Shanghai- The Wonderful City
Korean International School , Yau , Ambrose Long Wai – 10
T he Chinese city looked nothing like the rest of Shanghai . Different laws , different habits , different jobs , different customs , a different atmosphere … a completely different world . Rickshaw pullers , flower sellers , traders ... what she couldn ’ t see in the foreign areas .
‘ Don ’ t forget we are here to help the coolies and beggars ,’ her father said . But she was too interested in the amazing view - the shop signs , the busy streets and the atmosphere of the bustling city . Then she heard Dad putting money into a box . He donated to a beggar . She saw a whole line of beggars in the street . They looked quite poor . But she was still thinking about the busy streets . Rickshaws were running past , people were working , and there were stalls in the market and ships coming in and out . Goods were being loaded and unloaded . Stall owners were calling people to their stalls . She wondered where else she could find a place like that . She couldn ’ t believe why there are so many beggars in such place .
‘ Hi ,’ someone said . She was Ms . Tang , her dad ’ s friend . She asked , ‘ Having a good time here ?’
‘ We ’ re here to donate to beggars and coolies ,’ Dad told her .
‘ How about you , Mary ?’ She asked .
‘ Yes ,’ Mary replied , ‘ I have never seen such a city in my life . I just don ’ t believe why there are so many beggars here .’
‘ Well , it just happens to be ,’ she answered .
‘ See you ,’ Dad said .
‘ See you .’
She now felt like the odd one out of the street . Everyone ’ s wearing Chinese clothing and they were the only Westerners on the street .
Walking along the street , she could still feel the city . The unique customs she was interested in . Then she saw the coolies . They seemed to be exhausted , carrying loads of goods . She could imagine how hard that was .
‘ Thief !’ All of a sudden , everyone tried to keep away from a person . She was trying to see the thief . He was one of the beggars just now ! Then , the thief went across the street and picked up things people left . People waited until he left . They hoped it would be fine . The police came and tried to surround him . Eventually , he was caught . Then , people started their work again . Now she saw Ms . Tang again . She told her that the thief , Mr . Chan , was a gambler who ran out of money . ‘ Hopefully the foreign laws would protect me ,’ she said .
As the city went back to a bustling one , the atmosphere came back again . She was so interested that she forgot everything about the thief . After helping the beggars , she and her dad went to the riverside . As she looked back , she saw the last view of the busy streets of her trip . She was going back to the foreign concessions now . She would never forget this trip . ‘ Hopefully we could come here again .’