All of us slept over in my parents’ place last night –well, it should be this morning since we did not go to sleep until probably 3am. We really crowded their 3-bed 2-bath apartment: they slept in the master bedroom; three of us got to pick the second south facing bedroom since we have Tanker; my younger sister and her hubby stayed in the north facing study of Dad’s; and my poor little brother had no choice but to sleep on the couch in the living room –well, his girl friend is on a family vacation in Singapore now, but they chatted on phone for quite long time last night.

Canadians wake up today to a changed political landscape as well as a young and good looking but conservative new Prime Minister Steven Harper.

Both Sue and I are interested in this Canadian election since we feel close to this country –we used to drive across the river to Windsor to enjoy the fine dim sum weekend mornings when we were living in Detroit. We also went to the Windsor casino for better currency exchange rate when we needed to travel in Canada (but often ended up losing the difference plus some extra to the gambling machines in there –what a trap!). Oh, that’s also the place where fine Cuban cigars could be found. We have also been to several other places in Canada such as Toronto and Niagara Fall and had lots of fun. In addition, I was in fact in Toronto for an overnight visit less than two weeks ago and we are going back to Ottawa for a conference as well as a family vacation later in the spring. In spite of all above, all Chinese should feel close to this land of Dr. Norman Bethune anyway.

Just got back in Shanghai from Detroit, and one thing I felt quite differently during the trip this time than before was the feel of China’s economic influence finally reaching this American mid-west industrial hub city.

The deep pan pizza at Pizza Papalis in Greek Town was really good –having not had this kind of good pizza for a long time. There are lots of pizza places in Shanghai but most of them are Pizza Hut quality, if you know what I mean.

Anyhow, after pizza lunch with colleagues, we took the People Mover to the Auto Show at Cobo Center. Here I have to mention that I always get a kick out of this People Mover thing –basically it is an automatic 2-car mini electric train that circles people slowly along a very small elevated loop of probably less than one mile in diameter. It only moves in one direction, so if you miss a stop, the choice is either getting off and walking back or taking another circle. It also looks just like a funny toy, and believe it or not, that’s the only metropolitan track transportation service in Detroit –no wander it is called Motortown or town of automobiles.