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Published: January 15th 2008
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Oh, Shanghai. There is so much to tell and only an hour of internet time to type...
Our first day in town I puttered around with my friend Nathan. We basically wandered aimlessly around town, but managed to get a great view of the skyline and find Nanjing road which is the shopping mecca of Shanghai. I honestly didn't care if I didn't see a thing, I was so glad to be off the boat and stretching my legs. We found a little Italian restaurant to feast on pizza (which I had been craving since getting on the boat) and we spent a lot of time dodging people that were trying to sell us random things. Fake watches? Fake purses? Little squishy blob faces? If you want it, they have it on the streets of Shanghai. One of the most fascinating things that happened to us was a Chinese couple that stopped us as we were wandering because they wanted to speak English. They seemed genuinely excited to see us and find out we were from the US. They said they hope Shanghai becomes more like New York and wished us well on our travels. It's a strange feeling to
have people excited to talk to you because you speak English...or because you're American...or because you're white.
We headed back to the ship around 7pm and decided we really didn't want ship food for dinner. So we got all dressed up and headed out on the town for a fancy dinner. We ended up at Cloud 9 which is at the top of a hotel (the Hyatt maybe? I can't remember)...we were on the 87th floor and waltzed in like we owned the place. Typically you can't eat there without a reservation but with the way we were dressed and the color of our skin, we had no problem. We ate the best lamb chops and beef satay I've had...ever. We enjoyed cocktails and an amazing view of the entire city from its highest point. It was great to not feel like a broke college student for once and instead feel like I have all of the money in the world! I could definitely get used to playing the part of a rich person...
My second day in Shanghai I visited the Yuyuan Gardens and the City Temple of Shanghai. I think the pictures will speak for themselves
on these two places. I didn't stay and wander long because Shanghai is COLD and the wind makes it border unbareable. The best find of the day was a market that sold Communist underwear...tons and tons of red knickers with Mao's face or other symbols of Communism. Unfortunately, I did not buy a pair, but I'm considering going back tomorrow just for a laugh.
Yesterday was our first Academic Field Program (AFP) day. We started at Fudon University, a partner university of TSS and were lectured on China as a harmonious society. I woke up yesterday feeling very ill and made the mistake of not double checking my medicine before I took it...and I took the drowsy version. Needless to say, it was all I could do to stay awake during the lecture so I didn't get much out of it. The man presenting did say that China has made some mistakes and he talked (relatively) openly about any politically sensitive topics that were brought up. To Westerners, it still seemed guarded but we were told by our tour guide that he's never heard someone be so honest and up front in his whole life. China is on the
brink of change and I guess openness and honesty is the first way to facilitate that. I also remember hearing that we are the largest group that has ever visited the university & everyone again seemed genuinely excited just to talk to us and have us there. Our second stop of the day was a Communist museum...it was the site of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China and held a lot of relics from the time. Most of the tour was in Chinese so I didn't get as much out of it as I would have liked, but just being in that atmosphere is overwhelming. For dinner a group of us headed to the French concession area of Shanghai and enjoyed pasta and wine at a jazz bar. It was a really relaxing evening and I even managed to find a bakery to get a tartlette framboise at the end of the night! mmm!
Today I woke up feeling like death. This head cold has officially taken over my body & I'm not pleased about it. However, I had to go to our AFP so I packed a roll of toilet paper and was on
my way. Today we started off at a Shanghai Martyr Museum...again, it was mostly in Chinese so I didn't take away loads, but my Chinese roommate helped translate a bit for me. It was interesting to see the descriptions of people that were traitors...it stated their name, location and that they were a traitor. Those that died 'gloriously' for the country were given pictures and full descriptions...interesting. Our afternoon was spent at a community center for the elderly, a kindergarden and a family's house. The kindergarden was very cute...all of the children performed and one 5 year old boy played the most amazing piano I have ever heard. He was truely incredible...and five. At the end of the performance we were all walking around talking to the children and one little girl came and grabbed my hand and wouldn't let me go. Every time I tried to leave she would follow me and hold out her hand to hold mine. I'm not one for maternal instincts, but I'd have to be dead to not want to take that little girl home with me. We didn't have a single word in a common language and I think that's what made the
experience for me. We also had the opportunity to visit a family in their house...they have lived there for 47 years, it's 3 rooms and 5 people live there. The lady that spoke with us was 77 years old and again just seemed so happy to have us there. Visiting the family was a last minute thing and I felt so guilty to not have anything to give to her...she opened her life and her house to 15 strangers. She fed us fruit, set up every chair in the entire house in her bedroom (it's the only place we could all fit) and was so amiable and happy to answer our questions. How do you thank someone in a situation like that?
I haven't had enough time to process the last few days. I'm sure it will take a lifetime to fully understand what I have experienced...I'm sure I'll get more into the details as the days progess and I have time to sit down and think about all of these events. The only feelings I have right now are that of guilt and gratitude...both because I'm so well off and lucky to be traveling the world. Even if
I'm $20,000 in debt, I'm still in a better situation than any of these people simply because of my nationality and my education and the opportunities I've been given for the last 21 years...
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Mom
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Oh, Shanghai!
I'm glad you are enjoying the experiences you are having. You may never get to visit these places again, although I have no doubt you'll travel forever! Enjoy what each venue has to offer, sister. And share, share, share; I mean, after all, I have to live vicariously through you!!! Love you, Mom xoxo