So everyone thinks: Shanghai- exotic city of the East meets West; international financial center of Asia. But nobody ever factors in the weather when they think of this. I know I didn’t. On my first two days here, I was lulled into a false sense of security- the weather was …

Yuyuan Garden located in the center of the Old City next to the Chenghuangmiao in Shanghai, China, is considered one of the most lavish and finest Chinese gardens in the region.
The garden was first established in 1559 as a private garden created by Pan Yunduan, who spent almost 20 years …

Interesting things happen when you’re in a foreign country looking like everyone else and are friends with a pretty light haired European females. I’ve never seen so many double takes or surreptitious peeks in my life- although about 99.9% of them weren’t aimed at me.
This morning, I woke up at …

Transportation
Nobody obeys the traffic rules (except at the really big intersections of a touristy neighborhood). It’s basically a matter of whose bigger and badder; and that’s who you give way to. So buses are the baddest kids in the neighborhood. No rules whatsoever. Goes whenever they want EVEN in a …

I have arrived safe and sound in Shanghai. The asian financial center with the exception of maybe Hong Kong. Even though the flight was HELL with wings, I survived. I got dizzy, heavy-headed; tried to sleep but achieving negative results since bratty little kids kept running around and bumping into …

So this is the last of the ‘Ready for Shanghai?’ series since I will be leaving tonight for my flight to Shanghai. If you guys want to send me care packages, feel free to! =D
Marlene Lam

Foreign Student’s Dormitory No. 2
East China Normal University
3663 Zhongshan Bei Road
Shanghai 200062, …

Remember I told you about my oral surgeon, Dr. Lee and my predicament with my congenitally missing teeth here?

Dr. Dennis H. Lee, DDS
drdennislee.com
Suite 4B
217 Park Row, New York, NY 10038-1101
(212) 233-4934
Well, I originally scheduled my appointment for the surgery for last Wed. but that day, nature decided to work …

So Margie left me a very good question on my other post about what outfit I should wear on the flight. To be frank, comfort is key to me but not mall rat sweats with ratty holes comfy. To tell you the truth, I do not leave my house in …

Lunar New Year was the holiday of family, red, gold, nian gao and mahjong.
My momma was cooking all day the night before to get everything that she needed for the bai sun ceremony for New Year’s Eve. The nian gao came out, flowers, fishes, chickens, meats, vegetables, and incense. She …

So as you already know, the TSA began to tighten security after a couple of incidents in regards to a man walking back through the security checkpoints undetected, etc etc…

My walk around the city at night again…

I visited a friend near her school in Brooklyn Heights…
Anyways, since I am down to 16 days before I head to Shanghai, I am scrambling around to fitting in seeing as many friends as I can before I go…

I could never tell the different between the East Village or West Village or Greenwich Village although I’ve been going to school in the area for a few years…

Before I leave for Shanghai, I needed to go get vaccines so that I don’t contract or spread diseases while I am over there. It’s pretty standard and nothing too bad except…

I have a secret.

Ok, so you’ve now bought your new baby, a brand spanking new DSLR, so how to do you start taking those gorgeous photos that you see online and in galleries?