Merry Christmas from Shanghai - 2010!

Santa found his way to Shanghai and pulled off one amazing stunt of getting through the security guards, smog, traffic and lack of real fireplace to enter our home and leave a candy cane for each of the girls - plus a few great toys! We've Skyped our families and shared the best of our advantage of being 13 hours ahead. Which means, while you are anxiously anticipating Santa's arrival, we are lounging after a morning of excitement and a delicious breakfast. Better yet, Santa brought our cousin Nick and his Scotish girlfriend, Kirsty (that is not a misspelling!), all the way from their international teaching jobs in Dubai to spend some quality family time and sightseeing adventures with us. Having them here is the one thing that has made our Christmas




Like any feat in China, getting them here from Dubai was yet another story to tell...Let's just say if you are planning to visit this country, make sure you have all your paperwork in order with plenty of lead-time. We knew things weren't going well when Monday morning Nick expressed his excitement of heading our way on Thursday and us jokingly telling him we sure hope he got his Visa! His response of "yeah - I was going to check into that today" was a definite sign of what was to come considering Visa's can take several days to process. He hadn't considered that after all his global travels, one of a few countries that require a Visa would also make it absolutely difficult to get through government red-tape. Nick ended up faring well enough to make his flight on Thursday morning but the fact Kirsty was in Scotland up until Tuesday night meant she had to postpone her trip to Friday and rush to beat Santa and his reindeer!

For Christmas eve, we made cookies, ate wontons with chopsticks and joyfully attended our local Catholic church service, a mix of diversity like no other, before grabbing a quick Starbucks (2nd largest global market is in China) and heading to the airport to pick up Kirsty. The girls entertained us the entire 45 minute drive by singing every Christmas carol they knew - even if it was only the first verse. Our driver was surely joyed when they sang "I wish you a Merry Christmas" in Chinese! Home by midnight to open a few gifts, including old PJ's (no luck finding new ones and some traditions just can't be broken) and off to bed quickly. The Nordic Tracker must have hiccuped because it said Santa had already been to Shanghai and was in Australia by midnight!!!! Silly Nordic Tracker - you really cost Chloe a few tears and lots of explanations.





You may wonder if it feels like Christmas to us. Yes and no. Yes - because we accomplished the task of shopping and finding things that excite the girls, having family with us, good health and "transitional" happiness along with new traditions and memories that are priceless. No - because Christmas is defined by long-standing traditions, family and friends. And you can't buy those in the fake-markets.

Merry Christmas, everyone! We love you all!

(check Beth's facebook for the Christmas photo album - to be posted)

The Giving Tree - A China Experience

Have you ever had one of those experiences you can't quite capture in words but realize it has an impact that's everlasting? Jon had one of those today. One that defines the idea of giving, of caring and one that reminded us of that part of Christmas we can easily forget in the myriad of festivities.

The Giving Tree. Not a new concept to most people, especially those that work in a company that employs the energy and goodwill of its employees to do good in the world. It teaches compassion and helps to harbor a sense of appreciation and respect. Not that Jon needs to learn these lessons. He is the most compassionate person I know. He teaches me something each and every day. Mostly good, sometimes questionably strange and definitely how to be spontaneous, joyous and see the good in everything and everyone.

So what did he actually learn? All this and then some. Like how important it is to make a difference. How fortunate our friends, our family and we are in this sometimes chaotic and scary world.

His assignment? A 9 year-old, less-than-fortunate Chinese boy in need of clothes, a jacket, hat & mittens, toys and school supplies. Budget? 200RMB (approx 30USD). Where to shop? Who the heck knows - we live in Shanghai! So, being the creative guy that Jon is, he handed the assignment to our driver, Yao, and asked for his help. And by golly, Yao came through a mere 1RMB over!

Today Jon boarded a bus with 12 other Dow employees to make a difference by delivering 121 gift bags full of necessities. Their destination was a Primary school here in Shanghai. The route, an interesting manuever of one-lane, narrow streets and alleys - delivering them into a primary school courtyard. 704 grade school students marched into the courtyard in the straightest of single-file lines, arms swinging at their sides as if military training was a daily ritual. They stopped and stood at attention with the slightest bit of joy sneaking a twinkle in their eye, knowing what awaited them! Defintely no (American)A.D.D. in this group.

Classrooms, a mere 20x25, was meant to provide 44 children with a suitable teaching environment. Each child, one by one, was delivered a gift and each returned the favor with a sentiment that comes naturally to most of us - "Thank you very much". Not Xie-Xie which is thank you in Chinese but "Thank you". Why is this so special? Because they are learning their English as a second language - a universal language. A language that will help deliver them into the world across boundaries most of us will never know.

At the end of the school day, children boarded buses crammed like sardines. Not sardines, but flat-presses. Some parents picked up their kids on electric scooters loaded with anywhere from 3-5 people each - seriously. Imagine Mom driving, one kid in front leaning to left, another in front leaning to right and two behind her!!

So how did Jon depart? Just as crammed but instead with the pleasure, fulfillment, respect, appreciation and sheer satisfaction. An everlasting lesson.

Merry Christmas, America!
The Nicholas'

(to see more pictures - visit Beth on Facebook)

As the holidays draw near...

There's nothing better to get you in the spirit of the holidays than a bit of Josh Groban's Noel album, a 6 foot fake tree with no lights or decorations, the warmth of early fall and a strong dose of smog. Throw in 7200 miles of distance from family and friends, over 5x the cost for a 19lb frozen turkey, and Thanksgiving plans gone amuck due to the circle of life and you have the foundation for my aptly titled Shanghai Overseas Sacrifice (SOS) we've come to appreciate and respect.

Which brings me to my point - that life is funny. It's like a puzzle with a gazillion pieces and each piece carries a story, either bland, solid or chaotic. It has edges, easy parts and really amazingly complicated parts. Sometimes you try to move it and it falls apart. Sometimes you debate whether you should glue it to a permanent backing but usually decide it's more interesting to try again when the time is right. And...it is purely strategic. So what do you do when you discover you've lost a piece of the puzzle - the most significant piece or pieces - and that without them the puzzle loses its meaning and your sense of accomplishment quickly diminishes?

The holidays away from family on the other side of the world, immersed in a completely different culture and environment is like finding your puzzle is missing pieces. It doesn't hit you until you've gotten to that point and the thought of all its taken to get there hits you square between the eyes. I've had my breath taken away lately at that exact point of realizing pieces are missing from my puzzle. It's a bit numbing to say the least, too numb to cry and too numb to even laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of it.

Quite frankly, those missing puzzle pieces are essential to our lives. They are the pieces of our family & friends, the snow, music and snap & sizzle of the fireplace, the annual Christmas tree hunting, smell of fresh pine, hot cider with rum, the carving of the turkey, collapse from overeating and the gift of giving. It can be just about anything that brings you to that point of discovery and it takes the wind right out of you.

So as I study this incomplete puzzle and wonder if it has any meaning or ability to convey its art, I pause at the simple realization that the journey to get to this point might be interesting enough and we'll simply have use to our imagination and memories of holidays past to complete it.

As Thanksgiving draws near, take a moment to pause and be thankful for family and friends near and far and the puzzle in front of you, complete or not.

Happy Thanksgiving

The Nicholas'

Culture Shock!

It's been a bit of a rough go over the last month or so. Call it Culture Shock. Blame it for writer's block. And here we are mid-November facing the holidays with a few more grays and kids with emotions all over the place. Our new family motto - "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger". The picture says it all!

Here's are the key team player's and their brief stats:

• Jon. Man of the house. A warrior true and true. Blood pressure a bit high, weight quite down and Friday nights spent bewildered. Does he let it bring him down, down, down... not a chance. He finds the good in EVERYTHING. This guy will bounce back the next morning, grab a bike and a kid and head to a high school basketball game. (yes - on a saturday morning. you learn not to ask questions). Or, in some cases find any way to experience the winter element. (right side of photo)




• Beth. Tired, grayer and still seeking food comforts. LOOK AT ALL THAT GRAY (before color mercy mission).How else do you explain the fact she will engineer a whole food "doping" ring by coordinating three different focal points to perform household good reconnaisance missions, Meijers shopping and suitcase borrowing. This effort resulted in 50lbs of US goods and required asking a visiting global leader to escort all this way. The nerve! The satisfaction.

• Megan. A portrait in the life of a teenager. Sleeps til 11, tell you she's old enough to make her own choices and stay up as late as she wants yet the next day tells you she doesn't want to grow up! huh??? Misses soccer terribly and looking forward to spring school team. College prep-like homework up the kazoo and toss in a new school, multi-culture and UNIFORMS and you have either dabbled with fate or created a child ready for success... check again in 10 years!
  


• Emily. Bun Bun the Middle One. She quietly plots while smiling a twinkly smile. We sent her off on a 7th grade week-long school trip to Beijing and we got back this very grown-up child. Or better yet, pre-teen. The big 13 looms this spring and she knows it! The only one to not suffer from culture shock although she'll politely tell you to turn the Christmas music off because it makes her sad. (middle of photo).
  

• Chloe. The littlest and mightiest. The one who would not let us forget what we did to her for 3 months straight. Until now. Now she slightly smiles, agrees with her sister and says "I'm with her. I don't want to go home. I like it here". Parental manipulation poster child. But a spirit that amazes, an energy that you'd envy and a sweet charmer. Watch for future postings. Something tells me she'll be starring in a few dedicated blogs.

Stay tuned for an action pack thriller, but have a little patience for culture shock related intermissions.

September 25th - A 2 hour drive does wonders...

We took it upon ourselves to initiate a trip west of the city to do what foreigners do best, sight-see! Our destination - Zhouzhuang water village. 900 years of history and life. And we thought Philadelphia bore some history! http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/jiangsu/suzhou/zhouzhuang.htm

Supposedly Tom Cruise filmed Mission Impossible 3 here in Zhouzhuang, but it's likley to have been one of the more remote and obscure water villages. It's more fun to imagine him seeking a couch to jump on and declaring his love for China!

Before you can begin such an adventure, you must carefully plan out the day. I'm wondering if you can guess by now what aspect of the plan is most notable and worthy.

Food? CORRECT! That won't cover all the necessities, though. Packing a lunch, drink and snacks will prevent you from encountering debate, bravery and torture in what is supposed to be a pleasant and relaxing day.

Map? Not the map - the driver is your map! Give him an address and sit back and enjoy the ride. Since Megan was away last week (stay tuned for a blog of her experience), Jon and I shared the middle captains seats while the wee-ones camped out in the backseat of the van. It's as close to a date as we can sometimes get.

Tunes? Yes - that is a necessary element of a long ride. We packed up the IPAD loaded with tunes to use as our portable radio. You really don't want the driver to turn on the radio unless you like the local offerings streaming through.


Toilet paper? Yes again! Why? Because most public toilets, outside the very modernized area of downtown Shanghai and our expat area, offer toilets in the ground and no paper! Maybe this picture helps explain that. I've determined that since so many Chinese ladies wear dresses of some sort, maybe this is a smart idea. Try it with shorts and you'll require flexibility, strategic squatting and really good aim! (p.s. those are not my skinny legs HA HA HA.... Chloe takes the credit for attempting aim and vanity!)

The village was full of sights, sounds and smells that take you to a new dimension. The history is rich and unique, the people proud and the ambience a simple portrayal of all that makes the community and family feel come to life. The shops - small carved out closets of space selling everything from spun goods to spices to dried tea leaves (does that come with papers and lighters?) to dried fish on sticks and tea-stained eggs. I love their spirit in the realm of effective food utilization.

Our favorite part was the canal boat ride topped with Chinese folk songs. I have this great video to depict the whole experience but of course the site won't upload it properly. I will work on an upload to facebook!

Definitely a trip worth taking. We'll add this to the visting friends and family list. I sure hope that list gets put to good use (uh-hummmmm)!!

They call this food?

We take food for granted. Ever since we can conciously remember, there was food. Aptly tasting food. Food to delight in. It didn't matter if at one point it was from the breast, bottle or concocted from some powder substance. Simply put, since we've been born, it was food and it made us happy!

So it causes one to pause when food, although necessary, becomes a subject of debate, a subject of bravery and sometimes the subject of torture.

Take for instance the debate aspect. Food is a necessity to thrive and live. What is there possibly to debate? How about what it is? I spent my entire life living with full recognition of what fanciful delight tempted my palate and could easily recognize and trust what was presented to me. But here we are on the other side of the world and I can't, for the life of me, win this debate. And I can be one heck of a debater!

Then there is bravery. Let's put the use of this word into context first. I use it with no mention of aptitude or recognition. I am no hero by any means. Although, I get some credit for stepping out of familiar territory to at least try something new (maybe old to you). Sushi, all sorts of it! The presentation was artistic and colorful. How could I turn it down - and I don't even like seafood. How about a full baby squid? All 8 squiggly legs attached to plump little 2 inch diameter body. I guarantee I didn't chew and am thankful for seasoning sauce. Jon still threatens to repress kisses, but you and I both know that it'd take more than that for him to follow through on that threat! Oh, and there is the delicasy of duck skin rolled in tortillas and duck meat - skinned and carved from a whole duck, beak and all, right next to you no less. Add a little soup containing finds from a snorkeling adventure and I think I've sold you on my bravery. Frankly, Spongebob's world is quite good, barring Baby Tentacles!

But life and food wasn't intended to be that easy, so the element of torture was thrown in. This starts with the debate aspect but ends in a cry of mercy -YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING, THERE IS NO WAY I WILL EAT THAT! I am clearly a wimp. I've seen all sorts of unidentifiable food objects, some with full skeletal structures and others with a goo that speaks terror - like today's plane food. That meal begins and ends with the consumption of a very small supposed bread item and a swig of water. And I am left with a bit of wonder at all the indigenous people taking a fancy and satisfaction at the same meal of terror.

Am I losing weight with this food debacle? Not really. The weight loss credit goes to Jon and Emily. You see, the conquest of finding normalacy, like the simple pleasure a bottle brings to a baby, ends with a cleverly planned night out to dinner... American style. Some call it desperation, far from bravery. Did I mention bottle? Alcohol exists over here, and that, if not anything else, provides the illusion of bravery and conquer of torture.

I've now just arrived in Thailand where Jon recently visited and reveled at the amazing food and spices. We've always been fans of Thai food - albeit American style. I'll give it a good ole' girl scout effort. If all else fails, there are rolls with butter and bravery juice!

Bon Appetit!

September 15 - Family is the Nucleus

No matter what angst we suffer or joy we delight in, there is a common theme that absolves itself after much deliberation and pondering of life's meaning and course. Family*. It is the epicenter, the core, the scientific nucleus of happiness, content and purpose.

So here I lie, laptop at hand and the music of Glee settling my soul, I find that no matter what concern, frustration or humor I discover in each day we navigate our way blindly through China, our family provides a beacon of light.

Tonight I proudly present my family. A picture I find that represents us best. It shows the circle of trust, the circle of life and the circle of dependency and pure love. This was taken by Aunt Cyn just before we departed our beloved America for the unknown. Imagine the thoughts these kids were dealing with but relying on us as their parents to forever be their beacon of light and hope and faith. We continually have our mostly ups and sometimes downs and bond together for strength.

Our Chloe is struggling with anxiety and fear but had a very good night with the joy of music and humor. We remain hopeful time will settle her soul but in the meantime are closing our circle tighter and engaging a counselor to assist her. She will pull through. I've never met a more assertive and aggresive spirit with a passion and humor that will surely serve her well. Keep her in your thoughts.

I apologize for the erroneously deep thoughts but when the spirit moves you, listen and WRITE. We miss you all but still give a thumbs up to this choice and look forward to experiencing more than the numbing routine of the daily grind!

XOXO The Nicholas'


*Family = love and trust in those that believe in us, laugh with us and care for us. Hence, family can be defined by love, blood, and/or friendship. Many of you fill that role for us and we are ever so thankful to wake up each day (while you enjoy your evening) and reflect upon our fortune in knowing you and realizing you are and will be there when we return.

September 4 - THE SHIPMENT!

THE SHIPMENT! Therein lies hours of planning, hours of shopping and hours of dreaming. Don’t be fooled. We could care less about most of the contents… except THE FOOD. The food, the food, the wonderful food. Poor little boxes, cans and bags of food patiently awaiting to fulfill their destiny of providing simple satisfaction and ohhs and awwws to this very hungry family.

I make it sound desperate but it’s really not that bad. I’d say it’s more like we are the Lindsay Lohan’s of food rehab. Do you think she could cold-turkey habits that make her feel amazing for 5 weeks without cravings and slight fall-backs? But she’ll make you think it’s not that bad either. Ok, poor analogy – the girls doesn’t eat and she’s a bad, bad girl, but you get the point.
So yesterday, September 4th, exactly 33 days after our arrival in Shanghai, 35 days after the boxes arrived at port and 47 days after we furiously packed and shipped, our boxes (83 small ones in all) ARRIVED! It was better than Christmas. Imagine our surprise to open more than half to repeat “huh???”, another quarter with “I can do something with this” and the last quarter- the food – with “GOD BLESS THE FOOD”!

We spent hours ripping open boxes to hug and squeeze and kiss each strangely familiar item. Our favorite? Captain Crunchberry. Our second favorite (three of us anyway) – masses of Tampax. They’re about as readily available over here as fresh cow milk (translate to NONE). The parmesan cheese took the biggest beating. It appears the heat and humidity for 35 days takes its toll and the jar was more than half empty – although sealed. There’s a science project for you.

Now Jon and I spend our time patrolling the cupboards, using subtle threats and peeking in the garbage to make sure none of the golden American food is thrown out.

I am sorry to say though the Captain Crunchberry is too sweet and the Velveeta/Hormel chili chip dip upsets the stomach. After 33 days in this country – they wreaked havoc on our stomach at the start and won again in the end.

WE WILL SURVIVE!

Daily Myth Solver – The Nicholas’ have will power. It sounds good but we broke once with $32 in Ben & Jerry ice cream. Must be HUGE containers? No – three little half-quart sizes but we made it last three whole nights. That is simply amazing…and delicious in itself.

August 18th - Whooray for the Ayi!

One of the first goals on our list when we arrived was to find an Ayi, the infamous hired “auntie” who spends her day cleaning, washing, ironing, folding, shopping and cooking – all for us and for what is a relatively inexpensive fee. Who would have known there were such simple blessings in this world for a working mom with three children?

By chance we had received a reference from a US expat we met back in May. We arranged an interview shortly after our arrival for her and three others. This all sounds simple but it requires some strategy. You first have to find an interested and experienced Ayi who likes kids, has a solid background, likes dogs and can cook. I must say just about anyone could WOW me with their cooking abilities as I fall slightly (ok – significantly) short in that space. Then you must arrange to have a translator because the Ayi’s native language is typically Chinese. Are you thinking what I am thinking? How I am supposed to communicate a daily need or requirement?

The reference we received and the interview were a success and Zhao was hired and has been simply wonderful. She has this place tackled and manages to get whatever needs fixed accomplished by calling the management office and making her demands – in Chinese. Another luxury of an Ayi. The only thing that frightens us is what we refer to as “underwear burritos”. She carefully folds every pair of underwear into a small burrito shaped rectangle and organizes them in our drawers. AHHHH!!!! Who organizes an underwear drawer? This manages to be the topic of conversation at the dinner table every few nights.

Any pitfalls? One - trying to explain some of your needs and the translator device doesn’t provide a reasonable translation. The grocery list was marked with “water bottles” and we came home to find a sweet little glass pitcher that holds water. Hello!!! Water… Bottle… We take for granted our language and explanations. Even the driver took Jon to a phone store when what he really wanted was a foam topping for those stinken bricks of a mattress!!!


Daily Myth Solver: Everything is cheap in China – for goodness sake it is made here – and sold reasonably cheap in the US. WRONG! The prices are outrageous – unless you want to barter in the black markets which I actually find enjoyable. The question is how well the items you purchase there hold up.

August 16th - Home Sweet Home

On August 15th we packed up our belongings and moved across town to our rental home. Since it happened to be the very last house of many that we saw back in May, we couldn’t remember much about it. Our first reaction was more like – “what were we thinking?”

Not a strand of carpet – hence shoes save our backs (are we old?). Ornate curtains –requiring strategy to remove while here without property owner backlash. And when we were told the home was supplied with only furnishings and no kitchen utensils nor bedding, did we really believe them? Not completely. Therefore several weeks of anticipation for our shipment will require a bit of mastery of survival. But don’t ever doubt campers.

At some point it gets a bit ridiculous to sleep under clean bath towels and the few blankets available. And what is with those Chinese mattresses? A mattress upon definition is not a brick. Or is it? Jon and Megan sleep on separate couches, Chloe sleeps with me and Emily just sleeps with no cares. Is this what 17 years of marriage comes to – when you wake up satisfied simply from quality of sleep?!!

It’ll be a work in process to settle in but we are up for the challenge. Don’t ever doubt a Nicholas.

Daily Myth Solver: Ceiling lights are intact. Or are they? When one comes crashing down from the kitchen ceiling at some random moment, is it a bad omen or poor quality of construction? (absolutely no one was harmed in this particular event and not a shard of glass was dispersed – at least their insert lighting is flexible for impact and rightfully so!)

August 14th - Crowds as defined...

1) a large number of persons gathered closely together; 2) (verb) to gather in large numbers, throng or swarm; 3) (verb) to press forward; advance by pushing…

My curiosity is continually drawn to the masses of people, which shouldn’t be so surprising given that there are approximately 20 million people in this extremely large city where a third of the world’s cranes are in constant use, building up, up, up. Answering the question ‘Where does a mass amount of people live in a city of its size?’ will result in explaining the overwhelming vertical ascent that is happening as we speak.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen such mass construction and growth. We all hear and read about China’s emergence as a power-house, but to see it in action is mindboggling. The locals seem to pay no attention, but take some Midlander whose construction exposure has been limited to a new salon or the one house in town being built and you have sensory overload and a bit of head scratching.

And who is to say there should be rules of the road? Why would one be so silly to think commuting can be practical and rules based here in Shanghai. Take 20 million people add cars, pedal bikes and electric bikes and you mathematically get the answer “may the first person win”. At first we were appalled at the lack of pedestrian right-of-way. A car simply bumps and presses forward if a person or cyclist dares to try to cross the street in front of it. Why are these people not screaming, fingering or frowning. Come on! How about the good ole’ American verbal assault better known as road rage!! Why do they look at the driver with no emotion, no care and no discernment? Why? Why not? How else can one move forward in the midst of masses if politeness and rigid rules step in? Does this explain our Midwestern turtle drag?



Daily Myth Solver: Electric bikes are meant for one rider. Not so quick. Try three. Husband, wife and small child – the later two riding English Saddle.

August 12th - City Splendor

Because no vacation is complete without sightseeing and hitting all the major tourist traps, we ventured out and about for several days.

Most notably the Shanghai Aquarium. We’d heard rumors on the difference of what is considered respectable displays of interest at children oriented cultural centers, but rumors are rumors – right? Not always so. And, yes, ducks are much more useful than lake dwelling décor. Apparently they are feeders for alligators and lo and behold for public display! So there we stood for approximately 20 minutes morbidly waiting for the alligators to surface and snack on the mallard out for a casual swim. To make it more curious for such gawkers as us, the two-part visual of underwater and above-water viewing left us in a pitiful horror movie effect with the subconscious beat from the “Jaws” movie playing over and over in our heads. Imagine, alligators lingering on the pond floor, ducks wading and splashing and having a wonderful Sunday afternoon cruise on the water, alligators moving slowly but methodically about, ducks happy with not a care in the world. And then… nothing. It seems the duck feathers floating on the water were from the previous feeding and those alligators only movements the result of indigestion from an unfinished biological process. The biggest question is how long does morbid curiosity compel one to stand and wait? Did you ever watch “Faces of Death” when you were a kid after being told not to? Question answered. (picture to be posted soon)

We visited various places such as Nanjing Road, Yu Yuan gardens and the 100th floor at the world’s tallest observatory located at the Shanghai World Financial Center rounded out some typical hot-spots, quite literally.

And Chloe had her first "celebrity" moment -proving once and for all that blondes do have more fun...in China! It shouldn't be surprising that the Chinese find blondes intriguing given that a majority of the population here is dark-haired. Even I was requested to have my picture taken with a young lady...an awfully skinny young lady. I am suspicious as to the purpose since American women are considered a bit hefty! You couldn't even get away with a size 6 which would admirable from my perspective.


There is so much to see and do over the next couple of years.

Daily Myth Solver: There is shopping in Shanghai. Mind-boggling gobs of it. Some say it’s the fashion capital of the world – if you have some money to spend. Why did I think Birch Run’s Prime Outlet’s was my last stand against nudity? Although sizing is another adventure for Mrs. Bigfoot and all her sasquatches.

August 2nd - The Bird has landed

The hundred goodbyes turned to thousands and we spent several evenings avoiding the eventual and instead enjoying our friends and family. Even if it meant a 3am crawl to our beds. Jon stayed true to our roots and hosted a pellet gun beer can shooting event followed by bottle cap flicking. I’m sure the neighbors were impressed if not insulted – they pay enough in taxes for what is supposedly a quiet bungalow of houses in an extremely conservative city.

I’d say after that we sealed our true heritage (avoiding Redneck terminology) with a temporary kiss goodbye and departed our world for another* But not before we managed to eat our way through the American palate and carry at least an additional 10 lbs with us. Luckily they only weigh the luggage. It is bad enough we were over on two of the ten checked bags – if they had weighed me, they might have threatened a two ticket penalty!

We arrived safe and sound and very wide-eyed on Monday, August 2nd 6:30pm Shanghai time. Our driver, Yao, was ready and waiting and surely flabbergasted at the talented trick of shoving 10 checked and 8 carry-on bags into one 7 seat van along with the 5 of us… and him. Midwestern Americans!

Our 45 minute trip “home” from the airport left us in awe of the city action and beautiful lights. Like nothing we’d ever seen before. Amazing skyscrapers and light strung trees beckoned us along the way and dropped us at doorstep of a service apartment facility of which we will live for two weeks. A ride up 16 floors to our temporary living quarters of fabulous views of the Huangpu river, the Bund and magically lit boats constantly moving up and down the river. We had arrived full-adrenaline and subsequently crashed for a much needed rest.

Tomorrow is a new day and a new beginning…

*Our thanks to the parents for their constant help in preparing for departure, my parents for their bravery at the airport, Libby patiently watching me spend a fool amount to gather food “therapy” at Sams Club and baking us a last reminder of American cinnamon rolls and Libby’s husband Roger and his kids for the airport shuttle service. Thanks to the rest of our friends for gift giving, treating us to goodbye parties, many hugs and kisses and to Rick for his surprise airport last goodbye.

We love you all. Our doors are open here!

Our journey is about to begin...

Eight days pave our path to a new beginning, a new adventure and an expansion of our senses. It begins with a hundred goodbyes, many tears, surrealism, excitement and the realization that one of the things which defines us is the most simplistic aspect...our connectedness to those that enlighten our lives.

When change comes about and distance unmeasurably intimidating, the most insignificant relationships become glaringly bright and the significant blinding. I've been awed by the human spirit that dusted us with friendship, love and generosity over the last couple of weeks. And we are blessed.

On Sunday, August 1st, our family will begin an amazing adventure that will test our spirit, challenge our abilities and open our eyes to a great new world. We will each be faced with the task of adaptation and endurance and a goal of cultural metamorphosis... You are invited to join us on this journey if you promise not to judge, criticize or poo-poo our progress. We are proud Midwesterners with a major lack of worldly exposure so we'll at the least be entertaining, if not down-right pathetic.

Fly away birdie, fly away.