Stephany in China, Winter 2011 - Post 2

It’s my 3^rd day in Shanghai and I’m already exhausted. Our days have been packed with various activities, from business visits to sightseeing to nights out on the town. I was so tired that I was nodding off during the Shanghai Acrobatic Show! The show was absolutely amazing and I very much wanted to watch it, but towards the second half, I was simply so exhausted that I could barely keep my eyes open.

My first impression of China is that is a very complex and diverse country. It has a very rich history and many of the citizens seem much more familiar with the history and its impact than Americans do of US history. The Chinese seem to take a lot of pride in their culture and country. China has a very unique mix of traditional and modern. Within Shanghai there’s places like the YuYuan Gardens which holds artifacts that are centuries old, but just a few blocks away are also brand-new skyscrapers. Shanghai has the 2^nd tallest building in the world but also contains Buddhist temples that are rich in history. I’m also amazed by the sheer size of the city – it is impossible to see the entire city in the few days we’re here. I’ll be sad to leave, but I’m very much looking forward to experiencing Beijing!