Controlled Chaos

I’ve only been to a couple big cities but there is something about this one that is extremely different then the rest. Maybe it is the 21 million people, maybe it is the air, or maybe it is the water that is toxic to foreigners. But amongst all the chaos of honking on the street and cramming on the subway there seems to be a system for the madness. Getting off the subway is more of a challenge than getting on. The simply task of crossing the street seems like a game of frogger. Red lights are a suggestion for drivers; if it’s red it means check both ways, avoid pedestrians, and charge through. If street crossing were a sport in the next Olympics the Chinese would sweep the competition.

People Square

            Shanghai University does not have a gym as I previously thought but it does have ample basketball courts as well as a track surrounding a few soccer fields. I had no idea that the Chinese were so into sports. The first time I ran around the track I was in the middle of a thunderstorm. As I rounded the track I gazed upon the clouds in the distance with lightening striking through what seemed to be plump rain clouds. The way the lightening lit up the buildings was like nothing I’ve seen before. Running in endless circles, the impending rain and thunderous light gave me a motivation to keep running in the heat and humidity. For those of you who go to the gym on a regular basis you notice the people who get on the treadmill with all their makeup on and their cell phone attached to their ear. Those people exist here too! Both men and woman are guilty of the faux workout session. Some girls walk around the track wearing wedges or high heels paired with a sundress, you tell me how that is conducive to cardio. Some men wear full suits and pretend to speed walk in circles hoping to break a sweat. Although many Chinese walk the track, it amazes me how they can put down dumplings and continue to stay so thin. After a couple laps I met up with a few of my friends and kicked a soccer ball around. Once a goal opened up, we joined a few Chinese students for a pick up soccer game. It was a 9v9 game, which seemed more like a 6v10 game. Soccer requires communication among the players of the same team and a developed trust. That didn’t exist. The language barrier that existed between my teammates and me solidified the fact that learning/knowing mandarin is pivotal to success in China whether on the soccer field or ordering dumplings.  

            Everyone laughs when I tell them the name of my blog is “feast in the far east” (I have to give credit to Scott LaCava for coming up with the name but it fit me so well I had to use it) As you all know I live for food. My black hole of a stomach allows me to experience copious amounts of food that rivals any competitive eater; although the difference between a competitive eater and me is that I actually enjoy the food. First, I’d like to express the fact that real Chinese food here is beyond cheap. Secondly, I want you to know that there are many authentic Shanghai restaurants surrounding my campus that I visit on a daily basis; I’m pretty sure the owners know me by my order, now if I could only figure out how to pronounce what I want instead of pointing at the picture. The place I go between classes is a five-minute walk from my dorm room, it’s a Kabob place that makes the most delicious burritos and pita pockets. For all of you that love pita pit, come here for the best gyro you’ve ever had with a Chinese spice that is indescribable. Next to the heavenly gyro place lie handmade dumplings, steamed and fried. We all know that anything fried taste better (but is worse for you) but these things are tantamount to a hot and fresh Krispy Kream doughnut. The crispiness combined with the cotton candy lightness of the dough creates a foodgasim you’ll probably never experience. Among all the chaos surrounding these street vendors they maintain consistent quality in their food. Did I mention that I’m paying 6.5rnb for lunch ($1USD for lunch and roughly $3USD for dinner) Chinese food here is cheaper than anything but if you try to get international food you’re paying prices comparable to the US.

Yang's Fry Dumplings: Heaven

            Eggs and Cheese? Yes please!. This morning I found a breakfast burrito place…Chinese style. For those of you who have experienced the Frank’s breakfast burrito I’d like you to come take on this delightful breakfast. I’ve been jonesing for an egg breakfast since my arrival and I refuse to eat a McGriddle despite their deliciousness. This little man on the street has a tiny fridge and a big griddle where he mixes a Chinese dough (which he turns into a pancake like tortilla) then adds bacon, eggs, and cheese. Once cooked a garnish of lettuce and spices tops of the burrito and he wraps it up in a little paper. 8RNB ($1.25USD). Pure happiness.

Shanghai Skyline

     It amazes me that the Chinese eat Chinese food for breakfast lunch and dinner. I’ve been here since the 23^rd of August and to be honest I’m pretty sick of Chinese food. Unlike Americans how we eat a different kind of food for every meal, the Chinese eat their own food for every meal. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I miss fruits and vegetables. There are a few farmers markets down the street from my university but I’m scared to eat the fruit that lays out in the street all day; it’s difficult to tell what is quality and what is leftover from the previous day. The farmer’s markets close to my school include live ducks, catfish the size of a yardstick, fish (dead and alive), squid, chickens, prawns so big you couldn’t open your mouth to fit one, and a few things that are unidentifiable.

On our way to the white party

Chinese Phrase

(these phrases are missing their tones because I can’t add them in Microsoft Word, the tones are what makes this language hard to learn/ understand)

“Zhe shi shenme”- What is that!?

..this is a very helpful expression while dining, to bad I can’t understand what they say in response