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!