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!!!