We have now started our Survival Chinese Lessons. Yesterday was the first day for those. My teacher's name is Fiona, and she is a senior at a school here. It is quite funny because I keep getting the song from Eurotrip stuck in my head. Of course, I am too nice to keep this torture to myself so I keep reminding the other people. In the afternoon, we went to the Shanghai Zoo （上海动物园）. It was probably one of the most interesting visits to a zoo I have had. They have brought several pandas here for the World Expo. I am used to animals sleeping and being being boring when I go to the zoo. The pandas were quite active. They were bathing, eating, and playing. Pictures will follow if I can get them to upload. The tigers and lions were actually moving around. To top things off, we had the pleasure of watching a gorilla enjoy his own delicious waste products. For dinner we went to a Sichuan restaurant. Sichuan is known for its spicy food. However, this spice is more numbing than it is hot. The food was delicious and we got to have eggplant. Additionally, we had the opportunity to view a face changing performance. A man was dressed up with a painted face or a mask (I am not quite sure). He danced and when he would touch his face, it would change to a new one with a different color. It was more exciting than I had anticipated.
Today, after our Chinese lessons, we had presentations about what to expect from two teachers who already have been teaching here. It was helpful and scary at the same time. After lunch we went to a cultural center to learn how to make dumplings. Although they were not the most beautiful dumplings ever made, they still tasted good. Unfortunately many of us were already full from lunch. We also received certificates saying we have been trained to make them. For dinner we went to a famous vegetarian restaurant. This place didn't serve any meat, egg product, or alcohol. It also didn't allow smoking. (Smoking is very common here in China.) I was surprised at the variety of dishes that could be created without using meat. Many of the dishes even tasted like meat. After dinner, we went to an acrobat show. If anyone ever has a chance to go to one in China, I assure you that it is well worth your money. This particular performance did not use any safety lines. I could tell because I was in the second row. The finale was a sphere cage with motorcycles. I didn't think you could have five of them going at once. Rather, I can't image why you would even want to try.
That is all for now. I hope everyone is well!
Today, after our Chinese lessons, we had presentations about what to expect from two teachers who already have been teaching here. It was helpful and scary at the same time. After lunch we went to a cultural center to learn how to make dumplings. Although they were not the most beautiful dumplings ever made, they still tasted good. Unfortunately many of us were already full from lunch. We also received certificates saying we have been trained to make them. For dinner we went to a famous vegetarian restaurant. This place didn't serve any meat, egg product, or alcohol. It also didn't allow smoking. (Smoking is very common here in China.) I was surprised at the variety of dishes that could be created without using meat. Many of the dishes even tasted like meat. After dinner, we went to an acrobat show. If anyone ever has a chance to go to one in China, I assure you that it is well worth your money. This particular performance did not use any safety lines. I could tell because I was in the second row. The finale was a sphere cage with motorcycles. I didn't think you could have five of them going at once. Rather, I can't image why you would even want to try.
That is all for now. I hope everyone is well!
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