My flights were comfortable and uneventful, and arrival was easy -- and just like others had reviewed on the AirBnB site, as prearranged with my host, I texted her on arrival and within a few minutes she and a guy picked me up curbside. I quickly learned that the guy was not her boyfriend or husband, just a driver. Within less than 10 minutes we were in a large, newish looking development of many high rise buildings -- and she was escorting me to her 4th floor apartment. The room was exactly as pictured, but my research had been incomplete. She doesn't rent just one room, but 3 and their occupants, two young guys - one from Peru and one Chinese - greeted me and we all shared some "where you from, where you going to" traveler talk -- comfortably seated in the living room. As I will readily admit, I'm often too quick to get suspicious (though it served me well in my work!) and my own stereotyped biases about appearance and the Peru Guy's unusual story was a little unnerving: came two days before to learn Chinese at area school -- decided he wanted to return but didn't have booked flight. I couldn't really assess whether it was because his English wasn't very good or he was purposely being evasive, but I momentarily reflected on my discomfort with the choices that brought me to a place where I wasn't exactly sure of my location and situation.
Of course, some of that discomfort is exactly the challenge I love about being a traveler and I was too tired from the long journey to give it much brain bandwidth. So, after some short, interesting conversation, I was off for much needed sleep. Spoiler alert of future post - the discomfort returns before my stay at the same place the night before departure.
Anyway, when I awakened in the morning, the two guys were gone -- and after getting a confirming text from Andy for a lunch together in Shanghai, I quickly arranged my preselected AirBnB booking downtown -- thankfully it was available for the next 4 nights but because of the host and her husband's work schedule, neither would be home before 7pm. That worked for me.
Since the host was also headed to the subway, she escorted me to a waiting car (she explained it was a Didi car, the Chinese equivalent of Uber) for a short ride to the subway. She was an easier, comforting, study - a smart traveler, excellent English, 50+ positive reviews on AirBnB-- and she spoke freely of her interaction and assessments of the other two guys she hosted the prior night.
I continued on the subway past where she exited -- and met Andy as arranged. It was great to be with and catch up with Andy and learn all about his and his wife's families (all of whom are also friends, see previous blogs) -- and return his iPad. Time passed quickly as he took me on a visit to a local community center/history museum and then to a simple, delicious lunch. Thereafter, I accompanied him back to the train station for his late afternoon departure where he also help me obtain train tickets so I could visit the nearby city of Suzhou, known for its beautiful gardens and on the highly regarded tourist options to the area.
I then made my way to my home for the next 4 nights - an excellent downtown room in another highly rated AirBnB. To be continued....
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