Arriving at Shanghai University of Electric Power we saw kids pouring from the building and into the road. A change from the last school, we were glad to see some of the students. Driving in we were greeted with a large red sign that read “Welcome teachers and students from Lander University”. We could already feel the warm and welcoming people of Shanghai University.
We checked into the hotel/guest house on campus that the foreigners stay (professors and other visiting groups). I haven’t got use to being called a “Foreigner”. Shortly after we came down to the multi-purpose type room and met several students. For lunch, the students showed us how to make our own dumplings, jiaozi, a traditional Chinese dish. After making them, they boiled them and we were able to eat. We then played several games, and I even won a Chinese painting that says “Chinese Dream”.
Next, three of the students took us for a quick campus tour. The basketball and soccer field quickly caught our attention. By the end of the tour, several of us had already decided we were playing basketball. We changed, headed to court and with seven of us and one Chinese student we played a game of four-on-four. After seeing the turf soccer field I was dying to play, and so was Pedro. One of the Chinese students who gave us a tour contacted some of the soccer players who were playing on the field already and asked if we could play. They let us, but insisted it be Americans verses Chinese. We thought they were going to cream us but I think they went a little easy on us because we managed to score several goals. It was such a good experience. I kept thinking to myself “I am playing basketball in Shanghai, China” “I can’t believe I am playing soccer in Shanghai, China”. It seemed so surreal. If anyone would have asked me a year ago what I thought I would be doing today, never would I have even began to say “Playing basketball and soccer in Shanghai”. Even being here for almost a week, I can’t fathom the fact that I am actually here, in China. Playing with the students, and getting a little exercise, was definitely a highlight of my trip.
We meet Jeremy, an English professor, and his wife, earlier in the day and they asked us to dinner at a place they call “The Pink Tablecloths” a short walk from the school. At 6:30 we gathered to meet them and head to the restaurant. They invited two of the students we meet earlier in the day, who are also Jeremy's students, to go to dinner with us. Jeremy's wife order fifteen dishes for both of our tables to eat. So, dish after dish after dish, oh yeah, and another dish, we were stuffed! We had been wanting something with a little more spice, and we sure did get that. I love peppers and onions, but almost every dish had spicy red peppers. Those are too spicy for me. I got to try some frog and chinese fries (very similar to french fries). If only I had a little bit of ketchup I would have been set! Our meal at “The Pink Tablecloths” was by far my favorite in taste. It was so delicious. And, the restaurant did in fact have pink tablecloths.
*Prior to the trip I was told that an American citizen who works in China could only send a small portion of their income back to the US so that the money stays in China’s economy. Out of curiosity, when we ran into another English professor on the elevator I asked him. He said he can’t send more than thirty-thousand back without penalty.
We checked into the hotel/guest house on campus that the foreigners stay (professors and other visiting groups). I haven’t got use to being called a “Foreigner”. Shortly after we came down to the multi-purpose type room and met several students. For lunch, the students showed us how to make our own dumplings, jiaozi, a traditional Chinese dish. After making them, they boiled them and we were able to eat. We then played several games, and I even won a Chinese painting that says “Chinese Dream”.
Next, three of the students took us for a quick campus tour. The basketball and soccer field quickly caught our attention. By the end of the tour, several of us had already decided we were playing basketball. We changed, headed to court and with seven of us and one Chinese student we played a game of four-on-four. After seeing the turf soccer field I was dying to play, and so was Pedro. One of the Chinese students who gave us a tour contacted some of the soccer players who were playing on the field already and asked if we could play. They let us, but insisted it be Americans verses Chinese. We thought they were going to cream us but I think they went a little easy on us because we managed to score several goals. It was such a good experience. I kept thinking to myself “I am playing basketball in Shanghai, China” “I can’t believe I am playing soccer in Shanghai, China”. It seemed so surreal. If anyone would have asked me a year ago what I thought I would be doing today, never would I have even began to say “Playing basketball and soccer in Shanghai”. Even being here for almost a week, I can’t fathom the fact that I am actually here, in China. Playing with the students, and getting a little exercise, was definitely a highlight of my trip.
We meet Jeremy, an English professor, and his wife, earlier in the day and they asked us to dinner at a place they call “The Pink Tablecloths” a short walk from the school. At 6:30 we gathered to meet them and head to the restaurant. They invited two of the students we meet earlier in the day, who are also Jeremy's students, to go to dinner with us. Jeremy's wife order fifteen dishes for both of our tables to eat. So, dish after dish after dish, oh yeah, and another dish, we were stuffed! We had been wanting something with a little more spice, and we sure did get that. I love peppers and onions, but almost every dish had spicy red peppers. Those are too spicy for me. I got to try some frog and chinese fries (very similar to french fries). If only I had a little bit of ketchup I would have been set! Our meal at “The Pink Tablecloths” was by far my favorite in taste. It was so delicious. And, the restaurant did in fact have pink tablecloths.
*Prior to the trip I was told that an American citizen who works in China could only send a small portion of their income back to the US so that the money stays in China’s economy. Out of curiosity, when we ran into another English professor on the elevator I asked him. He said he can’t send more than thirty-thousand back without penalty.
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