Shanghai is different from the United States in so many ways, the fashion, the cars, the streets, clothes, shoes, and much more, and I’m going to miss everything. I’m really going to miss visiting places in Shanghai like the museums and temples and going to performances. The museums were great, and I learned new information I did not know before. For example, I learned about the types of religions and the types of gods that Chinese people believe in. I also learned about the terrible massacre that happened in Nanjing in 1937. So many innocent people died. It was really sad how the people were killed by the Japanese soldiers, and the Japanese government does not want to accept that this happened.
I’m also going to miss having my free time and hanging out with my friends. We had time to go walking around, and we liked bargaining at the shops. Things in China are much cheaper than in the United States. One U.S. dollar is 6.4 Chinese yuan. It’s funny how the people go after you just so you can buy their products. I had never bargained before coming to China. It’s fun because the people sell the stuff at a high price, and if they see you walk away they start lowering the price. What I will miss most is going on excursions and seeing performances. My two favorite performances in China were the Love Story West Lake Show in Hangzhou and the Acrobatics Show in Shanghai. The Acrobatics show was amazing! It was impressive how the people have talent for dancing on bikes while spinning plates on poles. This trip has shown me that being responsible is not easy, and that we have to make good choices if we want to have a good future. I learned to be responsible for myself, and it has been a good experience. Now I’m ready to go back to my country, but I will always remember Shanghai, because I experienced many firsts, for example, riding a city bus, a subway, a train, an airplane and a boat. I have so many memories of Shanghai that I will never forget.
Crystal Rangel
Shanghai 6-Week, 2011
Austin, TX
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