Across the street from our apartment building there was a salon or something that had giant speakers outside, which played some annoying American pop music…all…day…long. And unfortunately you could hear it the most clearly from our bedroom, which I was working in all day as well. It might have been okay if it had been a variety of music, but it was the same 10 songs or so over and over again…all day, every day. It was things like “Get the Party Started” by Pink, some Backstreet Boys, and other similar things.

After only two weeks in China, I felt really ticked off at our American prices and not being able to bargain! I can imagine you feel completely turned around. I also don’t understand what you meant by 12 hours of pop music in the apartment? Did you play it to drown out the traffic noises?