Girls Night Out

My first full day in Shanghai Jen encouraged me to join her running club that she pioneered when she first arrived. I wanted to meet her friends and explore their surrounding living complex (at this point I was uncharacteristically timid to do so myself) so I agreed to wake up bright and early ready to run. We ran four miles in the sweltering heat. Needless to say I made sure to stay out late on Wednesday nights with my new friends so I had a good excuse not to wake up Thursday morning to join in on the run club anymore. :)

Tiananmen Square

Flower balls

Family

Playing Featherball

My Uncle Jeff and I had a competition to see who could capture a picture of the Chinese potty training method, which is basically just having a hole in the buttocks of the pants and squatting the child whenever they need to go. That was something I never expected to see. 

The Great Wall of China

Gutter system

Walking along the Great Wall I could not help but notice the smell of the air, it smelt so good for some seemingly inexplicable reason. Jeff pointed out that since the Great Wall is out of the city and away from the smog --which at this point I had been smelling for over two weeks-- I was simply smelling clean air. That's healthy.

Staircase

Climbing the Great Wall

There is no wonder in my mind as to why the Great Wall of China is one of the seven wonders of the world. I expected to see a great wall, but the Great Wall of China left me completely speechless. The views were breathtaking, the history --so real, and the fact that the Great Wall is 5,500 MILES LONG made this day into the top five I've ever experienced. 

Representing my city at the Great Wall

Mystical

Ramp Stairs

Our trip guide took me on an extended journey to the China Central Television Headquarters upon my constant plea to see this building in real life. Yup, it was as cool as one might expect. 

Forbidden City

All the Chinese people want pictures with my Uncle because of the way he looks

Couples Tree

When I looked up all I saw was darkness, when I took this picture this is what I got

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