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Virtual Experience
Eat & Exercise
Being that it was Thanksgiving weekend, I will admit I missed the traditional meal of the west and swapped it for traditional food of the east. My taste buds however only went along with this replacement for one day because I found myself at KFC the next day ordering the colonel’s secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices! During this quick trip, I also spent a lot of time and money in Starbucks, and it wasn’t only for the beverage choices. It became my place of support as I was trying to navigate the city with little to no Mandarin vocabulary!
As for exercise, I hit my move goal daily. The weather was just right to sight see and get lost (which for those who know me, is not a hard thing to do). You may be asking why didn’t you just use Google maps? Reason being, I didn’t have a SIM card and VPN. If you ever want a challenge, visit a country where English is the exception and not the norm then remove the option to use your phone for guidance and support. All of the aforementioned was the perfect recipe for KB to get more of Shanghai’s scenic experience! When I was with my niece (one of my BFF’s daughters), things were grand. Without this MoCo native and MCPS graduate, I not only exercised my body but also my brain!
Pray
As I mentioned above, being in a foreign land with limited ways to communicate requires you to become very purposeful in where you go and how you request assistance. I arrived in the wee hours of the morning and knew I had an hour drive to my hotel. Someone whose badge stated he was airport transportation and spoke English spotted me heading to the taxi depot. I followed him out to ground transportation and while on my way said a prayer asking God to show me if he was legit and if making this choice was a wise one. Within 3 minutes I discerned that it wasn’t a wise decision, which ended in the newly chosen taxi driver and the former transporter arguing. Needless to say, I arrived safely and paid a hundred dollars less than what I was initially quoted when choosing transportation. Talk about Psalms 32:8 (NLT) in action: “The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
Not only did God watch over me then, but He continues to. After witnessing my niece and her brilliance and bravery in action, I know without a doubt that He is doing the same for her. I have been told that I am brave and bold to move overseas and live without initially knowing anyone. Although there is merit to that statement, I made the choice in my thirties. Seeing her navigate and thrive in her early twenties is truly astonishing and my prayer is that greater works are to come for her life and through her life.
Love
I again love the way God works. Who knew that when I was befriended by an intelligent Louisiana born native and pharmacist over twenty years ago while working as a college student at FDA, that a friendship turned family relationship would be born? When we met, her daughter was two. To see that grown two-year-old now in China is my very own version of Kinu (A Different World reference) I would have never thought. I was thrilled to go into establishments and see her wow the owners and other patrons with her Mandarin skills. It felt as though I was traveling with a celebrity!
To love God is to know God and vice versa. What I know for sure is that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, and what’s not to love about that! I would never have thought I would be living in Asia at this time in my life nor would I have imagined that my bestie’s daughter would be too. Once again I am thankful for this season of my life and look forward to what’s to come.
Teach
Consider this next tidbit of information my PSA for those who will travel in traditional Asian countries. Life has taught me that peace of mind comes at a cost. Allow me to explain. In the Chinese culture, squat toilets still reign supreme. We all know how I feel about camping; so squatty potties do not make the cut. While sightseeing one afternoon, I paid $9 USD to have tea at the Fairmont so that I would have access to their western style facilities. Thus, peace of mind came at the expense of a cup of peppermint tea!
Highlights of my Shanghai include People’s Square, Yu Garden, The Bund, Oriental Pearl, and a cruise down the Huangpu River. People’s Square was my starting point daily for my adventures. I had successfully figured out how to get to it from the 15-minute walk to the metro by my hotel. A TripAdvisor reviewer describes People’s Square as such, “Historically the park was part of the racetrack during the 30’s for which the only reminder of the track is a clock tower on the North West. On the North East, you will find the Nanjing Road walkway, which leads all the way to the Bund. On weekends the park becomes busy as Chinese parents often come here to find suitable partners for their children.” Yes, you read correctly, before any online dating apps, Chinese parents were vetting suitable partners for their children to include photos and specs.
Next up on my tour, Yu Garden that is nestled near Yuyuan Bazaar. The garden houses an exquisite 5-ton jade rock that was said to have been meant for the Imperial Palace in Beijing but sank in transit and later recovered. Yuyuan Bazaar bustled with tourists, and after a while, every shop came down to selling traditional souvenirs, pearls, scarfs, or fans.
The Bund has a rich history of housing impressive commercial buildings for the financial district that was birthed at the turn of the 20th century. After the communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, many of the financial institutions were moved out, and hotels, clubs, and other businesses took residence. Due to the thawing of economic policy in the 70s and 80s, the financial institutions returned home as marked by their own bronze statue of a bull.
The Oriental Pearl houses a radio and TV station. The tower features 11 spheres, big and small. The two largest spheres, along the length of the tower, have diameters of 50 m (164 ft) for the lower and 45 m (148 ft) for the upper. They are linked by three columns, each 9 m (30 ft) in diameter. The highest sphere is 14 m (46 ft) in diameter. The entire tower is supported by three enormous columns that start underground. – Wikipedia
Shanghai itself is considered the Paris of the east. When traveling around the city, it had an NYC vibe matched with stores one would only find on 5th avenue. It is said that Shanghai serves as the most influential economic, financial, international trade, and cultural center in East China.