Had a great night out last night and just wanted to share it with everyone right away! :) It was a friends/coworkers birthday dinner at a Japanese restaurant. This restaurant barely exists as it is just a small little door on the outside with 2-3 tables on the first floor. Hidden in the back was a set of stairs that barely fit an American body. When we got upstairs we were greeted and told us to take off our shoes before entering our eating area. It was such a cute place. It was all you can eat... so we order a whole bunch of stuff. We ate all sorts of things and I even tried salmon and quail eggs. I almost passed on the quail eggs but Lauren and another coworker (Mark) said "Hey I am being adventurous!" So I decided to go for it! I actually thought that it would be exciting to tell everyone that I tried quail eggs and how shocked everyone would be! But... I have an even better tale to tell :)
So we got all types of foods and meats (It was probably the lowest carb meal I have had in China). We got a sizzling meat platter and then meat on a stick. I told everyone that I hate eating stuff that looks like beef because it could be any type of meat and never know it. So we got the meat on the stick and it was DELICIOUS! I even grab another stick! :) Later on in the night we decided to order more of this delicious dish. We picked up the sticks and gestured that we wanted more of whatever was on the stick. The lady goes "OHHHHH" and points to the item on the menu: COW TONGUE! Yes ladies and gents thats right Meghan ate cow tongue and LIKED IT! And in case you were wondering we did order more and ate it! :) I was a tad bit freaked out but hey... I'm in China! :)
Pics of me eating it will be posted later! :)
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Stalker, Suzhou, Oriental Land, and Bargaining .. OH MY!
Hello! Sorry for the lack of writing! BUT I HAVE BEEN BUSY! Since my last post I have done lots... including getting paid! :) So I will make this nice and long!
Let me start with the man who is stalking Disney English girls! LOL actually I think he just hangs out at metro stations and looks for foreigners. A few weeks ago I went to get my lunch down at the metro station (The metro stations are awesome and they have shoppes and food places in them). Then this guy comes near me and the conversation went alittle something like this:
Stalker: Hello. Where you from?
Me: America
Stalker: I am from South Korea visiting my sister.
Me: Cool.
Stalker: You live here?
Me: Not for long. I have to go nice meeting you.
Stalker: You look like (something I could not understand)
Me: Oh thank you. goodbye
Stalker: And I look like (cant understand)
Me: Ok.. bye.
Stalker: How old you?
Me: 26
Stalker: I 16... You are 10 years older I 10 years younger (clearly not 16 more like 30)
Me: Yes that means I should not be talking to you... Leave me alone good bye.
(I walk faster and up the stairs. Stalker follows me I get off the stairs he bumps into me and changes directions to go with me)
Stalker: Ok it was nice meet you. (Extends his hand AND FAKED ME OUT and KISSES ME ON THE CHEEK!!!!!!YUCKKKKKK)
Me:NO NO NO! (I run across the street and he follows)
Stalker: Nice meet you (and tries to go in for another kiss. This is when I pushed him and a chinese woman just stared and laughed)
The reason he is a stalker is because there has been numerous accounts of a south korean man telling them they look like a disney character at the metro station trying to kiss people. One girl was actually chased on the metro while chinese people pointed and laughed. Lauren wonders if she will go to chinese jail if the stalker comes near her cause she is punching him.
All of you probably had a chuckle but I assure you my cheek did not think it was funny as it got disinfected 5 times and lost a layer of skin!:)
On Saturday the 24th we went on a spontaneous trip to Suzhou which is pronounced Sue - joe. (We in this trip includes Lauren, Lindsey, Abbey and myself). We decided that low funds should not keep us from seeing CHINA! So Saturday morning we ate breakfast and headed out. We werent sure if we would even get tickets on the train but we decided that if anything it would be an adventure to try. We got on the metro and found the train station (accomplishment 1). We got there and we stood in line wondering how the crap we would order a ticket as the brilliant and well traveled people we are have only thought about one step at a time. We say the train schedule (all in chinese) and tried to search for the chinese symbols of Suzhou... no luck. The train schedule looked like there were no available tickets for anywhere and pretty much decided that if anything we would try and buy a ticket for the next day or weekend. When we got to the attendant who spoke no english we once again relied on pointing and gesturing. We pointed to our book and WE GOT TICKETS!!! We were so happy we ordered four and then tried to gesture round trip but he didnt understand and ended up with a one way ticket to Suzhou! (I count this as accomplishment #2 cause we atleast got a ticket.. we may not be coming back but hey we got there!). We found the gate (again in chinese) and waited for the train. It felt like an old time movie walking out to the train and hopping aboard! As it may have been an accomplishment to have a ticket, we found out the moment we starting moving that we purchased a ticket on the SLOW SLOW SLOW train. I was just super excited as this was my first time on a train. My first trip on a train involved a woman storing her groceries where my feet should be and her bag taking up the whole table were my purse should go but none the less I was on a train! :) Now I dont know if I said this before but I was on a SLOW train... When we started moving I said "I hope this isnt as fast as it goes" but ... it was. But most things that are chinese are (ie. THE PEOPLE!)so we just enjoyed our seats and waited till we stopped. The train stopped.. but we had only been on the train for 30 minutes and we were suppose to be on an hour. We were confused because you see we dont know chinese. But we took the chance and stayed on... so did everyone else. and I said to myself...But why are there so many people outside? THERE ARE NO SEATS...The new people piled on in and put their stuff where ever they found room, fortunately I had the woman in front of me who already took all the available space I had and then some. But Abbey who did not have the luck of no space. She had a man shove a huge bag of something that weighed the same as an American body (chinese people dont weigh much) and then had this man lean on her for the remained of the trip. Thank you for window seats! :)
The second stop was OURS! Although it wasnt what I was expecting. Suzhou is described as the venice of the east. What do you picture when you hear that? THIS?
But guess what... we made it! (accomplishment #3) We were greeted by many people who wanted us to go on tours with them. A few followed us to the ticket window (we wanted to buy our tickets home just in case they were sold out later) as we were trying to figure out how to gesture 'fast train' not slow train... the tour guides told us that we were in line for the slow train and found the fast train WOAT WOAT!
Now we venture off! Now we werent sure what we were going to do (this goes back to the whole one step at a time). As we are looking for a taxi/looking at our book, a man followed us out of the train station and down the street. This was alittle shady and a few of us were alittle scared but we found a taxi line and PUT THAT BOOK AWAY! I was alittle worried at this point thinking that maybe we should have gone to such a little city of 5.91 million but still was not discouraged. We saw signs at the train station that said you have not experience Suzhou unless you have been to Tiger Hill so Tiger Hill we went! Tiger Hill was beautiful and we saw GREEN things that I think are called TREES! :) We saw a leaning Pagoda and beautiful gardens... it was breathtaking.
We also went on a boat ride around the canal and saw the community. Although I was really confused about why Suzhou is referred to as the venice of the east, I mainly just thought about how lucky and blessed I am to have all the things in my life. Watching people clean their clothes in the canal and seeing them in what they refer to as homes is very humbling.
But yet all of them were so happy and most waved and smiled as we passed. It opened my eyes to be appreciative of what I currently have instead of always wanting more.
It was starting to get dark, but the town seemed to get busier! We were hungry and decided to try and find something to eat. We decided on STREET FOOD! alittle nervous with eating something that came from this....
But when in china.... :) It was delicious... we had chinese pancakes ... yum yum yum! it dough with egg and green onions... man was it amazing... also tried noodles (shocker) also very good. We fetched a cab from the corner of a street that had no traffic lights but lots of cars coming from all directions. We got to the train station and jumped on the very very very fast train that went 347 km .... and made it back to Shanghai (accomplishment #4). It was a ridiculously long long day but man it was worth it and so awesome to experience real China! Go us! :)
The following day I decided to go to a church (arent you proud mom!). Its kinda confusing about the rules of religion but at the church I went to it was understood that chinese people can only go to the chinese service, where foreigners could only go to the designated services. I heard that alot of churches arose recently because of the expo. But the church was amazing! It was crazy to see people all over the world from Europe to Africa to America coming together for the same reason. It was crazy! And I am really glad I went! :)
During the week instead of work we got to go to ORIENTAL LAND!!! :) all of Disney English went for team building day! This is where I competed in a dragon boat race and ended up in bushes! :)
We had great costumes (as seen in the photos!) and had another traditional chinese lunch where I ate Jellyfish! THATS RIGHT BE SHOCKED! :) It was an awesome day that ended in a Water city that I cant pronounce called Zhujiajiao Water Village.
It was way to hot to enjoy to the fullest... i mean WAY TOO hot. But the locals did not seem to mind as the took naps along the sidewalk. Again be thankful of where you are because you have not experienced hot until you have come to China!
Last weekend included a paycheck and bargaining!!!! In china everything is negotiable! So when you get an offer dont pay it! :) How about a reinactment of what it is like!!! :) I am trying to purchase a silk dress at the fake market:
Chinese: Hello... watch bag dvd
Me: (ONLY ask how much it is if you really want to buy it... there is no such thing as leisurely shopping here!) How much is this?
Chinese: (picks up calculator .. no one verbally tells you how much it is they dont want others to hear) Ok normally its this (typed 1800 = $300 USD) but for you cause you my friend I give it to you for (types 1500). Only cause you my friend and i want you happy
Me: Oh that is too much.
Chinese: What you price?
Me: Oh well I can only pay (type 120 = $20USD)
Chinese: OH .... come on... be real.. i no joking... ok ok only cause you my friend (types 900)
Me: I am sorry (trying to give back the calculator) this is too expensive. Thank you.
Chinese: (pushes back the calculator) try another try another .. no joking
Me: I am not joking 120
Chinese: i go down alot and you no go up... come on friend noooo joking
Me: Sorry only 120 (again trying to give calculator)
Chinese: come on it hot outside I work ..
Me: I am broke college student
Chinese: come on... go tell me price no joking price
Me: That is what I can pay. Thank you (walk out of the store)
Chinese: (yelling) 800 (waits for response) 500.... 300... 200... (i still continue walking around the corner).... OKAYYYYYYYYYYY
Me: so 120?
Chinese: YES!
And that my friends is the art of bargaining! :)Lauren quickly discovered the art and I soon followed! So gifts and and more gifts were purchased (both for myself and others).
I recieved my residence permit yesterday! In it I was given a chinese name: 达利娅. This means Da Li Ya .. My chinese assistant translated it and I was so excited! Its a great name :) I asked why it resembles my middle name and not my first or last .. she didnt know. Even in chinese Dalia sounds beautiful.
Other things that I have seen in China include: A child peeing on the side of the street next to the metro, backrooms in a fake market (everyone knows you sell fake stuff why do u need a backroom ITS A FAKE MARKET!), a chinese man spit in the hotel hallway TWICE, a cab driver who danced and sang to Justin Beiber, a sign at a village that said no defecating anywhere but the bathroom and an old woman who farts and dont care who heard it! OH CHINA! :)
With only 2.5 weeks left there is pretty much one thing left to do: GO TO BEIJING! And its happening August 13-15. Its really expensive to go but once in a lifetime chance to see the great wall! We have tours arranged and everything! Cant wait!
China has grown on me.. the people not so much but the city yes. So just so everyone knows I am doing great! Miss you all!
P.S. excuse all the spelling and grammar errors... I didnt want to reread my post lol its too long! :)
Let me start with the man who is stalking Disney English girls! LOL actually I think he just hangs out at metro stations and looks for foreigners. A few weeks ago I went to get my lunch down at the metro station (The metro stations are awesome and they have shoppes and food places in them). Then this guy comes near me and the conversation went alittle something like this:
Stalker: Hello. Where you from?
Me: America
Stalker: I am from South Korea visiting my sister.
Me: Cool.
Stalker: You live here?
Me: Not for long. I have to go nice meeting you.
Stalker: You look like (something I could not understand)
Me: Oh thank you. goodbye
Stalker: And I look like (cant understand)
Me: Ok.. bye.
Stalker: How old you?
Me: 26
Stalker: I 16... You are 10 years older I 10 years younger (clearly not 16 more like 30)
Me: Yes that means I should not be talking to you... Leave me alone good bye.
(I walk faster and up the stairs. Stalker follows me I get off the stairs he bumps into me and changes directions to go with me)
Stalker: Ok it was nice meet you. (Extends his hand AND FAKED ME OUT and KISSES ME ON THE CHEEK!!!!!!YUCKKKKKK)
Me:NO NO NO! (I run across the street and he follows)
Stalker: Nice meet you (and tries to go in for another kiss. This is when I pushed him and a chinese woman just stared and laughed)
The reason he is a stalker is because there has been numerous accounts of a south korean man telling them they look like a disney character at the metro station trying to kiss people. One girl was actually chased on the metro while chinese people pointed and laughed. Lauren wonders if she will go to chinese jail if the stalker comes near her cause she is punching him.
All of you probably had a chuckle but I assure you my cheek did not think it was funny as it got disinfected 5 times and lost a layer of skin!:)
On Saturday the 24th we went on a spontaneous trip to Suzhou which is pronounced Sue - joe. (We in this trip includes Lauren, Lindsey, Abbey and myself). We decided that low funds should not keep us from seeing CHINA! So Saturday morning we ate breakfast and headed out. We werent sure if we would even get tickets on the train but we decided that if anything it would be an adventure to try. We got on the metro and found the train station (accomplishment 1). We got there and we stood in line wondering how the crap we would order a ticket as the brilliant and well traveled people we are have only thought about one step at a time. We say the train schedule (all in chinese) and tried to search for the chinese symbols of Suzhou... no luck. The train schedule looked like there were no available tickets for anywhere and pretty much decided that if anything we would try and buy a ticket for the next day or weekend. When we got to the attendant who spoke no english we once again relied on pointing and gesturing. We pointed to our book and WE GOT TICKETS!!! We were so happy we ordered four and then tried to gesture round trip but he didnt understand and ended up with a one way ticket to Suzhou! (I count this as accomplishment #2 cause we atleast got a ticket.. we may not be coming back but hey we got there!). We found the gate (again in chinese) and waited for the train. It felt like an old time movie walking out to the train and hopping aboard! As it may have been an accomplishment to have a ticket, we found out the moment we starting moving that we purchased a ticket on the SLOW SLOW SLOW train. I was just super excited as this was my first time on a train. My first trip on a train involved a woman storing her groceries where my feet should be and her bag taking up the whole table were my purse should go but none the less I was on a train! :) Now I dont know if I said this before but I was on a SLOW train... When we started moving I said "I hope this isnt as fast as it goes" but ... it was. But most things that are chinese are (ie. THE PEOPLE!)so we just enjoyed our seats and waited till we stopped. The train stopped.. but we had only been on the train for 30 minutes and we were suppose to be on an hour. We were confused because you see we dont know chinese. But we took the chance and stayed on... so did everyone else. and I said to myself...But why are there so many people outside? THERE ARE NO SEATS...The new people piled on in and put their stuff where ever they found room, fortunately I had the woman in front of me who already took all the available space I had and then some. But Abbey who did not have the luck of no space. She had a man shove a huge bag of something that weighed the same as an American body (chinese people dont weigh much) and then had this man lean on her for the remained of the trip. Thank you for window seats! :)
The second stop was OURS! Although it wasnt what I was expecting. Suzhou is described as the venice of the east. What do you picture when you hear that? THIS?
But guess what... we made it! (accomplishment #3) We were greeted by many people who wanted us to go on tours with them. A few followed us to the ticket window (we wanted to buy our tickets home just in case they were sold out later) as we were trying to figure out how to gesture 'fast train' not slow train... the tour guides told us that we were in line for the slow train and found the fast train WOAT WOAT!
Now we venture off! Now we werent sure what we were going to do (this goes back to the whole one step at a time). As we are looking for a taxi/looking at our book, a man followed us out of the train station and down the street. This was alittle shady and a few of us were alittle scared but we found a taxi line and PUT THAT BOOK AWAY! I was alittle worried at this point thinking that maybe we should have gone to such a little city of 5.91 million but still was not discouraged. We saw signs at the train station that said you have not experience Suzhou unless you have been to Tiger Hill so Tiger Hill we went! Tiger Hill was beautiful and we saw GREEN things that I think are called TREES! :) We saw a leaning Pagoda and beautiful gardens... it was breathtaking.
We also went on a boat ride around the canal and saw the community. Although I was really confused about why Suzhou is referred to as the venice of the east, I mainly just thought about how lucky and blessed I am to have all the things in my life. Watching people clean their clothes in the canal and seeing them in what they refer to as homes is very humbling.
But yet all of them were so happy and most waved and smiled as we passed. It opened my eyes to be appreciative of what I currently have instead of always wanting more. It was starting to get dark, but the town seemed to get busier! We were hungry and decided to try and find something to eat. We decided on STREET FOOD! alittle nervous with eating something that came from this....
But when in china.... :) It was delicious... we had chinese pancakes ... yum yum yum! it dough with egg and green onions... man was it amazing... also tried noodles (shocker) also very good. We fetched a cab from the corner of a street that had no traffic lights but lots of cars coming from all directions. We got to the train station and jumped on the very very very fast train that went 347 km .... and made it back to Shanghai (accomplishment #4). It was a ridiculously long long day but man it was worth it and so awesome to experience real China! Go us! :)The following day I decided to go to a church (arent you proud mom!). Its kinda confusing about the rules of religion but at the church I went to it was understood that chinese people can only go to the chinese service, where foreigners could only go to the designated services. I heard that alot of churches arose recently because of the expo. But the church was amazing! It was crazy to see people all over the world from Europe to Africa to America coming together for the same reason. It was crazy! And I am really glad I went! :)
During the week instead of work we got to go to ORIENTAL LAND!!! :) all of Disney English went for team building day! This is where I competed in a dragon boat race and ended up in bushes! :)
We had great costumes (as seen in the photos!) and had another traditional chinese lunch where I ate Jellyfish! THATS RIGHT BE SHOCKED! :) It was an awesome day that ended in a Water city that I cant pronounce called Zhujiajiao Water Village.
It was way to hot to enjoy to the fullest... i mean WAY TOO hot. But the locals did not seem to mind as the took naps along the sidewalk. Again be thankful of where you are because you have not experienced hot until you have come to China!Last weekend included a paycheck and bargaining!!!! In china everything is negotiable! So when you get an offer dont pay it! :) How about a reinactment of what it is like!!! :) I am trying to purchase a silk dress at the fake market:
Chinese: Hello... watch bag dvd
Me: (ONLY ask how much it is if you really want to buy it... there is no such thing as leisurely shopping here!) How much is this?
Chinese: (picks up calculator .. no one verbally tells you how much it is they dont want others to hear) Ok normally its this (typed 1800 = $300 USD) but for you cause you my friend I give it to you for (types 1500). Only cause you my friend and i want you happy
Me: Oh that is too much.
Chinese: What you price?
Me: Oh well I can only pay (type 120 = $20USD)
Chinese: OH .... come on... be real.. i no joking... ok ok only cause you my friend (types 900)
Me: I am sorry (trying to give back the calculator) this is too expensive. Thank you.
Chinese: (pushes back the calculator) try another try another .. no joking
Me: I am not joking 120
Chinese: i go down alot and you no go up... come on friend noooo joking
Me: Sorry only 120 (again trying to give calculator)
Chinese: come on it hot outside I work ..
Me: I am broke college student
Chinese: come on... go tell me price no joking price
Me: That is what I can pay. Thank you (walk out of the store)
Chinese: (yelling) 800 (waits for response) 500.... 300... 200... (i still continue walking around the corner).... OKAYYYYYYYYYYY
Me: so 120?
Chinese: YES!
And that my friends is the art of bargaining! :)Lauren quickly discovered the art and I soon followed! So gifts and and more gifts were purchased (both for myself and others).
I recieved my residence permit yesterday! In it I was given a chinese name: 达利娅. This means Da Li Ya .. My chinese assistant translated it and I was so excited! Its a great name :) I asked why it resembles my middle name and not my first or last .. she didnt know. Even in chinese Dalia sounds beautiful.
Other things that I have seen in China include: A child peeing on the side of the street next to the metro, backrooms in a fake market (everyone knows you sell fake stuff why do u need a backroom ITS A FAKE MARKET!), a chinese man spit in the hotel hallway TWICE, a cab driver who danced and sang to Justin Beiber, a sign at a village that said no defecating anywhere but the bathroom and an old woman who farts and dont care who heard it! OH CHINA! :)
With only 2.5 weeks left there is pretty much one thing left to do: GO TO BEIJING! And its happening August 13-15. Its really expensive to go but once in a lifetime chance to see the great wall! We have tours arranged and everything! Cant wait!
China has grown on me.. the people not so much but the city yes. So just so everyone knows I am doing great! Miss you all!
P.S. excuse all the spelling and grammar errors... I didnt want to reread my post lol its too long! :)
Monday, July 19, 2010
Quick Update
Hello all! Well not much has happened since the last post... but I know that if I dont write something that momma of mine will say 'you last post was Tuesday' so I decided to write something!
Well the week was good with the kids... Alittle tiring trying to get 13 kids to focus on content they cant understand. And I found out today that my youngest is 5 and the oldest is 11 so its definitely a challenge to keep everyone interested and happy. So far no complaints (so my center director told us good job). Apparently chinese parents like progress right away so its very common that complaints happen. But only nice emails and phone calls saying that my assistant and I are very professional. It does worry me that I might be too happy with parents so I try to just smile and tend to their child which I think they prefer. But overall its a cool experience teaching the kiddos and I definietly can take some of what I am learning back home minus disney property :) And of course the child that I got to name is probably the one student I have that DOESNT listen and would rather talk to anyone who wants to listen.
This week I went to a chinese club! I went with some of my new co-workers and summer campers to a place we were told you HAVE to see! So some went and it was so much fun! It as funny because an american boy band performed and the chinese women loved them! OHHHHHH and btw! I FINALLY used THE toliet! And by THE i mean the squaty potty! it was an experience that had mirrors surrounding it! But I was probably super funny cause I walked in and out of a few because the ground was wet. YUCK! But I guess it was bound to happen!! I know all of you love to read about toliets so moving on.... :)
The past weekend we got to go to a new bar/club opening. It was pretty awesome! As you can kinda see from the pics, it was themed after a plane! And it really felt like we were on one! It was a great time and a much needed night out after a tiring week of work. But it was awesome hanging out and NOT talking about work! Now I did learn that some of the bars and clubs in Asia are called host bars. This is where men can go and buy drinks and have conversations and 'other things' from pretty ladies. I saw a girl trying to get a guy in to their bar she was literally pulling him in (that is when I found out about these bars). I felt like I was a Makos in downtown LOL! :) BUT I DID NOT GO TO ONE OF THESE!! REPEAT DID NOT!!! but I was pretty much the only one who was completely clueless and thought this woman was an overaggressive sales person! oops! ;)
I didnt see any other sightseeing places but have gone to some great restaurants and some other places that my body dont like! I also had burger king deliver! PRETTY AWESOME! I will keep everyone updated on where I go but it will probably be in August (when we get PAID) before the awesome trips occur! LIKE BEIJING!!! cant wait!!! I love the posts but dont forget to put your names! or I wont know who wrote it! Hope everyone is having an awesome time and next time you see a toliet just be thankful you have somewhere to sit! ;) LOVE YOU ALL!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Week 2 of the Adventures in Shanghai
Last couple of weeks have been interesting! Lets start with the lovely medical check! :) Well in order to stay in China you must pass a medical check to make sure you aren't passing on some infectious disease. The whole group got on the Disney English bus (yes there is one) and headed down. When we got there we got in line and filled out a bunch of paper work where a woman insisted I have heart disease (I don't), I gave up and let her believe this. We got to change in to a lovely robe type thing... very flattering. We had to have several things done that included feeling me up and making sure I don't have parasites or kidney disease. So after the lovely but yet very fast medical check (which I assume I passed since they let me out of the building and they have not come to get me at my hotel) we got the day off! :) We decided to fight the heat and go to Yu Gardens. I had no idea what this place was so I had no expectations. When we showed up we were all amazed by how beautiful and how peaceful it was. I think Lauren even said she wanted this built in her backyard :) Yu Garden is a national monument that was built in the 1500's to please someones parents. The garden was designed for peace and tranquility. Besides the heat, it was quite relaxing. It was very beautiful and never ending! :)
On a weekend we went to the Jade Buddha Temple. AMAZING! I really only went to say hey i went ... and plus everyone else was going LOL! But when we got there my mind quickly changed. In my pictures below you see a fire and some people behind it. This was a funeral or dedication ceremony to honor someone who passed. The people threw in money because they believe the man will need it in the after life. We then saw monks praying and chanting. They were doing this for the his soul. They were making sure that his sole was not suffering. Then they threw in all the donations in to the fire because he will need these things in the after life. It was quite interesting to see and I was so fascinated by everything! AMAZING! We saw many Buddhas, including the Jade Buddha... but sorry not pictures allowed! But something about it was very peaceful. It was a great place and recommend it to all! Hopefully you can see a ceremony like we did because it was interesting to see it actually taking place!
This past weekend we went to see The Shanghai Acrobats! Pretty cool! We all went as a big group for a co workers birthday. Definitely worth my 20 US dollars :)
We started work on Monday! I think my job at home has prepared me quite well for my job here! I think Lauren and I are going to be pros! :) I DID HOWEVER GET TO NAME A CHILD! In china they have English names that they make up. Its basically anything that sounds pretty or cool to them. Some of the names that are ACTUALLY in my class or others include: rainbow, yo yo, dong dong, pee pee, poo poo (pee pee and poo poo were siblings in a class awhile back.. no joke!), my, apple, peter pan and then list went on and on! Some keep their names: tang tang, Qang Qang, tong tong, Xin Xin (all of these kids are in one class... needless to say : I mess their names up alot!) And you have ones who were given a 'normal' name: john, johnny... SO when the mother gave me the honor of naming her child I froze! But I did was any other person would do I listed people I knew! Well my first thought was a disney character but i quickly shot that down. I started with my sisters lovely name! :) and my AT (assistant trainer aka MY CHINESE TRANSLATOR!)helped me pick it out but she vetoed that! I tried April and it reminded her of apple so she again said no... then i tried Julie and she said no then I tried JULIA! and she loved it and so did my student she LOVED LOVED LOVED IT! :) WHAT PRESSURE!!!!!!!!!! but i was happy she liked it! :)
Overall my experience in Shanghai has been awesome. The city is great! There is always something to do. I have to take video of us ordering food because we rely completely on the pictures in the menus and body/hand gestures for questions. Its quite humorous! I am however ridiculously homesick! I miss everyone so much! I know that in the end I will be a stronger person and I will value what I have so much more! But it will be a journey to get there! Anthony has been so supportive and my little izzie loves looking/listening to me on skype. Thanks for all your positive comments and reading my silly little blog! :) Love you all!!!
On a weekend we went to the Jade Buddha Temple. AMAZING! I really only went to say hey i went ... and plus everyone else was going LOL! But when we got there my mind quickly changed. In my pictures below you see a fire and some people behind it. This was a funeral or dedication ceremony to honor someone who passed. The people threw in money because they believe the man will need it in the after life. We then saw monks praying and chanting. They were doing this for the his soul. They were making sure that his sole was not suffering. Then they threw in all the donations in to the fire because he will need these things in the after life. It was quite interesting to see and I was so fascinated by everything! AMAZING! We saw many Buddhas, including the Jade Buddha... but sorry not pictures allowed! But something about it was very peaceful. It was a great place and recommend it to all! Hopefully you can see a ceremony like we did because it was interesting to see it actually taking place!
This past weekend we went to see The Shanghai Acrobats! Pretty cool! We all went as a big group for a co workers birthday. Definitely worth my 20 US dollars :)
We started work on Monday! I think my job at home has prepared me quite well for my job here! I think Lauren and I are going to be pros! :) I DID HOWEVER GET TO NAME A CHILD! In china they have English names that they make up. Its basically anything that sounds pretty or cool to them. Some of the names that are ACTUALLY in my class or others include: rainbow, yo yo, dong dong, pee pee, poo poo (pee pee and poo poo were siblings in a class awhile back.. no joke!), my, apple, peter pan and then list went on and on! Some keep their names: tang tang, Qang Qang, tong tong, Xin Xin (all of these kids are in one class... needless to say : I mess their names up alot!) And you have ones who were given a 'normal' name: john, johnny... SO when the mother gave me the honor of naming her child I froze! But I did was any other person would do I listed people I knew! Well my first thought was a disney character but i quickly shot that down. I started with my sisters lovely name! :) and my AT (assistant trainer aka MY CHINESE TRANSLATOR!)helped me pick it out but she vetoed that! I tried April and it reminded her of apple so she again said no... then i tried Julie and she said no then I tried JULIA! and she loved it and so did my student she LOVED LOVED LOVED IT! :) WHAT PRESSURE!!!!!!!!!! but i was happy she liked it! :)
Overall my experience in Shanghai has been awesome. The city is great! There is always something to do. I have to take video of us ordering food because we rely completely on the pictures in the menus and body/hand gestures for questions. Its quite humorous! I am however ridiculously homesick! I miss everyone so much! I know that in the end I will be a stronger person and I will value what I have so much more! But it will be a journey to get there! Anthony has been so supportive and my little izzie loves looking/listening to me on skype. Thanks for all your positive comments and reading my silly little blog! :) Love you all!!!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Lunch from .... CHINA!
During our first week of training, Disney decided to take us out for lunch. We went down the street for a lovely chinese meal. We all walked in the restaurant anixously awaiting the lovely meal. They bring out the first few things (in China they bring Cold items first then hot) we have cucumbers, an interesting looking mushroom thing, tofu, whole shrimp (with claws and antenna still on them) and some type of root. All of you who know me well enough knows I did not eat much of the first round. But I figured that there would be something else for me after the cold foods. To people from the west (america) we think of sweet and sour chicken/pork, general tso, etc. But in China we get whole fishes, fried eel, whole chickens, and funfetti beef cakes!SOOOOOO the hot foods begin to come out.... We started with some more tofu, then we got some crispy beef, its the picture with icing and sprinkles.... yes sprinkles with beef. To much hestitation I actually tried some and it was actually good! (I later saw it on a menu and was VERY realieved to find out that it was actual beef!). THEN CAME.... PIGEON!!!!!!! YES those are actual heads with beaks in the picture!!! I DID NOT REPEAT DID NOT TRY THIS! :) But i did try the fried eel (that is that picture of me eating). It was not good but it was not bad. I just stuck it in my mouth and went with it. Then came the whole fishes... I think a few vegatarians at the table were done but the fish staring at them finished them off and didnt want the rice when it finally came!
I didnt exactly leave full, but it was quite an experience! One that I probably wouldnt find anywhere else! Thank you Disney!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Bund and Old Shanghai
During my first week here, we explored parts of Shanghai that were close to our hotel. It was raining for almost all of the first week we got here! So I was super happy that I actually purchased an umbrella before I left! In the video (hoepfully it uploads) we are at the Bund. It is call the Bund SIghtseeing tunnel. I dont know why they call it a sightseeing tunnel because its goes under the river or through and its all these lights that just flash. We were warned that this was very cheesy... but we couldnt resist. We went over to Pudong and went to the biggest mall in Asia called Super Brand Mall (weird name... lol). It was huge! It was also nice to see that China had stores that werent on the side of the street! :) In a previous post I said that I went to the Bund. But on Tuesday, the 29th the rain decided to stop and the sun came out! FINALLY! so we decided to hit the Bund so we can see Pudong (which is across the river). The bund has beautiful buildings that light up at night. And Pudong has alot of big huge buildings that also light up. We went to Old City! FINALLY it felt REAL! It was sooooo beautiful! There were shoppes everywhere! It was soooo awesome and the lights made it amazing! Everyone agreed that we finally felt like we were in China! :)Sunday, June 27, 2010
Exploring the City and Culture
The first day in china included a chinese breakfast (which we can get every morning for FREE). Didnt know that rice is a breakfast food but it was still good. By the way, dont do what I have done with the chopsticks, it means you want to murder someone (I was told this after... oops). Which btw, I completely forgot about the whole utensils thing and should have brought my own! My meal takes twice as long to eat! But by the end of this I should be real good at using them.
We walked to the metro. Boy there are alot of people! The doors closed on some people. You gotta be quick and PUSH!!! No mercy just go! The first stop of the day included opening a chinese bank account. I think this means I am official! But opening this account for 13 people was not fun! You see... chinese dont really know what a line is. They like to skip. I got a dose of this on the airplane waiting for the bathroom. But after 3 hours of waiting and line skipping we were on our way to get a mobile phones. So I have a chinese number... anyone who wants to call me 15618080273 :). I am still pretty excited when I get a call or text! After going to the best buy for a phone we headed to sign our contracts for the summer. The center was so beautiful! It got me so excited to see everything! Cant wait to see the smart board in action! Our first day was over cause I came home and SLEPT and then woke up and then SLEPT and the woke up... schedule is off but at least I am sleeping now!
The second day was awesome. We went to the Bund. The Bund is a bunch of late 19th century colonial buildings on the west bank of the Huangpu River. In one of my books is says according to a local saying "all roads in Shanghai lead to the Bund." It was a rainy rainy morning, but yet their were alot of people at the Bund. We were stopped my three chinese young ladies. They wanted us to take a picture. Then they talked to us about where we were from. Their English was amazing they said they were from a university, and they were so sweet! They knew so many facts about where everyone was from. Then they invited us to a traditional tea ceremony at the Expo. We all wanted to go and felt bad for declining but we were waiting on another person to meet us. We went down and waited for our friend. While we were waiting, Lindsey (a summer worker from Cali) was looking at what we should see in the Bund. She then gasped and read out loud a section on scams. It basically just described what happened to us on the bund with the chinese girls.They would later try and have us rack up a high bill at the tea shop.... WOW we dodged a bullet! So not even 10 minutes later and we opened to read about the scam. God was watching over us that morning! :)
We decided to head over to the French Concession. Man was it beautiful! and I saw WHITE PEOPLE! lol! Alot of foreigners or expats live in this area. Mostly everything was written in English and Chinese. The streets are lined with trees and its actually very quiet from the other parts of the city. Its filled with shops and restaurants. This will be the first of many times we visit the french concession! This day was so exhausting... but it ended with an art show back in the french concession and a fabulous dinner at a hot pot restaurant. We ate and ate and ate! It was basically like a big pot and we cook a bunch of meats, veggies and tofu. Much to my surprise it was awesome! Yummy yummy... but some (NOT ME) felt the repercussions of this much later! lol!
Awesome few days in Shanghai!!! :) What a wonderful city!
No One can Prepare you....
After months of waiting and waiting, the day had finally come! After very little sleep, I got up at 4 am to head to the airport. At this point, its still not a reality that I, Meghan Portal, is actually heading to Shanghai to live for 2 months. I laid with Izzie (my beautiful, spunky daughter aka puppy) and cried as I knew that I would have to be away from her for months. As she licked my tears I couldnt help but wonder who would do that in China? Its certainly not going to be a puppy, they prefer to eat DOG!
I finally broke away from her and headed to the airport. As what normally feels like a 15 minute drive, felt like an hour. I continued to cry and think about Anthony and Izzie, wondering if Izzie will sit in front of a webcam so I can see her. FINALLY, I got to the airport and checked in. Waiting for me was my partner in crime for the trip Lauren.
So the trip to China began....
So we jumped on the flight to San Fran. Lauren and I got to sit next to each other in a lovely emergency exit seat. WOW to all that space! We got to San Fran with no problem. We eagerly jumped off the plane to find out that our plane to Shanghai was delayed by 3 hours. This meant that we were going to be in the airport for 7 1/2 hours!
We waited and waited and waited to finally board and take off at 4:40 pm. Lauren gets to sit next to me again!
NO ONE, I MEAN NO ONE!!!! CAN PREPARE YOU FOR THE LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG FLIGHT TO CHINA! Did I mention that the flight was LONG!?!?!?! WIth the combination of BORING movies and lack of sleep, this trip never ended!!! OH, and every time I went to the bathroom, an old chinese man would skip me and jump in to the bathroom! Finally, I mean FINALLY we got to Shanghai at 8:40, making the trip 27 hours!
Disney English people were waiting for us and we jumped in a van and headed to the hotel. Finally a bed! Too bad I was too excited to really sleep.
I finally broke away from her and headed to the airport. As what normally feels like a 15 minute drive, felt like an hour. I continued to cry and think about Anthony and Izzie, wondering if Izzie will sit in front of a webcam so I can see her. FINALLY, I got to the airport and checked in. Waiting for me was my partner in crime for the trip Lauren.
So the trip to China began....
So we jumped on the flight to San Fran. Lauren and I got to sit next to each other in a lovely emergency exit seat. WOW to all that space! We got to San Fran with no problem. We eagerly jumped off the plane to find out that our plane to Shanghai was delayed by 3 hours. This meant that we were going to be in the airport for 7 1/2 hours!
We waited and waited and waited to finally board and take off at 4:40 pm. Lauren gets to sit next to me again!
NO ONE, I MEAN NO ONE!!!! CAN PREPARE YOU FOR THE LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG FLIGHT TO CHINA! Did I mention that the flight was LONG!?!?!?! WIth the combination of BORING movies and lack of sleep, this trip never ended!!! OH, and every time I went to the bathroom, an old chinese man would skip me and jump in to the bathroom! Finally, I mean FINALLY we got to Shanghai at 8:40, making the trip 27 hours!
Disney English people were waiting for us and we jumped in a van and headed to the hotel. Finally a bed! Too bad I was too excited to really sleep.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The adventure begins....
My adventure begins.... What do I pack!?! Good thing I have a partner in this journey who knows alittle more about traveling than I do. Any suggestions what to bring? I guess lots of books since there is no FACEBOOK!! :)
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