Saturday, October 10, 2009
Alright, I've been back in Singapore for about three days now. I wanted to blog everyday from China but, guess what? China not only bans facebook, youtube & twitter but blogger.com as well! And not only that, should you click on anything with the words such as "facebook", your connection immediately gets terminated. Like wth? Thank god MSN still works.
Anyways, I'm not going to write a biography on my two weeks in Shanghai cause it's just too long and I probably forgot most of it!
Day 1:
Woke up SUPER early but was still almost late xP Benny, Ting Hui, Hai En, Serene, Pui Yi, Yvonne were all nice enough to come down ALL the way to the airport just to send us off at 7+ in the MORNING. Thanks guys!
Anyway, we checked in without having our planned breakfast, and before we knew it, were off to China. After a long journey on the plane, we had a long journey on coach into the city too. We had dinner and pretty much had the rest of the night to ourselves. I went out with Mrs Tay, Xin Lin & Melissa, in an attempt to find the place which we passed while on the coach that had many stores. Unfortunately, we failed but found a road side stall which sold fantastic wun tun! (wonton)
Day 2-6:
The start of our community work! We went to a primary school for migrant children (children whose parents came from other parts of china to shanghai to work). The first day, we evaluated their standards and how better to prepare ourselves to teach them. The next day was a holiday for them and we spent the entire day drawing/painting two pictures for them as well as learn a dance. Everyone got a bit *cough* messy cause of the paint xP The third-fifth day were the days where we finally got to interact with the children.
They were friendly, fun and eager. (Definitely more well behaved than Singapore kids xP) Anyway, on the last day we were there, we got mobbed by the kids! They asked for all our autographs and we just spent the entire day signing haha!
We all felt sad to leave the school on the last day, a few people felt emotional xP Now I can say I have experienced the joy of teaching (:
Day 7,8:
We went to an old folks' home that was under renovation to help out. First day we chipped off the paint & plaster off the walls on all three levels and then cleaned it up. I never knew destroying a building would be so tiring! xP But nevertheless, was fun with everyone working together, if not for the pesky mosquitoes! They are more annoying than singapore ones!
Second day was spent dismantling, washing, fixing back fans. It would have been a quick job if not for the confusion of which pieces went with which, but we still finished relatively quickly. (We were done by 11 xP) Then the day was entirely ours. Most went out but I stayed in the hotel and slept xP Night was spent preparing for the next day's performance, was entertaining because of Melissa's dance. (Video COMING SOON!)
Day 9:
We went to another place where the elderly were moved to from the old folks home that we spent the last two days at. We performed for them, and they performed for us. Then we interacted with them. While others went to play mahjong with them, I went to play chinese chess instead. And got owned haha. Ahh wells xP
Day 10-13:
R&R!
Day 10:
We went to a water village outside Shanghai. Was damn crowded cause it was a public holiday for China. Lunch was horrible seriously. The place was too crowded to appreciate the scenary and history. Ah wells...
Day 11:
Went to Chen Huang Miao to shop. Tried the famous Soup Dumpling there made with CRAB MEAT! It was delicious! Had dinner at a Japanese Restaurant, fun night, many things happened. Unfortunately, cannot say here if not kena xP (For more details, come ask me personally =X)
Day 12:
Went to an area with Factory Shops all around. Any brand you want, it's there. But I found it boring, so just slept at Starbucks. Then we went to another spot, which was equally as boring, so went to sleep at some fast food joint too xP Bought ABSOLUTELY nothing there.
Day 13:
Back to Singapore. We all missed Shanghai. The nights we went out for supper. The nights we spent chatting. The times and moments we spent together. The effort we all put in, the fun we all had, to have someone you love live 6 doors away (<3) and the things we did that should never ever be mentioned. xP And that, is my summary of Serve China 2009.
Things not mentioned: The nights spent there. Not that we did anything bad, but I think everyone (me included) will just rush off the eat something if I mentioned everything we ate on the Shanghai trip.
~Chappy
Blogged
@ 4:49 PM
Chappy~