train taking us to Terminal 1. He was really good and was banging against the window of the waiting area to keep time. There were numerous Chinese on the train with us. They looked at him like he was crazy. Just like a young Chinese said to me in Beijing when the crowds at the Beijing subway station had me gaping in awe, I thought to myself about the Chinese reaction “Welcome to America”.