Getting Pickpocketed & Going to Beijing

Well, the title says it all. The day I left for Beijing, I went shopping for some nice, warm, Winter clothes at QiPu Road (this overcrowded building with tons of clothing stands). I had just exchanged US$300 for shopping and my trip to Beijing, and had around 2,000RMB in my wallet. I knew I should have taken some money out and left it in my room, but I was in such a hurry that day because we were on such a time crunch that I didn't bother. Silly me, thinking that my wallet would be safe in my hoodie pocket because I would keep my hands on it at all times. I stopped to look at something with Laverne and Mariko and took my hands out. We proceeded to walk a couple of steps and once we stepped out of a crowded aisle of people, I reached into my pocket and realized my wallet was missing.

I freaked out and told Laverne and Mariko. I hadn't even thought about my passport until Mariko asked where it was. Double whammy... I'd put my passport inside my wallet. D'oh! We stayed in the building for a good 15 minutes until I could figure out what to do. We went back and forth the aisles, hoping that I'd just dropped it. But, it was impossible to find because 1.) there were just too many people there, and 2.) I'd definitely been pickpocketed.

I called our program admin, and she had me call the American Consulate. From there, I went back to school to report it to our campus police. But, I had to go back to QiPu Road because the campus police said I had to go back to the "scene of the crime". Long story short, I ended up having to go to three different police stations, telling my story three times. But, I finally got my police report and headed to the train station with Laverne to go to Beijing. I needed an official police report in order to prove my passport was stolen to the Exit/Entry Bureau. Then, I have to go to the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai to apply for a new passport.

I was worried that I couldn't go to Beijing because I needed my passport in order to stay at the hostel we booked in Beijing. But, there were 17 of us going, so it was really easy for me to sneak in. The hostel we stayed at was so nice! I wish I'd taken pictures of it, but we were only there for two days, and those two days were jam packed with activities.

We went to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, ate Peking Roast Duck, ate on a street full of weird food (my friends ate small scorpions, big scorpions, silk worms, snake meat, cockroaches). The only thing I dared to eat was a starfish!

I really enjoyed my time in Beijing. I think my two most favorite sights were the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. To be in a place that was constructed thousands of years ago was absolutely breathtaking. I couldn't believe I actually walked up that thing (believe me, it was tiring) and trekked a good part of it. We spent a good two and half to three hours just walking up there. But, we didn't have the energy or time to walk down, so we took a gondola down.

The Forbidden City was also breathtaking, just because of the sheer size of it... I think it would have taken me a good 10 hours to actually walk through the whole thing and observe every little room and detail. There were so many people visiting the Forbidden City when we went, so I didn't bother pushing my way through the crowds to look at every hall, but I snapped a couple of pictures of the halls that I thought were cool.

We also had Peking roast duck in Beijing! It was delicious! I tried duck heart and duck tongue (not a fan, but it was all right). Overall, I wish we could have stayed in Beijing for more than just one weekend, but our program doesn't give us many days off. We wanted to plan a trip to Xi'An to see the Terracotta Army, but I don't think we'll have much time left =(. Perhaps, my next visit to China will allow me more time to see different things.

Well, I think that's enough narration--here are some pictures:


Laverne came with me to three police stations to file a report for my lost passport and wallet in order for me to apply for a new passport. We're sitting inside a police car in this picture, haha.


Me, Laverne, Jen D., and Lisa eating lunch in Beijing


Me, Sarah, Laverne and Wendy on a bridge, in a garden, on our way to Tiananmen Square


Tiananmen Square


Matt, Eli and Joe


Lisa, Me, Laverne and Sarah


Soldiers marching about


Me with a soldier =)


Monumental statue


Trekking up the Great Wall!


Beautiful view from the Great Wall


Me on the Great Wall


Eli and me


The West coast kids! Scott, Tina, Abe and me


East coast kids (boo!): Joe, Wendy, Luis, Jen D., Derek, Eli


The Forbidden City


The longest stone carving in the Forbidden City


One of the courtyards in the Forbidden City


Silly friends making a pyramid in the middle of the Forbidden City


Eating Peking roast duck! It was delicious


The group of us and Wendy's relative


Posing in front of Chairman Mao's words


At the Olympic stadium. We got there too late, and all the lights were shut off, except for these buildings, which are supposed to look like a diving board


Even though the lights were turned off, we managed to had a great time... we played freeze tag, capture the flag and red rover (in FREEZING temperatures)


We went back again the next morning to actually go inside the Bird's Nest


Me in front of the Bird's Nest


Sarah, Lisa, Wendy, Jen D., Laverne and I inside the National Stadium with the Olympic mascots

37 Days Left in Shanghai

The title of this post makes me a bit sad. I can't believe I've been in Shanghai for that long! Thanksgiving is in exactly two weeks, and the weekend before Thanksgiving, a big group of us are going to Beijing--something I'm really excited about.

Shanghai has been getting really cold. I had to buy a big jacket the other day because I only brought one pea coat. Originally, I had packed a lot of sweaters and thick clothing, but my luggage was too heavy, so I threw some things out. I really regret doing that because I actually need those clothes now! It's okay... buying cheap clothes here works for me too =)

I have to register for my Winter classes tonight. I am planning on overloading this next quarter again... but one of my classes has already filled up, so I am hoping to get wait-listed. If I take my 24 units this quarter, I can take it easy with 20 units my last quarter at SCU. I am planning on graduating a year early, but am still unsure of my plans after graduation. I should probably start looking into different career options.

Studying abroad has made me realize how much of the world I still haven't seen. I used to think that I would always stay in California and the Silicon Valley area for work and raising a family. But, I think I should travel to different places while I'm young. I wouldn't mind going to the East Coast or somewhere outside of California to work for a couple of years. But, it all just depends on what options are viable for me. If I can't find anything to do after graduation, should I declare a second major? Thinking about this gets me so frustrated! I'll probably have to take more time to consider my future plans...

The following pictures were taken a couple of days ago, when a bunch of us just randomly decided to go to Hooter's in Pudong and just walk around the Bund. Enjoy =)


Jess, Laverne and I in Pudong


Us in front of the Pearl Tower


The Shanghai Financial Tower and Jin Mao Tower in Pudong


The gang at Hooter's


The gang staring off into the Bund


IES Love <3


Reppin' the TW again =)


The girls taking a leap together


Taylor and Eli hopping like frogs

Back to the Motherland

Today, I came back to Shanghai after a whole week in Taipei. The best part of the whole trip was being able to see my family almost everyday and hanging out with them as if I'd never been gone. I'm really sad to go, but I enjoyed the time I had with them!

The whole week we were in Taipei, we went to lectures everyday and an excursion trip after every class. The whole week was educating, but I wish we had more time to explore the city in groups. However, I did manage to learn a lot about Taiwan's history, economy, politics, religion and lifestyle than I had known from previous knowledge.

Our program signed us up to stay at the Holiday Inn near Mao Kong, Mu Zha in Taipei. It was such a nice hotel! We slept three to a room, and I roomed with Laverne and Wendy. The beds were so comfortable that I wish we could have brought the mattresses back to our hard-wood Fudan dorm beds.

My family is doing well, and I got to see my Dad! I also got to see my aunt from the States, which was pretty cool because she'd set up her vacation trip so that we could meet in Taiwan (see pictures below).

I think the whole group consensus of Taiwan was that the societal behavior, culture and people are a whole lot nicer than that of Shanghai's. I couldn't agree more. I don't think I ever seriously made a comparison between Shanghai and Taiwan before, just because I had lived in Taipei and I know that it's my favorite place in the whole wide world. But, ever since living in Shanghai and experiencing the lifestyle of a Chinese person, then going back to Taipei, I saw a visible difference between the two societies. People in Taipei are generally more polite and nicer than people of Shanghai. Taipei is also cleaner (subway systems, buses, the streets, other miscellaneous shops). My friends say that Taipei as a whole, is more Westernized than Shanghai... but this is one trait that I couldn't really see. I guess it's because I have family in Taiwan, and they aren't very Westernized.

But, now, it's back to life in Shanghai. I have 43 days left here before I go back to the States... it makes me really sad to have to leave my friends and experience here, but a part of me can't wait to go home for the holidays. For now, I'll just have to dream about a California winter (it's getting REALLY cold in Shanghai!)... and snuggle up in my blankets! Enjoy my pictures from Taiwan.


Lucho, Phil and I eating lunch in the food court of a mall (delicious-ness!)


Jess, Laverne and I reppin' the TW!


My cousin Cathy's cat, Da Lu To (Big Lotto)


My cousin (Barbie) and I. She's morbidly obese =/


English class at an elementary school near Cheng Chi University


Eli, Abe and Scott at the middle school near Cheng Chi University


Me with my aunt Man Lan in Taipei, eating Shabu Shabu


Walking up the stairs to the National Palace Museum (Gu Gong Museum). It was SO hot that day


Eating at a small eatery that Laverne's aunt took us to


View from the 89th floor of the Taipei 101 at night (much more beautiful at night than during the daytime)


Laverne, me and Wendy on top of the 101


The 101 at night


Laverne, Michele and I at a lecture


My cousin, Cathy and I eating at Mo Mo Paradise


Hanging out at Babe after watching 007: Quantum of Solace


Cheers!


At Jing Gua Shi (a former gold mine)


Dinner with Eli and my family the night before I went back to Shanghai


Me and my Daddy =)