Back in the Mix

Hi again.
It's been about a week. I'm getting back into the habit of forgetting to update about my life adventures in Shanghai. Fortunately for my sanity, there hasn't been too much going on this week. I have updated my photos on Picasa, so you can click on the link and find all the pictures from Nanjing and my birthday dinner!

Recent news.
I have been somewhat overwhelmed with JUCCCE work, but fortunately my boss wants to hire an event management group, YAY! She has been so accommodating and the greatest person to work with.

Was sick this past week...ate something wrong, and I know what it was...but I'm sure I'll be back for more. Got to give a shout out to my roommate, Amber, for supplying the Pepto. ;)

MIKE IS FLYING IN TODAY!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE HIM. It has been 6 weeks since I last saw him, and I can't believe he is on a plane right now to Shanghai, from Chicago, as I type! I just hope that I can free up some time from work, I know I have a few meetings while he's here, and let me say these meetings don't run short.

GOT AN INTERNSHIP OFFER FROM NORDSTROM IN CALIFORNIA! Stoked. Still waiting on Seattle (HQ) and Kellogg in LA. We will see what happens. No longer in my hands.

Older News
Nanjing was an experience. Period.
So much to see in 2.5 days.

Day 1
On Friday, we took a bus from Shanghai to Nanjing -- 4 hours! Had lunch by a place near our hotel. The hotel was chic, black and white ensemble with silver trim, tacky but subtle Burberry wallpaper in the shower, and Audrey Hepburn photos plastered on the walls. I guess a photo will help describe this uber chic set up.



After a 10 minute rest in our rooms, we headed to Sun Yat Sen's Mausoleum, where his body is "buried". The area had a nice scenic view of Nanjing, as well as amazing cherry blossoms....the kind my dad has tried to achieve in our yard for years :)

Headed to dinner, where the restaurant was decorated with full-scale living trees, with red lanterns hanging from the branches. The food was amazing, as all Chinese food is after a long day. After dinner, whoever wanted to see the Confusion temple could go. I was quite disappointed with it as it was completely decked out in tacky Christmas-esque lights. Not worth 20RMB.

Amber and I conked out at 10. Haha.

Day 2
We had a nice breakfast buffet at the hotel. Had some rare GREENS! Afterward, we walked to Sun Yat Sen's presidential palace. Got to talk to one of my professors about my Great grandpa (mom's side) and his relation to Sun Yat Sen and Chiang Kai Shek. After further research, I have found out that my Great grandfather was Chiang Kai Shek son's best friend and a reknown military leader. Coooooool.

Our lunch consisted of ALL veggies. Can someone say...FINALLY! My tummy was much happier after that meal. I have missed my veggies for the past 2 months.

Went to Nanjing's city wall, one of the largest city walls in the world. Didn't think much about it while walking along the wall...however, there were rock climbing walls and small roller coaster-ish parks off of the wall. Reminded me of Xi'an's wall and the Great wall combined.

BANG FOR PEACE! haha. Got to ring the bell for peace before we headed to meet the monks. Had a nice Q&A session with a few monks, including one from Italy residing in Nanjing.

A group of us decided to go to the Nanjing massacre museum. As expected, it moved a lot of us emotionally. I do not want to talk much about what I saw. The images were graphic and the stories were horrific. I could not imagine the terror in the street of Nanjing at that time.

To liven up the mood, many people wanted to celebrate my birthday early, so we went out to Hot pot at the 1912 district across from our hotel, reminded me of XinTianDi of Shanghai (little Europe). Then we headed out to Club V, half bar, "half" club. Stayed until 1, while others stayed until 4, GET SOME SLEEP PEOPLE!


Day 3
Breakfast buffet again, yum. Went to Pearl S. Buck's old house. She was an American writer who grew up in China and wrote many stories relating to Chinese history and culture. Toured the old city roads of Nanjing, which if not partially a tourist trap, would have really enjoyed. They were somewhat like Beijing's Hutongs.

Back to Tonghe apartments!

BIRTHDAY
Who said that Mondays aren't a good day for birthdays? Well whoever said it was WRONG. Went to class that morning surprised by a beautiful white chocolate, heart-shaped birthday cake. Of course I split it with my classmates because what kind of birthday is it if you don't share with your friends!

For some reason I had spring cleaning fever that afternoon, because I cleaned my entire apartment. Perhaps because I was already eagerly awaiting Mike's arrival. Got ready at 5 for my birthday dinner, where I celebrated along with 20 of my Alliance friends at Blue Frog, an amazing hamburger restaurant. Ordered the Montana BBQ burger, and it was divine. How I had been craving for a burger for the longest time! Thank you to EVERYONE who came to celebrate my 21st, the ENTIRE weekend. I was planning on lounging in my bed...but you all convinced me to go out and I really appreciate it!


LOVE FROM THE FAR EAST!