Okay first let me admit the American media had taught me a
certain level of fear…OMG, did they get it wrong…if I can not be at home in
America, this place is pretty freaking awesome…yes, there are cameras here – no
more than webcams in America…no there are no kung fu masters jumping out of
doorways…and NO ONE has hated me because I am American, if anything they are
even more polite to me…
My second day I started working with 2 young people in a
national compition…this was a 3 part English speaking contest…I also got to
meet several of the students who would be going to Keiser West Palm Beach
campus...this was so much fun…I felt safe and welcome…my coworker John showed me
the lessons I would need to prepare for while he was gone
I have been still working for first future…so the third day
was about getting wyfy hooked up…whole this was being done, I was treated to a
VIP meal…this was wonderful…I tried to use chop sticks – I did so well they
gave me a knife and fork…lol…the food was interesting…John explained we would
never know what most of it was, just try it and keep eating it if I liked it
SICFL is the host college for Keiser….this is a wonderful
school with very caring staff who have not only Chinese but, also international
student body…working in and around this campus gives one a very global feeling…does
not matter where anyone is from, everyone gets along…I feel blessed to be here
and very special
The biggest comment I have heard, even by those who do not
speak English is ‘Welcome to China’ this comment is followed by a big smile…the
warmth from the heart lets you know the sentiment is genuine…I contacted my
student Daisy and her mom…they too were just as welcoming…this whole country
was so polite it seemed a little strange to me…4 of my college students wanted
to take me to Yu garden in downtown Shanghai
We woke early and took a Taxi to the subway…they explained
it would be 2 hours to get to the inner city…no biggie I had been on the T in Boston,
the subways in New York and Washington DC…this was the fastest subway I had
ever been on – make sure you hold on to the hand grip…people actually gave up
seats for the old or women traveling with children without being asked…Marin
grabbed my arm as it stared to pack in…she was so sweet…she was taking good
care of me as we emerged from the subway and it was raining…even in the rain, I
was gobsmacked by the beauty...it was sooooo clean and gardens everywhere…as you
walk along the mix of ancient and modern is stunning – a real engineers dream….
The on to Yu Garden…this is a private garden that had been
constructed in the Ming Dynasty so, that he may receive his guests…the detail
was beyond incredible from rooflines in the shape of dragons to Koi that had descended
from original fish, along with a gink tree that was more than 500 years old…it
struck me that it had been planted before my country had been conceived…the
students got a kick out of my child like wonder
Then it was off to the best meal I have had since I have
been here…at the top of a 6 story mall, was a beautiful restaurant…everything
is served on a giant lazy susan and is meant to be shared…and the food just kept
coming…the texture of the noodles was like nothing served an America…the ribs
were served with a dry rb and the meat itself had a sweeter flavor than what I
had known stateside
We took a taxi to meet Daisy and her mom in a different part
of town…this was a different multistory mall complex…this was a child I taught
online for quite some time…to see her in person…to hug her…I was so happy, I
wanted to cry…she was as beautiful in person with the same attitude…being an
online teacher is not as easy as everyone thinks…sometimes you wonder if you
have any impact on those you teach…to be treated so wonderfully made it all
worth it…
Then I was whisked off to another meal…man, for such little
people do they like to eat…every time I turn around there is more food…even
though food was constantly being shoved in my mouth I had been losing weight…this
meal was the perfect example why…Marin and I split a bowl of Pasta…no garlic
bread or parm cheese served with it…though little Ryan was with us and that
girl can eat – it was impressive…I bet she could give Joey Chestnut a run for
is money…
We grabbed a Taxi home to the dorm…this was the end of my
first week in China…I was exhausted and had lost weight, my belly was full and
my mind was so overwhelmed…I was being shown the China of my students’, not
something from a travel brochure…this was so much better…though there were a
few quirky things, this was so cool…
