While in Shanghai, I relaunched this site after a year of hard work, developing content, designing, and creating what is TheJoshuaGray.com today! Shanghai has a special place in my heart as its a place of manifestation, determination, exploration, and fulfillment. In the process of determination and fulfillment, you’ll endure ups and downs, evident in PART ONE of 20 Things I Did in Shanghai and PART TWO of 20 Things I Did in Shanghai, below:
11. Eat Food on Pins and Needles
The reason I had no allergic reaction while in Shanghai was due to the practice of eating my meals on pins and needles. I’m the adventurous type, thus I would have tried countless types of foods if it weren’t for my allergies, such as the interesting soup and duck tongue below. If you have an allergy, be careful when eating foods of a particular country, many times the foods are cooked different than when you’re at home, so you may not recognize the food you’ll eat.
12. Eat Tons of Fried Foods
The misconception that I had coming to Shanghai was that I would lose so much weight because of the availability of foods I can actually eat–assuming I would consistently eat rice (Stereotypical, yes, and WRONG). I indulged in so much fried food, so many greasy foods, and so many salty foods. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the food I ate, but what caught me by surprise pleasantly, was the popularity of fried chicken. Definitely some of the best fried chicken I’ve ever had.
13. Fall in Love with Baozi
A typical Chinese dish/food is Baozi. I fell in ultimate love with this dish, especially when it falls more on the sweet versus savory side of taste. Baozi is a filled bun with a succulent meat or savory vegetables, or other fillings. I usually ate Baozi in the morning to invoke a sense of happiness upon my stomach (Ha).
14. Have Many Family-Styled Dinners
Another different practice when it came to dining were family-styled meals. This is an engaging and efficient way to eat as a family or group when having meals with multiple shared dishes. Often comprised of a spinning table center to access food selections, family-styled meals proved to be an interesting way to build community and pass time when waiting on the next dish by spinning the middle arrangement (Childish, yes, but who could resist?).
15. Eat Street Food & Get Sick from Street Food
When you live in a new country, “do as the locals do”. In following that motto, street food was an interesting component to Shanghai culture; well, it was an interesting component to the neighborhood that I lived in as the “Noodle Lady” and “Noodle Man” posted up late night to cook a variety of noodles and fried rice in the middle of the street. Delicious on the first day and delicious as leftovers, but I learned you don’t eat the left overs or you’ll end up feeling as if you’ve been poisoned (upset stomachs, hot flashes, headaches, and the like) .
16. Experience a Consistently Upset Stomach
Unfortunately, somewhere in the process of getting accustomed to the food of China, something disrupted my normal digestive pattern. Too much information, possibly; necessary information, yes. When moving to a different country, prepare for normal sickness, because as you learn about the culture, you will continuously learn about your body.
17. Wake Up a Security Guard
Coming from the United States, I always expect security guards to be alert throughout their entire shift. But on countless occasions, I woke up a security guard. Such happenings may have occurred because I would walk around late at night, but it’s a testament to the safety of the city for security guards to find comfort in sleeping on the assignments.
18. Find the Courage to Cut My Hair
Prior to finally connecting with my barber in Shanghai, I had to find the courage to cut my hair. Actually over the summer, I prepped for this moment by not going to my barber in Vegas to venture out and cut my hair. Definitely a skill set that takes enormous amounts of practice, this venture was definitely one of those “do it to see if I can do it” type of adventures. It’s definitely healthy to find something to do to see if you can do it, you find strength and oneness with yourself when you bet on yourself. Try something!
19. Locate a Barber
One of my proudest accomplishments was locating a barber in Shanghai. Boldness and perseverance was the key to finding “Afrocuts”, my one-time barber in Shanghai. After church one Sunday, I approached Jean, a fellow brother of African descent studying in Shanghai, as well, who referred me to “Afrocuts”.  ‘Cuts did a great job and I was thoroughly pleased with his skill. Trust me, after having to cut my hair multiple times, I appreciated the skill set of a barber skilled in taper fades.  Definitely my best find in Shanghai!
20. Enjoy this Experience
Traveling to Shanghai started with a goal to travel to all of the continents in the next few years, Shanghai would check Asia off of the bucket list. When given the opportunity to finish the necessary classes for my degree in Asia and next year, Buenos Aires, I found this adventure even the more appealing. As months progressed, different events caused me to doubt the possibility of realizing this experience and one pivotal moment when I was driving to the city in LA, I received an email that seemingly made this entire experience impossible. “Seemingly” being the operative word; in that moment, I realized the importance of not operating or living your life defeated, when you haven’t even been defeated. Fail in claiming defeat before you even have the chance to claim victory.
Lessons Learned from What I Did Do in Shanghai:
As I overlooked Saigon, while in Vietnam, amazement and humility fell over me to realize I was actually living in the victory I CHOSE to claim. Victory is often something YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE TO RECEIVE; you must have the victory in your mind before you have victory outside. Shanghai–every city visited, every restaurant tried, every friend made (see below)–was the manifestation of one of the most valuable lessons I learned in college: the importance of claiming victory before you claim defeat, even if defeat feels imminent.
Want to know more about the good, the bad, and the #GRAYT from what I did do in Shanghai, let me know in the comments section and I’ll let you know! Share this post with your friends, family, and associates!
