On a cold and drizzly Wednesday, Peter and I took Subway Line 7 to the Jade Buddha Temple in a quiet section of Shanghai. After wandering down the wet streets, we came across souvenir shops selling ornately hokey Buddha figurines. We knew we must be close. After paying the entrance fee, we walked into the … More Shanghai: Jade Buddha Temple
Photo of the Day. Jing’an Temple in Shanghai.
My first trip to Ikea happened in China! Random. We were on a mission to find a mattress pad since Chinese beds are a joke. For the last 4 nights I was sleeping on a lattice of metal rods supporting a cold-air chamber of doom. It was miserable and I would wake up each morning … More Day 61: The Ikea Experience
China is full of contrasts. From luxury shopping malls to hole in the wall restaurants and ancient temples next to modern skyscrapers, the difference is exaggerated. Here, a neon orange grocery stores occupies a building from the late 19th century in the “French Concession.” Clean and dirty, ancient and modern, the past is never far … More Day 60: Old and New
All cities in all countries have at least one thing in common… diversity. While China may not be as ethnically diverse as America, the range of socio-economic classes is just as wide. Like any other country in the world, China is a mix of people both wealthy and poor. While food is very cheap in … More Day 59: Finding balance across cultures
In case you missed it…. Shanghai: Initial Explorations ________________________ After a weekend of shopping, eating, and walking, Peter wanted to take me to a famous tourist destination in Shanghai. So on Monday we bundled up and stepped out to brave the overcast and drizzly day. But first we had to walk 20 minutes to the … More Shanghai: Yuyuan Garden
On Day 57 I posted a photo of a Chinese (French-based) grocery store. I believe that grocery stores are great cultural indicators. Let me explain for the sake of my anthropology degree. Food=Culture Food is something we consume everyday (duh). We have local rituals and traditions surrounding the type of food we eat, how we … More Day 58: Chinese street food
Recap of China numero uno. Get excited. ________ After almost 24 hours of travel, I arrived in Shanghai, exhausted from the absurdly long flight. I watched 3 movies, chugged bottles of water, and was inspired by Oprah. Let’s just say it was a “productive” trip. Thankfully I didn’t miss my connecting flight and arrived in … More Shanghai: Initial Explorations
If you thought supermarkets were big in the United States, go to China. Carrefour, known affectionately as a French based “hypermarket”, is like Walmart on steroids. Most people fondly call Shanghai New York City on steroids so it must be a cultural thing. Bigger is well… bigger. Carrefour is 4 stories tall with magnetic escalators … More Day 57: Walmart on steroids
Tonight was family night for the Jantschek clan with some good Hungarian food as the centerpiece. My mom, sisters, and I ventured over to my grandparents house for dinner with my aunt and uncle. It was a half celebration of my grandpa’s 81st birthday and final get-together for my sister’s spring break. We dined on … More Day 67: Can butter cure jetlag?
Kirsten Captures 