SHANGHAI, PRC — Tonight is the last night in Shanghai. It’s bittersweet. I’m sad to leave Shanghai, but ready to experience what Hong Kong and Beijing has in store for me. The last two days have been very relaxed.
At the market, a vendor customizes a Chinese stamp (Photo by Kyli Singh).
Yesterday we got off at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Metro Station stop and shopped at the markets. I bought A LOT of things — from flats to purses to little customized souvenirs for family and friends.
They were all for great prices! Prof. Garrison, Ivette, Zahira, and I were hungry and went to this restaurant inside the markets called Latina. I got penne with meat sauce, and couldn’t finish it all.
Yvette came to meet with us later and finished my food for me. After we paid the bill, we shopped some more of course. I definitely bought a lot and hope everything will fit in my suitcase!
Last night we went to Xintiandi for dinner and ice cream with Yvette’s friend from high school. We went to Crystal Jade, a posh Cantonese restaurant. The food was delicious. I know I always talk about how the food is amazing here, but it is definitely one of my favorite parts about studying abroad.
Yvette’s friend brought his two other friends from East China Normal University. All three of them have been studying abroad in Shanghai since February and were telling us about their awesome experience. I was really impressed with their Mandarin! Hearing them talk about their Shanghai adventures and trips made me want to spend a semester here.
After this, we went to Häagen-Dazs again! The Häagen-Dazs here is my absolute favorite. Zahira ordered three kinds of ice cream and Yvette and I ordered one, ha ha! We took a cab back to our apartment and crashed.
Two different kinds of spicy hotpot in Shanghai (Photo by Kyli Singh).
We spent today working on our stories and chilled out. Because it’s our last night in Shanghai we walked to this restaurant for hot pot.. mmm!
We had a curry hot pot and a red-hot chili hot pot. Both were spicy, but I enjoyed it very much. Communal hotpot is the Asian version of the American restaurant The Melting Pot back home.
Before they served us the vegetables and meat, we were able to choose different sauces to dip it in. My favorite foods to dip in the hotpot were the fried bread, mushrooms, corn, beef and lamb. It was definitely a great experience and I’m glad we were able to spend our last night in Shanghai doing this.
Tomorrow we have to meet at 6:15 a.m and head to the airport. Ah, so early! Yvette, Zahira and I have completely made ourselves at home here. But, it’s time to pack up 
!
I will miss Shanghai and the friends I made here very much, but I know I’ll definitely be making another visit in the near future. Look out for my blog in Hong Kong.
Contributed by Kyli Singh
Random question, but if you guys are staying at the apartments Prof. Garrison usually books, is that DVD store down/across the street still open? If you guys haven’t been there yet, I’d say GO!!! (they have the best deals and I think I spent a majority of my money on DVDs ha ha)… but knowing that you guys are heading to Hong Kong as I type, perhaps you may not be able to find out.