Zài Jiàn, China

Snow!  Tuesday morning we sat down to breakfast and saw small white wisps drifting slowly to the ground.  A rare occurrence in Shanghai (they haven’t had snow in the past two years), we were happy because the forecast had called for rain.  We boarded our bus early to hit the China Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 World’s Fair Expo.

Inundated by neon lights, paintings, artifacts and thousands and thousands of elementary aged children who were as fascinated by us as we were by the crowds, we meandered through the various exhibits and watched a wonderful four-dimensional film on the evolution of one family during the past forty years in China.  We then headed to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower on the east bank of the Huangpu River.  Once the poorest area of the city, this quarter gained special economic status during the 1990’s and has since become home to several financial institutions and hosts many skyscrapers (two of which were featured in Mission Impossible III).  On a clear day, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, a truly unique construct distinguishable by its two bright pink spheres, boasts incredible views of the city.  We, encumbered by snow, could barely see across the river which was immediately below us.  We dined in a bright, art deco-styled restaurant on the Bund (center of colonial Shanghai and on the embankment of the Huangpu River) during our last lunch in the city.  We nibbled on bites of kung pao chicken, potato and beef curry, rice noodles, mayonnaise chicken, tasty vegetables and a spicy egg drop soup.  Delicious! 

In the afternoon, we visited the Shanghai Puguang Middle School, which enrolls students aged 13-17, for an English corner, where twenty of the school’s students returned  from their winter vacation just to converse with our girls.  Our students loved engaging with their Chinese peers.  They learned much about them and gained a greater appreciation for their culture and daily life.  Later we watched the school’s world class fencing team.  We met the coach, a delightful, energetic woman, who has trained many of these fantastic athletes.  We ended our day with a meal in Old Town and a picturesque walk along the Bund.  All of the buildings prolonging the river were adorned with bright lights, providing a splendid backdrop for our last night here. 

This morning the girls are spending their last hours shopping along the streets near our hotel.  We’ll board the plane mid-afternoon, and while we’ve had an unbelievable experience, we’re looking forward to seeing you in the evening!  The girls have been great ambassadors for you, for our school and the United States.  We have received many, many compliments on their comportment and maturity.  We are so appreciative of their cooperation and enthusiasm for each and every adventure. Thank you!