Mandarinwhitegirl's Blog

September 25, 2009

What comes to your mind when you hear the term “Chinese food”? Delivery, Sundays hungover on the couch, dates in the park, cats and dogs, fried rice? Well, throw out all of those stereotypes because I am about to give you a crash course on China’s finest food!

When I open my fridge at 123 Yangping Lu, I find fresh fruits organic veggies (which they do sell, not sure of China’s regulations for organic though), yogurt, and some left over rice. It took a few tries to find brands that I like since it was difficult to decipher through the Chinese. Once I step out of my apartment, there is an endless assortment of foods.

I like to begin my Sunday mornings with a stroll around the block to the nearest pancake stand. These are no Dexter pancakes, but still pretty tasty. Rice flour with green onions and sesame seeds really help absorb that alcohol from the night before.

Small dumpling and noodle shops fill the busy streets. I can roll on in and pick out my favorite noodles and vegetables to be cooked in a spicy broth and a side of fresh dumplings that were just taken off the grill. Another choice is the noodle shop across from my apartment where the noodles are hand rolled and cooked to order.

Szechuan is a type of Chinese food. A little more on the spicy side, which I love. It is served family style. One person orders several dishes that are placed on a rotating platform in the center of the table. Many Chinese fill the table till plates are stacked on one another. It denotes a higher level of economic and social status when food is left on the plates after the meal. This shows that everyone at the table has eaten enough food. However, when I went with friends we ate everything because it was so good (I guess that shows I am a poor teacher).

Just like any big city, there is a variety of food from around the world. If I need to get out of the apartment, I can grab a sandwich and hop onto the internet at Waggas. For those days that I just need American comfort food, I like to head down to Munchies. Just as it sounds, hamburgers, hotdogs, french fries, and milk shakes delicious. Also, there is an array of sushi and Thai restaurants which are good to hit up any night of the week.

Amazingly, with all this food my pants still fit. It must be all the walking I do along the way.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Night life is Shanghai! Pretty exciting. There is an unlimited number of bars and clubs in Shanghai. I had the opportunity to check out quite a few of them this weekend. Thursday, Andrea and I went to a popular spot we kept reading about. It seemed to be most popular amongst old American business men and young Chinese girls. It is not unusual to see this combination in any bar throughout Shanghai. Saturday night I hit up what would be considered a dive bar here. Started out the evening playing a little foosball and then ended up at some crazy Chinese club. The bartenders spoke very little English, but seemed to have a clear understanding of the term vodka. I danced on the limited dance floor space to the greatest hits of 2007.

Monday nights have become the new Thursdays. I played ultimate frisbee for the 1st time. It is way more strenuous than kickball (not even comparable). We even practiced for about an hour before the game. Sprints, leg ups, and frisbee drills. My captain and co-captain were determined to improve my skills and ensure I understood the concept. My teammates were so supportive pushing me out on the field. Being out there reminded me of this time I played basketball. I was just out there to make an even number on both teams and no one actually threw the frisbee to me, even if I was wide open. I haven’t quite grasp the strategy behind the game, but will with time. After running around for 2+hours I crashed on my couch afraid I might not be able to walk for the next few days. But fortunately today I felt great.

Today was my first day of school! I had taught 4th grade. I will teach this class 2 more times this week. They were smart and spoke and read English very well. The girls were so well behaved (so typical). I had a few boys who were silly and fooling around (also typical), but they still listened fairly well. Right away they knew Florida because their classmate had just moved there with his family. Tomorrow I teach 1st grade. This will most likely be there 1st year of English. It will take a lot more energy on my part. Together with the students, we will have to create their English names. Sometimes in a class you might have John 1 and John 2. It is funny because that is how they refer to themselves in English class, instead of switching it to Johny or adding a last name.

It was a bit of a trek home today and I got to experience rush hour in the subway station. People push and shove. Everyone must fend for themselves. In the beginning I tried to be courteous by saying sorry or excuse me, but when it is down to the last second and I might miss my stop, I push and shove my way right through the crowds of Chinese people. Luckily I made it.

September 1, 2009

I got an apartment!!! It is really nice. 2 bedroom, 2 bath, hardwood and marble floors, plus a balcony, which is a great place to hang my clothes since China doesn’t have dryers. It is so nice to be unpacked and not living out of a suitcase. Every room has a window including the kitchen and bathrooms. I will have to adjust my cooking since I don’t have a grill or an oven. No more cookies, brownies, or homemade pizza. Now it is all stir fry, rice and curry.

Andrea and I spent 3 hours at Carrafour (a British store like a super Wal-Mart) yesterday getting some basics and cruising all the isles. Downstairs in the meat and seafood department you could buy anything from live bullfrog and snapping turtles to slabs of meat. The ethnic food isle (like in Publix) consisted of imported American foods. Upstairs I was able to buy some bedding, which turned out to be the wrong kind. I spent 45 minutes today trying to return it.

Getting my internet set up today took about 2 1/2 hours and the man still has to come by tomorrow to add the cable line. My real-estate agent, Forest, asked me today how people in the states get internet. I had to think about it because I have never had to deal with paying and setting up internet before. Unfortunately in China you can’t exchange internet connection for food (which I was accustomed to in Orlando)

I ate dinner tonight at this small noodle shop right around the corner from my apartment complex. It was 10RMB which is about $2.00. So cheap and delicious. I am sure I will be visiting it quite often.

I still have not been placed in my school. Monday would be the latest before I am placed. I’m beginning to get a bit anxious to start teaching again, but it has been nice to have sometime to settle in to my new home.