day 2

so i woke up extremely early today and decided to go for a walk in the park. i rode my bike, got myself a pancake for breakfast and headed for the park near the school, so I could go to work in an hour's time. when i got there, i realised i couldn't bring my bike inside the park and instead, had to park outside. not trusting my bike alone in any one public place for any amount of time, i decided to cycle around the neighbourhood.

the french concession is really a beautiful place, and in certain areas, it is so quiet and peaceful. i rode on this street where high-ranking officials and really important people lived. you could tell because every other house had high fenced-up walls, security cameras and a guard or two standing at attention on the outside. i think i actually smelt sandalwood in the breeze while riding past! i've always wondered how these places look on the inside.

arriving at school 2 hours before class, i ended up chatting with the cleaning ayi. she has lived in shanghai all of her 56 years and has seen great changes in this area. our school stands on what used to be farming grounds. across the road where the hotel stands, there once was a sports arena. she and her friends used to watch athletes train through the fences. now the area is perpetuated by sky high buildings and plagued by constant construction, especially with Expo 2010 looming ahead. the older buildings that are being conserved house row after row of bars. even in the short 3 years i've been here i've seen shops and restaurants come and go, buildings torn down and re-built in an instant...


i think i'm beginning to like this spontaneity exercise...