Becoming Shanghaiese

The last couple of weeks here have been like my life anywhere. I am becoming Shanghaiese I think.
I attend my club luncheons, fund raisers, and outings. I hang out with girlfriends when I can and go to lunch, shop, or grab a movie. I go to yoga practice 3 to 4 times a week, which I have to say is kicking my ass!! Especially the 90 minute hot yoga classes twice a week. I am now tutoring two afternoons a week which tie up my days pretty much Tuesdays and Thursday. Mike and I usually have at least one to two business dinner during the week to attend. I try to make the Ladies Night Out on Wednesday Night. After all a girl needs to hang with her peeps from the old US neighborhood! All in all life here is like my life back in the States. Sure, I eat much more fried rice than a girl ought too! Nine times out of ten I am the only American in the room (except Ladies Night Out ..that's why I go!!). I go to the local market almost every other day for groceries and just paid $18 for a pound of bacon. I am sorry I wanted real bacon!!!  Someone usually line cuts in front of me at least once a day! Being an ex teacher this is very hard for me NOT to say something. So, I usually say "really?"but then I just step aside. I guess I just don't understand why the big hurry? There are over 23 million people in this city. It moves pretty slow once you get out of the line and are back on the sidewalk or back in traffic. So, I guess I don't know where everyone is rushing off too or why they are cutting in line. Oh, yeah!! I have an awesome driver. He's my friend, my tutor, and knows all the great places to shop. I so don't have that back home, it's a nice perk. All and all I am doing o.k.

Phuket, Wine, Sunsets, and Butterflies

Mike's office and plants closed for 10 days and pretty much all of Shanghai and China did as well for Chinese New Year. Mike and I headed for Phuket, Thailand. Traveling with 10 million other Asians at this time is tricky and getting through the airport and customs requires lots of humor and patience. We made it to the beautifully and sandy beach on the Andaman Sea. Our resort, Katathani was just outside the city of Kata at the edge of a mountain and jungle. We would wake up to birds, monkeys, and other wildlife noises every morning. It was awesome. Our sunsets were different and spectacular each night. We enjoyed them with a bottle of wine in plastic cups.  It was my favorite part of the trip. We rented scooters to get back and forth into town to shop and eat. We enjoyed massages, long walks on the beach, great food, naps, books, and drinks. I went on an elephant trek where I enjoyed a bath riverside by NanNook the elephant. On the trek through the jungle NanNook took me to a small cove where we stood for a few moments. I thought he was getting out of the sun and cooling in the shade. When suddenly butterflies began to flutter all around me. I sat as still as I could, several landed on my arm, shoulder, and knee. It was peaceful and beautiful. I thanked NanNook for taking me there. 

Peace

Hong Kong Weekend

After the last New Year Party Mike and I left for Hong Kong for a weekend getaway. If you like shopping you are in the right place. You can shop every designer you can think of and then some. Our driver suggested going up to the point on the pennislula which is known as The Peak. From this spectacular view we could see the city skyline, Victoria Harbor, Kowloon, and the beautiful hillsides. As this is also known as lover's lookout you could choose a paper heart, write a message to your lover, and post it for the Gods to see. Mike did and I snap a picture of it. I do have to say that Victoria Harbor really is amazing, as it is the largest trading port in the world. The engineering alone is amazing. Walking the streets in the down pour of rain, we have learned you cannot control the weather.  We saw temples and interesting colonial buildings. We ordered margaritas with a Corona beers in them at Bubba Gump"s with our dinner, they are now one of our favorites. Cheers!!

Rose Colored Glasses

Arriving back in Shanghai just in time for Chinese New Year. We celebrated Mike's office party and it was like an episode from the TV show "The Office". Humor and rose colored glasses are a must. At first I thought I fell down the rabbit hole. Let's see there was a mariachi band, karaoke, really bad singing by very excited employees, very young adorable girls dressed in very cute but short skirts, a buffet of non edible chinese food, and of course prizes and red envelopes. It was actually quite fun once I got into the spirit of the evening. The next day we drove to Ningbo for another party, this one was much larger. Approximately 500 people versus 40.  I did not know that it is customary that the "big boss" and wife go table to table to make a toast. Well, before I could even get to my table I had already consumed a glass of wine toasting new friends. I then enjoyed a second glass, while still toasting and meeting new friends. Mike then tells me we must go to the some 50 or 60 tables and toast. NOW..the Party is REALLY entertaining. Staff members performed with skits, singing acts, door prizes, and red envelopes. Karaoke afterwards in a bar lounge. Our last party was just outside of Hong Kong 500 plus people, I limited my glasses of wine to 2!! Entrainment by the staff again, much like the in Ningbo,  they even got Mike into the spirit, he put on a red wig to draw The Big Prize of the evening. Later that night Mike & I enjoyed Karaoke in the private lounge bar with the staff and we even mustered up the nerve to sing "Let it Be".  When you put on the rose colored glasses, laugh a little, and just sing "Let it Be".  It really can be fun, venturing down the Rabbit Hole!! Happy Chinese New. The Year of the Dragon!

Long Visit Home

I had a great holiday back home in the Michigan and Ohio. I love the bon fire out back in the woods at Jenni and Kevin's over Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Being in Kazoo is as close to being at home for the Cash family as we can get. Spending time in Ohio with the friends in the old neighborhood shopping, baking, celebrating, eating, and enjoying each others friendship was priceless. Celebrating Christmas at Ama and Papa's with our traditional fondue was as memorable as always. We love seeing and spending time with family especially Karen even if it means seeing Andy. Ha!! Drew as usual carried his father in the annual family trivia game. Sorry.. Hannah and Kirsten beat you this year!!! Or was it Tim and Taylor??  We then headed Up North to the cabin for some skiing, sledding, and bon fires. Let it Snow!!! It was beautiful. Happy New Year!  BTW..Papa loves the Fire Pit!!

No need to rush.

Kirsten just celebrated her 23rd birthday. Really??!!! Am I old enough to have a daughter that old?
She is amazing. She moved to Kansas City this fall, started graduated school in Speech Pathology and just loves her life. I know she misses some friends and Owen every now and then, but over all she has just spread her wings and taken off. I am so proud of her. I love when we talk about our clients and compare notes. We are on a different level than before and she is so supportive and knowledgeable in her field already. Of course we still talk about shopping, what to eat, how to cook something, Owen, friends, parties, all the everyday things, but I love where our relationship is going. She is still my baby girl, just growing up....Slowly I hope!!  There is no need to rush, as we know time already passes to quickly.

Trying to feel like like home

I just finished unpacking the last of the boxes. Our apartment is a good size for here in Shanghai, but the closet space is a bit of an issue. I have plenty of hanging clothes space, so I decided to add some shelving. Anything we do in the apartment needs to be run by the management office, so today the engineer came. He, two assistants and the office manager showed promptly at 3:00. Only one spoke english. The 5 of us stood in the tiny closet for 20 minutes. I drew a few pictures and in a few days I will have their sketch. I am looking forward to this drawing as Mike's large sweatshirts and sweaters along with my excess shoes and boots need a home.
Our pictures were hung as well. No offense to Mike but hanging anything,  even a shower curtain was an ordeal. This gentleman showed up today with his toolbox. I showed him where to hang each picture and he had them hung within minutes and beautifully. I highly recommend this. He marked, measured, hammered, drilled, and hung my paintings or pictures. It really feels like home now.

I go to work with E tomorrow. She's my client who has Autism. She loves Elmo and today at the International Book Store I found some Sesame Street workbooks. This is very exciting as E loves her I pad and can identify many of her letters and even trace them with an application that was downloaded. I need to get her to transfer this skill away from the I pad. I hope the workbooks help.
I may also have another client. A girl with selective mutism. She is 3 years old and has very good language skills at home. She is very verbal at home where she is comfortable and for the last 8 months in preschool no language/speech at all. I will meet with the teacher and parents next week.

On the social end. Mike and I got up early Sunday to watch the LSU/Bama game. It was 8:00 am for us, like college days. Eggs and Kegs. Mike had a couple of beers with breakfast and I had a Bailys with mine.  I do miss my college football.
Let's see this week ... I have a coffee / jewelry class.... a Chinese Cooking Class.. My Art Class... A Luncheon,  Ladies night out and I am going to the Flower Market on Friday. Plus I tutor E for 2 hours on Tues. /Thurs. I even workout 3 to 4 times a week at 6:45am. Yoga when I can fit it in at night.

Even though I stay busy. I still miss home. I miss my family, my sister, my mom, my kids, and my friends.
Maybe thats why I fill my days up so much.
Peace.