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Envisioning the living quarters on a 14 hour train from Beijing to Shanghai is a very difficult task for any human to imagine. I thought the cabs would be filled with locals smoking ciggarettes, uncomfortable seating, and unairconditioned rooms, but I was mistaken. Instead the Syracuse University program was greated with complimentary water, slippers, and television. Although the tv only had a few local stations I could not complain. Apparently this new model train was engineered a year earlier, and it was only the fourth month it has been in service. Every aspect of the train blew away my expectations, from the modern design to the less fortunate people sleeping under newspapers in the hall.

The ride was sorta like a sleepover in sixth grade, four dudes packed into a small room looking to be reckless and have some late night fun. We engaged in some quality conversations, shared some past personal experiences, and got to know each other pretty well. To put it in another sense, there were 40 college kids in ten cabins all next to each other. Whoever organized that was asking for some havoc, but I must say most of us were well behaved. Before we knew it light crept between our shades and we arrived at our final location of our mainland China trip, Shanghai.

Before I dive into our last stop on this incredible seminar I want to expand upon the train ride experience one more time, more specifically the friendships that were created that night. The anticipation and anxiety that built up inside of me before leaving the States was something I hoped to alleviate quickly. After a mini tantrum the morning of departure, I came to the conclusion that every other student was in the same position as me. While personal situations varied from pupil to pupil, the act of crossing the border together as a group created an amazing bond. We are all intellectually curious, adventurous, and outgoing. Because I only knew a few kids coming into the trip this was a perfect opportunity to establish new friendships. The one student (Casey) who I had prior engagements with was also from the Boston area, and we immediately talked about how Brady was going to kill it this year once we met again in the airport. Although I got along with most participants, it was not till the ride from Beijing to Shanghai that my close friends emerged. Other students organized the cabin arrangements and it was me, Casey Lundberg, Andrew Hayes, and Rodrigo Bustamente all in one cabin. When the list came around I was pleased to see my name with this crew, another new experience and chance to meet some quality dudes. While the activities on the train will stay on the train (I am now linked up to multiple Syracuse University websites crediting my blog entries), our night is something I won’t forget. My true friends were determined right then and there.

We arrived bright and early in the rapidly developing city of Shanghai, China. To give you an idea of how modern this location is, LeBron James made an international appearance to promote his new Nike sneaker and biographical film a few days earlier. Cranes are commonplace given the fact that the 2011 World Expo resides in Shanghai. We learned that the past fifteen years of construction totaled a record amount of capital. Shanghai is one of the largest cities in China, with a population close to 20 million citizens. Viewed as the financial and commercial capital of mainland China, it was only apropos that we visit two locations which documented the past and predicted the future. Check out the next post!

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