The rest of Day 1: A very long day!

Violas claim their bags upon arrival.

Our arrival at Pudong Airport was the first test of shepherding this large group to their intended destination in a timely and organized way. Pete and Kathy Brannen and Jinyuan and Ruiling Meng are pros at this and manage to get all assigned and loaded into three buses without leaving anyone or anything behind. We have three bus drivers, two guides and some officials from the group who organized all the details for performances here in China assisting the process.

Our first stop will be for dinner--in the heart of the Bund and Old City of Shanghai. We depart the bus and file through a maze of shops and onto the streets where there is a buzz--of stores, vendors, shoppers, traffic and lights. We manage to make our way through the streets, wary of the ongoing cycles and action taking place on the narrow cobbled streets.

Shanghai Old City tour on our way to the restaurant

We arrive at our restaurant which is on the second floor. The elevator opens up onto a spacious marbled dining area with multiple tables of 8-10. The feast begins. For some of the group who have traveled with Confucius Institute before, they know the drill and offer some helpful hints to first timers on the use of dinnerware and the ongoing array of unusual but tasty food that spins on the large lazy susan in the center of the table.

Our host Jinyuan, shares that after dinner, we will take a short walk back to the buses via the shops of the Old City where we will have some time to ponder spending some of our newly secured yuan at the airport ATMs. Many are speculating the exchange of dollars to yuan value to understand how much something really will cost them. All have been introduced to the customary bargaining that can take place. Many try and feel like they have secured their first bargains. Others purchase items that are pleasing to them and will be among their first souvenirs regardless of the understood cost. A short stop to stroll along the waterfront and the array of skyscrapers that detail the horizon of downtown Shanghai--each one being a super structure screen offering a digital light show featuring holiday greetings to waterfalls and fireworks. The colorfully lit up buildings offer an arcade-like festive atmosphere.

Onto our hotel, which is an elaborate process of staging the unloading of all, assembling in the lobby, distribution of keys and settling in for the first long sleep we have had in a day and a half. Yeah! Beds are hard, but no one cares.