Shanghai, First Impressions

 First Days at Tongji University (Shanghai)
 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！