Day in the Life of...

...an English teacher in Shanghai..

8:30am

Alarm goes off. Its finally is starting to cool off, so I sleep with my window opened just a crack. This allows me to wake up to traffic, horns and lots of them as everyone scrambles into taxis and buses lazily make their way through the intersection nearly missing pedestrians, bikers and mopeds.

Check my e-mail, (advertisements from Walgreens, Shutterfly, Overstock and other American on-line stores that don't have reasonable shipping rates or not available in China, Runner's world "how to keep motivated", and a travel site telling me the top cities to travel to..) open Skype- good morning world, I'm ready to chat!

8:45am

Begin with a morning stretch before a breakfast staple: bowl of oats with a spoonful of peanut butter and some honey! After the microwave is finished heating up this piping bowl of goodness, I head back to my room and plop down at my laptop to Skype with my mom.

9:15am

I watch an episode of Arrested Development after a nice chat with mom, am tempted to watch the latest of Glee... that will have to wait for later. Debate going for a run but then after looking at all the traffic from my window decide not now. Instead it is time for the big decision of the day: what to wear. I open both closets and after about 10 minutes finally get the right combination of autumn, layers and boot appropriate look together (not always so picky, some days are just yoga pants and a sweater).

9:45am

The bowl of oats earlier wasn't quite enough, already ready for a snack! I head down to the convenient store for some yogurt with fruit chunks. Delicious.

10:30am

Some more Skyping and chatting with friends from back home on the computer. It really helps to be connected to everyone- keeps me updated as to what's going on and helps me to cope with being so far away!

11:30am

Grab some lunch with my roommate before I have to head to work. A delicious Japanese restaurant just outside our complex- their lunch special is fantastic: grilled pork on rice, udon (hot or cold), tea, coffee and cabbage salad. Mmmm

12:30pm

Finally begin the bike into work. It was pretty nice out so biking was a good option- although it is about 7 miles and will be chilly and dark on the way home tonight..

2:00pm

My assistant teacher helps me to order some food as I will be hungry after classes! We decide on fried rice from the local lamian noodle place. The best handmade noodles you will ever have. Class starts at 3 so I prep my room for all three of my classes.

7:30pm

Done for the day! I finish up the other half of my rice and head down to my bike where I make my way back.

8:30pm

Text from a friend asking if I want to go out... hmm.... maybe... I have to recoup from the day first.

9:30pm

Decide to go out- it is ladies night after all with free champagne. I'll take it easy but just one glass is tempting enough!

10:00

Hop a cab with my roomie as he also enjoys ladies nights'.. Meet up with friends at the bar but it is packed.

11:00pm

Leaving so soon? Yes. It was way to busy and as fun as it is to meet new people, I'm exhausted and being shoulder to shoulder with strangers is the last thing I want tonight.

11:30pm

After a shower, it's time to finally catch up on Glee via Hulu. I grab a snack of dried sweet potato and climb into bed with my computer.

12:00am

Read a few pages in my book "The Woman Warrior"- short stories about women in China and what they overcame. Unfortunately I can't get too far as my eyes are closing and mind fading. Goodnight Shanghai.....

All in all- it's pretty chill. I'm learning so much everyday from living abroad and working alongside local Chinese. This evening my teaching assistant helped me buy some chestnuts from the street vendor off his bike. I had been passing them everyday the last few weeks and when I asked her about it she went to help me. Never had chestnuts before- delicious! Apparently they are really good with meat, I look forward to trying it!

Another new autumn street food I have been seeing is sweet potatoes. The vendors cook them in the skin in this vat and you just eat it peeling as you go. They smell fantastic and I am also looking forward to tasting that treat. So many experiences. I will have more pictures posted as soon as it isn't rainy and I can take the camera out!