The last couple of days

 The views of The Bund are accessible by walking with the crowds, by boat, helicopter or if you are Lindsey and Zongda you get a reservation for high tea on a rooftop overlooking it all.

The prize If you are a two year-old is a three tiered stack off exotic treats. We just had to keep up… 

and wait until the sugar kicked in   

The next day Zongda obliged me by first renting a bike in between rain showers and secondly heading to peoples Park for the infamous marriage market. 

When You watch the traffic from the apartment or from a cab it looks so chaotic. As we ride the miles to the park, you begin to feel at ease and understand the order in how each component functions. No issues unless I count Zongda stopping fast on the slick road to recheck directions. 

The buildings are always a treat 

Then we arrive and Zongda is aghast at the process of breaking down a family member into the marketing components necessary to get-r-done.

What education they have and what job they have is an important as what type of dowry they bring. Height and age of perspective suits is also outlined as well as what these suits will or should bring to the match

Zoom in on the picture… Highlight the Chinese text and hit translate. What if you were walking around and saw yourself listed…. uh-oh

Looks like there’s a deal being made here. Zongda thought that most of these groups of placards were being managed by a matchmaker. This fee for service has been around for sometime but usually a bit more in the shadows.

About the bikes… There are three major color groups. Not all groups work with the Alipay app that I have. Also, there are specific spots outline with gray brick that you are to leave the bikes. The small QR code reader in the center of the handlebars is scanned by your phone and once it’s accepted the rear wheel unlocks. You can adjust the height of the seat in handlebars as well and though only one gear, they travel nicely along these level roads. And it was fun.

The final dining out experience was to a restaurant that serves Shanghai style chicken rice. Since that is where they lived before coming to China, it was a special thing for them to find locally and to share with us.

Lindsey and I walked in the light rain and I thought this small park that we walked through looked amazing… Like a river.

 

Sheri and I decide to walk home and they take a cab. They order cabs from two different companies through apps on their phone. Almost like a rideshare they put out where they’re going and they see the timelines from the different accepting drivers. We were preparing in the restaurant when the cab pulled up three minutes earlier than the app indicated. The driver started crabbing at Zongda out his window as he was crossing the street with the carriage. Though I didn’t understand a word I knew the driver was wrong and he wasn’t listening to Zongda. What I found out later was that the guy continued his barrage after they got into the car. This was the first time I saw this happen in the dozens of cab rides and I understand more Zongdas insistence on being at the curb waiting for a cab. Zongdas complaint to the company got an immediate response… will the government take him away and have him reprogrammed…

Now back to the important stuff… Next door to lunch was a newly remodeled building with an upscale clothing store and a bakery. It’s hard for me to buy clothes on the spot, but not pastries. I was particularly impressed with the packaging. The top of the bag is folded over and over around a string that is tied in the middle to form a handle. The bright colored bag with the story on it is now a moving advertisement

   

We spent our last day in the apartment playing with the kids and packing. We were also trying to confirm our flights booked through a third-party on a budget airline. Zongda was able confirm our seats over the phone, which put Sheri at ease.

There was nothing left to do but go out for afternoon gelato, which happens to be owned by a genuine Italian and have Zongda’s Hot pot dinner extravaganza. A fitting end to an amazing visit

Thank you very much for taking good care of us and look forward to seeing you again in Camden next summer