Panicked Pigeon in the Ladies toilet…. dead fish in the classroom…..

Well, yeah- the Foreign Teachers share this expression: "Surprise! Shanghai!" as we share our daily stories.
Here's mine for a Monday morning.
Going to the Ladies Toilet as I teach class 1, 2 & 3 in the morning  ( 7:55 a.m. to 10:30 a.m ) and I drink lots of water and tea.
Crashing, fluttering and craziness there. I look up and a pigeon has made it's way in and can't  find it's way out. Large windows- no screens ( see earlier posts).
Make my way out without Pigeon "droppings" on my head. Sheesh…….how do I even report this problem?
Get to Junior 2 Class and chaos is ensuing. Girls are screaming and the boys are taking pictures with their cell phones: Dead Fish Head on the floor in the classroom. No kidding. This is Shanghai. Our windows face the garbage area of the Canteen/Kitchen. Someone has thought it would be funny to tosh this sucker into our classroom for the weekend and let it rot. ( I probably ATE the rest of the thing for Lunch on Friday).
I get the Aiyeh ( Auntie - or Cleaning lady) and gesture for her to gather her broom and dustbin- even she is horrified by the fish head.
Welcome to Monday in Shanghai……..

Shopping in Quipu

 My bank here in China….thank goodness it's everywhere!

 Entering the bridges of "water town" and shopping…………..

 Map of the area for tourists - a Modern Museum of Art, Temple, Restaurants…….

 Bianca poses in front of the Tourist Map

 Lions………such an Icon in /entrance ways here

 Fresh water crab- it's the season for them

 Turtle for sale………….and NOT for a pet

 Bartering for postcards……..

On the boat………..

Ancient "Water towns" in the Suburbs of Shanghai….Beautiful!

A Chinese colleague, Miranda, had invited me to join her husband and young son to spend Sundays visiting interesting places in and around Shanghai. She phoned me /friday night and invite due to an ancient "water town" in the suburbs of Shanghai. I asked to bring Bianca- German teacher - who has just arrived one month ago. Miranda said "yes". What a beautiful day! An hour outside of downtown Shanghai:

We had a fabulous lunch- Miranda ordered: fish, escargot, tofu soup, chicken, jelly fish (shredded with turnip), pork rind wrapped in leaves….all delicious!

 Guests leave their comments on this board about the food

 Colourful umbrellas decorate the ceiling

 Miranda, (husband) Carl and 3 1/2 year old son "Kin Kin"

 Oh…. and shrimp and a very sweet "rice wine"

This ancient "water town" is famous for it's pork and pork rind wrapped in leaves. It was everywhere for sale on the streets.

walking in the narrow streets of this "water town" and a boat ride - like a gondola- beautiful sunny day and 25 degrees - perfect Autumn in Shanghai - November 17th

When plans get cancelled, I do what every self-respecting Canadian would do: SHOP

I broke down and finally bought one of these. I've been debating for weeks now. They are super-cheap and light-weight. Former Foreign teachers have left over 200 DVDs in the shared living room for us to enjoy. And, I'm tired of the "streaming" that happens mid-show- or worse- mid-movie on Netflix.

When I was down and out with a head cold a week ago,- and Victoria lent me her DVD player - I realized how much I enjoyed having a movie to just load in and chill- especially n a Friday night when I'm tired.
I also found this little baby and I'm so very excited about this purchase:

Warm tootsies here I came……….yeah!

Lastly, I ventured to purchase (one last time) a USB key that MIGHT be recognized by my MacBook Air. My software and hardware problems have been endless since I arrived. There are days……..sigh………….when I wished I had brought a PC laptop with me here. One of my Pre-Junior kids told me she has the same laptop and if I bought this brand with this amount of memory- it should work. Here goes………………….

A Birthday, a wedding, or the birth of a child: Firecrackers in the neighbourhood on a Saturday a Noon

Visiting an old "Water Town" in the suburbs of Shanghai on Sunday

My Chinese colleague "Miranda" called me last night and invited me to visit an ancient "Water Town" in the suburbs of Shanghai on Sunday. She told me she and her husband and her little son would pick me up at the Dorm and drive out. I am very excited by this invitation- I don't know her well, but she has extended an invitation several times to take me to areas surrounding the city with her family. Very sweet!
The one proviso is the pollution: Miranda said the pollution had been particularly bad these last few days and we should all stay inside on Sunday if it is bad.
I am still uncertain whether it is fog/mist - or pollution on any given day- bUT- I have been coughing a lot more- it is partly due to getting over my head cold- but clearly due to he pollution as well. I don't even want to think about it……………..yikes……………...

My sweet little old ladies on the bridge……………..

For the first four weeks of school, I noticed that I passed the same four sweet little old ladies - white-haired with lipstick on………..on their morning constitution- we passed each other at the same time going over a little bridge- I'm walking to the metro station- they pass me going the other way. They are linked with arms- two by two and are chatting away.
At first I just smiled and they smiled back. Now I greet them each morning with " Ni hao" and they greet me back - all smiles.
I had hoped to get up early this Saturday morning and get a photo of them - with permission- but slept in instead…………….hope to get one in the future!