We're Back! Back in the Shanghai Groove

Back in Shanghai! but the family tourist adventure was coming to a close...

Last couple days with the family back in Shanghai. It was hard to see everyone leave one by one... but I think we made the most of it. Here is just some silliness of me missing the family!!!

can you spot my dad? 

potentially one of my favorite photos from the trip. (taken by Kimberly).

 Kimberly's last day in Shanghai at the Bund!

Christmas card? hehe.

we totally see you on the boat Kevin!

Some father-daughter goodies from the trip

Daddy's last day

Mom was here a couple extra days, so we did some extra exploring.

First up, Moganshan 50. This is the art district area of Shanghai. Comprised of countless galleries. I'd say most of the galleries are contemporary work as well as some that are surprisingly controversial considering the censorship abound in China. No pics allowed inside the galleries, but here are some surroundings. If you love art like mom & I, you should definitely make the trip.

It was the Dragon Boat holiday while the family was here. The typical food served then is called zongzi. So mom & I went to a zongzi cooking class at my Mandarin school!

About the Dragon Boat Festival: This holiday is in remembrance of a famous Chinese poet, Qu Yuan. He was slandered and exiled by the king. During this time, he wrote the poems which professed his love for his country and also which earned him fame. After his final poem, he committed suicide by jumping in the river rather than see his country be taken over by a new Empire. Upon hearing of his death, the people were devastated. The fishermen searched for him all over the river and the other people threw rice and eggs into the water to deter the fish from eating his body. Hence the "Dragon Boat" and traditions today.

the adorable drawings to explain our Zongzi which can be filled with sweet or salty and depends on the region. (recipe)
Translation: "Hi Everyone. I am Zongzi. Very happy to meet you."

 the adorable Catherine showing us the stuffing

stuffing our Zongzi

to not much success... mine kept dripping. hehe

 our finished zongzi!

guess which 2 are mine! Hint: they look like a child's work

also, mom got to experience what it's like to try to get Matt to pose for a blog photo. She'd been asking me to post a pic of one of the suits & some of the shirts he got made. Here is what she witnessed when I asked him to take a photo. This is me trying to stop him from running away...

And finally, mom's first Hot Pot! Delicious!!!

but also her last night in Shanghai. Cheers to Shanghai!

So lucky to have an amazing family & that they traveled such a long way to see me & experience China! Hope you all loved it too! Miss you already.