Lesson learned
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.
