Everyday is a new adventure, and every night a new party

Yesterday was the first day that it didn't rain since ive been in Shanghai, and though this may be a huge improvement, we still couldn't see the sun through the dense smog (I wake up every morning feeling like i've smoked a carton of cigarrettes). As a group we took advantage of the nice weather though and went to visit the migrant school where we will be tutoring. The facilities are less than ideal, which I expected, but the kids are incredible. The school houses about 600 students in ages ranging from 6-12 and coming from all over China. They have so much personality and with little exposure, if any, to foreigners they were more than excited to see us. After visiting the migrant school, i got a nice break from the polluted hustle bustle of the city in a giant park near campus. The park has a huge pond, botanical garden, some traditional chinese pagodas, and to kick it all off a go-kart track that is not only open until 3 a.m., but also has a bar attached to it.....TIFC.

After a short break, the entire group met up and went to an organized orientation week dinner and afterwards a Chinese acrobatics show. At dinner I sat at the table with my program advisor Andrew, who I mentioned earlier this week. He is currently writing a book about nightlife in Shanghai and gave me some great tips on the music scene here. After the meal we walked a short distance to a theater for the acrobatics show. Needless to say, it was insane - check out some of the pictures and video below. To end the night, we went to a bar called "The Shelter" that is housed in an old bomb shelter and to our suprise, the hip hop group People Under the Stairs were performing there. The venue is small and there is no stage so they literally performed in the crowd next to us- pictures and video below.

One last note - I picked up my class schedule and books yesterday. I'm taking modern chinese history, political development of china, television, film and chinese society, and Beginner chinese 1. Should be interesting!

View of Shanghai from migrant school














Chinese migrant school children in music class














Me and fellow tutors in migrant school classroom.














Ridiculously lit building














Flexibility and balance....














Spinning Saucers














Ball of Death


The entrance shaft of The Shelter














Our table














The DJ booth and "People Under the Stairs"