(Note: This blog post is typed from my phone so please excuse typos and formatting). Hello from Shanghai High School! Yup, I am sending "Hellos" from my previous home. I took a spontaneous weekend trip to Shanghai to visit my best friends Jeanne and Martina, see my old school, and pamper myself with delicious healthy food and major grooming. Jeanne and Martina came to visit me in Shenzhen in March, so it was only fair that I go see them this semester. This weekend was was not meant for new adventures, sightseeing or culture. This weekend's main purpose: quality gal time and self indulgence. Of course it's important to travel and see as much as you can when you live abroad, but I have done every single attraction in all the Shanghai guide books. I could be a tour guide here. I know Shanghai inside and out. No need for excursions. What did I do instead? Caught up with my girlfriends with lots of laughs and stories, ate amazing organic/nutritious/clean (Western) food, got a mani-pedi, went to Benson (my Chinese hairdresser) who did my hair for 75% off since I told him I'm now a student and I've brought him 95% of his foreign customers in the past year, bought some pirated DVDs to watch back in Shenzhen, went to Shanghai Brewery (where I ordered peppermint tea for Happy Hour...I'm wild!), and did two fitness classes at Luke's (Martina's boyfriend who taught 1st grade with me last year) new fitnes studio called Feel Good Fitness on Fahuazhan Road. For any folks that plan to go to Shanghai, I highly recommend his classes! I did my second ever yoga class and LOVED IT! I have come to realize that the quality of a yoga class really depends on the teacher. This class was excellent! I want to find a yoga studio now in Shenzhen because it made me feel so completely zen. That concludes my indulgent weekend. Don't get the wrong idea...This weekend was certainly NOT a typical China weekend. However, when you live in China long-term, sometimes your body just craves a health reboot. All those toxins and oily foods can make you feel a bit polluted. I am leaving Shanghai feeling fresh, clean, zen...recharged! Nothing wrong with treating yourself to some fuss from time to time. Although, I have amazing friends and Martina and Jeanne treated me to almost everything! Thank you for an incredible wellness reatreat my loves, you guys are the greatest and spoiled me beyond belief! Pictures from my weekend are below! Sending lots of love from Shanghai!
XOXO
See you in America in 7.5 weeks!
