And so it begins.

Hi everyone!  I’m Olivia, and this is my first blog entry during my stay in Shanghai as a Ted Wang Fellow.  I’ll be writing periodically about my studies, networking, and various adventures in China, so if any of that sounds interesting, stay tuned!  If not, then go forth and be free. 😊

I arrived in Shanghai in mid-February and I must say, even after emerging from a 15-hour flight into the rain and penetrating dampness, it felt good to be back!  Walking through the streets, recognizing distinct buildings and stores, and

smelling fresh buns from the street vendors brought back so many memories. Even the little things, like stepping into a Family Mart (Shanghai’s answer to 7/11-they are on every corner) and hearing that all-too familiar doorbell jingle (it is very distinct, I promise) made me smile.  Of course, I felt the usual nerves about settling into a new residence and getting to know new people and a new school, but the steady flow of activity during Orientation Week helped me ease into a new routine.

There are twelve students in the TEAN-Shanghai program, and we traveled around the city together during that first week, visiting different landmarks and bonding over mealtime conversations.  One of my favorite activities was visiting the water town Zhouzhuang.

Shanghai has tons of water towns: ancient villages lined with cobblestone roads and bridges winding around the namesake canals and rivers.  Water towns are beautiful in all seasons and make the perfect place for a tranquil walk; they also are a diamond mine if you like Chinese snacks.  The narrow alleyways are always lined with snack vendors and almost all of them offer free samples of treats like mahua (rice cracker twists), sesame paste candy, and more.

Apart from visiting Zhouzhuang, we also made dumplings at a Malaysian restaurant in Xuhui, and ate dinner in the revolving restaurant at the top of Pearl Oriental Tower (that funky purple building that stands out in the Shanghai skyline.  It’s actually a TV antenna tower, lol).

To top off a fun week, the Wellesley Alumnae Group held a Chinese New Year Party that Sunday.  I talked to a lot of cool alums as well as prospective Wellesley students, and at one point everyone gathered in a circle to introduce ourselves and share resolutions for the Year of the Pig.  Nice to see the Wellesley community going strong all over the world!

Anyway, looking forward to starting class next week at Fudan!