In Transit

When Matt came to visit over Chinese New Year we walked all over Shanghai. Here is a collection of photos that show our travels by foot and by subway. The comments in the slide show give you background on where we were at each place. Experiencing a place on foot is completely different than seeing it through the window of a car and is my favorite way to get the feel for a city.

Streets of Shanghai During Chinese New Year

Question - Where is your favorite place to talk a walk?

Cheers!

The Beauty Salon - Part I

Sometimes all it takes is vocalizing something to make the opposite come true. When Marisha and Arnel were here I commented that most Chinese men aren’t interested in western women – especially very tall western women. Serves me right for saying that!

One of the things that Marisha wanted to do while she was in China was get her hair dyed. Since she’s had the kids she has been cutting her hair herself and I made it my mission that she get some pampering during her visit here. I took her to the same salon that I went to back in December that I’ve been to before – great cuts, attentive service and low prices. Since I had gotten my hair cut two weeks earlier, I just sat in one of the chairs and translated for Marisha (and Arnel) as necessary.

My Chinese has been improving steadily, but by no means am I fluent. Conversations with people who don’t speak English, like my cleaning lady or the salon boys, are punctuated with, “Ting, bu dong” – “I hear you, but I don’t understand.” Hence, the comment I made at the beginning – it was a slow afternoon at the salon and one of the stylists made it his job to amuse me. It started with, “Do you have a boyfriend?” and progressed to “It would be very convenient if you were my girlfriend” to “Will you kiss me?” It was all in good fun and I would have been prepared to leave it at that, but before we left I had to go to the bathroom.

My new friend (see the picture above) followed me, ostensibly to make sure that I made it down the long hallway and around to the toilet. He then waited for me and when I was done attempted to pin me against the wall and take the kiss which I had refused in the salon. I was rather taken aback and managed to do a slight sidestep, give him a hug and speedily exit.

The post script to this story was one that evening last week when walking home from work I was waiting to cross the street and a guy on a motorbike pulled up right in front of me, pointed directly at me and then the back seat of his bike and said (in Chinese) – “You, sit right here!” Definitely unexpected.

Now that I have been proved wrong, I just have to find the attractive Chinese men who are interested in tall Western women.

Question – Ladies, where have you received your strangest pick-up lines? This has to be one of my strangest although I did get a marriage proposal from a random guy on North Avenue beach a couple of years ago. Gents – what’s your strangest pick-up line that you’ve actually used?

Public space

Last night I finished work a little early (around 9pm) because I was testing a class and testing doesn't take the entire period. The weather was warm - mid60s or so - and I was walking towards the subway station when I suddenly heard music. Normally this would not cause me to pause, but this was ballroom dance music and I was walking down one of the biggest streets in Pudong, Century Avenue (or Shiji Da Dao). Looking around, in the square across the street there were about two dozen couples waltzing together, enjoying the evening under the street lights, twirling and dipping. Now all I need to do is find a partner.

Question - Where's your favorite place to dance?

Chinese New Year at Yu Garden

On New Year's Day (February 7th), Matt, Chris and I went to Yu Garden - one of the main tourist attractions in Shanghai. So it seems, did most of the Shanghai population. The garden and surrounding area were absolutely packed with people. The attached slide show is our recordings of the day and experiences. The photo that I have chosen for the cover is Chris and my favorite photo - Chris took it while we were on the bridge of 9 turns. It is supposed to be lucky to cross the bridge because bad things cannot follow you as you cross the 9 turns. I don't think anyone could have followed across the bridge with that many people on it.

Chinese New Year at Yu Garden

I have many photos to post from New Year's as well as Marisha and Arnel's visit. I will post them as I can. Unfortunately I have had the flu the last couple of days and am still recovering.

Question - These are pictures from Chinese New Year - what are some of your New Year's traditions?

Cheers!