Journal 1 - Shanghai Jin Ze Arts Centre 金澤工藝社

I signed up for the Global Studies trip to Shanghai, one of China's municipalities. On the second day, we visited the Jin Ze Arts Centre (金澤工藝社) in the Qingpu District. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving traditional craftsmanship and Chinese architecture through hands-on learning experiences. At the venue, I participated in a tie-dye handkerchief workshop, where we were guided by a master. First, we repeatedly tied the handkerchief with rubber bands to create a pattern. Then, we had the opportunity to squeeze and dip our bundled handkerchief into a pot of blue dye as many times as we wished before leaving it to soak in the pot. For the next session, we entered a music room where various Chinese drums were set up for us. We were introduced to three drums - the Night Watchman’s Drum (更鼓), the Flowerpot Drum (花盆鼓), and the Big Drum (大鼓). The master demonstrated how to play each drum before letting us try the Flowerpot Drum and we participated in an activity where we practiced recreating the sequences of sounds that the master played for us.

Journal 1's Total Word Count: 180 Words

Journal 2 - Shanghai Zhu Family Corner 朱家角 

On the second day, we visited Zhu Family Corner (朱家角), an ancient Chinese water town in the Qingpu District. The town features zigzag stone pathways, river bridges, and houses from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. We met and spoke with local shop owners along the riverfront offering a variety of street food. Not far from the eatery where we had lunch, we met a friendly vendor selling freshly made bubble tea and we tried their signature bamboo milk tea (竹筒奶茶), served in a bamboo cup customized with the city's name and a sign saying, “I Miss You In _____” (the current city). We also encountered another vendor selling Tanghulu (Chinese candied fruit). I bought a strawberry-flavored stick to compare it to those in Singapore; the Shanghai ones tasted far more authentic. At Zhu Family Corner, we also enjoyed a boat ride along the green canals. After putting on our life vests, we enjoyed the scenic journey through the ancient water town. Additionally, I had the opportunity to meet new friends from other classes, allowing us to bond and get to know each other better. It was a memorable and enriching experience.

Journal 2's Total Word Count: 190 Words

Journal 3 - Shanghai East Normal University 东师范大学

On the third day, we visited Shanghai East China Normal University (ECNU, 东师范大学), a prestigious university. We met students in Shanghai who are pursuing the same course and major in Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE). The student leader, Safina, presented us with an overview of the ECDE course in Shanghai for us to further understand what it is like as an pre-school educator in training. Since our interests aligned with the group of student leaders that hosted us in their class, we quickly became friends and enjoyed lunch together during the campus's free exploration period. At ECNU, cafeterias are spaced apart, making it inconvenient to travel to and from due to the far distance. we ate at the nearest cafeteria available which serves mixed vegetable rice. The process was organized: we had to pick up a tray, line up, before ordering our food. However, the variety of food were rather limited. At Temasek Polytechnic, the cafeterias are within walking distance and offer a wide variety of cuisines to choose from and buy. After lunch, we were given a tour of the campus by the student leaders before we assembled to depart for our next destination. 

Journal 3's Total Word Count: 196 Words