Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Two minutes to 2009 and the fireworks are gettin' happy around here! :)

While this is the time to celebrate the calendar new year...this is NOTHING compared to the upcoming Chinese New Year...according to the Chinese. For the calendar New Year, there are fireworks in a couple of the major parks around town and a few spurts of fireworks can be heard in our neighborhood, by residents. But, other than that, there's not much going on here in Shanghai. Did you know that fireworks were invented by the Chinese? They take their invention very seriously over here...and generally use it to celebrate it for everything!

However, for the Chinese New Year, which is on January 26th, the celebration lasts all week long. I know of Chinese people who have paid over 1000 RMB for their own personal fireworks...which is supposed to mean that you'll have a good business year. The stores are already overrun with CNY decorations. People are planning where they will be for CNY EVE parties and dinners. Men and women are supposed to wear red underwear which is a sign for being prosperous. And, of course, the red envelopes are already out. The purpose of the "red envelope" or "hong bao" is to give a bonus to friends, family, kids, service providers, etc...aka, money. So, similarly to our Christmas where people give different token gifts for different people, everyone here exchanges money. Yep...they all exchange these red envelopes which are always filled with money. While I'm sure there is significant tradition behind this exchange, I'm not entirely sure I understand it myself. Everyone is giving and receiving money, back and forth. I can understand giving extra money to service providers. I can understand grandparents giving the kids money for a college fund or something. But, this exchange of money is extensive and spreads to parents, aunts, uncles, co-workers, siblings, friends, and beyond! The amount of the money given depends on who and how long you've known the recipient. Why doesn't everyone just keep their own money? Do some people really "make out" on this deal - or maybe not!? I'm not really sure. Since we are Americans, I feel comfortable having given gifts to individuals over Christmas. However, we will also be providing our service providers with their own "hong bao" as a bonus...since it's custom. 2009 is the year of the ox.

As I'm waiting to bring in the new year by typing this blog, I'm thinking of all the events of this past year and my upcoming New Year's Resolutions...

When thinking about our 2008 year gone by, I think...

WOOOOOOOOOOOO-EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haha. If I had known, this time last year, about the completely [often] overwhelming undertaking of making a move to China...I think...WHAT would I have done to try and stop it! haha No, really, it's been quite a year. I'm sure 2008 will stick in my family's memory for quite awhile. It isn't as much about the "events" as it is the "experience" that will be memorable. When moving to China, you can't quite get around all the "hard" stuff. It's hard. No doubt about it. And it's all the time, in one way or another. But, that's what makes this experience chock full of sticky memories. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger, right? By the end of our contract, we'll be living proof! :)

With the hard stuff, though, comes amazing experiences, sights, sounds, smells, tastes and culture. While our experience, so far, has been wrought with challenges, the benefits to this kind of journey are invaluable...to us and our kids. We've all discovered some amazing things about ourselves. Before moving here, I didn't know I could even learn a new language. Allen has learned and proven to himself, new depths to his managing abilities. It turns out that Brandon is an architectural fanatic. And Ryan is learning Chinese faster than his mommy.

We have seen a bird's eye view of the city of Shanghai. We have walked the ramparts of the Great Wall of China, where hundreds of thousands have walked before us. We have touched the peeling paint of the massive doors of the Forbidden City and hobbled over the same cobbled courtyards as China's previous Emperors. We have seen great expanses of Chinese terraced farmland and tree strewn countryside. We live near the world's 3rd tallest building and seen the top of it from a neighboring structural icon here in Shanghai. We have seen an ancient water town and visited an ancient temple to pray for the Tibetans during their time of crisis.

Now I ask...WHAT is not amazing about any of that? While I might whine about being here (for GOOD reason), I'm also encouraging my family to LIVE while we are here. Life is too short.

It's all about perspective...

My mom's visit ends in a few days and she is fond of reminding me how getting old stinks! She did a lot of travelling while here in China, ate some bad food, got a nasty flu/cold, got plenty of headaches from the smog AND is getting older! Sheesh! Her own experiences here in China haven't necessarily been #1 on her list of "fun things to do." haha In fact, she tells me, "Honey, I love you. But, I really am not fond of China...I could have seen it on the Discovery Channel." However, her boyfriend has had a wonderful time, re-discovering China and especially Shanghai. He was here about 20 years ago (extensively) as a travel guide and is absolutely dumb struck with the changes between now and then. He's been like a kid in a candy store! It's all about perspective.

So, ONE of my New Year's resolutions is to gain better perspective about living here and try and enjoy it while we are here. At least...as much as possible. There's a difference between existing in a foreign land and LIVING in a foreign land. We're here...now is the time to live it as well as live with it, albeit grudgingly.

Other 2009 resolutions include, finding healthier eating habits, even though it's difficult and expensive; maintaining my son's health from the air pollution, finding the source of my older son's moodiness; scale down on some of my commitments; TRY and be more consistent with "handling" my 2-year old's behaviour; take some trips and make some family memories; capture and nurture what my husband and I have very recently found again; and I definitely want to try and find my smile and laughter. Where is it? I'm not sure where to look, but I suspect I may have left a little of it back home. Good thing I'm visiting soon! ;)

What are YOUR 2009 resolutions??

As I watch the clock turn to 00:00...I shiver. Happy New Year!