Paragliding in Pokhara

To say I was ready to get out of Chitwan, is an understatement! I honestly COULDN'T WAIT! I began dreaming of electricity, a hot shower, a meal without wondering if I was crunching down on a beetle, and internet. Thank you Pokhara, you not only answered my prayers but also got me back to normalcy and (literally) lifted my spirits for another 2 weeks of traveling!

Pokhara, Nepal can be best described as an outdoor adventurer's dream come true! It's not only breathtakingly beautiful, but it's lively, and offers just about any outdoor excursion you could imagine. From month long trekking adventures through the Himalayas and up to Everest, to paragliding, canoeing, biking, and airplane tours, the options are endless! We decided to embark on a paragliding adventure where we literally ran off a cliff and were lifted up in the sky by a parachute! Our 30min of flying was one of the most incredible things I have ever done!

Chitwan, and the famous Elephant Safari....

After being in the crazy city of Kathmandu for a few days we were ready (or so we thought) for the outdoor adventures of Chitwan and the Elephant Safari Resort. Chitwan is known for it's natural beauty, as well as being one of the BEST places in Nepal to see Rhinos.

When we arrived in Chitwan, it was POURING down rain. The owner of the all inclusive, $10/day, Elephant Safari Resort (where we stayed in Chitwan) met us at the bus station to drive us to our new home. When you're only paying $10/day for lodging, all your meals, an elephant ride, a cultural show, a jungle walk, a canoe ride, AND a village tour, you're expectations shouldn't be too high. Little did I know "not to high" actually translates to: electricity that turns on for 5min at a time, a trickling shower, and BEETLES in your meals..... Ok, so I could get past the beetles, the lack of electricity and water pressure, but when I start finding spiders and other bugs crawling on the walls of my room and on the bed I tend to freak out...

Now, the crazy thing about this experience is that in all honesty, if I were given the chance to do it all again - I MOST CERTAINLY WOULD!!! These are the memories that will last a lifetime, and to be spending them with friends like mine, it really was an amazing 3 days!

Namaste Nepal!!!

After an unforgettable first year teaching, it was time for some celebratory traveling with a few of the most amazing friends I could ever ask for. We packed our bags and were quickly on our way to Nepal where were warmly welcomed by the Nepalese. Our journey began in Kathmandu, a vibrant city with busy streets, and noise that could drive a person mad. In Kathmandu, we visited both Hindu temples and Buddhist stupas. We ate a variety of delicious curries, and dahls, naan. And had an absolutely fabulous time!

butt what?

I missed ONE, yes ONE and only ONE day of class my senior year at Meredith. Ironically, that Monday just so happened to be the day in "Global Needs of Families" that covered China. IF I had been in class on this very special day (instead of stuck in the Atlanta airport) I would have heard about the many customs and traditions present throughout this incredible country. I would have learned about the family structure, the family unit, common parenting practices, and even a few things on child development. And I would have taken very detailed notes on what to except with regard to culture shock! Which, within the past 9 months I have taken in full force! A few things in particular, the "squat pots," the burping, the slurping, the spitting, and oh wait.... the peeing???
That's right - even the peeing. Luckily, it's only among babies and toddlers but it's still pretty shocking the first time it's witnessed. Okay, so maybe it's not THAT uncommon to see a small child relieving themselves outside, but on the sidewalk next to a restaurant, or being held over a trashcan in the metro... now THAT'S not something you see everyday (or at least not everyday in America.) What makes this practice most interesting is not WHERE the children decide to relieve themselves (since it's practically everywhere) it's HOW they do it, and that's with what's known in Chinese as "Kaidangku" or "Open-Crotch Pants."
I'm going to be honest, the first time I saw that adorable little Chinese darling with a big slit in his pants I thought his pants must have been cut by accident or something tragic had happened. Little did I know those pants were actually meticulously cut and sold by the manufacturers with precisely the exact width and length for optimal function and usage. Those Kaidangku I once laughed at, have now become second nature. And actually, if you can get past the fact that it's not at all sanitary for children to just go around peeing and pooping wherever they see fit, these pants really aren't that bad - like everything (even the squat pots) they have their pros! (Imagine that, I made another pro and con list) Kaidangku are environmentally friendly - no diapers to dispose of that end up in our land fills AND if thoughtfully planned, having children poop outside could actually act as fertilizer (maybe a stretch for a pro but at least I'm trying...) I've also been told by numerous Chinese friends that it's actually easier to potty train children who have worn Kaidangku instead of diapers!
These are probably NOT something I'll be stocking up on and bringing home as gifts to future parents but pretty funny non the less! (And certainly something to look out for if planning a trip to China!)

GONE to the Chapel!!!

Maybe not exactly a "Shout-Out from Shanghai" but certainly worth mentioning! This past weekend I was lucky enough to take the long journey to America. I arranged substitute teachers for Thursday afternoon and Friday and departed for the home land. I left my apartment Thursday around noon and 26 hours later arrived in Fayetteville, NC ready for a weekend of fun and excitement. It was a beautiful wedding from the very beginning and we couldn't have asked for better weather. From the flowers and cake to the church, Katherine's dress, and even groomsmen shoes everything turned out perfectly. I am beyond excited to have been able to go home even for a short visit to share this special time with my family and friends.

*Check Facebook for more pictures!

Fabric Market and Pearl Market!

These two markets may just be the reason I stay in China forever (well, not really forever but certainly part of the reason I decided to stay another year...) There is honestly only one word to describe these markets and that's HEAVENLY! They are by far my two favorite markets in Shanghai and although neither is the cleanest or easiest place to navigate, once you get accustomed to the crazyness, the options and creations become ENDLESS! I've had winter jackets, dresses, skirts, and shirts made at the fabric market and numerous necklaces, bracelets, and earring made at the pearl market. Since they are walking distance from each other, I often find myself visiting both in the same day! And the best part, they ALWAYS have your size and favorite styles!

Xi'an - Qingming Festival weekend vacation!

This past weekend (during the Qingming Festival) Camden, Tricia, and I embarked on yet another Chinese adventure, this time traveling and exploring the city of Xi'an, located in the Shaanxi province of China. We took the overnight train Friday after school and arrived in Xi'an around noon on Saturday! Our first stop.... lunch of course, and WOW we were impressed! We went to a noodle shop recommended by our ever faithful and handy Lonely Plant. We ordered a couple noodle dishes (one of which may or may not have slipped right out of our chopsticks and ended up on the floor.... oops), pancake things, and a yummy eggplant dish. All the food was delicious, and once our bellies were content we decided it was time to hit the streets for a little sightseeing and shopping!

On our first day, we saw the Drum Tower, the Bell Tower, and visited a Mosque while exploring the Muslim quarters. Day two was spent shopping and eating tons of street food snacks! We also went to an antique market outside the city walls which was quite interesting to say the least.... Sunday night we met up with a few other teachers from SHSID for dinner at the oldest restaurant in Xi'an. Monday, we went on a tour to Mt. Hua, the 5th holiest mountain in China! Then, finally on Tuesday we saw the Terracotta Warriors! This was by far my favorite part of the trip! The warriors were simply amazing and there were SO MANY!

After a great four day weekend vacation I made it back to Shanghai to sunshine and warmer weather!