Shanghai Survivor: Shangri-La EFT

What an amazing week. Now that we've had a few days back from our adventure in Yunnan Province, I honestly cannot believe how much we experienced. As my cultural mentor put it, living in Shanghai is "soft" China. We have every culture represented in accessible and safe food, transportation easily labeled in English, and in a city with the population of Australia: we are safe. I think the EFT came at a perfect time to remind everyone in the program that we are not immune to the struggles of being abroad. In fact, out of the 49 people that attended our Shangri-La Educational Field Trip, only 11 avoided food poisoning/vomiting/diarrhea. It was absolutely insane.

For me personally, I was not one of the 11. I actually lasted quite a long time in comparison to half of the group that earned the label "puke bus" after the second day. I even ran around Shaxi buying electrolyte-filled drinks for my boyfriend, Rhett, as he lost all of his food contents for the day. But I earned my 5 AM wake up call, completely immobilized because of food sickness.  Rapidly loosing fluids, I knew that I was facing a 3 and 1/2 hour bus ride and I was adamant on not soiling my pants/throw up on the bus. So I inadvertently dehydrated myself to the extent that when we finally arrived at a Lijiang restaurant, I was incapacitated. After attempting to go to the bathroom before our bus ride to the hotel, I collapsed. Rhett picked me up, and I passed out seconds later. He informed me later that he had to fend off random Chinese people attempting to put some sort of smelling salts on me while carry me down to the bus where our directors were. Next thing I knew, I was in Lijiang hospital, IV attached and being poked and prodded. Despite my fears, the hospital was just fine but lacking dozens of regulations like in the US. Doors were wide open on a 40-50 degree day, sheets not changed in between patients, people smoking in the lobby, and nurses needing to be tracked down rather than being attentive. But, as the title of this post reiterates: we survived.

Everything was exaggerated because of sickness but the bottom line was that the trip was the unexpected journey we knew it would be. We all needed some un-comfortableness in our lives and we got it by the bus-load. Though everyone would have been much happier avoiding sickness, nothing was serious and the sites around us were an amazing distraction from the negatives. I haven't expanded enough on all of the sites we saw, but I did create another video for everyone to see the trip first-hand. Don't worry: it doesn't document the events mentioned above besides a few pictures inside the hospital. I hope you like it! Also, other people in the program have begun to make videos as well and I wanted to share them all for your viewing pleasure. They are listed below and are incredible. Enjoy!

1. My Video: Shangri-La EFT
2. David Hong: Yunnan "Educational" Field Trip
3. My Video: Hong Kong & Macau
4. Justin Lew: ~China Begins
5. Zach Chen: Shanghai | Orientation Week

love,
kpk

Pass the Jellyfish

Life and Shanghai is surprisingly easy now. Between making solo trips to supermarkets and confidently bargaining at fake markets, there have been relatively few "culture shock" moments. Until last night. Group dinner was at a high end, family-style Chinese restaurant. As dish after dish came out, the less and less I recognized. Kung pao chicken, beef and celery root, rice were in the clear. Lotus root, bean curd, and last but most certainly not least, jellyfish were another story. Somehow all of the adventurous eaters were at my table, asking permission to take the fishes head and getting excited when pickled eggplant came to the table. Encouraged by those around me I did, in fact, try ALMOST everything on the table. Though I narrowly escaped eating the gooey bean curd, I did in fact, have to try the raw jellyfish. My verdict? Not terrible but unexpectedly crunchy. Happy Weird Food Wednesday!

love,

kpk

PS. As always, here is the link to the most recent Shanghai Newsletter: CLICK HERE

Hong Kong & Macau

Our first trip has successfully been completed! After our wonderful weekend I find it hard to believe that I was so worried about it all. I could tell you all about it but I think this video will do our trip justice. Enjoy and share the link :)

love,
kpk

ps. Check out the special travel edition of the shanghai newsletter! CLICK HERE!