Translation: we are in America
Nearly 24 hours after walking away from our Shenzhen home toward the ferry terminal, we were riding in cars with my parents toward their home. Annika did not end up with a seat, but United did manage to seat us all together. Everyone flew like true professionals - except Dave, who found himself miserably too tall for his seat.
Lilly and Annika have basically fallen onto St. Louis time already, as has Dave. Sophia and I were awake for a few hours around 2am this morning, but did manage to go back to sleep eventually. Poor Sophia felt flabbergasted by it, though. Why, Mommy? It's morning!
We made it to church yesterday morning, and had confirmed that 10 days is simply not enough time in St. Louis. Too many people we would love to see, restaurants where we want to lunch, and relaxation we want to find simply hanging out with my parents. This week, the latter will take priority, and I hope to return for longer this summer. But so painful to tell friends we have no time for them.
Still, it is truly lovely to be home. Further, it is truly lovely to look toward 3 weeks with Dave around all day. The girls clearly feel entirely at home in this house, with Nana and Poppa, which amazes me. Some sort of powerful magic must encompass the house of a grandparent.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
And So It Begins
As it turns out, Uncle H-- only bought airplane tickets for 4 out of the 5 members of our family. Annika will be spending 15 hours sitting on someone's lap. Even better, they didn't link any of the tickets. And so at this point, none of us are sitting together.
We need to leave our home in about 6 hours. We will arrive at Nana and Poppa's house in just under 30 hours. And so it begins.
We need to leave our home in about 6 hours. We will arrive at Nana and Poppa's house in just under 30 hours. And so it begins.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Current Climate
Our high temperature yesterday was 70 degrees. We hit 80 the day before. Our wind chill this morning was 38, with an actual temperature just over 40. The girls and I were freezing this morning as we walked to school - not least because I had them dressed in only their pajamas and bathrobes. Today was the last day of school before the winter holiday, and each class had PJ Day and watched movies all morning.
But if we struggled with the low 40s, the high temperature of 31 degrees should freeze our pants right off when we leave the airport in St. Louis on Saturday. After an estimated 22 hours of travel, our poor exhausted bodies won't know how to react to such extreme cold - 50 degrees lower than the weather here on Tuesday. At least we seem to be easing into it!
Taking only a slight tangent, the Political Climate has us worried as well. Dave will sit for the last leg of his Econ exam on January 3rd, and I feel confident that he will receive a high score. But news like this article from CareerDiplomacy.com leave us unsure about a call anytime soon. The next possible class is scheduled for the end of March, and so invitations should go out in January. This is likely early enough that new legislators will not have cut budgets or frozen hiring, so the call may be extended. Dave may just receive such a call. But enough future legislators are calling for a freeze in federal hiring that receiving that call is nerve-wracking in itself. Current diplomats share stories of the last federal hiring freeze, when a training class was canceled at the last minute. And when they last minute, they're talking the week before the class would begin. Everyone had already quit their jobs, taken their children out of school, packed their houses, canceled their leases, and begun their travel to DC when they learned they had no job after all.
Its not just the weather making me anxious these days.
But if we struggled with the low 40s, the high temperature of 31 degrees should freeze our pants right off when we leave the airport in St. Louis on Saturday. After an estimated 22 hours of travel, our poor exhausted bodies won't know how to react to such extreme cold - 50 degrees lower than the weather here on Tuesday. At least we seem to be easing into it!
Taking only a slight tangent, the Political Climate has us worried as well. Dave will sit for the last leg of his Econ exam on January 3rd, and I feel confident that he will receive a high score. But news like this article from CareerDiplomacy.com leave us unsure about a call anytime soon. The next possible class is scheduled for the end of March, and so invitations should go out in January. This is likely early enough that new legislators will not have cut budgets or frozen hiring, so the call may be extended. Dave may just receive such a call. But enough future legislators are calling for a freeze in federal hiring that receiving that call is nerve-wracking in itself. Current diplomats share stories of the last federal hiring freeze, when a training class was canceled at the last minute. And when they last minute, they're talking the week before the class would begin. Everyone had already quit their jobs, taken their children out of school, packed their houses, canceled their leases, and begun their travel to DC when they learned they had no job after all.
Its not just the weather making me anxious these days.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Decisive Moments
Every life is full of Decisive Moments - that moment when everything changed. It may have changed because of a decision we made, making the name that much more apt. But it may have changed because of circumstance, another person's choice, or a sudden shift in the wind. Sometimes we recognize them in the present, but generally only in retrospect.
I thought for sure I had one last week.
Dave called in to Human Resources at the State Department in D.C. We waited up to make this call, because business hours fall during our sleeping hours. Further, Ms. H.R. Professional rarely answers her phone in her first hour or two at work. Dave called. She answered. He asked for the results of his Mandarin test. She put him in hold.
I idly tapped at the computer, trying to keep myself occupied, but fully aware that I was sitting inside a Decisive Moment. Ms. Professional would come back to the phone at any moment, telling us whether or not our fates were tied to China. Providing more clear direction for our lives.
I idly tapped for a ridiculously long time - clearly she did not realize we were calling from China. I refreshed email, stalked people on Facebook, refilled my water, and eventually sat by Dave on the couch. She came back to the line. The results were not yet in.
No decisive moment.
She had suggested calling back at the end of the week. We spent Friday night in Hong Kong, sharing a hotel room with our 3 children. Dave took the phone into the bathroom, and I fell asleep before he returned. He did not wake me with the results. He told me in the morning that he had failed the Mandarin test.
No moment there, either.
A week ago, I hoped for failure. I have no hatred for China, but no real desire to spend the majority of our time here, either. I'm eager to go somewhere closer to home, with a language closer to English. A week ago, word that Dave had failed his test would only have bolstered my resolve, that Dave will get into the Foreign Service and we will learn Spanish or French.
But the news this week doesn't look so good. Incoming lawmakers pledging to cut the budget of the state department, or to freeze federal hiring, making promises which they will hope to carry out within their first 100 days in office. It is possible that this dream won't happen.
Dave sits for another test on January 3rd. I'm expecting a Decisive Moment on this one - hoping he will walk out the door with a 6.0, the top score. And expecting the next Decisive Moment to follow shortly after, when he receives a call to the March class. But then, no offer is real until you step foot in the classrooms in D.C. on the first day of training. Hiring freezes could renig all offers, both tentative and firm.
I thought for sure I had one last week.
Dave called in to Human Resources at the State Department in D.C. We waited up to make this call, because business hours fall during our sleeping hours. Further, Ms. H.R. Professional rarely answers her phone in her first hour or two at work. Dave called. She answered. He asked for the results of his Mandarin test. She put him in hold.
I idly tapped at the computer, trying to keep myself occupied, but fully aware that I was sitting inside a Decisive Moment. Ms. Professional would come back to the phone at any moment, telling us whether or not our fates were tied to China. Providing more clear direction for our lives.
I idly tapped for a ridiculously long time - clearly she did not realize we were calling from China. I refreshed email, stalked people on Facebook, refilled my water, and eventually sat by Dave on the couch. She came back to the line. The results were not yet in.
No decisive moment.
She had suggested calling back at the end of the week. We spent Friday night in Hong Kong, sharing a hotel room with our 3 children. Dave took the phone into the bathroom, and I fell asleep before he returned. He did not wake me with the results. He told me in the morning that he had failed the Mandarin test.
No moment there, either.
A week ago, I hoped for failure. I have no hatred for China, but no real desire to spend the majority of our time here, either. I'm eager to go somewhere closer to home, with a language closer to English. A week ago, word that Dave had failed his test would only have bolstered my resolve, that Dave will get into the Foreign Service and we will learn Spanish or French.
But the news this week doesn't look so good. Incoming lawmakers pledging to cut the budget of the state department, or to freeze federal hiring, making promises which they will hope to carry out within their first 100 days in office. It is possible that this dream won't happen.
Dave sits for another test on January 3rd. I'm expecting a Decisive Moment on this one - hoping he will walk out the door with a 6.0, the top score. And expecting the next Decisive Moment to follow shortly after, when he receives a call to the March class. But then, no offer is real until you step foot in the classrooms in D.C. on the first day of training. Hiring freezes could renig all offers, both tentative and firm.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
In the News
Sometimes, it seems that the newspaper speaks directly of our lives. A few bits of news keeping our lives interesting:
Nut jobs.
Water pump bursts in Shekou
This one really is in our own backyard. A water main burst at the bottom of our hill, flooding the main street outside our complex, and shutting off water for nearly 24 hours. I love how the article makes it sound as if they carefully delivered water to each household. A water truck did drive through our neighborhood, about 20 hours after the water ceased. They did not tell anyone it was coming, and the truck only stopped when flagged down. But at least we were able to flush our toilets... eventually.
Chinese man beats his wife
This last one didn't make the papers. No longer our ayi, many long-time readers will remember Wendy. She worked for us in Shanghai, and struggled with an abusive husband. We heard from her employer that she showed up to work this week with a black eye and a swollen face. This was the worst.
I called and spoke to her for a while. Wendy is such a strong woman, I felt encouraged from our conversation. She described the prototypical abusive husband, but she did not sound the prototype of an abused woman. She knows that he is wrong; she will leave as soon as she can; and she has no doubt that she is strong and worth much more than this. She described her daughter, and broke into tears. When he beat her this time, Lele didn't cry. I suppose that's good, I said. No, she cried, it means she thinks this is normal. Later that day, Lele gave her trouble, clearly looking for a reason to cry and release her tension. Wendy said, I have to leave. He has already hurt her heart too much. I thought of my Sophia, the same age as her daughter. Her heart has been hurt.
In his regret, he promised her in writing that he would allow a divorce if he ever beat her again. He wrote that he would award her full custody of their daughter, and pay regular child support. The police and the local hospital documented the abuse, and she's keeping all of these papers hidden away from her husband, as well as a slowly growing stash of money. She will spend some time with lawyers and doctors while her employer spends Christmas in the U.K. And she says that the next time he starts to hit her, she will leave. I am not optimistic about his promised support, but I think she may really leave. I just hope that next time is not too late.
Air pollution engulfs China's Shanghai after expo
When asked, our girls will tell you that they're from Shanghai. Its a natural answer, as they've each lived longer there than anywhere else (although Annika will soon have Shenzhen tied for the same number of months). The World Expo closed in Shanghai at the end of October, and after a summer of nearly blue skies, it comes as no surprise that the air has now turned grey. But still, these photos are appalling.Wikileaks cables reveal China 'ready to abandon North Korea'
Personally interesting to me in a few ways. First, the Foreign Service message boards are going crazy with the wikileaks stories. Its been called the September 11th of Public Diplomacy, and really messes with the jobs of plenty of Foreign Service officers. But also because we are Americans, living in China, with Dave spending the weekend in Korea. Should any fallout come from these tensions (short of WWIII, of course), we expect to feel it. It is of some comfort to me that China may agree with the rest of the world on the topic of North Korean leadership.Nut jobs.
Water pump bursts in Shekou
This one really is in our own backyard. A water main burst at the bottom of our hill, flooding the main street outside our complex, and shutting off water for nearly 24 hours. I love how the article makes it sound as if they carefully delivered water to each household. A water truck did drive through our neighborhood, about 20 hours after the water ceased. They did not tell anyone it was coming, and the truck only stopped when flagged down. But at least we were able to flush our toilets... eventually.
Chinese man beats his wife
This last one didn't make the papers. No longer our ayi, many long-time readers will remember Wendy. She worked for us in Shanghai, and struggled with an abusive husband. We heard from her employer that she showed up to work this week with a black eye and a swollen face. This was the worst.
I called and spoke to her for a while. Wendy is such a strong woman, I felt encouraged from our conversation. She described the prototypical abusive husband, but she did not sound the prototype of an abused woman. She knows that he is wrong; she will leave as soon as she can; and she has no doubt that she is strong and worth much more than this. She described her daughter, and broke into tears. When he beat her this time, Lele didn't cry. I suppose that's good, I said. No, she cried, it means she thinks this is normal. Later that day, Lele gave her trouble, clearly looking for a reason to cry and release her tension. Wendy said, I have to leave. He has already hurt her heart too much. I thought of my Sophia, the same age as her daughter. Her heart has been hurt.
In his regret, he promised her in writing that he would allow a divorce if he ever beat her again. He wrote that he would award her full custody of their daughter, and pay regular child support. The police and the local hospital documented the abuse, and she's keeping all of these papers hidden away from her husband, as well as a slowly growing stash of money. She will spend some time with lawyers and doctors while her employer spends Christmas in the U.K. And she says that the next time he starts to hit her, she will leave. I am not optimistic about his promised support, but I think she may really leave. I just hope that next time is not too late.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
A Time of Rest
The test is finished.
They spoke on the phone for about 10 minutes. Dave rarely vocalized that he didn't understand, and formed coherent responses to most questions. They spoke for about 10 minutes, and ended on a topic which he did not fully understand. Its possible he passed - its possible he didn't.
We will find out in a few days. I'll let you know as soon as I can.
Meanwhile, Dave's sleeping late tomorrow morning. A well deserved rest, before he must fly to South Korea for the weekend. Yes, the Korea on the brink of world war. Its been a stressful week.
They spoke on the phone for about 10 minutes. Dave rarely vocalized that he didn't understand, and formed coherent responses to most questions. They spoke for about 10 minutes, and ended on a topic which he did not fully understand. Its possible he passed - its possible he didn't.
We will find out in a few days. I'll let you know as soon as I can.
Meanwhile, Dave's sleeping late tomorrow morning. A well deserved rest, before he must fly to South Korea for the weekend. Yes, the Korea on the brink of world war. Its been a stressful week.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
24 Hour Countdown
We have just begun the 24-hour countdown.
The United States of America will test Dave's proficiency in Mandarin 24 hours from now, via a 15 minute telephone conversation. On a scale of 1 (being able to order food and maneuver a train station) to 5 (being a native speaker), Dave must prove he can speak at a 2 to pass the exam.
Should he pass, extra points will be added to his score, and guarantee his acceptance into the Foreign Service. Should he fail, he will continue studying at a frantic rate for the next 6 months, when he is allowed to test once again.
Dave has rarely entered a test where he predicted he would pass. This test is no different. His tutor thinks he stands a chance, and I'd put his odds at 50-50. We rest on the hand of God. Should the Lord want Dave to pass this test, God can make it so without any outrageous miracles. Should the Lord prefer the waiting pattern we've been holding for the past 1.5 years, no one would be surprised if Dave fails.
Either way, he looks forward to a break from studying next week, and a few extra hours to himself. For a week.
Please keep him in your prayers right now. I'm praying that he sleeps well tonight and faces the day (and the evening) refreshed. I'm praying that he goes into the test feeling calm and confident. And I'm praying that God's will be done.
At 10:00pm Shenzhen time on November 30, the 24-hour countdown begins.
He tests at 9:00am Washington DC time on December 1st.
The United States of America will test Dave's proficiency in Mandarin 24 hours from now, via a 15 minute telephone conversation. On a scale of 1 (being able to order food and maneuver a train station) to 5 (being a native speaker), Dave must prove he can speak at a 2 to pass the exam.
Should he pass, extra points will be added to his score, and guarantee his acceptance into the Foreign Service. Should he fail, he will continue studying at a frantic rate for the next 6 months, when he is allowed to test once again.
Dave has rarely entered a test where he predicted he would pass. This test is no different. His tutor thinks he stands a chance, and I'd put his odds at 50-50. We rest on the hand of God. Should the Lord want Dave to pass this test, God can make it so without any outrageous miracles. Should the Lord prefer the waiting pattern we've been holding for the past 1.5 years, no one would be surprised if Dave fails.
Either way, he looks forward to a break from studying next week, and a few extra hours to himself. For a week.
Please keep him in your prayers right now. I'm praying that he sleeps well tonight and faces the day (and the evening) refreshed. I'm praying that he goes into the test feeling calm and confident. And I'm praying that God's will be done.
At 10:00pm Shenzhen time on November 30, the 24-hour countdown begins.
He tests at 9:00am Washington DC time on December 1st.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Chinese is Really Hard!
Dave has been working hard to build his Mandarin skills for the past six months or so. He's been meeting with a tutor for an hour probably four times a week for the past 2 months, and she thinks the possibility exists that he will actually pass the Mandarin test. I'll remind you that Dave's ranking in the Foreign Service hiring list is just shy of getting an invitation to join, but that the points from testing proficient in a foreign language would guarantee a call. Dave will take that test on Dec. 1, at 9am DC time. Mark your calendars so you can remember him in your prayers.
While diligently studying late one recent evening, he came across an essay titled Why Chinese Is So Damn Hard. It may be funnier to those of us who have studied the language, but I think anyone interested in Mandarin would find it a good read. No joke - Chinese is a really difficult language. We have plenty of foreign friends who are proficient in many languages, entirely fluent in 3 or 4. Very few of these people speak more than taxi Mandarin - that is, just enough to get by.
I don't know anyone who speaks Mandarin well, unless they grew up with it. And according to this essay, even the Chinese think its hard! Our friend Yen (mainland Chinese citizen, and native speaker of Mandarin) confirmed this last night - he agrees that pronunciation can be a challenge, that the characters make it hard to read, and that there are loads of words (and therefore characters) that the average Chinese person does not know.
Remember, when an English reader doesn't know an English word, they can read it phonetically and then figure it out. When you come across a Chinese character you don't know, there will be no figuring it out - no matter how long you stare at it. They do have dictionaries, but these are organized by brush strokes and then by root characters; or by the pinyin pronunciation of the word. Figuring out the word is a process, and requires some prior knowledge.
So, pat Dave on the back for as much Mandarin as he has learned so far. And remember him on Wednesday. We're praying for God's plan through this - if He wants us back in China through the foreign service, Dave could pass the test. If He wants us following a different path, none of us would be surprised if Dave failed the test.
Will post the results as soon as we know.
While diligently studying late one recent evening, he came across an essay titled Why Chinese Is So Damn Hard. It may be funnier to those of us who have studied the language, but I think anyone interested in Mandarin would find it a good read. No joke - Chinese is a really difficult language. We have plenty of foreign friends who are proficient in many languages, entirely fluent in 3 or 4. Very few of these people speak more than taxi Mandarin - that is, just enough to get by.
I don't know anyone who speaks Mandarin well, unless they grew up with it. And according to this essay, even the Chinese think its hard! Our friend Yen (mainland Chinese citizen, and native speaker of Mandarin) confirmed this last night - he agrees that pronunciation can be a challenge, that the characters make it hard to read, and that there are loads of words (and therefore characters) that the average Chinese person does not know.
Remember, when an English reader doesn't know an English word, they can read it phonetically and then figure it out. When you come across a Chinese character you don't know, there will be no figuring it out - no matter how long you stare at it. They do have dictionaries, but these are organized by brush strokes and then by root characters; or by the pinyin pronunciation of the word. Figuring out the word is a process, and requires some prior knowledge.
So, pat Dave on the back for as much Mandarin as he has learned so far. And remember him on Wednesday. We're praying for God's plan through this - if He wants us back in China through the foreign service, Dave could pass the test. If He wants us following a different path, none of us would be surprised if Dave failed the test.
Will post the results as soon as we know.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Abu Dhabi photo journal
Abu Dhabi is an incredible city. I have rarely seen such obvious wealth, such dramatic modernity, and in such a peaceful (and hot) setting. The city felt calm and comfortable, yet full of brand new hotels and skyscrapers. A fully modern city, to look like any other in the West. And yet, the photo above was only taken 50 years ago. That photo is Abu Dhabi 50 years ago. All of it.I marvel at the change that people in China have gone through within a few generations. The same is true in the United Arab Emirates. The Emirati discovered oil near Abu Dhabi in the 1960s, and life changed dramatically.
But these Emirati women, nationals who only make up 10% of the residents of Abu Dhabi, must have clear memories of life before the oil. They gather to keep their handicrafts alive, wearing their traditional clothes and speaking their language. And snuggling cute little white babies like ours.
The Emirati people do not pay taxes. Rather, they receive a check every month for their portion of the oil revenues. And the government still has the funds to create something like the Emirates Palace, said to be the world's only 7-star hotel.
Another grand display of wealth is the recently completed Sheikh Zayed Mosque, or the Grand Mosque.
The mosque houses the world's largest Persian carpet, the world's largest chandelier (below), and a capacity for 40,000 worshipers. That number does not include the number who will kneel on their prayer mats in the parking lot during Eid.
The beauty is astounding. Marble and gold make up the obvious portions of the facade, and the walkways, walls and pillars of the interior display beautiful flowering vines of inlaid precious stones.
All guests are asked to dress appropriately, and offered the appropriate dress to wear. I wore a full burka covering my head and clothes, much like the women above. The girls only needed to cover their heads.
While we found the city pleasant, the food delicious, and the mosque beautiful, everyone's favorite part was our journey out to the desert. I will spare you all of my photos, although it was truly beautiful. But the photos can tell the rest of the story.
Feeling Better
Although I offer no apologies for what I wrote last night, I would like to report that I have returned to my equilibrium. Today made a satisfactory substitute for an All-American Thanksgiving. The kindergarten teachers at Lilly's school organized a Being Thankful Brunch this morning, where parents brought in a traditional dish and we all picnicked on the front lawn. It was a wonderfully international spread, with some turkey and cranberries, but also German sausages, taboulleh, Japanese sponge cake, Chinese dumplings and loads of other tasty treats. It lent a festive air to the day, and finished when school let out for early dismissal at 11:30.
Both girls spending the afternoon at home lent a holiday-esque air to the day as well. In addition, they played beautifully, and we had no pick-up at 3:00 so I actually crossed a few items off of my To Do List. A few Christmas presents have been crafted, I finished two pies for dinner tonight, and I actually kept Annika on the schedule I've been striving for over the past few days.
This evening we shared Thanksgiving dinner with friends, and it was lovely. As kids have school and grown-ups have work both the day of Thanksgiving and the day after, we celebrated tonight. I am reminded how blessed we are to have good friends here, and after only a few months. I enjoyed the time spent with everyone, and I hardly saw Lilly the entire night as she immersed herself in the screaming and giggling group of children racing through the house and the garden. We ate the classics, with a few fun foods thrown in by the international crowd who joined us. A British family and a German family joined, as well as the Filipina helpers for two families. Dave and I brought our friend Yen, a Chinese colleague from Shanghai. Good conversation with good friends, good food, and then relaxing around a few bottles of wine, some Hennessy and a pumpkin pie. If this is Thanksgiving, I'm not complaining.
I dressed the girls in fall colors and long-sleeves, so we felt the part as we walked home in the chill of the evening. And now Dave and Yen have gone out for a drink, leaving a quiet house for me to cross one more item off my To Do List. My long-promised Abu Dhabi photos are now posted. Enjoy - and Happy Thanksgiving!
Both girls spending the afternoon at home lent a holiday-esque air to the day as well. In addition, they played beautifully, and we had no pick-up at 3:00 so I actually crossed a few items off of my To Do List. A few Christmas presents have been crafted, I finished two pies for dinner tonight, and I actually kept Annika on the schedule I've been striving for over the past few days.
This evening we shared Thanksgiving dinner with friends, and it was lovely. As kids have school and grown-ups have work both the day of Thanksgiving and the day after, we celebrated tonight. I am reminded how blessed we are to have good friends here, and after only a few months. I enjoyed the time spent with everyone, and I hardly saw Lilly the entire night as she immersed herself in the screaming and giggling group of children racing through the house and the garden. We ate the classics, with a few fun foods thrown in by the international crowd who joined us. A British family and a German family joined, as well as the Filipina helpers for two families. Dave and I brought our friend Yen, a Chinese colleague from Shanghai. Good conversation with good friends, good food, and then relaxing around a few bottles of wine, some Hennessy and a pumpkin pie. If this is Thanksgiving, I'm not complaining.
I dressed the girls in fall colors and long-sleeves, so we felt the part as we walked home in the chill of the evening. And now Dave and Yen have gone out for a drink, leaving a quiet house for me to cross one more item off my To Do List. My long-promised Abu Dhabi photos are now posted. Enjoy - and Happy Thanksgiving!
Earthquake!
While Sophia spent a quiet afternoon playing in the living room just last week, we felt (and heard) a boom. We looked at each other, commenting on what a big truck must have gone by. Amusingly, it never occurred to us that our little road couldn't possibly hold a truck large enough to shake our living room. We live on more of a glorified path than an actual street. Still, we shook our heads and thought nothing of it.
Until we learned, later that afternoon, that we had experienced an earthquake! The earthquake measured 2.8 on the Richter scale and the epicenter is rumored to be in Shenzhen Bay - quite near our home.
I'll admit - I was wound up excited when I learned the news. Now I can cross Experience an Earthquake off of my To Do List.
Until we learned, later that afternoon, that we had experienced an earthquake! The earthquake measured 2.8 on the Richter scale and the epicenter is rumored to be in Shenzhen Bay - quite near our home.
I'll admit - I was wound up excited when I learned the news. Now I can cross Experience an Earthquake off of my To Do List.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Creating a Holiday
I'm a bit of a grump today.
Americans observe Thanksgiving today, but this observation feels pretty low from here. Thanksgiving possibly holds the title of favorite holiday in my book. I love it because, in my tradition, it is the holiday which is purely about the holiday. With every holiday, family and friends come together to enjoy good food and one another's company, leaving at the end of the day with a renewed sense of family and strengthened conviction of our many blessings. And that's the whole point of Thanksgiving. There's nothing else to get in the way, to dress up for, to shop for or to decorate. We simply cook, gather together, cook some more, eat, and enjoy each other's company.
But in addition to its beautiful simplicity, Thanksgiving has a tangible feel to it. The weather is chilly, if not actually cold and snowy outside. But the house is toasty warm, full of people and with the oven running all day long. The air is thick with warmth, and with the scent of the food slowly cooking, the spices being added to everything.
Whenever the meal comes, we exclaim over every dish - most are unique to this meal, even though we could easily make them year-round. The tradition of the meal and the combination of dishes makes it taste fantastic. The likelihood of things being made from scratch, and the potluck effect enhance the flavors further. And then the leftovers the next day, while extra people are still sleeping in the house and work and school have been out for two days. The quiet festivity of a day spent eating and gathering with family.
But how do I pass this on to my kids?
Dave had work today, and so he left home at 7:30 this morning and returned at about 7:30 tonight. The girls had school today, and ballet class after school. We got home at 5:15, and I quickly put a cold dinner on the table so we could eat by 5:30.
Not exactly traditional, but we did have turkey, homemade bread,
cranberries and corn for dinner on Thanksgiving day.
And who wouldn't feel happy eating these cupcakes?
Its not pumpkin pie, but they're so pretty and they're still
pumpkin based so it counts.
We will gather with friends tomorrow for a more traditional Thanksgiving meal. I'm bringing pumpkin pie, chocolate creme pie, and cranberry salad - a recipe from a family member, no less. We'll have turkey and gravy, stuffing and rolls, plus whatever the Germans, British and the Filipinas are bringing to the table. But while sharing a big meal and a large table with friends may recreate a semblance of Thanksgiving for Dave and I, it has no sense of tradition for my children. This is simply another meal eaten with friends.
What can I do to create a tradition of Thanksgiving for them? There are only a few days a year when I feel our lifestyle cheats my children out of something very important - their culture, their family, and their tradition. Thanksgiving is one of those days.
So I'm a bit of a grump today.
Add to that the hours Dave has been working - home no earlier than 7:30 at night, just to dive right into Mandarin lessons at 8:30.
Add in that poor Annika the Peaceful is teething and not sleeping... nor sitting alone happily for longer than 5 minutes.
Add in poor Sophia the Tempermental who is simply not happy, a problem I can't seem to diagnose, let alone fix or live with comfortably.
Luckily, Lilly seems quite happy and I'm surrounded by good friends. I should say blessedly. God has allowed Lilly and I to land blessedly well here.
Dave and I both feel exhausted and overwhelmed. We certainly will not go to sleep tonight feeling the peace that comes from a full belly and a day spent on the couch surrounded by family.
Americans observe Thanksgiving today, but this observation feels pretty low from here. Thanksgiving possibly holds the title of favorite holiday in my book. I love it because, in my tradition, it is the holiday which is purely about the holiday. With every holiday, family and friends come together to enjoy good food and one another's company, leaving at the end of the day with a renewed sense of family and strengthened conviction of our many blessings. And that's the whole point of Thanksgiving. There's nothing else to get in the way, to dress up for, to shop for or to decorate. We simply cook, gather together, cook some more, eat, and enjoy each other's company.
But in addition to its beautiful simplicity, Thanksgiving has a tangible feel to it. The weather is chilly, if not actually cold and snowy outside. But the house is toasty warm, full of people and with the oven running all day long. The air is thick with warmth, and with the scent of the food slowly cooking, the spices being added to everything.
Whenever the meal comes, we exclaim over every dish - most are unique to this meal, even though we could easily make them year-round. The tradition of the meal and the combination of dishes makes it taste fantastic. The likelihood of things being made from scratch, and the potluck effect enhance the flavors further. And then the leftovers the next day, while extra people are still sleeping in the house and work and school have been out for two days. The quiet festivity of a day spent eating and gathering with family.
But how do I pass this on to my kids?
Dave had work today, and so he left home at 7:30 this morning and returned at about 7:30 tonight. The girls had school today, and ballet class after school. We got home at 5:15, and I quickly put a cold dinner on the table so we could eat by 5:30.
Not exactly traditional, but we did have turkey, homemade bread,
cranberries and corn for dinner on Thanksgiving day.
And who wouldn't feel happy eating these cupcakes?
Its not pumpkin pie, but they're so pretty and they're still
pumpkin based so it counts.
We will gather with friends tomorrow for a more traditional Thanksgiving meal. I'm bringing pumpkin pie, chocolate creme pie, and cranberry salad - a recipe from a family member, no less. We'll have turkey and gravy, stuffing and rolls, plus whatever the Germans, British and the Filipinas are bringing to the table. But while sharing a big meal and a large table with friends may recreate a semblance of Thanksgiving for Dave and I, it has no sense of tradition for my children. This is simply another meal eaten with friends.
What can I do to create a tradition of Thanksgiving for them? There are only a few days a year when I feel our lifestyle cheats my children out of something very important - their culture, their family, and their tradition. Thanksgiving is one of those days.
So I'm a bit of a grump today.
Add to that the hours Dave has been working - home no earlier than 7:30 at night, just to dive right into Mandarin lessons at 8:30.
Add in that poor Annika the Peaceful is teething and not sleeping... nor sitting alone happily for longer than 5 minutes.
Add in poor Sophia the Tempermental who is simply not happy, a problem I can't seem to diagnose, let alone fix or live with comfortably.
Luckily, Lilly seems quite happy and I'm surrounded by good friends. I should say blessedly. God has allowed Lilly and I to land blessedly well here.
Dave and I both feel exhausted and overwhelmed. We certainly will not go to sleep tonight feeling the peace that comes from a full belly and a day spent on the couch surrounded by family.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Coming For Christmas!
I am excited to announce that we have our tickets for travel over the Christmas holidays. I am sad to say that Dave can only take 3 weeks of vacation time, and we will share that time with him. Three weeks is far too short a visit, leaving me both excited and sad at the same time.
Here's the basic itinerary:
Dec. 18 - arrive at St. Louis airport, in the afternoon
Dec. 29 - arrive at Chicago Union Station, in the evening
Jan. 2 - fly to Washington, DC early in the morning (without our children)
Jan. 4 - fly to Chicago early in the morning (to meet our children)
Jan. 8 - fly away from Chicago
Here's the basic itinerary:
Dec. 18 - arrive at St. Louis airport, in the afternoon
Dec. 29 - arrive at Chicago Union Station, in the evening
Jan. 2 - fly to Washington, DC early in the morning (without our children)
Jan. 4 - fly to Chicago early in the morning (to meet our children)
Jan. 8 - fly away from Chicago
Monday, November 15, 2010
Bringing You Up to Date
Photos of Abu Dhabi are forthcoming, but first I thought I'd bring you up to date on life in our household. I know this is far too much information for a good blog posting, but I also know my audience - plenty of you are more interested in our updates than in readability.
After an expected 6 weeks away, Dave ended up in Abu Dhabi for only 2 weeks. He flew back with us at the end of our stay. Had I known this eventuality, we would not have traveled to join him. The financial cost was steep, and the travel was challenging. However, I must say that I'm glad we went. The city was lovely - and it is always nice to get out of China. I found the area quite child-friendly, and the girls always make great travelers. The Middle East made a good impression as well, being far more interesting and beautiful than I had imagined. The girls fell in love with the desert, and Dave and I decided that a future posting in Abu Dhabi would not be so bad.
Before we left, we made a few exciting discoveries:
BANANAS
The lady who regularly sweeps our yard (I suppose I should call her a gardener) asked if I wanted the bananas growing on our tree. Excitedly, I said yao, yao! Let's translate that to yes, please! But then I had to leave, as we had reached the end of Fia's schoolday. Fia and I returned home to one less stalk on our entire banana tree - she did not just reap a few bananas, but took down the entire branch , from the ground up! This may be how banana reaping goes. Having done a bit of reading, I know that the entire plant grows from the ground every year. Anyway, we came back to disappointment as we had less of a banana tree and no bananas. Until later in the afternoon, possibly an hour before we were scheduled to leave town, a big bag of bananas appeared on our front step!
Sadly, they were still green and needed time to ripen - but the week of our trip proved too long, and ayi had tossed them before we returned. I'm sure looking forward to the next harvest!
BABY TEETH
In fitting with bananas, we also discovered two new baby teeth last week!
Annika's first two teeth popped through her bottom gums on Saturday morning, and she had her first taste of rice cereal last night. I know what a cliche to say they grow so fast, but...
BIBLE STUDY
Soon after we moved here, I lamented that I had found no strong Bible Study or prayer group here. And so, the study will begin at my house this Thursday. A group of us met together just before I left, I feel really excited about getting to know these ladies. We have about 5 in the core of the group, and already a few more who are interested. I'm looking forward to a new study and the accountability it brings, but also to the diversity which I see appearing in this group of women. I'm not too excited about the name of the study. It's Tough Being a Woman? Come on. But otherwise, I can't wait to begin!
THE FOREIGN SERVICE
We heard that the State Department issued invitations to the February class of the Foreign Service, and Dave did not receive one. We now know that we will be in China at least through the end of March. Invitations to the next class should go out in January, after Dave has taken both the language test and the Econ interview. Should he pass the language test, he will definitely receive an invitation. Should he not, scoring a 5.7 on his interview should guarantee a spot in the next class. This is 0.1 points higher than he performed on the Political test, and seems entirely possible.
UNCLE H--
Things with Dave's current job still keep us on our toes as well. Uncle H-- has recently married Aunt A--. That is, Dave's employer recently merged. Aunt A-- is already quite large and successful in Asia, and so this meant some interesting juggling of management. With Dave currently seconded, he is outside of the organizational chart at the moment - a scary place to rest during such change. Happily, his new manager has been a friend and colleague of Dave's for the past few years. Dave is penciled into the org chart in Singapore, meaning that should the Foreign Service fall through, we will likely move on to Singapore next summer.
POTENTIAL VISITORS
Potential visitors should take note of a few bits we now have inked and penciled into our schedules.
So far we know that...
We are going home for Christmas, with travel dates to be determined by the end of this week.
We will return to life in Shenzhen after the Christmas holidays.
We will continue life in Shenzhen until at least the end of March.
We suspect that...
We will probably leave Shenzhen by the end of the school year, not to return.
We will probably spend the summer in the United States, either training in DC or visiting family. With this summer visit, we will begin spending annual time in the states over the summers as opposed to over Christmas.
Anyone planning to visit ought to begin thinking about it now. Winter and early spring are said to be quite pleasant in our region; Shenzhen is an interesting town; Hong Kong is a fantastic city; the Pearl River Delta is lovely; our complex is like a resort, our guest room is quite nice, and we make some awfully tasty cinnamon rolls.
Whew!
This brings you up to date on the happenings in our house, and hardly even mentions last week in the United Arab Emirates! Keep watching for photos...
After an expected 6 weeks away, Dave ended up in Abu Dhabi for only 2 weeks. He flew back with us at the end of our stay. Had I known this eventuality, we would not have traveled to join him. The financial cost was steep, and the travel was challenging. However, I must say that I'm glad we went. The city was lovely - and it is always nice to get out of China. I found the area quite child-friendly, and the girls always make great travelers. The Middle East made a good impression as well, being far more interesting and beautiful than I had imagined. The girls fell in love with the desert, and Dave and I decided that a future posting in Abu Dhabi would not be so bad.
Before we left, we made a few exciting discoveries:
BANANAS
The lady who regularly sweeps our yard (I suppose I should call her a gardener) asked if I wanted the bananas growing on our tree. Excitedly, I said yao, yao! Let's translate that to yes, please! But then I had to leave, as we had reached the end of Fia's schoolday. Fia and I returned home to one less stalk on our entire banana tree - she did not just reap a few bananas, but took down the entire branch , from the ground up! This may be how banana reaping goes. Having done a bit of reading, I know that the entire plant grows from the ground every year. Anyway, we came back to disappointment as we had less of a banana tree and no bananas. Until later in the afternoon, possibly an hour before we were scheduled to leave town, a big bag of bananas appeared on our front step!
Sadly, they were still green and needed time to ripen - but the week of our trip proved too long, and ayi had tossed them before we returned. I'm sure looking forward to the next harvest!
BABY TEETH
In fitting with bananas, we also discovered two new baby teeth last week!
Annika's first two teeth popped through her bottom gums on Saturday morning, and she had her first taste of rice cereal last night. I know what a cliche to say they grow so fast, but...
BIBLE STUDY
Soon after we moved here, I lamented that I had found no strong Bible Study or prayer group here. And so, the study will begin at my house this Thursday. A group of us met together just before I left, I feel really excited about getting to know these ladies. We have about 5 in the core of the group, and already a few more who are interested. I'm looking forward to a new study and the accountability it brings, but also to the diversity which I see appearing in this group of women. I'm not too excited about the name of the study. It's Tough Being a Woman? Come on. But otherwise, I can't wait to begin!
THE FOREIGN SERVICE
We heard that the State Department issued invitations to the February class of the Foreign Service, and Dave did not receive one. We now know that we will be in China at least through the end of March. Invitations to the next class should go out in January, after Dave has taken both the language test and the Econ interview. Should he pass the language test, he will definitely receive an invitation. Should he not, scoring a 5.7 on his interview should guarantee a spot in the next class. This is 0.1 points higher than he performed on the Political test, and seems entirely possible.
UNCLE H--
Things with Dave's current job still keep us on our toes as well. Uncle H-- has recently married Aunt A--. That is, Dave's employer recently merged. Aunt A-- is already quite large and successful in Asia, and so this meant some interesting juggling of management. With Dave currently seconded, he is outside of the organizational chart at the moment - a scary place to rest during such change. Happily, his new manager has been a friend and colleague of Dave's for the past few years. Dave is penciled into the org chart in Singapore, meaning that should the Foreign Service fall through, we will likely move on to Singapore next summer.
POTENTIAL VISITORS
Potential visitors should take note of a few bits we now have inked and penciled into our schedules.
So far we know that...
We are going home for Christmas, with travel dates to be determined by the end of this week.
We will return to life in Shenzhen after the Christmas holidays.
We will continue life in Shenzhen until at least the end of March.
We suspect that...
We will probably leave Shenzhen by the end of the school year, not to return.
We will probably spend the summer in the United States, either training in DC or visiting family. With this summer visit, we will begin spending annual time in the states over the summers as opposed to over Christmas.
Anyone planning to visit ought to begin thinking about it now. Winter and early spring are said to be quite pleasant in our region; Shenzhen is an interesting town; Hong Kong is a fantastic city; the Pearl River Delta is lovely; our complex is like a resort, our guest room is quite nice, and we make some awfully tasty cinnamon rolls.
Whew!
This brings you up to date on the happenings in our house, and hardly even mentions last week in the United Arab Emirates! Keep watching for photos...
Friday, November 12, 2010
In Bat Cave, On Bat Time
We have returned to Shenzhen, accompanied by Dave. The girls slept around 2 hours on the flight Thursday night, made an amazing effort toward wakefulness yesterday, and then slept a whopping 15 hours last night to return to some semblance of local time. Dave, Annika and I nearly matched them with an unbroken 11.5 hours of sleep. Well done, Annika!
We faced paltry internet connectivity last week, as well as precious little time to myself. To make up for the lack of postings, I'll share a photoessay of the week with you soon, as well as an update on Dave and Uncle H--.
Stay tuned!
We faced paltry internet connectivity last week, as well as precious little time to myself. To make up for the lack of postings, I'll share a photoessay of the week with you soon, as well as an update on Dave and Uncle H--.
Stay tuned!
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Abu Dhabi or Bust!
The things I do for my husband and my children. The girls and I will board an airplane taking off at 4:45 on Thursday afternoon. We will sit on that airplane for 9 hours, until it eventually lands at the Dubai Airport in the middle of the night. A crew of sleepy little girls will exit the airplane, and I will maneuver them through immigration and customs alone, meeting Dave and a taxi on the outside. From that point, we'll have about an hour ride before we reach Abu Dhabi. And if we're lucky, we'll all sleep a bit late on Saturday morning.
We'll stay until Thursday night, when the girls and I will again travel overnight and alone. This time we'll eventually arrive at home, which always helps. But we will also arrive in Hong Kong at 6:00 in the morning, making for probably a very long day.
Still, I'm feeling strangely calm about the whole thing. Possibly peace? We have a bassinet confirmed for both legs of the trip, so Annika needs neither her own seat or my available arms at all times. She will fall asleep at almost exactly 6:45pm and likely bother no one again until morning. Lilly has become a pro at flying, and with the books I'll load onto the iPad, I doubt I'll hear a peep from her the entire time. That leaves Sophia and I to keep each other company, and I've certainly kept worse company in the past. We'll enjoy your prayers, as I have certainly named the best case scenario. But I feel we're traveling at this sweet spot, while Lilly and Sophia have gotten good at flying and before Annika gets bad at it.
Wish us luck! (And seriously - how cool that we're going to Abu Dhabi?!)
We'll stay until Thursday night, when the girls and I will again travel overnight and alone. This time we'll eventually arrive at home, which always helps. But we will also arrive in Hong Kong at 6:00 in the morning, making for probably a very long day.
Still, I'm feeling strangely calm about the whole thing. Possibly peace? We have a bassinet confirmed for both legs of the trip, so Annika needs neither her own seat or my available arms at all times. She will fall asleep at almost exactly 6:45pm and likely bother no one again until morning. Lilly has become a pro at flying, and with the books I'll load onto the iPad, I doubt I'll hear a peep from her the entire time. That leaves Sophia and I to keep each other company, and I've certainly kept worse company in the past. We'll enjoy your prayers, as I have certainly named the best case scenario. But I feel we're traveling at this sweet spot, while Lilly and Sophia have gotten good at flying and before Annika gets bad at it.
Wish us luck! (And seriously - how cool that we're going to Abu Dhabi?!)
Friday, October 29, 2010
Foreign After Three Years
We've lived in China for over 3 years now. China is a very different place from America in many ways, and we still stand out like sore thumbs. Chinese people do not have blonde hair or blue eyes. Chinese people do not hug. Chinese people do not eat cheese, or Mexican food. We do loads of things every day which mark us as foreign, something we have gotten entirely used to.
It is only with this move that I have realized how much China has normalized for me. When moving into a new expat community, the best way to make new friends quickly is to get to know the other newbies. But I don't quite fit into the newbie category - although I'm new to Shenzhen, I'm an old hand to China, and not looking around with glassy-eyes like the other newbies. Conversations with a particular friend make this very apparent to me. The things she raves about, as wonderful or as particularly odd, I have trouble sharing her enthusiasm on. She raves about her ayi - I watch her ayi, and think she is mediocre at best. She feels guilty having the driver take her daughter to school - I look on with envy, remembering the simple life with a driver. She hears people honking on the street, and feels they're honking at her. She pays way more than things are worth, because she doesn't know where or how to dig around town.
She's new, and I sounded the same way when I was new. She'll normalize too, and that list will embarrass her someday.
But even after so long, things happen in my home that throw me. Ayi cleaned the bookshelves a few days ago, and they look fantastic. She organized every book by size. But upon closer inspection, you see that a third of the spines face either up or down, and some of them face the back of the shelves.
T.I.C. Some things will always be foreign.
It is only with this move that I have realized how much China has normalized for me. When moving into a new expat community, the best way to make new friends quickly is to get to know the other newbies. But I don't quite fit into the newbie category - although I'm new to Shenzhen, I'm an old hand to China, and not looking around with glassy-eyes like the other newbies. Conversations with a particular friend make this very apparent to me. The things she raves about, as wonderful or as particularly odd, I have trouble sharing her enthusiasm on. She raves about her ayi - I watch her ayi, and think she is mediocre at best. She feels guilty having the driver take her daughter to school - I look on with envy, remembering the simple life with a driver. She hears people honking on the street, and feels they're honking at her. She pays way more than things are worth, because she doesn't know where or how to dig around town.
She's new, and I sounded the same way when I was new. She'll normalize too, and that list will embarrass her someday.
But even after so long, things happen in my home that throw me. Ayi cleaned the bookshelves a few days ago, and they look fantastic. She organized every book by size. But upon closer inspection, you see that a third of the spines face either up or down, and some of them face the back of the shelves.
T.I.C. Some things will always be foreign.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
All in a Day's Work
Dave left for Abu Dhabi this evening. Actually, he'll sit in the Hong Kong airport until midnight and technically leave for Abu Dhabi tomorrow. We expect that he will be gone for 3 weeks, and it was crummy to say good-bye. He'll be missing the school Halloween party tomorrow, and Halloween itself on Sunday night. He'll miss at least 2 movie nights. He'll miss a large portion of Annika's life thus far. He'll miss too many bathtimes and storytimes and afternoons at the playground. Three weeks is a long time to be away from family, and it made us all sad.
So sad that I am honestly contemplating the girls to Abu Dhabi for their fall break next week. Am I crazy enough to fly alone with 3 young girls? Its an 8 hour flight, with a ferry exchange on this side and an hour-long taxi ride on that side. Plus, its overnight. Any votes?
On the bright side, I made pita bread tonight for dinner. Who knew it was so simple? I also made hummus, which didn't turn out quite right because I couldn't find Middle Eastern tahini - which is, we learned, rather different from Asian tahini. But, after a google search, I learned how to make my own. Who knew tahini was so simple to make? What a feast we'll have, as soon as I can find sesame seeds.
Check out these babies!
It may not be high quality photography (okay, its definitely not). But I was just so excited that I had to share.
In Shanghai, I learned how to cook and bake because I missed the foods from home. I've gotten pretty good at brownies, pies, sweet breads, plus soups, curries and a really mean loaf of honey wheat bread. Now that we're in Shenzhen, I'm missing all of the world-class restaurants in Shanghai. I'm needing to learn more interesting foods - starting with hummus, tzatziki, pita bread and tahini. Lets say its in honor of Dave's first trip to the Middle East.
So sad that I am honestly contemplating the girls to Abu Dhabi for their fall break next week. Am I crazy enough to fly alone with 3 young girls? Its an 8 hour flight, with a ferry exchange on this side and an hour-long taxi ride on that side. Plus, its overnight. Any votes?
On the bright side, I made pita bread tonight for dinner. Who knew it was so simple? I also made hummus, which didn't turn out quite right because I couldn't find Middle Eastern tahini - which is, we learned, rather different from Asian tahini. But, after a google search, I learned how to make my own. Who knew tahini was so simple to make? What a feast we'll have, as soon as I can find sesame seeds.
Check out these babies!
It may not be high quality photography (okay, its definitely not). But I was just so excited that I had to share.
In Shanghai, I learned how to cook and bake because I missed the foods from home. I've gotten pretty good at brownies, pies, sweet breads, plus soups, curries and a really mean loaf of honey wheat bread. Now that we're in Shenzhen, I'm missing all of the world-class restaurants in Shanghai. I'm needing to learn more interesting foods - starting with hummus, tzatziki, pita bread and tahini. Lets say its in honor of Dave's first trip to the Middle East.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Knowing Is Half the Battle
We now know that Dave will fly to Abu Dhabi on Thursday. He's buying a return ticket for 2 weeks later, but we don't really know that won't be changed. We do know that he'll miss Halloween, which is a real bummer. A week-long Fall Break will take place about the same time as his projected return. I looked into just going to Abu Dhabi for the break. What fun would that be! But over 14 hours travel time, and around $1,000 per adult ticket makes that prohibitive. I don't think I could handle three girls on my own in an airplane, layovers and plane transfers included, for such a long time.
Although there is no bright side, we will be just fine. We've got a great ayi. I've already developed a good support system (God is Faithful!). The girls have their routine pretty well figured out. Annie has been waking up 2-3 times a night lately, which'll be rough on my own. But otherwise, we shall survive.
Although there is no bright side, we will be just fine. We've got a great ayi. I've already developed a good support system (God is Faithful!). The girls have their routine pretty well figured out. Annie has been waking up 2-3 times a night lately, which'll be rough on my own. But otherwise, we shall survive.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
The Way We Live
Its funny the things we can get used to.
We've been living under the cloud of a pending move to Washington DC for about a year now. For most of that time, had we received an email invitation to the Foreign Service, we would have been living in Washington within 8 weeks. We prepared the girls for such a move, and got them excited about DC.
That call still hasn't come, still hangs over our heads, but we don't talk about it to the girls as much. They no longer remember most of the friends we have there.
Possibly because of this mindset, we picked up and moved to Shenzhen within 2 weeks this summer. We've settled quite well, even with the cloud of an uncertain future hanging over our heads. When people ask how long we expect to be here, I don't really know what to answer. If Dave gets into the Foreign Service, we could move as early as mid-March. If he doesn't, we could be here for another year after this one. The 1-year contract everyone signed for us has not yet taken effect, and the girls have landed well in Shenzhen. Could be that we're facing stability, and the same address for 2 years in a row!
But the uncertainty still prevails. Dave will start work on this new contract any day now. He got an email last week asking him to go to the U.A.E. for 6 weeks or so, starting today. Only on Saturday did he learn the city (Abu Dhabi - how cool is that?). And still today, he's been given no travel plans. Our best guess at this point is that Dave will fly to Abu Dhabi tomorrow, for somewhere between 1 and 6 weeks. But we won't know for sure until tomorrow, when he either does or does not catch a plane.
This new uncertainty makes the old stuff seem simple. As does having lived with it for a while now. But I can't make plans for this weekend if Dave may be away. I can't make plans for tomorrow's dinner if Dave may be here. I can't make plans for Thanksgiving, because I don't know how long he'll be gone. Dave has pushed back, saying 6 weeks is far too long to spend away from his family. I expressed that this uncertainty, and this long trip are not very good employee treatment. Dave answered that it certainly is not - that's why they hire a consultant rather than use their own employees. And a globally mobile one at that. Fair enough.
Clearly, I am actually fixing dinner tomorrow, and life is going on as usual around this uncertainty. But I'll admit, its giving me a big headache.
We've been living under the cloud of a pending move to Washington DC for about a year now. For most of that time, had we received an email invitation to the Foreign Service, we would have been living in Washington within 8 weeks. We prepared the girls for such a move, and got them excited about DC.
That call still hasn't come, still hangs over our heads, but we don't talk about it to the girls as much. They no longer remember most of the friends we have there.
Possibly because of this mindset, we picked up and moved to Shenzhen within 2 weeks this summer. We've settled quite well, even with the cloud of an uncertain future hanging over our heads. When people ask how long we expect to be here, I don't really know what to answer. If Dave gets into the Foreign Service, we could move as early as mid-March. If he doesn't, we could be here for another year after this one. The 1-year contract everyone signed for us has not yet taken effect, and the girls have landed well in Shenzhen. Could be that we're facing stability, and the same address for 2 years in a row!
But the uncertainty still prevails. Dave will start work on this new contract any day now. He got an email last week asking him to go to the U.A.E. for 6 weeks or so, starting today. Only on Saturday did he learn the city (Abu Dhabi - how cool is that?). And still today, he's been given no travel plans. Our best guess at this point is that Dave will fly to Abu Dhabi tomorrow, for somewhere between 1 and 6 weeks. But we won't know for sure until tomorrow, when he either does or does not catch a plane.
This new uncertainty makes the old stuff seem simple. As does having lived with it for a while now. But I can't make plans for this weekend if Dave may be away. I can't make plans for tomorrow's dinner if Dave may be here. I can't make plans for Thanksgiving, because I don't know how long he'll be gone. Dave has pushed back, saying 6 weeks is far too long to spend away from his family. I expressed that this uncertainty, and this long trip are not very good employee treatment. Dave answered that it certainly is not - that's why they hire a consultant rather than use their own employees. And a globally mobile one at that. Fair enough.
Clearly, I am actually fixing dinner tomorrow, and life is going on as usual around this uncertainty. But I'll admit, its giving me a big headache.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Moving Tips
As I seem to be moving with rather startling frequency, I thought it would be useful to put together some of the things which have made it easier. Moving companies all put together handy little lists telling you when to unplug your refrigerator and reminding you to eat breakfast, and so I'll spare you all of the simple stuff. These are the things I've learned by trial and error. And the errors come easily when 10 people arrive to pack up your house, and none of them speak English!
Tip #1:
The person who took the furniture apart will not be the person who puts it back together - unless that person is you.
I suppose a domestic move in the states may involve the same individuals packing and unpacking your boxes. An international move does not. The Shanghai crew did not travel with our boxes to Shenzhen, although they did take apart some of the furniture. If your furniture breaks down, do it yourself. Then place all small pieces in a Ziploc bag or an envelope, and tape it to the bottom of the furniture.
Tip #2:
Know where your tools are - including scissors, a Sharpie, and a box cutter.
Your toolbox, no matter how big or small, ought to be the last thing boxed up and in a well-marked container. You'll need the screwdrivers quickly upon unpacking. But don't even bother packing your scissors, Sharpies and box cutter. You'll want those while the movers pack the house, and again when you're unpacking alone.
Tip #3:
Label your boxes well by destination room. The packers will not.
To look at the labels on our boxes, you would think that we had an amazing amount of vases and stationary. You'd also think that we had one baby and no other children, as anything child related was labeled Baby Room. If you don't need an inventory of each box, at least peek in each one to confirm the destination room.
Tip #4:
Don't diet. Do exercise.
Now, don't act like a fool and gorge yourself on McDonald's and ice-cream. But remember that moving boxes, exploring a new neighborhood, and stress all burn loads of calories. And when moving internationally, the lack of ingredients at the grocery store as well as the crummy restaurant you happened upon will keep those meals low-cal for the first few weeks. Add in the diet and exercise routines as soon as possible (exercise will come much earlier than diet), but the regiment will be initially impossible and only add more stress.
Tip #5:
Smile at everyone who makes eye contact with you. Introduce yourself to everyone who smiles at you.
Soon you'll find that you know the names of everyone in your everyday routine, and that they all think you're friendly. Even if you don't have friends for quite some time, you'll have conversations with people every day. These conversations turn into friends quicker than you'd think.
Tip #6:
Use the phone.
Communicate with folks by phone whenever possible. Stay away from email and texting while you're getting to know people, if you can help it. Those spoken conversations give others the chance to ask how you're doing, or to invite you along to their morning plans.
Tip #7:
Do as many favors as you can, and take advantage of help when its offered.
Being a helper is a wonderful way to get to know someone. And you need help when you're moving. So does anyone else around you in the throes of the same. Take advantage of help and offer it as well. You'll build a community around yourself quickly, and set a lovely precedent for help later on... when you find your husband traveling for weeks at a time, or you need a doctor and someone to watch your kids immediately.
Tip #8:
If the economy allows it, hire help immediately.
In China, and in many other countries through the help, hired help is readily available and quite affordable. A housekeeper and nanny make a considerable difference when you've got a To Do List a mile long. A local housekeeper can be a lifesaver, as she already knows the good shopping and can communicate with any Fix-It-Men who'll try to help. But refer to Tip #7 for the actual hiring - a referral is always the best way to go.
It may not be neuroscience, but these little rules helped me through the last few months. At this point, I feel pretty comfortable here. Friends in Shanghai still feel closer, although pretty far away. But friends here do feel like honest friends, and I do feel that if I had an emergency I would have plenty of shoulders to lean on. Good, as my husband does seem to travel about 80% of the time right now.
Tip #1:
The person who took the furniture apart will not be the person who puts it back together - unless that person is you.
I suppose a domestic move in the states may involve the same individuals packing and unpacking your boxes. An international move does not. The Shanghai crew did not travel with our boxes to Shenzhen, although they did take apart some of the furniture. If your furniture breaks down, do it yourself. Then place all small pieces in a Ziploc bag or an envelope, and tape it to the bottom of the furniture.
Tip #2:
Know where your tools are - including scissors, a Sharpie, and a box cutter.
Your toolbox, no matter how big or small, ought to be the last thing boxed up and in a well-marked container. You'll need the screwdrivers quickly upon unpacking. But don't even bother packing your scissors, Sharpies and box cutter. You'll want those while the movers pack the house, and again when you're unpacking alone.
Tip #3:
Label your boxes well by destination room. The packers will not.
To look at the labels on our boxes, you would think that we had an amazing amount of vases and stationary. You'd also think that we had one baby and no other children, as anything child related was labeled Baby Room. If you don't need an inventory of each box, at least peek in each one to confirm the destination room.
Tip #4:
Don't diet. Do exercise.
Now, don't act like a fool and gorge yourself on McDonald's and ice-cream. But remember that moving boxes, exploring a new neighborhood, and stress all burn loads of calories. And when moving internationally, the lack of ingredients at the grocery store as well as the crummy restaurant you happened upon will keep those meals low-cal for the first few weeks. Add in the diet and exercise routines as soon as possible (exercise will come much earlier than diet), but the regiment will be initially impossible and only add more stress.
Tip #5:
Smile at everyone who makes eye contact with you. Introduce yourself to everyone who smiles at you.
Soon you'll find that you know the names of everyone in your everyday routine, and that they all think you're friendly. Even if you don't have friends for quite some time, you'll have conversations with people every day. These conversations turn into friends quicker than you'd think.
Tip #6:
Use the phone.
Communicate with folks by phone whenever possible. Stay away from email and texting while you're getting to know people, if you can help it. Those spoken conversations give others the chance to ask how you're doing, or to invite you along to their morning plans.
Tip #7:
Do as many favors as you can, and take advantage of help when its offered.
Being a helper is a wonderful way to get to know someone. And you need help when you're moving. So does anyone else around you in the throes of the same. Take advantage of help and offer it as well. You'll build a community around yourself quickly, and set a lovely precedent for help later on... when you find your husband traveling for weeks at a time, or you need a doctor and someone to watch your kids immediately.
Tip #8:
If the economy allows it, hire help immediately.
In China, and in many other countries through the help, hired help is readily available and quite affordable. A housekeeper and nanny make a considerable difference when you've got a To Do List a mile long. A local housekeeper can be a lifesaver, as she already knows the good shopping and can communicate with any Fix-It-Men who'll try to help. But refer to Tip #7 for the actual hiring - a referral is always the best way to go.
It may not be neuroscience, but these little rules helped me through the last few months. At this point, I feel pretty comfortable here. Friends in Shanghai still feel closer, although pretty far away. But friends here do feel like honest friends, and I do feel that if I had an emergency I would have plenty of shoulders to lean on. Good, as my husband does seem to travel about 80% of the time right now.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Keeping Hope Alive
Another Foreign Service Candidate was just offered a spot in the January class. He is in the Economic track, and he scored 5.6. With a 5.6 in the Political Track, Dave probably ranks in the low 60s, but in Econ this man was number 23 and is going to the next class.
When Dave interviews in early January, he will land on the Economic track. He needs to do at least as well as he did last time to receive a call. This keeps my hope alive.
The other contingency plan was the Mandarin test, which he has scheduled for the end of November. But in only a few short weeks, he has a long ways to go to become conversational. Too many challenging conversations on the train reinforced that this weekend. Plus, he may be spending the next 6-8 weeks in the Middle East. They don't speak Chinese there, but maybe he could start working on his Arabic? The Mandarin seems like less of a sure bet, and so I'm comforted to see that a good score in Econ seems possible. And then we could get out of Asia!
When Dave interviews in early January, he will land on the Economic track. He needs to do at least as well as he did last time to receive a call. This keeps my hope alive.
The other contingency plan was the Mandarin test, which he has scheduled for the end of November. But in only a few short weeks, he has a long ways to go to become conversational. Too many challenging conversations on the train reinforced that this weekend. Plus, he may be spending the next 6-8 weeks in the Middle East. They don't speak Chinese there, but maybe he could start working on his Arabic? The Mandarin seems like less of a sure bet, and so I'm comforted to see that a good score in Econ seems possible. And then we could get out of Asia!
If You Want it Done Right
They say that if you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself. Nowhere is this truer than in China. Friends working in quality control would agree - this is not a place where you can offer simple instructions and expect to know the end result. Although I should say its a great place to get a copy made. I could hand someone a photo of the plate above and get a replica which looked just as tasty. But nothing that tasted nearly as good.I'm a Kansas City girl, and we've been importing our Arthur Bryant's and our Billardo Brothers for years now. But as our stock dwindles, the time has come to man up and make out own. Here are the photographic results of our day of barbeque.
the makings of the sauce
the makings of the bacon -
you could still feel the piggies little back hairs on the skin!
you could still feel the piggies little back hairs on the skin!
Believing ourselves to be in China only temporarily,
I never bought a food processor.
Enough is enough!
This machine is loads of fun!
I never bought a food processor.
Enough is enough!
This machine is loads of fun!
the beans, after a 14 hour soak
the beans, after an hour of boiling in sauce
after 4 hours of boiling
after sitting in the coals of the grill for 2 hours. yum!
the grillmaster and his assistant,
cooking late into the night
cooking late into the night
and once again, the final product
We need to keep refining. The beans were still a bit tough, the Root Beer was too expensive an ingredient, and something about the ribs just wasn't right. We think it might have been the meat itself, which we've got no power to fix.
But the best part? I shredded the leftover meat into the beans, and boiled it all with the rest of the sauce the next day. Poured the whole mix over fresh corn bread. Oh, heaven!
The Canton Trade Fair
Because of extremely poor planning, our family enjoyed an excursion to Guangzhou this past weekend. I had planned to visit Guangzhou in the near future anyway, as it is a 1-hour fast train from Shenzhen and one of China's main cities, and so the trip itself was welcome. But the timing had many unwelcome challenges.
We went because Lilly's passport becomes unusable in a few weeks. Although it does not expire until the beginning of May 2011, China will not allow entry into the country with a passport 6 months away from its expiration date. Were we more responsible parents, we would have noticed this over the summer. The summer where we lived around the corner from the consulate, rather than a journey away. The summer where we obtained a new passport, social security card and birth certificate from the consulate, each in different visits. So, this trip should not have been necessary.
I had hoped the quick timing could guarantee us a quick jaunt to Hanoi over the fall holiday. The girls have a week off at the beginning of November, which is a lovely time to travel in Southeast Asia. I expect it will also be a lovely time to stay home in Southeast Asia. Because not only will our Residence Permits still be in limbo, but Dave will have begun the big consulting job for the big client for which we moved to Shenzhen. He begins on Monday. In UAE. That's the UAE located in the Middle East. So no Hanoi.
But all of these timing issues simply forced the trip last weekend. They did not make it bad timing, but simply quick timing. The Canton Trade Fair made last weekend bad timing.
The Canton Trade Fair takes place twice annually in Guangzhou. It occurs over 3 successive weekends, last weekend being the first of the fall session. It invites over 23,000 exhibitors to hawk their wares to 204,000 overseas buyers and sees $34.3 million US dollars in business turnover. This is the largest trade fair in China by far, and one of the largest in the world.
That means that every room in Guangzhou was booked for the weekend. And although we live a quick 1-hour fast train ride away, it took us an hour on the bus and an hour on the metro just to reach the train station from our home. With 3 kids in tow and an appointment for bureacracy at the consulate, this was definitely an overnighter. We paid nearly $300 for our hotel room, making it the most expensive hotel room we have ever used. Scratch that - I believe we paid slightly more when Dave and I spent a week on a private island in Fiji.
I find the trade fair fascinating, and am mildly disappointed that we did not find a way to sneak in. Here's why. The Canton Trade Fair has been in existence continually since 1957. That's less than 10 years after the founding of The People's Republic of China. That's under Mao Zedong's rule, and before the Cultural Revolution. While China maintained a strictly isolationist policy, the Canton Trade Fair continued. When people in China were being tortured and killed for their capitalist background and their international associations, the Canton Trade Fair continued. And when Deng Xiaoping opened China's economy to the world in the early 1980s, the Canton Trade Fair had already established trading patterns which quickly soared and helped China's economic growth tremendously.
I did a brief google search for more history of the Canton Trade Fair, and found precious little. Had I the time, I would embark on a research project and write y'all a truly fantastic book about it. At this point in my life, I think I'll have to settle with having been in town concurrent to the show.
We went because Lilly's passport becomes unusable in a few weeks. Although it does not expire until the beginning of May 2011, China will not allow entry into the country with a passport 6 months away from its expiration date. Were we more responsible parents, we would have noticed this over the summer. The summer where we lived around the corner from the consulate, rather than a journey away. The summer where we obtained a new passport, social security card and birth certificate from the consulate, each in different visits. So, this trip should not have been necessary.
I had hoped the quick timing could guarantee us a quick jaunt to Hanoi over the fall holiday. The girls have a week off at the beginning of November, which is a lovely time to travel in Southeast Asia. I expect it will also be a lovely time to stay home in Southeast Asia. Because not only will our Residence Permits still be in limbo, but Dave will have begun the big consulting job for the big client for which we moved to Shenzhen. He begins on Monday. In UAE. That's the UAE located in the Middle East. So no Hanoi.
But all of these timing issues simply forced the trip last weekend. They did not make it bad timing, but simply quick timing. The Canton Trade Fair made last weekend bad timing.
The Canton Trade Fair takes place twice annually in Guangzhou. It occurs over 3 successive weekends, last weekend being the first of the fall session. It invites over 23,000 exhibitors to hawk their wares to 204,000 overseas buyers and sees $34.3 million US dollars in business turnover. This is the largest trade fair in China by far, and one of the largest in the world.
That means that every room in Guangzhou was booked for the weekend. And although we live a quick 1-hour fast train ride away, it took us an hour on the bus and an hour on the metro just to reach the train station from our home. With 3 kids in tow and an appointment for bureacracy at the consulate, this was definitely an overnighter. We paid nearly $300 for our hotel room, making it the most expensive hotel room we have ever used. Scratch that - I believe we paid slightly more when Dave and I spent a week on a private island in Fiji.
I find the trade fair fascinating, and am mildly disappointed that we did not find a way to sneak in. Here's why. The Canton Trade Fair has been in existence continually since 1957. That's less than 10 years after the founding of The People's Republic of China. That's under Mao Zedong's rule, and before the Cultural Revolution. While China maintained a strictly isolationist policy, the Canton Trade Fair continued. When people in China were being tortured and killed for their capitalist background and their international associations, the Canton Trade Fair continued. And when Deng Xiaoping opened China's economy to the world in the early 1980s, the Canton Trade Fair had already established trading patterns which quickly soared and helped China's economic growth tremendously.
I did a brief google search for more history of the Canton Trade Fair, and found precious little. Had I the time, I would embark on a research project and write y'all a truly fantastic book about it. At this point in my life, I think I'll have to settle with having been in town concurrent to the show.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Loving SIS
One of the facts of life living abroad is that our children attend expensive private schools. However, being both expensive and exclusive does not guarantee a strong curriculum or dedicated teachers. We loved The Wonder Center. We were very disappointed in Tiny Tots. Despite mixed reviews, I was looking forward to SCIS in Shanghai, but with our quick transfer to Shenzhen both girls are now at Shekou International School (SIS).
All things considered, I would probably still prefer Lilly do kindergarten in a Montessori or a Reggio Emilia program. And I would certainly prefer that for Sophia. But as neither is available here, I must say that we've landed quite well.
This is currently on my mind because I spent last night at the elementary school's Curriculum Night. The teachers gave short workshops on the school curriculum, namely Everyday Mathematics and Writer's Workshop. During his introduction, one of the teachers explained why he loves teaching at SIS. Partly for all of the standard reasons - good facilities, good administration, good co-workers (all true). But also because the school has invested in fantastic curriculum, which he finds a joy to teach. From the presentations last night, and what I've heard about these curriculum before, I wholeheartedly agree. I don't know if education has changed dramatically since I was a kid (probably), but Lilly certainly benefits from a wonderful style of teaching.
Further, the school communicates well. We have already had two conferences with the teachers, and been invited to informational meetings like last night's. The school has open classrooms, where I can pop in whenever I like. The student-teacher ratio is low, with only 14 children in Lilly's class. And the teachers are accessible - they run classroom websites, updated weekly; they send out classroom newsletters every week, with exactly what students are working on a good questions to ask at home; they share their cell phone numbers and email addresses. And Lilly's teacher has her working at her own level, rather than following the curve of the class. Each of our teachers know their students well, and clearly enjoy their jobs.
May I keep going? The art studio is truly an art studio, with beautiful natural light and tall stools at wide work stations. The kids have swimming at the outdoor pool every week. The library is well stocked with plenty of fantastic books. Lilly is allowed to choose any book she likes to borrow during her library period. And then I am allowed to borrow 10 more books. We've been going every week, to load up on some fantastic material. We rarely read from our own library anymore!
As extra benefits, our commute is fantastic and the other moms are truly lovely. I would like to see music as a more integral part of their young curriculum, but I otherwise have no complaints. Praise God for placing Lilly and Sophia in the perfect place this year.
I'll admit, as much as I want Dave in the Foreign Service, I kind of hope we can finish out the year here.
All things considered, I would probably still prefer Lilly do kindergarten in a Montessori or a Reggio Emilia program. And I would certainly prefer that for Sophia. But as neither is available here, I must say that we've landed quite well.
This is currently on my mind because I spent last night at the elementary school's Curriculum Night. The teachers gave short workshops on the school curriculum, namely Everyday Mathematics and Writer's Workshop. During his introduction, one of the teachers explained why he loves teaching at SIS. Partly for all of the standard reasons - good facilities, good administration, good co-workers (all true). But also because the school has invested in fantastic curriculum, which he finds a joy to teach. From the presentations last night, and what I've heard about these curriculum before, I wholeheartedly agree. I don't know if education has changed dramatically since I was a kid (probably), but Lilly certainly benefits from a wonderful style of teaching.
Further, the school communicates well. We have already had two conferences with the teachers, and been invited to informational meetings like last night's. The school has open classrooms, where I can pop in whenever I like. The student-teacher ratio is low, with only 14 children in Lilly's class. And the teachers are accessible - they run classroom websites, updated weekly; they send out classroom newsletters every week, with exactly what students are working on a good questions to ask at home; they share their cell phone numbers and email addresses. And Lilly's teacher has her working at her own level, rather than following the curve of the class. Each of our teachers know their students well, and clearly enjoy their jobs.
May I keep going? The art studio is truly an art studio, with beautiful natural light and tall stools at wide work stations. The kids have swimming at the outdoor pool every week. The library is well stocked with plenty of fantastic books. Lilly is allowed to choose any book she likes to borrow during her library period. And then I am allowed to borrow 10 more books. We've been going every week, to load up on some fantastic material. We rarely read from our own library anymore!
As extra benefits, our commute is fantastic and the other moms are truly lovely. I would like to see music as a more integral part of their young curriculum, but I otherwise have no complaints. Praise God for placing Lilly and Sophia in the perfect place this year.
I'll admit, as much as I want Dave in the Foreign Service, I kind of hope we can finish out the year here.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Charity Work
I hold a Master's degree in Social Work, an MSW. I like to drop those initials sometimes, just to feel good about myself and the qualifications I hold for my current position. When I was recently out of school, I used to joke with my other do-gooder friends, people like me who were sacrificing ourselves for the good of others. I remember joking about the easy life, saying
I should just move out to the suburbs and volunteer for my church.
At that point in my life, that was a cop-out. And with all fairness, my friends and I were putting in a lot of hard hours and dedicating ourselves to some amazing and quite difficult causes and people. It certainly made churches in the suburbs seem simple.
Since I quit working, I often struggle with what good I am doing for the world. Sure, raising my kids is fulfilling and a challenging commitment to 3 important individuals. Absolutely. And both churches and the suburbs are worthwhile places to spend ones energy. But I had bigger plans than this, to make a bigger difference in the world. And what have I done to that end? Run a Bible Study in my home, audienced almost entirely by very wealthy people like myself.
In Shenzhen, we're newly getting to know an Australian couple who quit their executive jobs and devoted their working lives to helping a few of the underserved and needy of China. I am itching to ask her how I can get involved, and thinking through what I will offer. Initially, I've bought tickets to their fundraiser this Saturday night. If you're looking for an organization to support, follow the links and learn more. Captivating International, my friends' organization, supports The Seng Girl's Home & Vocational School in a remote part of China. Seventeen of those girls spent 36 hours on a train to arrive in Shenzhen yesterday afternoon. All seventeen are staying with our friends, in their home. I asked how to help.
I spent the day today baking bread and running laundry. I would love to do it again on Wednesday. I would dearly love to follow the girls around as their photographer on Thursday. Funny, because neither task requires an advanced degree or any work experience, but these things feel truly worthwhile. Raising funds and offering prayer lead to dramatic and amazing change, and are very necessary parts of changing the world. But folding someone's laundry, or watching them smell freshly baked bread is much more intimate. Living in China, I have accessibility to the intimate. I hope to find a way to take full advantage of it.
But the postscript is that this day felt like a personal failure. Although the bread and the laundry came out nearly perfect, my family fell apart. Sophia came home sick, and spent most of the day in front of the television in a room apart from me. Annika stayed home with ayi most of the morning. And by the time we picked up Lilly from school, I needed to run all 3 girls to the grocery store to pick up milk and fruit. This is on foot with 3 exhausted children, and arriving home at dinnertime. With 3 exhausted children. I rushed dinner, yelled too much, skipped homework and spent the evening watching sitcoms on StarWorld. I have yet to discover the balance between getting outside of myself and meeting my children's needs.
I should just move out to the suburbs and volunteer for my church.
At that point in my life, that was a cop-out. And with all fairness, my friends and I were putting in a lot of hard hours and dedicating ourselves to some amazing and quite difficult causes and people. It certainly made churches in the suburbs seem simple.
Since I quit working, I often struggle with what good I am doing for the world. Sure, raising my kids is fulfilling and a challenging commitment to 3 important individuals. Absolutely. And both churches and the suburbs are worthwhile places to spend ones energy. But I had bigger plans than this, to make a bigger difference in the world. And what have I done to that end? Run a Bible Study in my home, audienced almost entirely by very wealthy people like myself.
In Shenzhen, we're newly getting to know an Australian couple who quit their executive jobs and devoted their working lives to helping a few of the underserved and needy of China. I am itching to ask her how I can get involved, and thinking through what I will offer. Initially, I've bought tickets to their fundraiser this Saturday night. If you're looking for an organization to support, follow the links and learn more. Captivating International, my friends' organization, supports The Seng Girl's Home & Vocational School in a remote part of China. Seventeen of those girls spent 36 hours on a train to arrive in Shenzhen yesterday afternoon. All seventeen are staying with our friends, in their home. I asked how to help.
I spent the day today baking bread and running laundry. I would love to do it again on Wednesday. I would dearly love to follow the girls around as their photographer on Thursday. Funny, because neither task requires an advanced degree or any work experience, but these things feel truly worthwhile. Raising funds and offering prayer lead to dramatic and amazing change, and are very necessary parts of changing the world. But folding someone's laundry, or watching them smell freshly baked bread is much more intimate. Living in China, I have accessibility to the intimate. I hope to find a way to take full advantage of it.
But the postscript is that this day felt like a personal failure. Although the bread and the laundry came out nearly perfect, my family fell apart. Sophia came home sick, and spent most of the day in front of the television in a room apart from me. Annika stayed home with ayi most of the morning. And by the time we picked up Lilly from school, I needed to run all 3 girls to the grocery store to pick up milk and fruit. This is on foot with 3 exhausted children, and arriving home at dinnertime. With 3 exhausted children. I rushed dinner, yelled too much, skipped homework and spent the evening watching sitcoms on StarWorld. I have yet to discover the balance between getting outside of myself and meeting my children's needs.
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Photojournalism
As promised, a few photos from our trip. Beginning in Macau, this is the ruins of St. Paul's Cathedral in the beautiful, pedestrian-friendly, Portugese old-town.
Exploring the market streets surrounding the old cathedral, we found this temple surrounded by paper lanterns. We thought the Lantern Festival was on the 15th day of the 1st Lunar month, so we're not sure of the occasion they mark in October. But awesome, all the same!
This is the Macau Tower. Although you can also climb to the top of the cathedral, the top of this one offers better views... and bungee jumping.
Looking down onto Macau, you can see what a strange piece of land it is. A skinny peninsula off of China, with the mainland visible there on the far left. It is also a few islands, directly behind the photographer.
Moving onto Hong Kong, we spent a morning wandering the flower markets and bird gardens and markets of Kowloon.
And another day hiking on Lantau Island. After a long ride up the cable car, we were on nearly equal footing with this Buddha, and ended up hiking a little ways past him, deeper into the forests.
Our deeper into the forests led us to The Wisdom Path, a great viewpoint and a lovely spot for photos.
Exploring the market streets surrounding the old cathedral, we found this temple surrounded by paper lanterns. We thought the Lantern Festival was on the 15th day of the 1st Lunar month, so we're not sure of the occasion they mark in October. But awesome, all the same!
This is the Macau Tower. Although you can also climb to the top of the cathedral, the top of this one offers better views... and bungee jumping.
Looking down onto Macau, you can see what a strange piece of land it is. A skinny peninsula off of China, with the mainland visible there on the far left. It is also a few islands, directly behind the photographer.
Moving onto Hong Kong, we spent a morning wandering the flower markets and bird gardens and markets of Kowloon.
And another day hiking on Lantau Island. After a long ride up the cable car, we were on nearly equal footing with this Buddha, and ended up hiking a little ways past him, deeper into the forests.
Our deeper into the forests led us to The Wisdom Path, a great viewpoint and a lovely spot for photos.
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Our Journey Ends - Macau and Hong Kong
We received our passports back this afternoon, each with a full-page devoted to allowing us back into China for another month. If we are lucky, we will get our residence permits early enough within that month that we can also trade Lilly's in for a new one and still travel over the November school holiday. The new passport will happen either way - the trip in November may not, but I'd sure love to see Hanoi while we're in the neighborhood. At least we'll get one or two trips to Guangzhou in, as that is where the U.S. Consulate is located.
We've passed the last few days enjoying Macau and Hong Kong, as we were not allowed on mainland China. I haven't taken many photos, as we didn't really go anywhere visually striking. But the entire family has enjoyed both destinations.
In Macau, we stayed at the Mandarin Oriental - Grand Lapa Hotel, which I happily recommend for family travel. The room was small, but the location and resort in the center of town made up for it. The bed was wildly comfortable, and the breakfast buffet was tasty and vast. I must admit that I've always stuck my nose up at family resorts, but I may be sold on them. The girls love swimming in the outdoor pool, mainly because it was built with children in mind. They enjoyed the playground and the Kids' Club as well, and we even took advantage of it enough to have a lunch date (with a baby in tow, but who can complain about Annika's presence?) Mandarin Oriental has apparently just opened another hotel on the peninsula, within easy walking distance of the first. I am not surprised, as the Grand Lapa certainly feels dated. But it is so luxurious that the out-dated feel almost seems on purpose, like they're calling back another time. But the price was good, the service was tremendous, the location was great, and the resort was loads of fun so I'd happily return here.
Macau takes its cues directly from Las Vegas, and so along with enjoying the hotel, we also explored The Venetian, Fisherman's Wharf The Grand Prix, and the market area around the Ruins of St. Paul. If I've got any good photos, I'll post them soon. The girls and I watched Cirque du Soleil, and Dave gambled at Sands Casino. We found loads of playgrounds, ate loads of egg tarts, and generally enjoyed our time. And then we hopped the ferry to Hong Kong.
Now, we've been to Hong Kong before. We've come as tourists, so we've already climbed The Peak. We've come for the doctor and for the shopping, so we know our bearings around Central. This time, we just came to hang out and enjoy each other's company. Uncle H-- put us up for this round, as they take care of our visa issues, and they've quite comfortably set us up at the South Pacific Hotel near Causeway Bay. Near to the office, its also close to the Metro and loads of shopping - and the girls enjoy the view from the 21st floor room.
We took a day in Kowloon, where we acted like the family tourists that having children makes us. Together, we explored the flower markets, the bird garden, a sunny playground, the space museum and a restaurant with great burgers and milkshakes.
We took a day on Lantau Island, past Disneyland and the airport to ride a cable car up the green hills of the island to a small, wildly touristy village called Ngong Ping. After filling our bellies, we headed away from the crowds as quickly as possible and found some lovely hiking and beautiful green vistas. We ended this day back on Hong Kong Island, with more American food - this time BBQ chicken and fries.
We took a day for shopping, in which Dave and the girls both held up remarkably well. In Central, we filled bags with jeans and Halloween costumes for the girls, a few groceries, a few books, and a few baby items. Moving up to the Mid-Levels, we lunched in Soho over organic dahl and sweet potato fries. On our way back down the hill, Sophia fell right into a fountain and soaked herself. I warn my kids about these type of accidents all the time - I never expected one to happen! Our poor drenched Sophia stripped her clothes in the middle of the street, and put on Lilly's new school clothes. She looked like a rather fashionable hobo, with her hair a crazy mess and her clothes all baggy. Burgers for dinner, and then I hit Causeway Bay solo. Grabbed some home items and a few pieces of clothes for me, as well as the incentive to drop that last baby weight before I need to wear jeans.
We head back tomorrow, so the hum-drum of life in the expat ghetto. The girls return to school on Thursday, but Dave still has the day off. So he and I will spend the morning seeking out something exciting in Shekou. Will let you know if we find it!
We've passed the last few days enjoying Macau and Hong Kong, as we were not allowed on mainland China. I haven't taken many photos, as we didn't really go anywhere visually striking. But the entire family has enjoyed both destinations.
In Macau, we stayed at the Mandarin Oriental - Grand Lapa Hotel, which I happily recommend for family travel. The room was small, but the location and resort in the center of town made up for it. The bed was wildly comfortable, and the breakfast buffet was tasty and vast. I must admit that I've always stuck my nose up at family resorts, but I may be sold on them. The girls love swimming in the outdoor pool, mainly because it was built with children in mind. They enjoyed the playground and the Kids' Club as well, and we even took advantage of it enough to have a lunch date (with a baby in tow, but who can complain about Annika's presence?) Mandarin Oriental has apparently just opened another hotel on the peninsula, within easy walking distance of the first. I am not surprised, as the Grand Lapa certainly feels dated. But it is so luxurious that the out-dated feel almost seems on purpose, like they're calling back another time. But the price was good, the service was tremendous, the location was great, and the resort was loads of fun so I'd happily return here.
Macau takes its cues directly from Las Vegas, and so along with enjoying the hotel, we also explored The Venetian, Fisherman's Wharf The Grand Prix, and the market area around the Ruins of St. Paul. If I've got any good photos, I'll post them soon. The girls and I watched Cirque du Soleil, and Dave gambled at Sands Casino. We found loads of playgrounds, ate loads of egg tarts, and generally enjoyed our time. And then we hopped the ferry to Hong Kong.
Now, we've been to Hong Kong before. We've come as tourists, so we've already climbed The Peak. We've come for the doctor and for the shopping, so we know our bearings around Central. This time, we just came to hang out and enjoy each other's company. Uncle H-- put us up for this round, as they take care of our visa issues, and they've quite comfortably set us up at the South Pacific Hotel near Causeway Bay. Near to the office, its also close to the Metro and loads of shopping - and the girls enjoy the view from the 21st floor room.
We took a day in Kowloon, where we acted like the family tourists that having children makes us. Together, we explored the flower markets, the bird garden, a sunny playground, the space museum and a restaurant with great burgers and milkshakes.
We took a day on Lantau Island, past Disneyland and the airport to ride a cable car up the green hills of the island to a small, wildly touristy village called Ngong Ping. After filling our bellies, we headed away from the crowds as quickly as possible and found some lovely hiking and beautiful green vistas. We ended this day back on Hong Kong Island, with more American food - this time BBQ chicken and fries.
We took a day for shopping, in which Dave and the girls both held up remarkably well. In Central, we filled bags with jeans and Halloween costumes for the girls, a few groceries, a few books, and a few baby items. Moving up to the Mid-Levels, we lunched in Soho over organic dahl and sweet potato fries. On our way back down the hill, Sophia fell right into a fountain and soaked herself. I warn my kids about these type of accidents all the time - I never expected one to happen! Our poor drenched Sophia stripped her clothes in the middle of the street, and put on Lilly's new school clothes. She looked like a rather fashionable hobo, with her hair a crazy mess and her clothes all baggy. Burgers for dinner, and then I hit Causeway Bay solo. Grabbed some home items and a few pieces of clothes for me, as well as the incentive to drop that last baby weight before I need to wear jeans.
We head back tomorrow, so the hum-drum of life in the expat ghetto. The girls return to school on Thursday, but Dave still has the day off. So he and I will spend the morning seeking out something exciting in Shekou. Will let you know if we find it!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The List Keeps Growing Longer
We just heard an update to the Political Register. Remember that Dave has a 5.6. Someone with a 5.5 just added the register at 109 out of a total of 222 people. Such a long list! She passed the Mandarin language test, and receiving her extra 0.4 points. That brings her up to 5.9, and makes her #13. Each class brings about 20 people off of each register, so her 5.9 practically guarantees her an invitation to the next class.
Should Dave pass the Mandarin language test, he will have a 6.0 and be right near the top of the list. However, at this point he's not feeling good about his chances. He doesn't feel able to begin meeting with a tutor again until his job falls into a routine - probably in about 2 more weeks. He plans to take the test at the end of November, and that leaves around 6 weeks of study. Looking forward, that test could go either way.
The other option would be a great score on his interview in December. He will receive that score in the Economic Register, which is shorter and less competetive than Political.
A friend recently asked me if waiting for the Foreign Service is like always waiting for the last show to drop. Its not quite so unstable, as it has been clear so far that we would not be invited to an upcoming class. But all the same, I would love to have this waiting period fall into our past. Then we can focus on waiting for Mei Mei - another crazy uncertainty with major implications on all of our family choices. Every family goes through different seasons of life - and this one sure is a whopper!
Should Dave pass the Mandarin language test, he will have a 6.0 and be right near the top of the list. However, at this point he's not feeling good about his chances. He doesn't feel able to begin meeting with a tutor again until his job falls into a routine - probably in about 2 more weeks. He plans to take the test at the end of November, and that leaves around 6 weeks of study. Looking forward, that test could go either way.
The other option would be a great score on his interview in December. He will receive that score in the Economic Register, which is shorter and less competetive than Political.
A friend recently asked me if waiting for the Foreign Service is like always waiting for the last show to drop. Its not quite so unstable, as it has been clear so far that we would not be invited to an upcoming class. But all the same, I would love to have this waiting period fall into our past. Then we can focus on waiting for Mei Mei - another crazy uncertainty with major implications on all of our family choices. Every family goes through different seasons of life - and this one sure is a whopper!
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