FYI

Hello all,

koi painting

As you may know, I have about a month left in China. Recently a second UVA professor came down to join our program and supplement it with historical context. He's also in charge of our travel plans, and he recently told us where else in China we'll be traveling. I figured I'd share so you can keep up!

This weekend, we're traveling to ZhouZhuang (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhouzhuang) which is reminiscent of Venice- it's referred to as a water town because the main form of transportation is on canals by boat. We'll be returning Sunday evening some time.

Next weekend, we won't be traveling but we have the opportunity to spend a day or a day and night with a Chinese family. I opted for just a day just because I didn't want to impede and I'm not sure if my manners are up to par, but this is the kind of experience I wouldn't want to miss out on.

scarf, bag, wallet, shoes

The weekend after that we will be traveling to a resort type place called MoGanShan ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mogan_Shan), which is a village type area set in mountains that you can climb if you're up to it. It apparently was a place where rich Chinese celebs go to relax, so I don't really understand why we're going, but it sounds nice.

The last 4 days of the program after second semester ends will be spent in Chengdu in Sichuan province, which you may recognize as the site of the recent earthquakes, but don't worry, we'll be toward the southwest, whereas the earthquakes were toward the northeast. We'll be leaving Shanghai by plane on the 26th and staying in a hostel similar to the one in Beijing. We'll be visiting a new and groundbreaking (no pun intended) archaeological site that really changes the "facts" about the Shang dynasty. We'll also be visiting many teahouses and temples, and hopefully the pandas, which are housed in Chengdu. We'll also go see the largest sitting buddha in the world- and it's really huge (see http://lh3.ggpht.com/_CgzeMrPS5u0/RcXmT87qNVI/AAAAAAAABfk/IO2y5ZlvN1k/100_2487.jpg). We'll be returning the 29th of July, the program ends the 31st, and my plane leaves on August 2nd.

sunset and dorm

July in Shanghai has begun, and the rainy season is coming to an end, so the scorching hot season is upon us. Some days we can actually see the sun, and yesterday evening I saw my first star since being in China. Attached, I captured a very rare and rapidly descending sunset from the dorm's window... enjoy!

Edit: 1. We are no longer traveling to ZhouZhuang this weekend because everyone is getting sick and Professor Liang (program director) thinks we need time to relax.

2. Also pictured: My latest painting from today of a koi fish, and the things I bought in Beijing, including a scarf, a Lesportsac bag, a Prada wallet, and gold Converse All-stars!

lit-up cafeteria in foreground, sunset