On my way to school on Wednesday, as it is my volunteer day at Concordia, I was completely surprised by a block of shops that were gone!! Completely torn down with nothing but a pile of bricks. There must have been at least 10 or more little shops along this block. I just drove this way to school on Friday and the shops were still there. I went back on Thursday to take a picture of the pile of bricks…the bricks were gone already.

Where did that shop go???!!

Things happen fast in China. Shanghai is busy being beautified for the Expo 2010. There is construction everywhere. Outside our complex, there is a new tunnel system going underground. Some days I feel we drive around in circles a few times to get where we want to go. It used to be a straight shot past the Jinmao into the tunnel to go to the Puxi side. Now, we weave around the construction before we get to the tunnel.

I wish had more pictures of the before. Down the road about three blocks from our complex were these rundown shops. I remember when we moved here thinking, “wow, this is really China”. Now these same shops have had a “face lift”. Nice marble was put over all the store fronts…over night!!

Beautifying Shanghai is about everything. Just the other day, a couple older ladies with special badges knocked on my door. As they did not speak English, one pointed to my bikes in the hallway and handed me a piece of paper. We need to start NOW beautifying our complex for the Expo. Living in a high rise, everyone leaves extra stuff in the hallway…neat and out of the way. I only have one comment on the concern of “others” seeing my messy hallway. To get to my apartment, you first must pass through the security gate of the complex. Then, to entry my building you need a card key or be buzzed in the door. Wait, there is still more. You cannot get up the elevator unless you have the card key or being buzzed up a second time. I have never felt safer in all my life. So, I am really not sure who is going to see my bikes except my neighbor…who also has bikes in the hallway.

Oh, the piece of paper she handed me…the English version (typed as given)

Warm tips for “expo civilized persuasion”
We initiate a civilized way of raising pets in Yanlord Garden:
1. Raise a dog need Dogs’ Permit and injecting immunization vaccines
2. Please walking with your dog in the civilized way—your dog need a rope and if it is a big dog, it need a Dog hood.
3. When you walk with your dog, please take a paper or plastic pocket to clear away its soil.
4. Please clear away your dogs’ soil for keeping the beautiful grass
5. If your building have freight elevator, please let your dog take it

“Expo civilized persuasion” team of Yanlord Gardens.

I guess I got the wrong piece of paper, but I enjoyed a good laugh on the dog tips!! I can just imagine what the bike/hallway tips could possible be. Maybe I should put my bikes back out and wait for them to come by again!!