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The bund

Today Some of my friends and I went adventuring to the bund. The day was a little overcast but it was a really fun time. We got to explore the metro system while navagating our way there, so it was good practice for living in China. This week I haven't had a single day where I am upset. Everthing seems to be falling into place. I even got a job at the library! Tomorrow I have to finish applying for residency and then we are going on a night cruise around the Huangpu river with the entire school. (Like homecoming) It should be a really fun night and I am looking forward to it.

Here are some pictures from the day, as well as throughout the week. You will see pictures of my building, my favorite spot to hang out, views of my dorm and of around shanghai. Enjoy!

Love from Shanghai,

Maddie

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Today's lecture

Today was amazing. This morning the university arranged a lecture by Irshad Manji, and if you don't know her I suggest looking her up. She has a very interesting cultural idenity and really emphasizes the importance of being a global citizen and as she put it so cleverly being "a trans-national soul". Irshad is a Muslim that was born in Uganda, but she had Asian heritage. When she was young they were forced to take refuge in Canada, but as of now Irshad lives in the US (when she isn't traveling to spread her message). The talk lasted almost two hours, but the most interesing topics came from the Q and A.

Irshad explained to us that there are degrees of diversity, as we understand in the world. The first degree is very basic. For example, the color of your skin, your gender, your age, or your orientation. To me, this kind of diversity is kind of superficial, when you think about it. It's the kind of diversity that schools and businesses put up on pie charts and brag about. It doesn't matter if all these people think the same, if they all look different then 'diversity', as they loosley define it, is achieved. The second degree, which I found to be the most interesting and especially true for NYUSH, is the diversity of our minds. The one component that the first degree is severely lacking. Something I find so amazing about NYUSH is that we all think so differently. When given a problem or a topic to discuss I find that my class has six different ways of solving it or arguing it. Part of this is because of our truly diverse backgrounds and the ideaologies that we were brought up with, but nonetheless the diversity of our minds is rarely put on a chart for perspective parents to marvel at. It's something that gets completely overlooked when people think of diversity. The third degree, and probably the most difficult to understand is the diversity in indivduality. How I, as a person and global citizen, contribute to diversity on my campus, in my country, or in a foregein place. So instead of placing people into categories like the first degree or groups of people who agree or disagree like the second degree the highest level of diversity looks at a single persons characteristics and counts that as diversity.

This theory really stuck with me. Now that I am a minority, this kind of distiction has finally become important to me and my identity here at NYUSH. I think that getting past the cultural differences and physical aspects of diversity this past couple of weeks has been an extremely rewarding experience. I have met so many people that have such incredible stories of hardship and triumph or travel or adventure. If the superficial barriers of diversity were still there, I would never have had the opportunity to gain and share knowledge like this with any of them, and for that I am so thankful.

In addition, I would like to add an interesting question that came up in the question portion of the lecture. Very few Chinese students participated in the question portion of the talk and a lot of that has to do with the language barrier and being able to formulate thoughtful and complete questions. Despite this, one brave chinese student stood up and asked "Irshad, all my life I have been told what to do by the government and by my parents, How do we begin to change this in China?" At first this question seemed normal to me. In America, teenagers are often very active in protest and change. For example, Pride rallies. I had forgotten for a second that this is strictly forbidden in China, and I was quickly reminded when almost the whole Chinese population in the audience audibly gasped after he asked his question. A full debate insued between the Chinese students as to whether or not this question was even valid. It was an incredible thing to watch, as one side argued that "The system worked just fine" and others that "the academic rigor that they have to go through is overwhelming, to put it lightly". After about ten minutes, Irshad had only one thing to say to the brave boy in the back row. She said, "I'm sorry, but I can't answer your question, because you are telling me that you're whole life you have been told what to do. It would be wrong for me to tell you how to change this, when I would just another person telling you how to run your life." Her advice was to figure it out for himself. She told him to use his time at NYUSH to challenge his ideals and find a better way for China, if that is his interest, but above all that he should take this time to find himself, by himself.

I've never experienced anything like it. Questions ranged from a struggling vegetarian trying to get approval from her family as she tries a new lifestyle, to the Arab Spring (asked by an Israeli) to LGBTQ community questions. To me that was diversity in itself, and I am proud to be a part of something that special.

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On kindness

On Wednesday I was able to go out to lunch with LanLan and Daniel Dong from my high school before they left for college. They took me and four of my other friends to a hotpot place near my academic builiding. It was great to see a familar place and swap stories about our summers. I am so glad they invited me out with them to experience a little bit of China before they left. As an American in a new and unfamilar city this kindness will not go unnotice, it meant the world to me that I got see people I knew 7000 miles away from home.

Today I will be uploading pictures of the campus and my view from my building. It has been raining everyday since I got here, so I haven't had the chance to take any decent pictures. Stay posted.

Best,

Maddie

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The Highs and Lows of Shanghai

Today was a very successful day. All week I have judged my days by the many high and low points I go through. I didn't come to this school because it was easy to adjust, I came for the challenge. And I am getting just what I asked for. So far, I have managed to open my own bank account (high point), get lost (low), find a working ATM (high point), forget my umbrella in the pouring rain (very low point), and make amazing friends (high point). But all of these experiences, good and bad have made me stronger all ready and I am greatful for them. To me, it's all a part of being a person, not just a human, but a thoughtful, cautious, independent, confident person.

In terms of finding friends, I find it easier to connect to the international students; which is to say that we all are suffering from major jet lag, we know very little chinese and we are all confused and excited by this new culture. I get along very well with my roommate, and if it weren't for her I would be so lost mentally, emotionally, and probably physically. She is so kind and patient with my Chinese and I can really appreciate that. When we are really stuck and can't communicate she has to spell words outloud as I try to figure out what she is spelling. Most people would get annoyed with this after a while, but I just think of it as a challenging game.

Tomorrow I have to go get a health exam by the government to apply for residency. It seems highly involved and simply put, a likely bonding experience for the international students. It should be interesting.

Love from Shanghai,

Maddie

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Day 1

Today was another crazy day at orientation! Unfortunately jetlag got the best of me and I was up at 1:30am without any hope of falling back asleep. When my roommate finally got up around 7am, we decided to go get our phones situated. I opted to buy a new phone just for China. The phone plans here are unbelievably cheap. My phone was 66 USD and the data plan was $20 and Mei Chen, my roommate, informed me that this data would last me several months without having to pay again.

After we went to China Moble we trudged through the pouring rain to our academic building. It was the first time I was able to go inside, and it was amazing! A particular favorite spot of mine is on the third floor. It is a large alcove in the shape of the yinyang sign. There are tons of great study spaces and comfortable chairs. I could spend a whole day there.

Our day was mostly spent sitting through congratulatory speeches and building tours. I was able to stop by the school store to pick up a hat! The store has expanded since last year and there are many clothing options. I can even send postcards that have NYUSH on them!

Tomorrow we will be taking some mock courses to learn about culture in China. There are also opportunites to go to dance class or yoga.

Looking around the building today I wondered if it was too soon to profess my love for the school. I am having such an amazing time adjusting to the culture and embracing everyone's unique differences. You can't find a college like this anywhere else in the world, and to be apart of something as extraordinary as a global community of lifelong learners and friends is something I never want to take for granted.

Love from Shanghai,

Maddie

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I made it!

Hello Everyone!

I've made it safe and sound! After a very long journey, it is nice to be settled in. I've already made some friends on my plane ride over and my roomate and dormroom are very nice.

I have a very busy schedule ahead of me this week, but I'm excited to meet new people and get acclimated to the city. My dorm isn't too far away from my academic building, so I'm happy the walk won't be too long when classes finally start.

I will hopefully be able to update this periodically throughout the week, but for now I am exhausted.

Goodnight from Shanghai,

Maddie

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