3rd day in Shanghai

Dear parents, the 3rd day has concluded successfully. The kids managed to launch their rockets successfully. All our astronauts-to-be launched their rockets succssfully. Hui Xin, emerged as champion as her rocket was launched the highest and stayed in the air for the longest after the parachute was discharged.

My apologies about yesterday entry. As i would like to correct that it was Huang Pu river that we visited.

We also had a chance to meet up with one of our NYPS teacher, Fuyan who took a one year leave to study here in Shanghai.

After we left the school we went to visit a "pasar malam". The teachers brought the pupils to visit the stalls and various shops whilst I brought my boys to eat the all famous Shanghai Xiao Long Bao! The boys sure had their fill and can you imagine Joel ate 20 of them!!and then followed by dinner half an hour later. The servings here in Shanghai are extremely huge and the people here are extremely hospitable. The meals they served us were awsome and not "holiday tour packages" meals. For example we had fish head soup today and it came in a really huge pot with prawns and shellfish. For the first time we saw soup that is milky but not because condensed milk was added to them.

We are also really lucky during this trip as the pupils keep dropping various things like handphone and digital camera and it's one after the other. From the first day we arrive till now, at least 5 pupils have already misplaced their digital cameras or handphones BUT each time lady luck smiled on them as someone managed to find it and returned it back to us.

Great thanks to Jerry's grandparents who are from Shanghai and also one other aunt who went to the front desk to call for a pupil to come down. Thanks for the support and for working closely with us. Axl is fine, he has been eating quite a bit of Xiao Long Bao too. We noticed that there is a little pimple inside Axl's eyes and was told by him that his eyes were a little itchy before he left and his lips are a little red. We will continue to monitor him and ask him to drink more water.

2nd day at Shanghai

Dear parents, Mr Pang had topped up his phone card today so the phone is now up and working. Please feel free to give Mr Pang a call should there be an emergency. We will really appreciate it as the phone now has only 50 dollars once again. Kids who have ordered additional phone cards yesterday have also received their phonecards while those who had just ordered theirs will only get their cards tomorrow.

Today, the kids spent a day at Fu Dan Wan Ke Private School. They visited the school, had lunch in the school and then spent the afternoon learning how to make mini rockets. The kids really had lotsa fun working with their Shanghai counterparts. We then had lunch at their hostel canteen. The food was really a spread. The kids then returned to the hotel to do their reflections as well as learn how to make the water rockets.

Due to the power shortage in China because of the snow storm, the lightings at YangTze river will only be available only on Fridays and Saturdays. As such, we will be making a visit tomorrow night. Therefore we will be coming back to the hotel a little late.

The kids are really "active" and we would like to take the chance to send praises to some excellent kids. First to be mentioned will be Eadric. Not only has he taken care of his room mate (jerry) really well but he has also shown great leadership. He falls in line quickly and understand what is required of him especially when we move from place to place. This makes things a whole lot easier for the teachers. He also urged his group mates to fall in line quickly too and took great care of his belongings and mine too! Thank you Mr and Mrs Wong! Eadric is excellent.

Well done Eadric!

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Jerry's grandparents arrived at the airport on our first day of arrival and Jerry said that he has called Grandpa!

Brian says, "Thanks ma for getting lucus parents to visit me ... wanna tell you that I have been a good boy, only drank half a glass of soft drink today!"

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Last but not least,
It's really brave of the kids to come here all by themselves. Do give them your utmost support....as the "crying" disease is really contagious especially amongst the girls. They are after all mummy's girl and whenever they hear their parents, they will start to miss home. Do give them your support and ask them to be strong! Get them to call you once in 2 days?

We have arrived safely!

Hi everyone, we have reached Shanghai safely and everyone has gotten back to their rooms. It was a really packed day today as we tried the magnetic train. It was travelling really fast and went up to 400 plus km/hr.

During dinner time, we were really surprised at the huge servings we were served. Can you imagine we were given a 15 course dinner?? We really had our fills (Not to worry, we did persuade the kids to eat some greens especially those who didn't like to eat greens)

The china sim card was also issued to the kids at around 9pm. I am sure some of you are really excited and have made calls immediately. Unfortunately at this moment, Mr Pang's $50 sim card has been used up right away! and from his understanding, some of the kids' cards are also used up. We understand your anxiety but please be patient with us as Mr Pang and the kids will top up their sim cards real soon!

Are your READY???

How is everyone, ready for the trip or not?? I am so dead because I have yet to pack my stuff and we are like leaving in 2 days time. Ohhh by the way here are a few announcements.

Firstly Mr Pang. has kindly given out his contact number for emergency. This means that your can contact him at 13024169306 (china number). As the phone card only has limited value please call only when there is an emergency.

Secondly as the kids are bringing their mobile phones with them, can we seek your understanding that parents call their kids only in the evening as this can be quite disruptive should there be lessons during the day. Not to worry we will remind them to call as well in the evening.

Rest assured that we would like kids to stay in touch with parents as well and we will try to keep your as updated as possible. Thank you. See your real soon!