It took me a while to find Wi-Fi in Shanghai. There is none in my apartment building, which is kind of annoying. Also, China blocks every social networking site and because I am not computer savvy, I have yet to figure out how to get around it, but whatever, here we go!
After I posted my last blog, I waited for my plane from Incheon in Seoul to board and watched a couple of American children be obnoxious. It's really no wonder that people from other countries think Americans are rude. As travelers, we can be annoying.
The plane flight to Shanghai seemed to be no time at all compared to my flight to Korea. They fed us and cleared our dinner and by the time they came by with after dinner drinks and the duty free purchase cart, we had 20 minutes until we were to land.
I am kicking myself because I completely forgot to take a picture of my dinner. This was a good one too! I got pretty lucky with food options on the plane ride. Even though there was the standard chicken or beef options, there was always an option that was veg-friendly or could be converted into a veg-friendly option.
Dinner was rice with vegetable, shiitake mushroom and shrimp stir-fry. The side was bean curd with oriental dressing. Yes, you heard me. My side dish was a tub of tofu with a little packet of oriental dressing to pour over the top. It's probably a good thing Tom didn't come with me- for this plane ride, this was the only option. He would have to starve. ;) Although, I guess he would have been able to eat the little bread roll that came with it.
Dessert was flavored sticky rice. I think it was honey and nuts. I followed the lead of the Korean woman sitting next to me and ate it like a candy bar. Weird and fun!
When I arrived at Pu Dong Airport in Shanghai, I made it through immigration with no problem and went to pick up my bags. I was hoping to see a sign with my name on it, but there was none in evidence. I started to feel a little worried, but I shrugged it off and focused on getting my bags.
Once I had them, I looked around for Mr. Wang, who was supposed to be picking me up. I didn't see anyone. I stood around looking bemused for a few minutes. I had a cell phone number, but no phone. I had no idea how to use the Chinese pay phones and I was not at all certain what Wang looked like.
Luckily, I must have stood in one place long enough to get noticed and the man at the information desk called me over. He let me borrow his cell phone to call Wang. Turns out he was only about 10 minutes away, so I grabbed my bags and headed outside to wait for him. A police officer came over and stood near me. He didn't say anything, and he barely even looked at me, but I'm pretty sure he was making sure I didn't get kidnapped or something. I wish I had thought to thank him, but I was so zoned out at that point that I'm not sure I was even thinking at all.
Anyway, thanks Mr. Chinese Policeman!
Wang found me and got us both into a taxi to head over to the residence building. I feel asleep for most of the car ride, despite my best efforts, so I'm not sure how far it is to the airport from my building.
The cab dropped us off at the residence, Wang checked me in and then took me to my room. My room, by the way, is HUGE. But I think I'll save that for another post. Wang bid me good night and I unpacked my bags, took a shower, and then crashed out on my bed.
I have arrived in Shanghai!
*****
Friday, 7/16 - My room
When I first arrived on Thursday night, I explored my room a little and took some pictures of it.
I am in room 1401. There is no elevator, but I guess that's good- lots of cardio!
When you come in the front door, there is a main hallway. Immediately to the left is my living room. Fully furnished- I've got a couch, a TV, a desk, coffee table, bookcase, and eating table.
Off to the right of the hallway is the kitchen and the bathroom. In my bathroom, I have my very own little washing machine. No dryer- everyone hangs their clothes out to dry.
Straight down the hallway is a small second bedroom that is not being used and off to the left and next to the living room is my bedroom. I have a twin bed that came with a sheet, blanket and pillow, a little dresser, bedside table drawers, and a closet.
On Thursday night when I arrived, the curtains were closed. Imagine my surprise when I opened the living room curtains to look outside and found my very own balcony!
Here is the view from my balcony. Not super stimulating, but it is my view and I like it just for that.
This place is enormous! Enough to fit four people, really and I have it all to myself. It is so much more than I was expecting. Tom could certainly have come to live with me if we had been able to afford the plane ticket.
So, now I'm here and I am EXHAUSTED.
*****
Friday, 7/16- Out and about in Shanghai
I woke up Friday morning around 6: 30. After I found my balcony, I had a candy bar for breakfast and watched some Chinese TV. Then I figured I ought to see if I could find some real food and ventured out onto the street.
I walked only a few hundred feet down my road when I was deterred by a rain that was to continue to vex me throughout the day. People seemed interested in me and I had a few call out hello in English and look excited when I answered back.
Back in my room, I watched some more TV and around 9:30, I got a call from Vicky, who is the young woman who works in the office at the University. She said we were meeting for lunch at 11 and that I should find Alan, the third teacher in his room because he would show me the way there.
I met Alan, who is a master manipulator. He's very nice, but he is always looking for the way that a situation can best benefit him. So far I've been lucky enough that the things that benefit him are also a benefit to me! Either way, we chatted for a bit and then headed out into the drizzly weather.
The walk to the University is only about 15 minutes, but on our way over the drizzle turned into a TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR. We stopped and Alan brought an umbrella. We considered staying where we were until the rain let up, but we were already late so I decided we should just go.
When we finally got to the school, we were drenched, despite our umbrella. The rain had been blowing into our faces, so the front of my pants were a different color than the back. My shoes were squelching and I was sodden. They offered me tea and tissues and Alan delved into the boxes he had left behind last year and came up with a towel. One thing I've noticed is that everyone, without fail, is really very nice if you need some kind of assistance.
I was starving (the candy bar was hours ago, and the banana Alan gave me was wearing off too) but we couldn't find Mary, the other teacher! I had met her for dinner once in the States at the Ni's restaurant. She had come much earlier, but went on vacation for a week in another province. She was supposed to have arrived at the same time I did, but her plane did not come and she had not checked into the residence.
We finally discovered that he plane had in fact landed, but very late so, with no way to find out where she went after that, we went to lunch. It was still raining.
The restaurant was so cool! We got our own private room with a lazy susan in the middle. Wang ordered for all of us, and ordered a bunch of vegetarian things so that I could eat as well as everyone else. I even managed to say "I am vegetarian" in Mandarin! "Wo chi su." I know what the pinying looks like, but Mandarin has 5 different tones that I still have yet to get a handle on.
One thing that really amused me was that, when we sat down, Vicky sat in the chair next to me. Then she immediately got up and ushered one of the men into that seat instead, so that we would be boy-girl-boy. Ah, China.
Lunch was delicious and I tried my best not to break any rules of etiquette. Mary called during the appetizers and she got a taxi over to the restaurant. Turns out he plane had landed at 3:30 am, which meant that no one was on duty at the residence to check her in, so she went to the SISU hotel instead and spent the night there.
After lunch, we went back to the office. Again, still raining. They gave us our materials and schedule and office key. I have my very own desk in a little office I share with Mary and Alan!
Frankly, I feel a little overwhelmed by how not prepared I am. I wasn't sure what to bring, so I brought barely anything. Mary and Alan both have reams of material- all I've got is the books. I think I will have to download some music or TV episodes. I hope I can get my hands on enough stuff to make it worthwhile for my students.
They're not being graded, so the only thing that is motivating them to come is their own obligation to their selves and the money their parents paid for the course. Which isn't much motivation at all, frankly. From what I've heard, Chinese teenagers nowadays are awfully Westernized. So, hopefully, I can engage them enough that they will WANT to come to my classes.
*****
Friday, 7/16 - My day, part 2
After the meeting, Alan the Amazing Manipulator convinced Chen, another teacher, to load a bunch of his and Mary's stuff into his car and drive us back to the residence because, once again it was still raining. Alan called a taxi for the other half.
After we unloaded, Alan unpacked and loaned me a glass, a mug, a bowl, and some plastic utensils.
Then, since it was only drizzling and not a monsoon, Mary and I ventured out to do some grocery shopping. Food is so cheap here! 6-7 yuan is equal to 1 American dollar, so do the math on these and be amazed:
package of 10 eggs: 7 yuan
7 bananas: 4.55 yuan
package of noodle soup: 3.40 yuan
four pack of yogurt: 5 yuan
1.6 liter bottle of orange juice: 6 yuan
4 liter bottle of water: 4.60 yuan
It is no wonder they only gave us 100 yuan a day to live on. That is more than enough, even if you go out to eat. I saw a commercial for McDonald's breakfast on the TV and a sandwich+coffee combo is 6 yuan. That is less than 50 cents, people. I seriously feel like Ivana Trump here, folks. I am rich!
After putting my groceries away, I almost feel asleep, but I didn't want to give in to jet lag, so I went back down to Mary's room and we went out again. It is still drizzling, so the first thing we did was buy umbrellas from the guy outside the train station.
Then we stopped in at this DVD shop, which is exactly what is sounds like. It is a tiny shop that just has mounds and mounds of really cheap DVDs. And when I say cheap, I mean cheap. I bought the complete Season 2 and Season 3 of House for a total of 60 yuan. Once again, for you at home that is a grand total of about $4. For two seasons of House. OHMYGODSOCHEAP.
When we walked back past the train station, Mary went in and bought a refillable metro card. I'm thinking I should probably get myself one of those. It seems really handy and the metro, from what I have heard, is quick and can get me most anywhere I want to go. And even though taxis are also super cheap here, there are metro stations everywhere. If I get lost, I can just hop on and ride it back to my street.
After that we stopped at a bakery and I bought myself a pastry for dessert. They seem to be remarkably good at baking in China, everything looked and smelled delicious. When we left the pastry shop it was... you guessed it, still raining!
I have a feeling I am going to get a lot of use out of that 10 yuan umbrella I bought.
It was dark by the time we wended our way back to the residence, and I watched episodes of House until I fell asleep.
*******
Saturday, 7/17- A new day!
This morning was very cloudy, but no rain! It is very hot and muggy though, I am grateful for the air conditioner.Mary came around 11 and invited me out. She took me to Carrefour, which is the Western-style grocery store. It is enormous and is very much like a department store. Upstairs is everything from clothes and luggage to pots and pans to soap and detergent and everything in between. Downstairs is the food area. We bought some more necessities like laundry powder, dish towels and soap, and tissues for public toilets. (Wait till I tell you about the squat toilets
I also bought some more noodles and coffee and peanut butter.
Mary, Alan and I had a meeting today to discuss what we're going to be teaching. Yesterday they informed us that we are going to be teaching an additional class on Wednesday nights. It is for adults going abroad to work in English-speaking countries and it is optional for them. Because it wasn't in the original agreement, we are each getting an extra 200 yuan per session, which means an extra 800 yuan. Which, remember, is like a fortune around here!
I'm still nervous about teaching come Monday, but I am beginning to feel a bit more settled. I think. I hope.
No comments:
Post a Comment