I am typing this blog, following the last day of class. I am both sad because the students were wonderful and inspiring and looking forward to a few days of exploring. One of the lovely perks about where we are staying and the studio where I taught, was my twice a day walk (about 30 minutes) through local neighborhoods. I wanted to share some of the street scenes along the way. As you will notice in the photos, I was usually the only white person in the crowd. It was interesting to notice responses as I walked- usually I was ignored, but sometimes people would look at me in curiousity (which I would respond to with a friendly "Nie Hau" and head nod, an occasional look of surprise and of course, wide-eyed stares from small children staring as I walked by. When I would smile at them, their mother, or more usually their grandmother or grandfather would smile back with a bit of pride and pleasure.
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| Birds in the trees -Pocket park next to our hotel |
Starting out, I walk through a lovely little 'pocket park' across the street from our hotel. The park is quiet, without much street noise, and the path curves between large azeala and rhododendron bushes. In the middle, there is a small shaded area where men sit, talk and smoke (of course- it is China), as the air is filled with soaring bird songs. These songs come from birds in cages that are hung on nearby trees (I am not sure if these are for sale or just social time for the birds. In addition, Mother's with children play near-by and older people walk the path, back and forth for the morning exercise.
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| Fruit stand-including durian, cherries and lichees(on the left) |
Leaving the park, I cross a small canal and move through an area of small shops. In this part of my journey, I always appreciate the very different urban planning that I am seeing. Adjacent to the street are many shops, selling fruit, vegetables, snacks, car parts, places to make copies, buy property, or medicine or get a foot massage. But behind the shops, are tall apartment buildings, protected from lots of traffic by gates and fences. These buildings also seem to enclose some sort of green area. I imagine that this is nice way to provide housing for Shanghai's huge population, (but building upward) and still provide for daily needs nearby. It feels like small but very vertical villages, each with its own unique personality.
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| Street scene-notice the fancy clean car |
My walk continues. I actually pass through several different 'villages', some appear to be a bit more well-to-do with sculptures inside the gates, or surrounded by tall, but frequently painted walls with inspirtational 'socialist mottos' posters, for all to view. I pass a school (I think, but my only explanation for the sudden presence of many small children), a bakery with western snacks (perhaps a more wealthy village?). Each morning, if I time it correctly, a group of about 15 young office workers, dressed in black pants or skirts and white shirts, line up outside to be led in group exercises to modern rock and roll music. (In the photo, notice the woman walking by covering her ears... who says that personal opinions are not allowed). I turn onto a larger street, and suddenly there are more stands with small morning snacks being made- tiny store-fronts with steaming vats of water to boil dim sum (small dumplings), or a large breakfast pancake filled with scallions, hoisin sauce, some sort of crunch fried bread and then rolled like a burrito and wrapped in paper for easy handling and eating.
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| Street and fruit Market |
Finally, I cross the street and there is a sudden shift from small local shops to huge buildings. A fancy hotel explodes upward, with (I assume) a fancy restaurant on the top floor). Next door is a shopping mall, surrounded by Starbucks and place to get western food (salads, quinoa, sandwiches etc.) Next to the hotel (which is guarded by several policemen, is the mall that houses the studio I teach in. It is a somewhat upscale mall, with an international movie theater, macdonalds (which actually are all over the place here), a Montessori school, a music school and the dance studio, where you can learn anything from belly dancing to yoga. I go in (through the parking garage, since the building doesnt actually open until about 30 minutes after my class starts). Greet my students and prepare to start class.
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| Typical breakfast snack |
I love both the journey, that unfolds daily as well as the familiar calm and space of the dance studio. One being so different from what I am used to, and they other so familiar. I am sad that I wont be able to do it again this visit.
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