Spring has arrived in Shanghai!

Hey hey hey!!

So, it’s been a nice week or so since I’ve come back to Shanghai from Busan – especially because of the weather! Teaching didn’t feel too much like teaching last week because all week I did EASTER lessons for all my grades and hobby classes. I always find the teaching more fun when the lesson is fun. We did lots of activities, games, watched videos, learned about Spring and Easter, as well as making Easter cards. I really do love this time of the year!





Spring has definitely arrived in Shanghai. It’s sunny, 23-28degrees and trees are blossoming! Unfortunately, around Wednesday last week I got ill. So, it took me a few days to recover. On Friday, I opted to stay close to home and went to a cosy, familiar café close to Loshanguan Road. I spent most of my afternoon here working, drinking hot lemon water and writing. In the evening, because I was still ill and fancied a chilled one, I watched Dev Patel’s movie – Lion and caught up on the new series of PRISON BREAK. Lion was incredible. Such a touching movie and I literally did not stop crying. It truly reminded me of my adventures in India, and the reality of it all. I can’t count how many children came begging to me. I wonder now what their stories were. So many children in India do get lost or taken. I desire to go back to India one day to help in some way. I vowed I’d go back to the slums in Mumbai with lots of goodies. I know I will do it. As for prison break, well that was awesome! I’m so excited that there’s a new season.

So, the next day I felt much better. The weather was around 28 degrees (HOT) so I knew I had to go make the most of the day outside! I joined my friend at Zhongshan park before we headed out to explore the French concession area of Shanghai, via MOBIKE. I feel like Shanghai has suddenly been flooded with bikes – but in a good way! It’s amazing to see everyone riding around on bikes, and they are so convenient and cheap to use. We enjoyed Shanghai’s amazing architecture and hidden historical buildings; for  example a former Russian Orthodox Church and the Normandie Apartments.


After a lovely day of exploring, I met up with my friend Sarah for a catchup and HOT POT (huo guo) at a restaurant called Xiabu Xiabu in People’s Square. It was so cheap yet scrumptious! I love spicy food and it literally melts in your mouth. Words can’t explain my love for hot pot. That’s one of the main things I will miss a lot when I leave China. So, after catching up over hot pot we headed over the Zhongshan park to meet some friends. The weather was still so warm at night it was perfect. In my last post I mentioned that I was going to Xuzhou to meet a friend, but because I got sick I wasn’t able to go. Nevertheless, I met up with Eddard, Dave, El and a few others for some outdoor drinks.

The next day was Sunday. The weather was sunny yet again! I spent my morning preparing lessons before riding DOTTI (my mini scooter) to Xujiahui for my Chinese lesson. I’m aiming to get my HSK 3 done by the end of May, and work on my HSK3 in June and July. Fingers crossed, I meet my goals! After my Chinese lesson, I rode home. It’s so nice riding in the sun in Shanghai with the breeze against your body. I remember feeling so happy and at peace in that moment.

That evening I went to meet my friend and Chinese language partner, Ban Ban, for dinner! We went to Yangpu district for a really nice Italian dinner with an amazing view of Pudong. It had been an amazing weekend (zhoumo) and I felt content, happy and ready for another working week in Shanghai! In fact, last night after work I had my regular tutoring class and my tutoring family and friends cooked the most amazing spicy crab. The best, most scrumptious crabs ever! 




These next two weeks I’m staying in Shanghai, but next weekend (the last weekend of this month/beginning of May) I have a three-day trip in China planned with a friend, whereby I’ll be camping for the FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE! I love experiencing new things and to be honest can’t believe I’ve never camped before. This is gonna be the best too, as I’ll be hiking a dead volcano, camping on top of the “Sunrise Mountain” and exploring the Southern Great Wall of China!

Anyway, I’ll be in touch this Sunday again!


Sabrina Xxxx


Location: Shanghai, China

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