Tony and I have arrived home safely, but I will describe our trip home a little later.  First, for those you who are interested in a more detailed description of some of aspects of the trip, I will offer them.  As you may recall, we had quite a delay in even getting to Shanghai.  By the time we arrived, many members of the group were wearing the same clothes they had put on 48 hours before.  Nevertheless, our tour guide, David, put us on a bus and began whisking us all over Shanghai.  The drive from the airport into Shanghai was lengthy, but interesting.  The first thing I noticed was the over-abundance of above-ground power lines.  All though power lines were really striking.  After a nice tour of some areas of the city, we stopped for lunch.  We soon experience the first of many Chinese dining treats – the family-style meal.  Many restaurants in China serve food family-style on lazy Susan tables.  We really enjoyed watching how culinarily adventurous the students were – they were generally willing to eat most anything, even foods they did not recognize.  It was fun to watch students eat things and say, “Hmmm, I think this is eggplant.”  Or “I think this could be chicken . . . or not.”  Even so, they ate.  I even ate part of a fish tail!

After lunch, we experience our first tea ceremony.  The Chinese tea ceremony, also called the Chinese Way of Tea, is a Chinese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of tea leaf.  Tea is prepared in Chinese culture for many reasons:  to show respect, to apologize, to celebrate a family gathering, to express thanks to your elders on your wedding day, or to connect large families on wedding days.   I love any excuse to drink tea!!!

We then visited the Shanghai French Concession.  This area was designated for the French from 1849-1946 and was the center of Catholicism in Shanghai.  We enjoyed a stroll in a nearby park, and moved onto yet another meal with some more amazing food.  The evening finished with a performance with a performance by the Shanghai Acrobatics Troupe.  Candidly, many in our group were just too darn exhausted to stay awake for the entire show, but what we saw was fantastic.  Four guys rode their motorcycles inside a large metal ball – we’re still not sure how none of them died.  I think we all wish we could have stayed awake for the entire show.  I suspect the magician who felt her performance was under-appreciated wished we were more awake, too.

Friday morning, we headed to breakfast.  Mark and Ace will both be happy to know that when I served myself breakfast, something on my plate MOVED.  It literally moved on its own!  Needless to say, I chose NOT to eat anything that moved on its own.  While I honestly loved the lunches and dinners in China, the breakfast options left me wanting.  Most everyone else in group seemed satisfied with breakfast, but I tended to drink tea. 

After breakfast, we left for the Jade Buddha Temple, which is a Buddhist temple that was founded in 1882. Actually, in 1882, an old temple was built to keep two jade Buddha statues which had been brought from Burma by a monk named Huigen. That temple was destroyed during the revolution that overthrew the Qing Dynasty. Fortunately the jade Buddha statues were saved and a new temple was built on the present site in 1928.   We had the chance to experience a second tea ceremony at the temple.  I think I described that tea ceremony in an earlier post when I mentioned that  the lady preparing tea at our table spoke no English, but she get making motions specifically to me expression how much she thought I needed the tea that specifically helps one lose weight.  Josh Justice could tell after the third time she motioned to me I looked like I might punch her.  Her photo is posted in that earlier post.  

 Then we visited the Shanghai Museum which I also described in that earlier post before having another fantastic Chinese feast for lunch.  After lunch, we took some time to take some photos of downtown Shanghai.  What was jarring was realizing just how polluted it is.  Our tour guide went on about what a beautiful and clear day it was, and yet we could not even see the sun because the smog was so so bad.  You can see it in the photos.  Plus, the water below us was just a nasty brown color.  It just made me sad.  One thing we have had fun with on this trip is noticing how the Chinese just stare at Raquel Barlow – our tall beautiful African-American student on the trip with us.  Raquel is a natural performer, so she has had fun posing with some of the Chinese who just cannot seem to take their eyes off of her.  

We also visited the Yu Yuan Gardens next to the City of God Temple.  The gardens, which cover about 5 acres, are also known as the Gardens of Peace, and if you spend any time there you can understand why.  Even with all the people wandering through, all I could think about was how peaceful it could be to sit in a quiet place somewhere on the grounds and drink some tea and read a book.  It was gorgeous. 

That evening, most of the group took a cruise around the Bund (the riverfront area of Shanghai around the Huangpu River), while the rest of us went up the Pearl Television Tower to get a better view of Shanghai at night.

The next morning, we left for Suzhou.  At this point, I must say, this group of students is the BEST group with whom I have travelled in 8 years.  They have always been on time, they are great about helping pack the bus, they are flexible in the face of changes, and they have been reasonably adventurous.  I have been honored to travel with them, and we got to leave for Suzhou 15 minutes early because everyone was ready to early.  Such a great group!!!!

We arrived in Suzhou and visited the Number 1 Silk Mill in Suzhou.  Tony bought some bold silk ties, I bought a blue and gold silk tie for former UTC Chancellor Fred Obear, and some silk souvenirs for friends back home.  This Silk Mill was a delightful place to learn about the process of making silk products from silkworms and buying silk items for great prices.  Fun times!  Our guide took us to a museum where they have artwork made from silk embroidery, and where was one silk artwork room divider made by one of the “masters” that currently sells for more than $300,000.  Holy cow!  Then we had lunch before visiting the Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou, which is considered to be the finest garden in all of Southern China.  I have seen many gardens around the world, and this garden is truly something to behold.  I think something that struck me was the many varieties of bonsai trees in this garden. 

Following the garden, we visited the Suzhou Museum.  I don’t the collection in the museum is that noteworthy, but the building was designed by I.M. Pei.  I.M. Pei is an architect who was born in China, received his degree in architecture from MIT, and is known worldwide for his work.  What was interesting before and after these visits was the number of poor Chinese people who followed us to and from the bus trying to sell us water.  These folks were selling water that was clearly put into used bottles.  It alarms that some people must buy this stuff because I cannot imagine these folks would be there every day selling the stuff if some people didn’t buy it.  Considering the fact that the water in China is undrinkable, I couldn’t help but wonder who in the world buys that water?

Anyway, after these visits, we headed to what would be my last meal in China.  We went to another family-style restaurant in Suzhou.  I remember passing a restroom on the way to our tables.  So after setting my things down in my seat, I told Tony I would be running to the restroom and would return shortly.  Ha!  Anyway, the one western-style toilet was taken, and I really had to go, so used one of the 5 available squat toilets.  Remember, you stand on them and squat – you do NOT sit on them! Even with the planning items I brought with me, the squat toilet can be tricky –especially when the users prior have left puddles behind.  So after I took care of business and attempted to leave the stall, I slipped.  My right foot turned inward in a very unnatural position, and I knew my trip was coming to an end.  As I sat there soaked in pee, I thought to myself, “Urine trouble” (See I use puns even in distress!)  I tried to stand, but my right foot was floppy at the end of my leg, and I knew I was in big trouble.  I was all alone in a puddle of pee and feeling frantic.  So I did what any 21^st century woman would do – I took out my Blackberry and started texting anyone I could think of in the dining room who might come to aid.  There’s nothing to shred your dignity like texting your boss to say, “I have fallen in the bathroom and cannot get up.  Please send help.”  

 Alice O’Dea and Tony came to my aid, and soon our guide and the bus driver were helping me hobble back to the dining room.  As my friend Mark told you in his earlier post, the students, especially Spencer Jackson, took outstanding care of me until the ambulance arrived.  I will never be able to adequately thank Spencer for how much effort he exerted to ensure that I had an ice alternative (cold beer bottles) to help reduce swelling.  He was fantastic under pressure!

We were in and out of the hospital in 90 minutes, and as Mark reported, the entire experience only cost us $99.  Since we had to talk them out of performing surgery on my right then, our next “adventure” was figuring out how to get home ASAP. 

We managed to get our flights changed at no charge, so then we had to find a way to get from Suzhou to Shanghai Airport.  Our guide arranged for his company to provide us a car.  We spent an extra night in Suzhou and left early Monday morning for Shanghai.  Once we got to the airport, it was a bit of an ordeal to actually get a wheelchair.  Once we did, however, a very nice lady from Delta wheeled us through Immigration and Security so that we got to our gate in plenty of time.  When they wheeled me down the jet way to get onto the play, there was a step up on to the plan.  The flight attendant grabbed my arm in an attempt to help me, but she pulled wrong and I fell down face first trying to board the plane.  I managed to avoid any further damage to my right leg by breaking the fall with my right knee, so now my right knee is big and swollen.  Damn.

Then I hobbled back to my seat in coach.  The flight attendant took pity on me in my sad condition, and she moved the passenger next to me to another seat so Tony and I an extra seat open in our row.  That gave me a little room to prop up my leg.  I tried.  That said, I still had considerable swelling under my cast when I finally got home.  So when I got home I cut off the cast.  My foot looks awful, but Meg Mahoney (our pet sitter) is also a physical therapy tech, so she has been helping me.  

Saw my doctor this morning, and he has scheduled surgery for tomorrow morning.  He is amazed at what I have endured, but he says he can take care of me.  I will have to be non-weight-bearing for 6 weeks, but I should recover. 

With that sort of time on my hands I hope to keep you all posted about the rest of the trip.  I will post more about what the group is doing.  I am getting messages from them, and I know they are leaving Nanjing today to go to Beijing.  No one is sick, and everyone is still having fun. 

Thanks for all of your kind thoughts, prayers and emails.

Joanie