Nong ho! Shanghai in one post

Two weeks in Shanghai full of jammed packed school (minus a couple skipped days...). On top of 6hrs of clinic/class, we attempted to explore the city, see, shop, eat, and do. Just when I thought I had time to reawaken my "spleen" and reenergize, I was given yet another TCM learning opportunity, to experience full on spleen qi xu and damp. Yay.

From Shanghai Museum of TCM

Zhong qiu jie Mid-Autumn moon festival

Shanghai - nothing like Chengdu or Yunnan and probably no where near my top picks of cities to return to or visit in China. Yes, it is much cleaner, less spitting, less split-pants babies, more english speakers...but getting anywhere was a task and required time and energy we simply were deficient of. And of course, it is a major financial center and city. The pushing continued. People were in a hurry.

Much of our free time was spent shopping - for example at the pearl or fabric market. Maybe I was just too depleted, but I would not return to the fabric market - way too overwhelming - both the fabric variety and the sellers. Don't want to be negative, so lets just say if you plan to go there, if possible, buy off the rack or ask around to know which stall to shop at.

Circus! another clear example of how China is all or nothing. Man juggling a giant ceramic pot, men flipping and turning on ceiling-high stilts, 4 or 5 motorcycles circling in a tight enclosed glass ball at 50mph or faster.

Learned only two Shanghainese phrases. xie xie ni - xia xia nong and ni hao = nong ho!

Last day in Shanghai was the last day together...and last time I'll see these crazy peeps for a few months to years?! shei zhi dao (who knows)!

Saying goodbye is never easy. We've had "graduation" and last day at BCNH clinic, but this goodbye was different. It definitively shook my Lungs and Heart (even after PMSing hardcore).

Da jia safe travels!