This year's attendance at the Learning 2.008 technology conference proved to be another exciting trip as was my first visit to Shanghai last year. These conferences are wonderful opportunities to not only have discussions on the use of technology in education but also to explore the city before and after sessions... sometimes bringing us to the point of exhaustion =)
Fortunately many of the international schools that host these yearly tech conferences are located in the Huang Pu district of Shanghai, or what is known as the heart of the city. Here visitors can find China's famous shopping street (Nan Jing Rd), city life at its best and stunning art deco buildings lining the Huang Pu River. Our five days in Shanghai allowed us lots of time to explore the city. 
So what were my impressions of Shanghai this time around? Well, it's hard to visit China and not be impressed with the traffic and interesting modes of transportation. Now that I've lived in Asia for over a year, I am getting used to surviving street life dodging cars, trucks, scooters, hand-drawn carts and anything else with wheels. But this year I witnessed the Chinese sporting some pretty inventive modes of transportation, including (and I'm not sure what to call it) this "two-stroke rickshaw" =)
Some of the guys from our group decided to rent scooters and venture into the streets of Shanghai in an attempt to get into the action. Nothing like driving wherever you want -- on roads, sidewalks, bike lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, between vehicles -- and be able to do it legally! Actually, this type of driving is no different in Korea and is one of the reasons I'm holding back on getting my license here. Until I find my nerve, I think I'll stick to the safer modes of transportation...
A small group of us decided to cross the Huang Pu River by way of an underground subway called the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel. It's kind of like a Disneyland ride from the 1970s with the feel of a cosmic disco. It was really far out... and all this for $6 =)
Shopping in China is always an experience. It differs a little from Korea because seemingly every shop has its staff beckoning you into their store as you pass by... and each one of them sells shirts, watches, belts and luggage. But the fun really occurs when you enter these shops and watch the sales people do almost anything for a sale. It can be fun if you're in the mood to barter but can be annoying if you're just out to window shop. I even had a sales girl leave her booth unattended to walk me to the nearest ATM when I didn't have the right amount of cash on me. She really really wanted the sale!
Shanghai definitely has a western face to it, as I witnessed up and down the streets. I am used to seeing the McDonalds, KFC and Starbucks throughout Asia but this time I was able to go into the local Ikea store! I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the existence of this symbol of western commercialism in the heart of a communist country. How the world is changing. 
There always seem to be some surprises at the dinner table and this year was no exception. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me when I saw the plate of pickled octopus at the breakfast buffet. At least the octopus wasn't moving like at some dinner tables in Korea =) Nothing like raw seafood first thing in the morning!
But I did have my camera with me on the way to the airport when we passed endless high-rises displaying peoples' laundry. On almost every floor there were laundry racks extending from windowed apartments. I guess Mondays are laundry day in China as in most rural areas of Canada. While I'm used to seeing clothes drying on lines in the country, I have to say this is a first to see laundry blowing around on the 20th floor!The five day conference went by very quickly but it was enough time to provide another boat-load of memories.
