Chinese May Day!

Happy Chinese Labor Day! May 1st was the official Labor Day for the Chinese! It has been a super busy weekend~ massive crowds everywhere but such a gorgeous weekend! The weather was perfect~ sunny and mostly clear skies (no smog!) so we were able to enjoy the wonderful time off! However, because of the time off on Thursday and Friday, everyone was back to work on Sunday for a 6 day work week. If you fall under the age of 28 though, then you only had to work a half day today; odd as it seems, that is their custom, so there you go!

I must say that I am certainly pleased that I chose not to blog on any experiences of mine as for the earlier part of the week. As with any big move, I was going through a bit of a rough patch in dealing with the major changes and frustrations, but have pulled through. I'm sure there will be many more days but it's nice to know they come and go. What's great about being a foreigner, is that you know that you are not alone. I have already met some wonderful women through the American Women's Shanghai group and joined their Happy Hour on Tuesday night. Women of all ages just getting to know one another; share in their experiences (good and bad) and definitely do some reassuring that it does get better! It was so nice to have them there, thus re-affirming how great it is to just have a support group (of any kind!).

Thursday (official Labor Day) Jack, Jason and I headed out to the "Xiangyang" Market in Pudong. This market is actually underground by the subway system and is quite the experience. One must definitely join in on this roller coaster of a ride as you shoot along stalls filled with every type of clothing, shoes, accessories and trinkets imaginable! As you walk along the stalls your head can only spin ( for those that are not used to such a sight) as Chinese are asking you "Lady, you want a watch, DVD, purse, shoes!?!" Every 5 steps you reach a different stall with the same question. Some even follow you down the aisles, especially if you give then any sort of inclination that you might buy something from them! I can only imagine what it will be like to watch certain family members venture through these paths of utter chaos! It has become quite fun though and I must say Jason is quite the bargainer! Jack of course, was oblivious (this being his first time) and simply wanted to dance in the middle of the aisles as he heard music. What a treat for all the Chinese, and of course for Jack, who loved the attention! Needless to say after a few hours of shopping we were exhausted and ready to leave. We exited out the entrance that leads to the bottom plaza area of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. The last picture (above) is of the plaza, with a fantastic dragon statue and the Museum (the big glass ball) in the background. If Jack wasn't tired and ready for lunch, we would have gone in to look, but Jack's tummy lead us away. Off to the Thumb Plaza where we ate at the Moon River Diner for some yummy American food! It's so wonderful to have "home" food if and when we want it!

Friday Jason and I were able to sneak away for a bit! Our ayi ("auntie" or nanny) was there for the day and able to babysit Jack. A few days before I had picked up a book, " Shanghai for Kids" and read about a great Textile market so we headed out there. Well apparently we were taken out to the one in the Putuo District (which was a good hour cab ride away). Thus, upon arrival we notice that there are no English signs, no one spoke a lick of English and we were the only non-Asians. It was quite a weird feeling, as if we were aliens from outer space. We did walk around the market for a bit; it was a 3 story factory of sort that ranged a good mile including every kind of fabric you could ever imagine. They had a whole floor dedicated to curtains, the second floor of nothing but bedding, then the third floor was clothing items. It was unreal the amount of obvious "textiles" that they had available. Now, this is definitely a place I will return, but with someone that can translate for me (or until I've learned!).

Once we realized that we were not going to get anything accomplished, we took another taxi ride into Puxi to the fabulous Portman Ritz Carlton area. This is such a beautiful area. They have really done a great job in their landscaping and keeping the area up. Although, once again, you wouldn't know that you were in Shanghai. Most of the buildings are more European inspired and other than the few Chinese restaurants around, there were mainly American or European cuisines. Then of course you did have your fantastic Gucci and Marc Jacobs shops that the fashion hungry love! We had lunch outside because it was another stunning day then walked around for a bit and enjoyed the scenery. The picture (above) in the middle was a little garden just about a half a block before the Ritz -Carlton hotel, with business buildings in the background. Definitely an area to further explore and to return.

After our lunch and mid-afternoon stroll, we took another taxi back over by the Xiangyang market. We went over on the other side, by Century Park, to enjoy the many others that were doing the same thing. There were people of all sorts enjoying the beautiful day; taking pictures, flying kites, enjoying picnics and just walking around. Jason did go to buy a kite (from the many kite sellers on their bikes) and all of a sudden the kite salesman is being scurried away by a police officer close by. The salesman from there takes his bike not 20 feet over to an area and motions for Jason to come over. Apparently that 20 feet made all the difference and that was perfectly fine for him to sell to Jason then. Funny, but another one of those things that you just shrug, shake your head then go on your merry way!

Yesterday (Saturday), we did take a trip to the ever-so-crowded Lotus SuperMarket. I swear that I have just got to start telling myself that I am going to continue to be shocked and overwhelemed by every little thing that I do here. This supermarket was (and their markets are always) like the malls in America on Christmas Day! I don't believe there is ever a time when things slow down here, so I guess I'll just have to get used to life in the fast lane! No more slow leisurely days of Tulsa! :) Upon visiting such a place (as any here) I have come to the realization that the Chinese here (or most of them) are really quite oblivious to the world around them. You walk through the grocery store watching them and I really am beginning to think that they might possibly think they are the only ones in the store. It's all I can come up with as to why they swing their carts around or buzz through like maniacs, when obviously that's not possible because the stores are so packed that you hit someone every five seconds! They are totally unaware of their surroundings; driving, cycling, walking, whatever it may be. Of course, I have started to get quite snippy with them and let them know that I will not have them try and shuffle me through the grocery aisles; even if they have no clue what I just barked at them, I know they are at least getting my drift and until my Mandarin is in full swing this is as good as it gets! Right..."As Good as it Gets", and that's all I need right now; just the simple satisfaction of knowing that I am making head way in trying to live in this crazy (but still so wonderful) world!

This world is just too fun...for those of you that have the ability~ come visit! It's such a trip! More later...enjoy the rest of this first weekend in May...wherever you may be! XOXO

~ Emily Renoir~