Fire -- 火灾

Hi everyone!

I know that some of you more well-informed individuals have heard already about the huge fire outbreak in the Shanghai downtown. I'm okay and everyone on is campus is fine. The fire began mid-afternoon in a 10 story apartment complex in the center of the Jing'an district静安区 (famous for its Jing'an Temple 静安寺).
Apparently, some of the scaffolds caught on fire and set the uppermost floor on fire. From there, the fire spread and the building was quickly evacuated. However, this evacuation did not keep 90 people from being injured and 14 deaths (a number of victims that could've been avoided).
If you don't know something about construction in China, scaffolds are not made of steel, but bamboo. Our guess (although the press would never say so) is that a worker was smoking and failed to be careful about putting out his cigarette, but the news has not mentioned the cause of the fire. The fire was put out around 7 pm last night. During the day, I saw a huge chimney of black smoke through the bathroom window (I live on the 15th floor of my building) and only at dinner did I find out what happened. I do not live far away from the Jing'an district - only 3 subways stops, so the smoke was more than visible (although the building was not). People stormed the area like tourists, taking pictures and trying to get a better view -- a reaction that I very much dislike. People dying is not something to gawk at. Where the rest of the survivors are going is beyond me. It is hard to find space in Shanghai. That being said, the building won't take long to be reconstructed. Things are built quickly in Shanghai and things move on.

Things that I roll my eyes at....

I forget to describe the usual life here and what it feels like to live in Shanghai...here's a brief description of life here:

Right now I'm living in one of the nicer dorms here on campus. Chinese service extends a gracious hand to making sure international students are well-pampered during their stay abroad. We have nice warm beds, an air conditioner (that can also act as a heater), nice showers with full time hot water, and a clean** bathroom (I'll return to this in a minute). Provided in the room is a tv, a hot water thermos (hot water tap is in the bathroom because you can't drink the water), desk with western outlets (my american plugs work!),etc....In comparison is the Chinese students dormitory, which has a less comfortable bed, slightly less space, no air conditioning unit, and no full-time service shower. Instead, at night, I often see groups of girls in their bathrobes and towels walking back from the showers (located outside and around their dorm) carrying their shampoo, etc. The hot water is timed, and the showers are of lesser quality. I'd also like to mention that this is one of the top three universities in Shanghai. So when the girls on my floor decide to smoke it up in the bathroom and leave their cigarette ashes everywhere (the sink, toilet, and on top of the toilet paper dispenser) - I have to roll my eyes. Not only this, but some people think it's okay to cook their meals (which is fine by me) and then leave the food remains in the sink or on the counter - which inevitably leaves at least 3 of the 6 sinks clogged EVERYDAY. Not to mention the toilets, which are clogged at least 4 or 5 times a day, both by people who can't take care of their #2s or by understanding that toilet systems in China DO NOT SUPPORT throwing away toilet paper. It clogs the system, and don't tell me you don't know because it is CLEARLY marked on every single door. You are just lazy and rude. Furthermore, it's not the Chinese way to go up to floor and ask for a meeting about proper bathroom etiquette, but instead accuse the person who happens to be in the bathroom at the time the maids are cleaning up the mess (3 times a day). On some days, this is my roommate, and on some days it is me.

These things can be helped. Toilet paper can be thrown in the waste basket located right next to the toilet, cigarettes can be smoked out on each corridor's balcony, food can be thrown away in the trash (instead of down the drain), and if a mess is made, it usually takes 1 minute to clean up. That way, when I want to brush my teeth or wash my face in the morning, I don't have look at a clogged sink of previous food scraps and food spittle staring back at me. Not pleasant, folks. And it hurts to know that these people don't understand how spoiled we are for being in this dorm in the first place. All I can really do, though, is just roll my eyes.

River Town: 2 years on the Yangtze (长江）

Usually I'd write about something exciting that's happening here, but things are pretty calm as Midterms are approaching (one full week from now). Luckily, I only need to take one week of my midterm exams, and then no more tests until I leave!!!! (how sweet is that?!?!) Thus I'd like to dedicate some of this blogspace to a book I've been reading for my St. Olaf culture class sponsored here. The book, River Town: 2 years on the Yangtze by Peter Hessler (who also did Oracle Bones), is utterly fascinating.

Peter Hessler, after graduating from Oxford, leaves America with his good friend to join the Peace Corps. With no Chinese experiences before, he and his friend are shipped off to Fuling (a small city near the 3 Gorges Dam -- under construction at the time) for the next 2 years, employed to teach English and Western literature. And the story goes on -- Peter writes detailed accounts of mistakes he makes (wearing shorts in China to an assembly and arguing back to teacher) and his life as a foreigner living among Chinese (one of two in the entire city....the other one, being his friend). A lot of the cultural differences I already knew, from growing up around Asian Americans and being in China a good number of times already. But the fact that he led this life right after he graduated from school made it all the more relevant to my journey in the east. As I continue to read his memoirs, I find that I'm not just reading about his journey, but lining up similar aspects to my own.

ah, well -- that's enough ramblings for now......
not much is going on. just studying and relaxing......

ADDRESSS

pleeeeeeeease, if you are going to send me a letter by snail mail, be aware of a couple things (even though it's probably too late)

1) it takes 3 FULL weeks to arrive. Please do not send post after the 1st week in December because of this reason
2) you MUST put my room # on the envelope: #1501
3)please PRINT your handwriting (not cursive or sloppy etc etc) -- the people receiving post have very little English skills. Bonus to you if you use CAPITALIZED LETTERS.

thank you everyone!!!

Expo con't

Recently I’ve been thinking how fitting it was for the Olympics to be hosted in Beijing, China’s symbol of “Ancient China”, and the Expo hosted in China’s international capital: Shanghai.  This year’s World’s Fair theme was “Better City, Better Life – 城市，让生活更美好”, inviting all other countries to see China’s current progress into a 发达国家 (developed nation), and to share their own achievements as well.  Aside from putting quite a bit of time and money into the outside of the pavilions, the insides were themed so that the browser could easily see the progress made in different technologies, culture, and social welfare.  

My Mom and I only stopped in a couple of the pavilions, namely because the rest of the lines were ridiculously long.  Unusually, there were only a handful of foreigners walking around – the vast majority of the Expo participants were from mainland China.  Even more unusually, they would wait 3 hours in line just to see pavilions like Lichtenstein, the Netherlands, Sweden, and other non major western countries (such as France, Germany, England, etc..) – even the line for Poland was long!  For those of you who don’t really know how the Expo works, here’s a quick description:

----Imagine a large area (the length and width of a couple city blocks) that, instead of being filled with apartment complexes, contain a uniquely designed building from each country of the world.  There buildings aren’t small either – some were about the size of a football stadium!  The place was so large that they had their own “expo subway” and “expo public bus” systems – crazy, huh?  Then add the number of people.  Each line had about 3 hours wait with a TON of Chinese people.  On October 16^th, the visitors numbered 1,000,000.  One million people.  It was definitely a 黑压压 (a sea of black).  You have your entrance ticket and then can wait in line.  After waiting in line, you get ushered through a mini-country museum.  It take 10x the amount of time to wait in that line than the amount spent in the actual pavilion. =(  Disappointing.  I was really hoping that each pavilion would have free food or free stuff, but my dreams were crushed.  Food was super expensive – 4x the amount you could pay for it outside of the Expo.  I wouldn’t go back unless there were some massive changes to it (like the museum parts had more information) or they had free food. =D  (you know where my heart is, right?)  The thing that they did best was the relevant connections to China and China’s development.  Each country had something to point to a growing relationship with China – even with countries I wouldn’t associate together (such as Luxembourg….which is still ruled by a monarchy…I did not know this…)

It was great to go there, but I think some change and more enthusiasm from participating countries would be nice.  And taking down the advertisements posted in the USA pavilion would be even better. (really people? Did you have to put up 100 company logos at the front??? *sigh*)

As of late, I have been escorting my mom around (who just left for the states yesterday).  She can tell you all about it.  And as of now, just studying and hanging around.  Sleeping – a lot.  I’m supposedly going to an art museum today with a friend…..let you know about that later…..

expoEXPOEEEEEXXXPOOOOOOO

I finally got around to making it to the World Expo at Shanghai (上海世博 - literally: Shanghai World Museum) after many weeks of studying, hanging out with cool people, and doing other more interesting things.  I don't really like tourist places unless they have something really neat and unique to offer.  I like to learn about the history of places and go see them, just without the crowds and the repeated items everywhere.  Why would they ever want to make a 1000 copies of the same necklace?

What made it even cooler is that I got to go with a very special person: my Mom!  100 years from now, we will look back on this event and commemorate it as being a very special day.  Out of the 200 pavilions offered at the Expo, we managed to get into about 6 of them: Poland, some chinese metal industy, Africa, Colombia, USA (with our flashy VIP status), aaaaand Luxembourg.  All the other lines were at least a 2 hour wait.  Why would anyone ever want to stand in line for 2 hours, much less 6 hours for some of the pavillions!!?!?!  That's just crazy.

I'm tired, so I'm going to hold off from describing it for now. ;)  peace.

Fall in the East

Fall has arrived here in Shanghai and it is not nearly as beautiful as Wisconsin or Minnesota.  It is grey, windy, and as chilly as Chicago, some days including scattered drizzling.  BUT, amongst all this grey, obscure weather, two bright lights shine there way through.  Ms. Jessimuhcuh Yau has stopped in for the 2nd time into Shanghai - so I was able to do really neat things with her.  We checked out LaoXimen (Old West Gate -- 老西门) and walked around that older bit of town.  We scoped through an animal bazaar, of all things.  Chinese people apparently adore Chinchillas much more than cats.....strangely enough.  Even crazier was the fact that you could find crickets in small wooden cages, just like in Walt Disney's "Mulan"!!!  SOOO stereotypical. and awesome.  I was thinking about getting one, but then I don't think my classmates would appreciate a cricket chirping during our listening class....haha.  They had a pretty large range of animals - cats, dogs, chinchillas, crickets, salamanders, frogs, fish, ferrets, turtles....and a chipmunk or two ; )  (try sneaking those things through the American customs department....haha.  good luck.)  Sorry Uncle Brian, no kamodo dragons like in "The Freshman".  maybe they had them in the back......

Around the same area were antique chinese souvenir shops --- really really neat places! (although the products we not super old -- maybe only 20-30 years old, so not really great quality or anything like that)  It was quite fun to take a look around.  I think Jessica had enough of antiques though.....haha.  AND, it was neat because I recognized some things that could be found in my own household (gifts my dad receieved from business partners in Japan/Singapore) and friends' households.....needless to say, it was really neat.  I plan to return with my mother, the second light of my eastern travels in Shanghai's fall.

Mom comes in tomorrow!  I plan to take the Maglev (Shanghai's super super fast train between downtown and the Pudong Airport).  What normally takes a 45 minute taxi ride will now take a 15min bullet train ride.  BAM.   super fast. super excited. Unfortunately (and fortunately) my mother's arrival means that I will be obligated in attending the World Expo.  For someone who hates touristy areas, it might spell eternal doom -- especially with the expected 1,000,000 visiters PER DAY. ><;;; 6 hour lines, here I come.....Prices are double this week, but hopefully I can go somewhere at the back gate to barter them down to half.....yay for Shanghai's infamous markets ; )

Sorry -- I haven't taken any photos in awhile, otherwise I would post them to show you my adventures.....especially when I attended the Shanghai circus the other day --- they had some really neat tricks!  and motorcycles.....among other things....

well -- I'd better get started on my homework.  Heading out later today to get dinner and a radio with a friend so we can better practice our listening skills (one of the harder classes here....for anyone....).  Although, despite the difficulty, our class fully agrees that our reading class, even after preparation, is the one with the highest standards.  加油！ Go, go!

until later,
~fran