Mothership, Motherload, and Motherhood

Shanghai, like Beijing, is a very big city. The architecture is large scale, modern, and incredibly diverse. We have many more students from Shanghai than Beijing or Hong Kong, so Zack had many more meetings. This was the first city on our Asian tour where I actually ventured out on my own. Fortunately, the top of The Radisson Hotel looks like a spaceship landed on it. When I emerged from the Shanghai Metro, it was not hard to find “the mothership!” It reminds me of when I first moved to Boston. I learned how to find my way around Boston very quickly by looking for the Prudential Building. On foggy days I was lost!

Shanghai does not have as many historical sites as Beijing, but it does have A LOT OF SHOPPING! The possibilities are endless, even if you are one cool cat! If you have a fetish for handbags and watches, then this is where you will find “the motherload!” There are an abundance of markets that sell knock-offs of whatever designer brand you desire. The salespeople are relentless and the haggling is fierce. Here are just a few examples of what you will hear walking through these markets.

• Hey lady, you need bag?
• Hey guy, you want watch?
• Look! How many pieces you want?
• I give you morning price! (Apparently they are more willing to lower the price for the first sale of the day because they think it is good luck to make the first sale quickly.)
• What you need? I can get for you!
• No joking price. I give you good price!

I had one vendor start me at a price of 420 RMB (about $70) and I told him I would pay 80 RMB. When he refused, I walked away. Two shops later, he chased me down and said, “OK.” I said, “NO.” He continued to follow me and he eventually offered 60 RMB ($10.) I can’t take any credit for this. I learned from the Master (read Zack!) Needless to say, Shanghai is where we did most of our shopping.

Pam (Nanny) and our friend Helen have taken such great care of the kids that we’ve never had to worry. Each night of our trip, we spoke to the kids. When we asked the boys what they did on any particular day, the answer was “nothing.” When we asked what they learned at school, the answer was “nothing.” When they asked what we were bringing home for them, I couldn’t help but say, “nothing!”

Of all the experiences I have had on this trip, all the sights that I have seen and the people that I have met, meeting the mothers of our students has been the most profound and meaningful. I have felt an instant bond with all of these mothers. We share a deep love and commitment to our children. There is no language barrier when it comes to motherhood! I admire these women for their courage and the sacrifice they have made by sending their sons and daughters so far away in order to give them a better life. When I express my admiration and gratitude, they are not too proud to tell me how they cried when they sent their children away, but they also tell me how grateful they are to our school for taking such good care of them. They are wonderful women and I am proud to call them friends!