Hi everyone!
Day 3 in Shanghai is coming to a close and it has been pretty incredible. I have learned a few words - lu (road), xiexie (thank you), nihao (hello), gampei (cheers), baba (dad) and am starting to recognize a few very simple characters.
Yesterday I learned how to navigate the Shanghai subway and I feel like a pro now! Though that's not really saying much because it is so easy! We went to Yuyuan Garden in the morning, which was beautiful, then we walked around Yuyuan bazaar and saw all the hand made crafts, souvenirs, and so much food! We got green tea ice cream and the most delicious dumplings I have ever had!!! I also got to watch Jeanette haggle for a better price for a small souvenir. I didn't know what they were saying but I could definitely understand the conversation!
Today, we went to Jing'an Temple which is an old Buddhist temple. It was all but destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and turned into a plastics factory. During the cultural revolution, almost all things with religious significance or Western influence were destroyed and/or repurposed. The temple was converted back to a temple in the 80s and the restorations were only completed in 2010. It was absolutely stunning. There was a 3 meter high sterling silver Buddha that weighed 1.8 tonnes! After the temple, we went and explored the Old French Concessions. There was a long time that different parts of Shanghai were occupied and controlled by different European countries and the French had a large architectural impact on a section of the city. The buildings are still in the French colonial style and are very striking against the high rises in the background.
After that, Ronnie, Jeanette's mom, took us to the Children's Palace and told us stories of her childhood. She said all the best students in elementary school got invited to the Children's Palace and she was invited often. They watched movies, played games, and were showed off to dignitaries and presidents when they came to Shanghai. She used to love going there and was saddened to see it isn't used as an after school program any more. Now it is used more for recreational activities like ballet recitals, children's concert's, etc. Our last stop of the tour was St. Ignatius Cathedral in old Shanghai. Which was beautiful because it is one of the few buildings that was protected during the Cultural Revolution so it is still in its original state.
Then we headed back home to have a family dinner. We have had a family dinner every night since we've been here. Jeanette's aunt and uncle, cousin and cousin in law as well as their son, me, Jeanette, and Ronnie all dig in. The traditional family dinner consists of many bowls and plates of different foods - meat, vegetables, soups, etc - and each person has their own very small bowl, chopsticks, and a spoon. Throughout the entire dinner, people are reaching across you and filling their bowls and talking and laughing all night long. We usually finish dinner with some sort of fruit for dessert (watermelon, giant grapes, yellow kiwi, etc.). Jeanette's uncle loves baojho, which literally translates to white alcohol and it is a very potent rice wine - just the smell will knock you back! I've settled for Chinese red wine which is an adventure in and of itself!
Hope all is well!!!
M
PS!
Hapy 4th of July!
