Just Another Hot Day in Shanghai!

Today was our 3rd day of Chinese classes. My roommate and I got there a bit late because our taxi driver dropped us off at the wrong gate and we had to take a long walk back to the classrooms on the other side of campus. I was placed in Level 3 of Chinese classes and we spent the morning learning how to order food in Chinese along with the table manners and proper edicute while at a table. After our Chinese class, we went into our into the community activity where we interviewed some of the local students in one their study centers. I thought that it was really cool to have a real conversation with one of the locals and what they loved about Shanghai. Following our into the community activity, it was time for lunch! A couple of us decided to rent some of the campus bikes to get over to the Global Harbor Mall for lunch. After our lunch we raced back on our bikes back to the CIEE classroom where we began to do traditional Chinese painting. We painted pandas on rice paper and then decided to decorate some fans with pandas as well. As 3:30 came upon us we were given the choice to go home or go to a bargaining market where we could bargain for special goods and materials. It was such a fun time bargaining and negotiating prices with the locals.  I got a really nice speaker for 90% off and some sunglasses for 80% off. After gathering all of our newly purchased goods, we took the subway to People's Square to have some dinner. The majority of us went to a place where they served fresh steak in a cup and it was really good. After dinner we all took the subway our separate ways to return to our homestays.  

-Benjamin L