For Those of You Who Think our Metro Transit Buses are Packed...

Try to get on the subway in Shanghai during rush hour. We decided that due to the fact that we did not have a bus scheduled to provide transportation for us on our last day, that we would test our luck with the subway to check out the French Concession and the musuem. Prior to our trip Alli provided us with a nice YouTube video that showed just how packed the subways could be and just how many people you could pack into one so of course we were all a little skeptical. When we arrived at the station we stopped at the little touch-screen operated ticket stand and purchased a one-way ride for 3 Yuan. We then proceeded down to the platform to the train. At each station there is a very nice display above the track that shows your location and each of the following stops.

So we patiently waited for the subway and much to our surprise when it arrived it was not very full. We were all able to make it on and we headed off to our destination.

We considered ourselves pretty lucky that we made it through without much trouble...but the return would not be so easy. When we decided to head back to the hotel we returned to the station and purchased our tickets and proceeded down to the platform, where it did not appear to be too busy as there were not too many people standing around, but we were wrong. When the train pulled up all the compartments were quite full and we were hoping that a lot of people would be getting offf...but they didnt. SO we did the only thing we could think to do...we pushed our way on, but unfortunately we left one brave soldier behind...but do not worry he caught up with us at our stop about 3 minutes later. So for those of you who are probably thinking it wasn't that full...here is a picture...and just remember this wasn't even the worst part of rush hour!

Chinese Names

During a bus ride Chengyan, along with the bus driver and our tour guide Lili brainstormed Chinese names for each student in our class.

Shi΄ han΄ na` became my new Chinese name
English translation: time, sunrise, elegance

We all got stamps carved with our Chinese name.

Chinese Minutes! Beware!!!

China is a huge country and traveling by road is challenging. Hopefully, we were bused most of the time, and this when book reading becomes second nature! So, going from one place to another is always an adventure in itself, not only because we will see new things, and we are excited about that; but because we have to GET there in the first place. The adventure starts as soon as our guide tells us " Hello everybody!!!!, we are going ....and it will take about 2 hours." Right there after a day to acclimate ourselves with time, we noticed that "Chinese minutes" were not worth the same as we thought they were! For instance a trip that SHOULD take 2 hours WILL take at least 3 hours. After our mini-adaptation, we were fine. However, what I found interesting was that the guides ( we had a total of 3), never apologized or gave any explanation whatsoever for the fact that it took more time than anticipated. Maybe Chinese people are more relaxed than us who are always in a rush to do things...while there I actually "learned" to take it a little slower...not a bad thing in itself. So, on time means being late by definition, this is what I concluded!

Duck number 348,846

Today we went to the most famous duck place in all of China, or so says
Chengyan. It was fun. Colin and Hannah went with Jason and I. I guess
Alli is feeling sick. So the duck comes out in its bird shape pushed by
a guy in a large white hat (the chef?). But, this isn't any old duck.
This is duck number 348,846. The guy in the large hat proceeds to cut
off the duck skin and put it on a plate and instructs us to dip the skin
in sugar and eat it. I have to say that duck skin in sugar is pretty
good. But you have to be careful because if you get too much fat, the
texture is a little like Sea Cucumber (not very pleasant.) So, after he
is done with the skin, he moves to the meat of the duck. He slices it
very thin and piles it high.

Now comes the exciting part, eating. Our waitress, who doesn't seem too
happy to have our table, demonstrates how to eat the duck with the paper
thin rice tortilla, sesame sauce, and leeks. I am only certain about
the duck. The other three could have been anything. But here is how
you eat it: (1) artfully peel a rice tortilla off of the stack of rice
tortillas (a feat in itself). (2) grab some slippery duck pieces and
dunk them in the sesame sauce and place them on the tortilla (3) grab
some leeks and throw them on top. (4) fold the tortilla in half and
close it. It should resemble a burrito or spring roll. (5) use your
hands and enjoy. (6) repeat until full, then eat a little more.

Sorry, no photos. However, we did receive a certificate of commemoration.

Jake

Shanghai Museum

Wednesday May 22, 2008



Today, we went to the Shanghai Museum. To enter the building we had to go through a security door...lucky us, it was the first day that the Chinese security guards were using this new system, in preparation for the incoming Olympics. Needless to say, it was an adventure in itself!



The Shanghai Museum was created in 1952, it is magnificent. The whole collection is about 120,000 pieces of ancient Chinese arts. Bronze, paintings, furniture, coins, ivory carvings , minority clothing and more. The periods covered in the museum range from the Neolithic age to the Qing Dynasty. We were lucky to use the audio tour, which helped us navigate the huge collection. One of my favorite exhibit was the furniture... I could not believe that certain pieces were created during the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644), I saw an elegant folding armchair, which had a beautiful carved back, it was made with a wood I did not know called "Huanghuali wood". Another one of my favorite items was an embroidered court dress. It had dragons with lots of clouds. The Manchu were reported to wear this type of dress during the Qing Dynasty. I could see myself wearing such a beautiful article of clothing! But of course it was reserved for the upper class.

Armed Police in Tiananmen

We went to check out Tiananmen Square today. It was very crowded (and overrated, we decided). Besides walk around we tried to take some pictures of some of the People's Armed Police guards, which they refused to let us take.  However, near where these guards were standing at attention there was a large group of guards hanging around, smoking and joking, with their uniforms not properly worn.  Some were playing pool or basketball, and all were in plain view of the crowds.  This seems odd to me that they would be so concerned with presenting a professional image to the public at the gates while right inside there is an image-wrecking scene.  One way or the other would be helpful. Another suggestion: issue those boys some sunglasses.