Last Thursday Sean's sister, Katie, and her girlfriend, Jess, came to China to visit for 6 days. It was a short trip but we packed it in and stayed busy. We had a really good time though I wish it had been warmer weather (Kate and Jess live in Hawaii and were shocked by the weather that hasn't quite turned spring yet in Changzhou).
We picked them up in Shanghai on Thursday night and took the train back to Changzhou. We spent the next few days showing them around the campus and the downtown. It was really fun to see their reactions to trying new foods and drinks such as Chinese beer, milk tea, stinky tofu, spicy soup and street food. Sean took them to one of the big markets down town where you should bargain in order to get a fair price and they made several purchases. We also visited Red Plum Park, a tea house and the DVD store. Jess enjoyed finding several pairs of cheap glasses and lenses and also got a Chinese haircut! On campus we ate at the cafeteria, hung around at my apartment and watched movies, caught the tail end of a student singing competeition and even had a make-up party. One of the things Sean and I were most excited about were the goodies that Kate and Jess brought us: Mac and Cheese, Ranch, Salsa, popcorn and Reeses Peeses! (thanks guys!)
On Monday we went to Shanghai and did touristy stuff like walking around the Bund along the river and window shopping on Nanjing Road. We also tried some beer at the Bund Brewery and some tea at a classy tea house. With the Shanghai Expo looming near, the city was in fine form and the most beautiful and clean that I have ever seen it. Transportation has also been improved and we took advantage of the new metro line from the train station to the airport.
The visit went by really fast and we hope that Kate and Jess can come back for a longer one next time. Our next visitor is Sean's dad who comes on May 1 which shouldn't be crazy at all given that it is the opening day of the Shanghai Expo . . .
I had so much fun with them. I hope they would come back again~~