Saturday, November 28, 2009
Internet Access!
Good news! Larry worked his IT magic and I now have access on my computer to my blog, Facebook, US television shows and everything else that has been blocked since we got to China. That's a good thing and a bad thing. Updating this site will become more regular, but I must not get addicted to this machine like I was at work. There is too much out there waiting for me to discover. I've got a couple of videos I have to figure out how to add, and several adventures to document, one involving chickens.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
A Life Lesson
I've been kind of blue these past couple of days. I tend to get like that when Larry goes away for
one of his longer trips. My focus initially goes inward and things deteriorate from there. I'm still struggling with homesickness and coupled with the news that our S.C home sold this week, I was sure the "blahs" would take a strong hold.
one of his longer trips. My focus initially goes inward and things deteriorate from there. I'm still struggling with homesickness and coupled with the news that our S.C home sold this week, I was sure the "blahs" would take a strong hold.My girls, thankfully, did not allow that to happen. Their constant bickering had my nerves nearing their breaking point, but today, as I wrestled with my Chinese lesson (another post for another day), I glanced over at my girls. They had two friends over; 
Katerina, a sweet little blond girl from Germany and Francis, a tall, striking eleven year old South American. The music was blaring Hannah Montana and my girls were trying to teach their guests the line dance from Hannah's movie. Katerina was clutching one of the twins' baby dolls, staring wide eyed with those huge blue Arian eyes, wondering what crazy planet she'd stumbled into. But then, she burst into the cutest giggle as Katie spun her around in a circle.
Katerina, a sweet little blond girl from Germany and Francis, a tall, striking eleven year old South American. The music was blaring Hannah Montana and my girls were trying to teach their guests the line dance from Hannah's movie. Katerina was clutching one of the twins' baby dolls, staring wide eyed with those huge blue Arian eyes, wondering what crazy planet she'd stumbled into. But then, she burst into the cutest giggle as Katie spun her around in a circle.I felt suddenly like a fog had been lifted. I watched from the other 
room as these children played with, listened to, and learned from each other. Unfortunately, I was too slow to snap a picture of the dancing. My Chinese lesson was temporarily forgotten as the lesson learned from watching those kids had a much greater and needed impact.
room as these children played with, listened to, and learned from each other. Unfortunately, I was too slow to snap a picture of the dancing. My Chinese lesson was temporarily forgotten as the lesson learned from watching those kids had a much greater and needed impact.Saturday, November 7, 2009
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Ok, so Katie's birthday was over a month ago, but she didn't have a party as that was also the 
start of the National holiday. She's been begging for a slumber party. I was able to hold her off saying we couldn't until our things arrived. Well, our things arrived and I no longer had an excuse. She showed me her list of friends and I about dropped dead right there as it was well over ten. I negotiated it down to five, thinking I needed to start out small if there was ever going to be any more slumber parties.
start of the National holiday. She's been begging for a slumber party. I was able to hold her off saying we couldn't until our things arrived. Well, our things arrived and I no longer had an excuse. She showed me her list of friends and I about dropped dead right there as it was well over ten. I negotiated it down to five, thinking I needed to start out small if there was ever going to be any more slumber parties.All but one arrived Thursday evening, ready to party. Marcella and Mariella, identical twins from Brazil, Amy from Wales and Sarah from Shrewsbury, MA, but 
oddly, she speaks with a nice British accent. Coupled with Katie, Syd and Sarah, the decibal level in this house went up tenfold. The accoustics are amazing and every sound was overwhelmingly clear. I started guzzling my high dollar diet pepsi as I knew what was in store. I had flashbacks to my 8th birthday and suddenly felt weary, getting just a small glimpse of what my parents had endured.
oddly, she speaks with a nice British accent. Coupled with Katie, Syd and Sarah, the decibal level in this house went up tenfold. The accoustics are amazing and every sound was overwhelmingly clear. I started guzzling my high dollar diet pepsi as I knew what was in store. I had flashbacks to my 8th birthday and suddenly felt weary, getting just a small glimpse of what my parents had endured. We had comedy from Sydney, we had horror as Larry scared the begeezus out of them with a Halloween mask and of course we had drama. Little girls sure know how to bring out the drama (I should know...)
They watched movies, ate pizza, painted their nails, ate more pizza, cake 
and ice cream, decorated pillow cases, had pillow fights, played hide and seek, ate popcorn at midnight, and finally at 2 am, there was silence. At 2:30, Katie came upstairs (they were all sleeping on the family room floor) and got into her bed, but at 5 she went back downstairs so no one would know she'd chickened out at her own party. At 6:45 they were back up, eating doughnuts. By 9 all were gone and I 
was left with a HUGE mess and an even larger headache. Thank god for May and Excedrin.
and ice cream, decorated pillow cases, had pillow fights, played hide and seek, ate popcorn at midnight, and finally at 2 am, there was silence. At 2:30, Katie came upstairs (they were all sleeping on the family room floor) and got into her bed, but at 5 she went back downstairs so no one would know she'd chickened out at her own party. At 6:45 they were back up, eating doughnuts. By 9 all were gone and I 
was left with a HUGE mess and an even larger headache. Thank god for May and Excedrin. 
Catching Up
A whole month snuck by. It's been kind of a stressful one at that. "Issues" arose with Larry's contract and well, things just seem to take longer here to work out. Thankfully, it appears as if things are working out and we are sleeping a little better.
Our townhouse is starting to feel and look like a home since our shipment from the US finally arrived...88 days later. Only a few moving casualties, including two of my Madam Alexander dolls. The food even made it. The girls have enjoyed the Pop Tarts,
grits and granola bars. Some of the uppity grocery stores sell those things (well, not the grits) but you pay DEARLY. I'm not willing to pay 45RMB (about $7) for a box of Cocoa Puffs. Besides, I really enjoy walking to the neighborhood center, which is about a mile, and trying to "communicate" with the folks there. This place has a grocery store, a gym, KFC (really!), candy store, bakery, coffee shop, camera/film developing, kitchen center, florist and a fresh market. When I say fresh market I mean it. I'm pretty sure when you ask for chicken breasts they go in the back and slaughter them right there. The fruits and vegetables are amazing as well as the fresh made noodles. I keep forgetting to bring my camera to capture the scene.
I must say moving to China was the best thing to change my attitude regarding exercise. That and the fact that I still feel like the largest woman in China. Slowly but sure, though, the weight is coming off and I haven't felt this healthy in a while. Our townhouse has four stories so I've got a built-in Stairmaster. The girls ride their bikes and/or their scooters everyday. I think Larry and I are going to break down and buy a couple for ourselves. I just don't know if I'll ever feel confident enough to ride with the masses.
Our townhouse is starting to feel and look like a home since our shipment from the US finally arrived...88 days later. Only a few moving casualties, including two of my Madam Alexander dolls. The food even made it. The girls have enjoyed the Pop Tarts,
grits and granola bars. Some of the uppity grocery stores sell those things (well, not the grits) but you pay DEARLY. I'm not willing to pay 45RMB (about $7) for a box of Cocoa Puffs. Besides, I really enjoy walking to the neighborhood center, which is about a mile, and trying to "communicate" with the folks there. This place has a grocery store, a gym, KFC (really!), candy store, bakery, coffee shop, camera/film developing, kitchen center, florist and a fresh market. When I say fresh market I mean it. I'm pretty sure when you ask for chicken breasts they go in the back and slaughter them right there. The fruits and vegetables are amazing as well as the fresh made noodles. I keep forgetting to bring my camera to capture the scene.
I must say moving to China was the best thing to change my attitude regarding exercise. That and the fact that I still feel like the largest woman in China. Slowly but sure, though, the weight is coming off and I haven't felt this healthy in a while. Our townhouse has four stories so I've got a built-in Stairmaster. The girls ride their bikes and/or their scooters everyday. I think Larry and I are going to break down and buy a couple for ourselves. I just don't know if I'll ever feel confident enough to ride with the masses.
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