Sorry for the GIGANTIC post and picture over load but I really wanted this in my book!
SHANGHAI
Three years ago this month, I had the opportunity to go to China with my Aunt and her dance company for a couple of weeks! We went to 4 different cities throughout the country. It was one 
of the most amazing and humbling experiences of my life! We truly have it so good here in the United States. I never realized how much I took my freedom for granted until I went there. It was an incredible experience that I am so grateful to have. Even better, I was able to go with the people I absolutely love. To this day, we still sit around and laugh about all the crazy things we saw, did and ate on this trip!
This picture is the front of the Children's Palace. Kids of all ages live here where they are trained in specialty arts that they are good at- for example, we had 4 yr old boys do a chinese play for us that involved fighting with REAL machetes, doing all sorts of REAL karate stuff - it was crazy. There was another girl who played this funky looking guitar and sang for us. She was about 12 yrs old and she was SO GOOD!! I was super impressed! They no longer live with their families. This becomes their life and their duty.
Classic... deep fried fish with everything still inside! And of course, it was drizzled in a red sauce - it looked so appetizing... NOT! What an experience! We had fun with it though!
Classic... deep fried fish with everything still inside! And of course, it was drizzled in a red sauce - it looked so appetizing... NOT! What an experience! We had fun with it though!
We went to a dance studio, where they pull girls who are good dancers when they are young - so they focus on that their whole life and that is what they are told to do by those who are in power. (super sad in my opinion) but we showed them 'American Dancing' and then they showed us their culture's dances. They were ADORABLE!! We brought them gifts from the states and they LOVED everything. If you are an American then you are considered a celebrity over there! Everyone wants pictures with you and they want to practice speaking english with you! I tell you... what an experience!
Shanghai is HUGE and it has BEAUTIFUL buildings as you can see behind me and my grandma... but just past the walls that lined all the streats - it looked like the picture on the right. Very poor people. We went into a few of the apartments to buy some 'goods' and they were usually 1 bedroom and there was almost always 3 generations living there!
In China, when you get married, you always move in with the woman's family. And often times her parents are caring for the grandparents. They only have 1 child, 2 max but you have to pay a fee per child after the first. It was so crazy yet humbling to learn about their culture!
I had to put this picture on... doesn't the food look appetizing??
I am NOT a picky eater at all! I was raised to try everything at least once before I decide I don't like it- and even then, it's never ok to stick your nose up at it! But I have to admit - in China, there were a few dishes I just couldn't bring myself to try! This dish was terrible by the way! Thank goodness rice and watermelon was served with EVERY meal. You are usually safe with those.
Shanghai is HUGE and it has BEAUTIFUL buildings as you can see behind me and my grandma... but just past the walls that lined all the streats - it looked like the picture on the right. Very poor people. We went into a few of the apartments to buy some 'goods' and they were usually 1 bedroom and there was almost always 3 generations living there!
In China, when you get married, you always move in with the woman's family. And often times her parents are caring for the grandparents. They only have 1 child, 2 max but you have to pay a fee per child after the first. It was so crazy yet humbling to learn about their culture!
My grandma, my cousin Teri and me showing off the coke! We were 'STRONGLY' encouraged to drink coke with EVERY meal to kill whatever bacteria we ingested to decrease our chances of getting sick. Ya - that didn't scare me when they told us this!
I had to put this picture on... doesn't the food look appetizing??I am NOT a picky eater at all! I was raised to try everything at least once before I decide I don't like it- and even then, it's never ok to stick your nose up at it! But I have to admit - in China, there were a few dishes I just couldn't bring myself to try! This dish was terrible by the way! Thank goodness rice and watermelon was served with EVERY meal. You are usually safe with those.
What a neat experience and fun trip!!!
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