The World Is My Oyster! ~Day 12,13,14

I have often been told that the world is my oyster...and after being in Shanghai for all of 15 minutes I realized just how true that phrase could be if I just believe in it. It was as if I open the door to a closet, expecting to find coats, shoes and cobwebs, and instead I found an island covered in seashells and surrounded by palm trees. Initially a normal person's would be shocked at the unexpected sight, but then overwhelmed by the excitement and beauty of what they are bearing witness to....then being overcome with a sense of smugness and satisfaction because they've been able find something that very few people have been privileged to see.

This is what I felt in Shanghai. I felt as though I had discovered a very beautiful and rare jewel that I wanted all for myself.

Our first stop after getting off the plane and having lunch in a fabulous restaurant, was the Shanghai Stock Exchange.



We learned about how sensitive China's stock exchange is to Chinese superstition, such as next year being a lunar year and people expecting the moon to help them makes more money and how inside trading goes on all the time and people rarely get caught...I think Martha Stewart might want to consider moving...

Next we went to the Jade Buddha Temple and checked out famous items such as the white Buddha. (which is pretty much a statue of a Chinese guy laying down...giving quotes about people should shave their heads, not drink, smoke or have sex...ever...And as bad as that sounds, people actually listen to him! ie. the monks

As for me and my house.....I think we'll just stick with Jesus!

After dinner we went to a Chinese Acrobatic performance at the Ritz-Carlton...which also happened to be hosting a Millionaire Fair...for millionaires all over the world....so I ask myself,.... I said "SELF...would you rather watch a bunch of chinese people in leotards swinging from suspension cords....or would you rather go make friends with people who should not be looked down upon for their extreme wealth...and are looking for some true blue friends...." AND YOU KNOW WHAT SELF SAID!!! However, upon taking a glance into the lobby, I was dissappointed to find that the place was swamped with Asian prostitutes, dressed to the nines...while I was wearing my LV doo-rag, a tee-shirt, capris and gym shoes... I was going to need to bring my A-game if I was going to compete with those chicks...So Self and I went to the acrobatic show and took a seat.

Afterwards I went out with some kids from class to a place called "THE SPOT" and and had a BLAST! The place played the greatest hip hop of all times and the Asian girls there danced like they had watched BET all their lives. And there was such a mixture of people...from Nigeria, the Phillipines, Holland...and all over the globe....SHAKING IT to Snoop Dog!!!! It was quite a scene. They could actually give some black girls a run for their money!

The next morning I was up bright and early (7 AM) still excited from having such a great time in my FAVORITE international city! First we went to a famous garden (I have no idea what it was called...I think Garden of Heaven)
But it was very peaceful and beautiful.


Later we went some other famous places.... and walked around....afterwards, we headed home to get ready for the boat cruise. The cruise was along the Bund which is the riverfront of Shanghai. It means riverfront in Indian. The riverfront is especially beautiful because its really a penisula and on one side of water you can see the French Concession, which represents old Shanghai because its lined with
gorgeous Parisian buildings built by the French in the 1600s when they forced China to open up their ports to French trade by selling them Opium and destroying their trade barriers. These buildings look like old Paris, which makes Shanghai soo much more beautiful because it has little bits of every country inside of it. There were about 11 concessions that different countries forced upon China, yet, the city has been made all the better by these bits of history. The buildings that once housed French Generals, and officials and embassies now host luxury item stores like Louis Vutton and Dolce & Gabbana.


But I was even more excited because FINALLY...I got to dress up instead of having to look like a bum, in sneakers and jeans for the walking tours! And you know when I dress up...I DRESS UP! As my professor's wife said "I was the belle of the ball" Did you honestly expect anything less?





On the other side of the river is New Shanghai, laden with tall skyscrapers built in the last 50 years and a testament to the bustling economy that Shanghai is. The buildings having tv's on them 6 times larger than the one in Time Square. And the whole area is lit up with more lights than New York could ever imagine. Shanghai has become an economic powerhouse on the world scene......

In fact... its seems that this city has everything..... Except ME!!! Which I hope to change in the very near future. For the rest of the trip I got as many business cards as I could of people who lived in Shanghai to see if I could find someone who would be willing to pay me a Global Salary, while I work here next summer.

Hopefully, I can work something out.