Super Woman Adventures

Lesson One – Don’t ever go out in Shanghai when it’s raining.

So I decided (after the persuasive powers of Mustang) that shopping can’t be the only thing I do in Shanghai. It’s important to get out there and do some ‘cultural immersion’. I had heard from a parent that the Shanghai Art Museum was holding their annual event ‘Bienale’. The theme this year is Trans Local Motion. Goodness knows what that means but it was a transport theme which ties in well with our unit this quarter on ‘Migration’.

The thing is I had no one to go with. But I thought to myself…this is your adventure…you need to go outside your comfort zone! So after giving myself a stern talking to I ventured into the wild streets of Shanghai, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead!

Found a taxi easily…had the address written in my Shanghai Residents Guide and even explained where it was in Chinese! Not bad I thought…great start!

Turned one corner…grid lock! Ah well, I tell myself, it’s only 2.30 and the exhibition finishes at 5pm…plenty of time! Arrived at the top of Nanjing Road at 3pm…more gridlock. Ah well, I tell myself, I know where to go, I’ll just walk! Paid the taxi driver and began walking. Little did I know that I had to walk the full length of Nanjing Road…one of the longest roads in downtown Shanghai! Ah well, I tell myself, think of all the calories I’m burning!

Then the rain starts…lightly at first, then heavier and heavier…I found out later I was walking through a typhoon! Ah well, I tell myself, I have my umbrella, it’s only my legs that are getting a little soggy.

I finally reached the Art Museum…1 hour later. Hooray!!!! I’ve made it! Time for some culture!! Shake myself off, find the entrance and two rather stern looking security guards who not very graciously tell me in their broken English that no, I cannot enter, the museum has shut for the day.

Ah well, I tell myself, I gave it a shot! Maybe I can come back another time, at least I now know where it is. It’s 4.15pm anyway, I should head home and have a nice shower and a cup of tea…except…no taxis. Anyone who has spent any time in Shanghai will know that for every 3 cars, one will always be a taxi. So why couldn’t I get one? Rain…bloody rain. No more ‘ah well’, I told myself, this is just too much!!!

6pm…driving rain…still no taxi. Very soggy and not a happy camper. Finally decided to call my Chinese friend for advice…the beautiful soul came and saved me! So after leaving the house at 2.30pm I finally arrived home at 7pm with no culture but a very important lesson learned.

Bit of a pain of a week. Our new school building is still not finished. So we’re all cramping ourselves into existing classrooms for a few weeks while it gets done. I guess that’s the thing with China, time has a different meaning.  People do not want to disappoint you or say no. They would rather apologise later than say no straight out. The impact of this is that we have no building to move into and the children are starting on Monday! Ah well…that’s life I guess. We’re all going in tomorrow (Sunday) to set up our teaching spaces. Could be an interesting day.

I went to the Flower Market today. What a beautiful relaxing thing to do! No crowds of people and the smell of fresh flowers and green leaves everywhere. I bought a small bouquet of jasmine, an orchid and a large indoor pot plant that is taller than me! Thank goodness they deliver! It’s so nice to have some green in the apartment. Makes it feel like home.

So on the way back from this beautiful experience, sitting in the taxi, wind blowing through my hair, what do I see? A man, mid to late 40s, dash across the street to the nature strip and vomit the entire contents of his stomach. It was like a waterfall of orange gunk…My initial reaction was ‘oh my goodness…is he ok?’ Then I moved to….that’s gross!!! Glad to know the former was my first response!

After a small recharge at my apartment, Amy and I decided we would tackle IKEA. They have some really great stuff that is ridiculously cheap. Has anyone seen those documentaries of Asian railway stations with the men that push you onto the train? Well that’s what IKEA is like on the weekend. My ankles are still recovering from being rammed by trolleys! A year ago I wouldn’t cope with such craziness but I took it all in my stride and even pushed a few people out of the way myself! We zipped through IKEA as fast as we could and filled our trolleys…then we reached the checkouts…AGH!!!! 20 checkouts with each one 20 customers deep! It took us half an hour to reach the checkout and purchase our goodies. This wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the man behind me.  He had absolutely no regard for my personal space and stood directly behind me while I waited in the queue for half an hour! Amy stood in the next queue laughing her head off…it was so bizarre! So I tried a little trick…I turned side on and put my hand on my hip, thinking that would give me more space. Ba bow…he moved closer so that my elbow was digging into his stomach! Bloody hilarious!

Never mind…there was a cute cute black French guy in the next line over…at least the view was good!

Zaijian wo de pengyomen

xx

1^st September Mustang and I celebrated our First Anniversary! Very sad that we were not in the same location but we are both flexible and creative people so we adapted! I received the most beautiful bunch of red roses at work! Goodness knows how Mustang figured out where I worked and how to get the address…I guess the internet really does tell you everything!

In the evening we had a date on Skype! Very romantic! I lit some candles, opened some wine and he did the same. Then we sat on Skype, ate our dinners together and spoke for a few hours. It was such a lovely evening and we weren’t even in the same house!

Then today I receive a beautiful card in the mail! Somehow Mustang had worked out how to print a card that has a photo of the two of us on the front! He also wrote an amazing message inside…better not tell you all what he wrote coz he might be embarrassed! But it was beautiful and heartfelt. I am a very very lucky girl!

I’m not so happy that the gift I was having delivered to his workplace didn’t arrive. I hope he gets it soon!

Other Funny Tid Bits:

• Watching women ride push bikes in high heels
• Today I saw a man riding a motorcycle with a horse riding helmet on!
• Looking through the drinks list at a bar and finding the ‘Cocktalls’ section (insert rude joke here)
• Learning naughty words in Chinese and accidentally offending the taxi driver whilst practicing!

Zaijian!

xx