Shanghai

Holm had a student last semester who is an accomplished artist and also teaches at evening class at Jiaotong University. I asked if I could sit in on her class, and Holm was able to arrange it.

The university campus is quite a ways south of town and away from the nearest Metro stop, so I got to metro through new areas of Shanghai, then walk through a new neighborhood. I passed this attendant-run pay-for-parking lot for bicycles and scooters, the first I've ever seen.

The university campus has a traditional feel.

Loved listening to his practice while on my walk.

Mr. Cool in his teaching duds.

Holm gave me a quick tour of campus.

I enjoyed the joke of the pigeons sitting on the wingtips of this campus statue.

Holm's classroom building.

And his main classroom

Joy's watercolor-on-rice-paper class is held in the same building as where Holm teaches. The class begins with Joy distribution materials to each student, which she brings along herself. Here she's pouring black ink for a student.

Next came a short lecture. Tonight's topic is a beautiful bird.

Then Joy demonstrated while her students gathered round.

Her finished demonstration.

Students took photos of the finished demo, then worked from their photo photos.

When her students were all working, without warning, Joy came to the back of the class where Holm and I were sitting and began a new painting - just for me! She said the flower was the most beautiful in all of China. I looked up its name - peony.

It was such a wonder to watch her work. All in all, my painting took her about ten minutes to complete.

And then came the beautiful bird of happiness, wealth, and good health.

Joy's signature, best wishes, and title.

I'll add a photo when this is framed and on the wall of our home. What an amazing gift in every aspect this evening!

Time out for a week for me and Holm as we both came down with some respiratory crud, missed several days of touring (in my case) and work (in Holm's), a chance to double-date with Holm and girlfriend Rhiannon, and just feeling sorta punk for a few more days. Photos and blogging were met with no enthusiasm on my part. Back to it, post-trip.

In addition to carrying our own toilet paper, Holm warned us of the prevalence of "squattie potties." We encountered them in some museums and parks. Yes, they're hard on old knees, appreciate the stalls that have grab bars.

Military recruits jogging together in the most precise formation I've ever seen.

Apparently anything goes when no one has a clothes dryer.

That great Easter hat...

The smog was pretty significant some days. You could taste it.

No ADA regulations here. This was the only pedestrian path on almost all the bridges we walked.

Ahhh, the beautiful French Concession neighborhood...

There must have been 20 stores selling all manner of instruments in the French Concession neighborhood surrounding the Shanghai Music Conservatory, and it was great fun to walk past practice halls where many windows were open so we could enjoy vocal and instrumental practices.

We read that Shanghai's 2020 goal is to have 40% of its square mileage under green.

Since the game wasn't broadcast in China, this was NCAA Championship game "watching" Monday morning, refreshing the phone ever 10 seconds to see score and commentary updates. Thank goodness the Tar Heels won!!

All one could see of the American Consulate in Shanghai, just the tall wall and those spikes.

The Iranians just down the street...

I could do an entire book on recycling/trash from what we saw. Everything is triple-wrapped, excessively so, in non-recyclable materials. Trike bikers ride slowly along some streets ringing a bell so people know to bring cardboard or bottles out for them. Never saw redemption centers or commercial recycling trucks, but there were many, many people like this guy going through trash and taking "treasure." Someone told me that building superintendents will tell locals when someone is moving in so they can wait for that person's cardboard discards.

Directional sign in the Shanghai No. 1. Department Store...

And it WAS and entire floor of cashmere and undies!

Cool fence.

Fresh orange juice for less than $1. This guys was restocking the oranges.

An Aston Martin parked in front of a Rolls, parked in front of a Maserati. There are so many high-end shopping malls and $100k cars in Shanghai. The juxtapositions are more vast, perhaps than I've ever seen.