First Days at Tongji University (Shanghai)
by Ashlyn Weber
by Ashlyn Weber
We arrived in Shanghai, exhausted
and jetlagged, in the late afternoon on 3 September 2013. Fortunately, getting
through China Customs was a breeze with our hard-won Chinese Visas. Also, Next Step
China’s Amy and Derek were right outside the baggage claim with a huge Centre
sign, welcoming us to Shanghai. As we boarded the bus that would take us to
Tongji, we were given totes containing all the essentials for students studying
abroad in Shanghai: an umbrella, towel, transportation and health cards, maps
of Tongji University and Shanghai, and a roll of toilet paper. Next Step China
has honestly been a lifesaver for us these initial days in Shanghai. Not only
did they pick us up from the airport and give us the basics of living in
Shanghai on the way to the school, but they have also been essential to the
registration and rooming processes here on campus. With Derek and
Amy’s help, we were able to successfully get our temporary rooming permits,
install Internet in our rooms, and register for classes within a week.
After arriving on campus, Derek and
Amy took us on a tour of the school and the surrounding areas, where we tried
our first authentic Chinese food in Shanghai—jiaozi. Street food has been one of my favorite parts of Shanghai
so far. As well as being delicious, it is also super cheap and convenient,
having some great options just outside of campus, such as jianbing, liangmian, and baozi. Ordering food in restaurants,
however, has led to quite a bit of confusion, since most of us do not have the
Chinese vocabulary necessary to read menus, though we are learning quickly
since we do not want to starve!
Besides registering for classes,
which has taken up most of our time these first few days, and discovering new
foods around Tongji and Shanghai, we have also managed to familiarize ourselves
with the Metro and, through it, many parts of the city. My favorite stop so far
is at Jing’an Station, which has the underground international food market and
some great stores. I also find Jing’an Temple really fascinating since it is a
beautiful, traditionally built temple, surrounded by tall skyscrapers, modern
restaurants and businesses. I think this portrays the rapid change that is currently
happening in China, especially in the big cities like Shanghai. Since Shanghai
is such an international city, one has to really search among the high-rise
apartments, Happy Lemon drink stands, and Quanjia—Family
Marts—in order to find traditional Chinese culture. Fortunately, I am still
able to find it at places like Jing’an Temple, watching a young woman dressed
for work lighting incense for her prayers, and Fuxing Park, seeing a group of elderly
Chinese people playing majiang in a
pagoda among the trees.
I have really enjoyed my time in
Shanghai so far, exploring the city, trying new foods, and touring the Shanghai
Museum. I am hoping to see and learn more of the city and people during my time
here at Tongji University. 回头见！
