SHANGHAI!!

Departure

We left for Shanghai right after school on Friday the 5^th. Literally, we taught class, ate lunch, and the school bus took us directly to the train station. We had to take a train from Zhongshan to Guangzhou, where we would get on the long distance train to Shanghai. Finally it was time to leave for Shanghai around 6pm! We wanted to get hard sleepers since it was going to be a 15-16 hour train ride. Actually we wanted to fly…and we could have found some really cheap flights, at least fly just one way. But because we got our tickets super late (way later than planned) almost everything was filled up. We only managed to get hard seats on the way to Shanghai and a hard sleeper on the way back. Not the end of the world. But that 15 hour train ride ended up being around 19-20 hours…turns out our train broke down. The beginning of the trip we were moving SO SLOWLY. It seemed like we were going to stop it was so slow. And I was thinking “Oh this is why it takes 15 hours, because it is a really slow train”. Turns out it is actually a fast train (but not a bullet train), but it was having problems. Eventually we were just stopped at one point. It was way difficult to sleep in a cramped seat sitting up. Also the lady across from me had a huge suitcase so there wasn’t much leg room for me. We all took turns sleeping on the seats and floor…but not very successful. They didn’t even turn the lights off the entire time…and it was pretty noisy. Chinese people think Americans are loud? There was a bunch of Chinese men talking really loud and I’m like “it’s THREE IN THE MORNING. GO TO SLEEP”. I said that in my head, of course. Also there was smoking on the train! I mean they had a designated area in the back on the train for smoking. But we were right near the back, right near it. Also it’s not like it was an enclosed space, or open windows so the smoke just diffused throughout the train anyways. My throat got really dry and so did my eyes, and I had a headache from the smell. So the train ride wasn’t the most enjoyable thing out there…but at least we had each other right?

Day 1

Finally we arrived in Shanghai! We ate lunch, then headed to our hostel! It was pretty nice, nicer than the hostel in Yangshuo I think. I mean, really it just had nicer bathrooms which is super important I think. Also the rooms were about 10 bunks per room. Since we booked our hostel late we only were able to get 4 in one room and 3 in another room. Which means we had to share a room with 6 other random people.  It is kind of weird, when there are all sorts of people sleeping in a room with you, but it was also kind of cool. We actually didn’t really get to talk or interact with them very much since we were gone all day and went to sleep as soon as we got back at night. Day 1 was mostly exploring Shanghai. We walked round the bund of course, and took a ferry across the river to the main part of the city. We went up the Shanghai World Financial Center, which is the tallest completely finished building in the city. Also it is the world’s tallest observatory with a glass floor you can walk on. So we of course went! Most people go up the Oriental Pearl Tower, which would be cool but it isn’t as tall as the SWFT. I also got a student discount (yay BYU ID card!). We went to the 100^th floor! It was quite the view and the tallest building I have been in (taller than the empire state building). It is the 7^th tallest building in the world. I will admit, the glass floor wasn’t as cool as I thought. Because it is really just random squares here and there of the floor that are made of glass that you can look through and see the bottom. And mostly you just see the building below you and not much of the actual roads, cars, etc. So it doesn’t really feel like you are walking super high above the city. But still it was awesome, and I’m glad I did it. (it was hard to get good pictures here, it really was cool).

 

This is the Shanghai Tower. It is still in construction. But it will be the second tallest building in the world when it is completed, and I am sad it wasn’t finished when we went.

This is the Oriental Pearl Tower. This is the more famous building in Shanghai most people go up. It would be cool, but not as good of a view. But I LOVE the outside. I think this would be my favorite building just because it LOOKS SO COOL. And it just makes the entire city I think. It really makes me feel like I am in a futuristic city, and reminds me of the movie Meet the Robinsons.
 

The rest of the night we just walked around, enjoyed exploring the city and nightlife!

 

DAY 2
We got a late start (well later than we wanted), and then everyone wanted to go find breakfast. Except they were really picky on what kind of breakfast they wanted. It was slightly annoying because I feel like options are limited for "breakfast" type foods here but oh well. Then we made our way to the City God Temple and Yuyuan Gardens. It was quite confusing how to get there, also we took the subway to get there even though it only ended up being one stop....oops! Haha. It was awesome once we got there though!! The entire place was chinese looking buildings and tourist shops galore. There was even a place where you can buy and send postcards which was sweet.

 

Mirror in the middle of the garden!

 

After eating and shopping, we went back towards our hostel. There is another big area near where we live that we refer to as “the walking street of Shanghai” because it is a huge street with tons of shops that goes on for a while that you can only walk on. Some of the girls saw a sign that said “M&M World” and they wanted to find it desperately. So we were trying to find out where it was when a girl walks by with an M&M world bag. So one of the girls runs up to her and points to the bag and says “ZAI NA LI??” Which means “where is it”. Haha so she points in the direction and we walk that way trying to find it. And then FINALLY. There it was M&M world. It really is just a giant store that cells all sorts of M&M products and merchandise and there is a huge wall of M&M machines. I don’t think I have ever seen so many different colored M&Ms. But they were so excited! So that was fun.

When we were walking back, the funniest thing happened. We saw a crowd formed around a couple of Chinese people dancing and playing instruments. So after watching for a few minutes we decided to just do our own dance to the music outside the circle. One of the ladies came out of the circle and started dancing with us, and next thing you know there is a pretty good sized crowd/circle that has formed around us!
 

DAY 3

Monday was our last day in Shanghai. We went to the Jade Buddha Temple, and it was mid autumn festival so it was pretty crowded. It was cool, I liked how they had all sorts of statues made from many different materials. Upstairs was the special Jade Buddha, in which we were not allowed to take pictures. It is pure jade and weighs almost 1000kg! The room was dark with dim lights, and very quiet. All the Chinese people were buying bottles of oil, praying over them, and then the ladies at the alter would pour the oil into a bowl on the alter in front of the Jade Buddha. 
   

After that, people in our group wanted to do different things so we split up. Some went to the zoo, but some of us went to the aquarium. I mean I love aquariums :) It is the only aquarium in the world to have a China section for specifically animals from China and also some rare and endangered species from the Yangtze river. There was also the world's longest underwater viewing tunnel, as well as another tunnel that you go down into which was pretty cool.

Chinese lizard

One of my favs! I just think the lips are so funny looking

I LOVE jellyfish!

So cute

We did one last walk around the city, enjoying the view and then we headed off to the train station! Our train left around the same time in the evening, but this time we had beds! Which was awesome, they even turned off the lights and it was quiet so I actually slept the entire time so it just flew by. And the train didn't break down like the first time around so it was about 16 hours.

Yay for sleeper trains!

You may not be able to tell but there are 3 levels of bunks, I was on the middle left

Shanghai was a pretty cool city, it is always sad leaving when we are on vacation. The time is short yet it always feels long.

Our next vacation will be the first week of October. We have a whole week this time, 7 days! It is the Chinese National Holiday though so it will be REALLY busy so we have to plan and get tickets fast! We are planning on going to Bejing and either Xi'an or Yellow moutains!

Other Pictures! 

oh ps- sorry my pictures aren't very good! It is hard getting good pictures when you are a tourist in a crowded city- you can't always wait to get the perfect shot when you are with other people and there is people EVERYWHERE 

Wedding photos everywhere! Tis the season I guess

These wedding photographers decided to photograph us instead...so I returned the favor :P

Are we in London? Or China? Because we also saw a clock tower, and a red telephone booth...

 

This guy is cooking food on the motor of his scooter and selling it...don't worry I didn't buy some

Love forever21 and shopping? Well there is a FOUR STORY forever 21 store

Shanghai noodles!

I thought these ATMs are kind of funny- you have to lock yourself in them, for safety reasons of course

For those who want to live more adventurous and rock climb to their apartment ;)

 

First week of school...again!

A short post this week, also no pictures.

This week was my first day of teaching…again! Because summer camp ended and the ‘real’ school year starts. It is very different. First off, I have all new students. I only have one student I teach who was here for summer camp, but it’s ok since it is Jack and he was one of my favorites. Also, they wear uniforms which is pretty cute. And there are a LOT more kids. I was used to 3-5 kids at a time. Now I have about 7-9 kids…YIKES. So it is a lot harder!! The kids misbehave a lot, the Chinese coordinators said after a few weeks they should warm up, especially when we start using tokens and store they will speak up more. But right now it is pretty frustrating and exhausting.  But even if they are naughty I still love the kids and it’s fun. Just harder.  Next week we should also be starting our classes such as kung fu, cooking, painting, and Chinese lessons (those we already had). I am sooo excited to learn kung fu, cooking, and painting!!! 

Some cool stories of the week.

Maegan and I were on walking street looking for the sketchy backpack alley to buy backpacks and in the middle of the street there was a lady standing with her shoes off just standing in something wet and kind of moving her feet just staring ahead of her. We were so confused…and also there was a huge wet spot on her butt. We thought maybe she wet herself or peed on the street? I have no idea…it was the weirdest thing. What I don’t understand is why she was in the middle of street. We were so confused…

Also when we were heading back home from walking street…we waited 50 minutes for the bus! The longest we have waited. And it was the most annoying because we saw every single other bus stop at the bus stop, except the one we needed. We seriously saw like 4 or 5 of all the other buses, bus 1, 205, 13,23,33, but no 003. Finally we got on the 3 and who else do we see on the bus? One of our coordinators Joey! It was fun talking to her and she said the bus always takes forever because it was around 5-6pm…rush hour. EVEN IN CHINA. Some things never change…and there was a Chinese man who was talking to Joey in Chinese asking her if we were Americans and we kind of talked with him using Joey to translate for us haha. Also he speaks Russian! I think he studied it in college, he is an old man now but never visited Russia. My head teacher Maegan went to Russia on her first ILP trip and knows a tiny bit of Russian so it was cool for her to speak a few words with him in Russian. I think getting to meet all the cool Chinese or people from other countries on the buses here is so fun! You usually only get to talk for a little and then go on your own ways but meeting all sorts of people is just so cool.

One time we were on a bus and as we were stopped, a truck pulls next to us and the driver turns and stares at us through the window. I was facing the window and I just looked away and told the other girls, the guy looking at us in the truck rolled down his window and then motioned to the passenger next to us to look through his window and see us. It’s like they couldn't believe their eyes that they saw real live Americans here!

Sorry for no pictures at the moment! I really only had a few this week and am having difficulty uploading them. However, I shall make up for it on my next blog post after Shanghai! Woohoo :)