I am not funny, China is funny.: Shanghai, China: I am not funny and neither is China

We went back to the place that started me writing this blog, Shanghai, China. Y’all, I have to say, China really isn’t that funny. Taxi rides were a nightmare, plane rides and lost luggage were frustrating, my ability to communicate was non-existent (I know…my fault) and I couldn’t decide what was worse, the cigarette smoke or the random odors I came across.

We travelled to Shanghai to watch Hannah Grace’s basketball team participate in the APAC basketball tournament. They finished the tournament 4-2 and 9^th place. I need someone to explain the brackets to me because the 2^nd place team finished 3-3. Tony said they just lost their second game at the wrong time. At any rate, they had an awesome time making some incredible memories!

While I enjoyed every minute of watching them play, getting to the school was another story. I travelled a day earlier than Tony and Ellis, so I had the joy of catching a taxi on my own the first day. The Bellman told the taxi driver to take me to Shanghai American School-Puxi. After a bit of back and forth between the two, the bellman gave me a “thumbs up”. Twenty minutes into my ride, however, the taxi driver pulled over, turned to me with his hand up to his ear like he is talking into a phone and mumbled a bunch of Chinese. Call someone? Who the heck am I supposed to call? I threw my hands up in the air, shook my head and stared out the window. He tried a few more times to talk to me in Chinese with his hand acting as a phone. By the third try and a few looks at a map, he drove away. A thirty minute ride took an hour, but I was so relieved to see the school! The girls lost the first game, but dominated the second (winning by 23 points). Hannah Grace saw lots of playing time in the second game, so that was exciting! After getting a hug from my baby girl and sending her off to her home stay (a family from the Netherlands), I ventured off to catch another taxi. After standing in the dark, cold rain for FORTY minutes, a taxi finally arrived. I jumped in and showed him the card for my hotel (written in Chinese). Well, the taxi driver obviously didn’t like that he was going to have to take my on a thirty minute ride. He basically started yelling at the school representative that was standing by my car door. They went back and forth and she motioned for me to stay put. I thought, “Don’t worry, my friend, I am not waiting another 45 minutes for a taxi!” She mumbled something back to him, shut the door and walked away. He sat there for a moment, drove a few feet and pulled over. I wanted to cry. All I could think was that this fella really had no intentions of taking me back to my hotel. After a few moments, though, we were on our way. Once I was back at the hotel, I sat in the lounge and considered staying there until Sunday.

All was well, though, once Tony and Ellis arrived. We had no more issues with taxis (other than the smell), we watched more games, went to the market and bought electronic items that I am sure are totally real and we ate some good Mexican (Pistolera’s), Italian (Pizza Express) and American (Boxing Cat) food. Because that is what you eat in China, right?!

As you can see from the view from my room, it was a beautiful first day in Shanghai.

Here I am staring out the window of the taxi as he is trying to tell me to call someone.

Do you see the "no smoking" sign in the taxi? Yeah, from the smell, I don't think they mean it.

I have so many pictures of Hannah Grace playing ball. Unfortunately she would not stay still to pose for a picture! Probably needed more than just my IPhone camera.

I was thrilled when these two arrived!

Ellis made himself right at home. Due to their loss of luggage, he happily changed into this cozy outfit.

The team let Ellis join a game of Knock Out in between games.

I believe Hannah Grace is excited that she "knocked out" her coach to win the first round of Knock Out.

Those girls love Ellis! Here he is waiting to knock out his sister in the three pointer knock out...which he did.

After the games, we went to Pistolera's where we met the General Manager...from Manila.

In four days, this was the only picture of me. A lovely selfie in the fabulous taxi.

My time in Shanghai improved with the arrival of Tony and Ellis. So did the view from my room.

So, I will take you back to 2011 with a few photos from then. We went for a visit to see about moving the family there. I actually said, “Yes”! Wonder where our lives would be now? Thankfully we were transferred to Australia instead. So much has happened in the past 4 ½ years. Kind of cool to take a look back.