I recently met someone who has been in China for the last year and Shenzhen for the last two months. He had read this blog and thought ‘he says everything I’ve been thinking but have been too lazy to write.’ Many of the things I’ve described here have also been experienced by the friends who have been here for the last two months with me, and in casual conversations with other foreigners I’ve met.
One of the things I’ve said a lot in moments of frustration and incredulity to explain and cope with a situation is “This is China” or abbreviated to “TIC.” I have heard other people say this as well, independently of me. Basically, everyone here is going through the same things.