Hangzhou

On Monday, we took a day trip to the town of Hangzhou (Hong-Jo). It was about a 2-2.5 hour car trip. The whole gang ended up going...us, driver and ayi. In Hangzhou, we specifically spent the day at a place called Xihu (She-Hu), or West Lake. I would compare the size and appeal of Hangzhou to Orange County, compared to Shanghai which I would say is more like Los Angeles. I have only a few cities to compare with in which I have actually lived in or near. Both Allen and I like Hangzhou a lot. It feels cleaner, more open but with all the Metropolitan "pluses", and has beautiful scenery. However, Hangzhou is located much further south and we suspect that there isn't a HUGE expat community like we have found here in Shanghai.

Xihu, or West Lake, is a large lake, dotted with several smaller islets. There are only a couple of them that the boats will take you to, however. We arrived in the morning and strolled along the lake at a leisurely pace. There was lots to see! The lake's back drop was a string of small mountains, making it an ideal place to take in all the beauty and recharge your batteries from typical city life. Although, the skyline of Hangzhou was pretty impressive and skirted the lake in several places. The size of the lake could be compared to Lake Tahoe...maybe a smidgin smaller? However, UNLIKE Lake Tahoe, the lake was China's usual brown...where Tahoe, Lake Arrowhead, Big Bear...and almost every other lake I know in the States is BLUE! I have no idea why every river, lake and body of water I see here in China is yellow-brown!? BUT, a lake is a lake and the scenery was MUCH more preferable to Shanghai's continuous metropolitan skyline with it's blinking lights, noise and air pollution...at least, for ME! It was a nice day away.



Since this is 'Golden Week', there were a TON of people in Hangzhou. But, from what we understand, there are a lot of people EVERYWHERE during this week. Knowing this, helped us to adjust to seeing and being around so many other people during our visit. The kids were hoarded by people, wanting to take pictures of them...and even us! Every photo opportunity for us, became a photo op for a ton of other people as well. We had a ring of people around all of the time, especially if we stopped. I know I have already mentioned this unusual behavior by the Chinese people. But, it is still a surreal experience...and we are still never sure how to handle it. The kids, however, took it with grace since this is nothing new to them. Any shyness they felt was quickly overcome by the amount of attention they realized they were getting...and they totally "worked" it. I'm not kidding. Brandon, would pose in several different ways (he felt he is a pro after his "official" photo shoot in Shanghai), giving the crowd want they wanted. The crowd ate it up and laughed and roared at his "antics". Ryan...well, he is just a natural. He caught on to the attention and would smile on cue for the flashing cameras. People wanted to take pictures of the kids...they wanted their own children to take pictures with our kids...they, themselves, wanted to take pictures with our kids...men wanted Allen to take pictures with them...moms wanted me to take pictures with their kids. It must certainly be a cultural thing.


On a trip like this, you can rest assured that you won't have to spend a ton of money. The scenery is free. The souvenier stands are really cheap. You bring your own snacks. The boats were 45 yuan per person...about $6 USD per person. On one of the islands, there was a vendor selling camera accessories, like batteries, etc. He also had chinese costumes for 10 yuan (~$1.25 USD). We asked Brandon if he would like to dress up like an authentic chinese child (back in the day, of course) and he said "yes". So, for 10 yuan, they provided him the costume and we could take our own pictures of him. For more money, they would provide the pictures for you. We opted for taking our own pics. OMG! Brandon drew a crowd! There were tons of people with flashing cameras, all directed at him...people wanting to take pictures with him...standing all around us. I have to admit...he was cute. And, again, Brandon worked the crowd and they loved it! :)


We took one of the many boats to the middle of the lake and visited two different islands. They were very pretty and we had many scenic photo opportunities...despite the immense amount of people. Allen bumped into a couple of his co-workers, also enjoying a couple days in Hangzhou. There were a lot of statues, monuments, sculptures, etc., but we couldn't read any of them to know their significance. The islets, themselves, were very flat and small. However, the bigger of the two that we visited (Three Pools, Mirror Moon...I think it was called) had three pools of water within it. Both of them had several vendors, wanting to sell you cheap stuff...just like home.


After spending the entire day walking and looking around, we came back to Lakeside Park, where we parked the car, and they had a water fountain show off one of the main quads. Brandon liked that! As were just about to leave, I took a picture of the sunset over the mountains and then a rainbow appeared over the town of Hangzhou. Wow! The Chinese people went crazy, taking pictures of the rainbow...all exclaiming and muttering...stuff.

All in all, it was a very nice day. Exhausting...but fun. A day trip like this can be extra tiring for parents of small children due to several factors. One, I had to think of and pack all the snacks and drinks the kids MIGHT want to eat during the day...and then you have to take it with you the whole way. Sure enough, by the time we got home, the entire stash was depleted. You can never be sure what kind of food or even drinks you'll encounter in other towns...and kids are so picky. I thought I had over packed, but I didn't. Two, you have to be prepared for weather changes. It was cooler in Hangzhou than in Shanghai AND it was pretty windy. Sure enough, the kids needed their sweater jackets on the islands. Three, you can't count on sit down toilets...so be prepared for squat toilets wherever you go. That means you need to bring any toilet accoutrements you can think of for both you and the kids, including packets of toilet paper. Four, accessibility to your car is not very easy at times and services (like boat trolleys) are not very sympathetic to your situation. And five, the entire trip around the lake as well as the islands themselves are NOT kid-proof...meaning that they didn't have any ropes, gates, etc to prevent your toddler from falling or getting bumped into the water. This included bridges, boats, lakeside scenery, pagodas, etc. So, running after the kids - all of us - made for an even more exhausting day. Thank goodness we had ayi and our driver to help "man" the stroller or use of an extra pair of eyes. Even then, the kids gave us all a run for our money! Why can't we figure out how to bottle that energy!!?? haha

Golden Week

It's the beginning of Golden Week here in China. This is China's birthday and everyone gets a week off of work. Many people travel during this week and it's the reason, as I already mentioned, that we are waiting until the END of October to go to Huangshan.

However, we do have a few activities planned for this week. I'm looking forward to just chilling as a family, which is something he haven't really been able to do since we moved here. You don't realize how much NOT having that quality family time can affect the family unit...but it does. In Tucson, we took opportunities every weekend to enjoy...each other. I miss that. I think we all miss our Jeep. Here, it's just not the same. There are many factors to consider when the weekend rolls around...many things we need to either think about or accomplish or we are just plain exhausted from our week.

The weather here has seemed to turn cooler overnight. Many people are rushing into stores to buy colder weather attire. The days are mild and the nights are already chilly. Our Huangshan trip will be pretty darn cold, I imagine. That means, I have to start thinking of getting the family cold-weather-ready. I also imagine that it will be a perfect time of year to see the season's changing within the foliage on the mountain. :)

Anyway, I'll give you updates about activities this week. :) Happy Golden Week!

Navigating the markets

A couple of days ago, I went to the Fake Market in Pudong in search of a few general items. Rookie mistake #1...always go in with a plan and/or an itemized list of what you need. I've been to the fake market before, of course, but since moving here, I have either always had a specific item I was looking for OR I've been there with friends, flanked on either side by other girls who want or need something more than I do. This always helps when trying to avoid the vendors' desperate attempts to get you to follow them...your "pack" power.

I know that when we were visiting here in March, I wrote at length, about the Fake Market. All the markets here work pretty much the same...the flower market, the wet market, the fabric market, the fake market, etc. However, the Fake Market located near the Science and Technology Museum in Pudong is a subterranean labrinyth of corridors designed to suck you into their depths and could very well sustain you for days on end! No, really. There's everything you could possibly imagine wanting or needing to buy. And the way the market is set up...it seems limitless! This one, in particular, is located in a subway type environment. Above ground, it's the picture of serenity, with trees and water features and lots of clean space to walk around. Below, it's..."Lady! U want to buy bag?", "No? How 'bout watch?", "I show u!", "Lady!" They have food down there, so in case you get lost (and you will at some point) and can't find your way out immediately, they at least provide several food options to keep your energy up. ;) Being subterranean, the lack of sun helps [them] by obscuring the passage of time. So, my first bit of advice...bring a reliable time piece with you!

I swear, I tell myself I'll be quick...all of the time. The next thing I know, I'm walking back into the sunlight and it's considerably later. If you think you'll be an hour...give yourself 3 hours. If you think you might be awhile, double that.

Like I said, they have everything you can imagine to try and sell you. And if they don't, they have a sister or a cousin or an aunt or a friend who does...either in the market as well or on the outside, somewhere else in town. This fake market is where I go to get my nails done. If you can beleive this, it costs a lot of money to get your nails done (with color, especially) in any one of the "expat" plazas or areas. But, the place in the fake market is clean, they sanitize their instruments and they are very reasonably priced. The fake market has anything from luggage, to faux purses, to cell phone accessories, to hairclips, to backpacks, to faux sunglasses, to clothing to souveneirs, to jewlery, to chopstix, to scarves, etc, etc, etc! I really could go on and on and on. They also have a very nice and large "tailor-made" section.

I have noticed that shopping in Shanghai happens in three levels, pretty much across the board. First, globally. There are the high end retail shops, both foreign names and chinese names that you wouldn't even think about trying to bargain a lower price from. In fact, they really don't appreciate it if you try. Then, there are the shops within shops. Many times, the floors of bigger malls or stores will be set up by individual vendors. While, it's still not necessarily a place to hard core bargain...you CAN get a lower price or a discount sometimes...depending on the mall or store. Then, there are the markets and street vendors...which bargaining is not only acceptable, it's expected. It's this kind of market where you can really see the "dance" that happens between the people who live here. Like the driving...it's a road dance among drivers. The higher end stores are really for foreigners. Chinese people wouldn't normally pay those outrageous prices for anything. Although, some of the younger generation Chinese kids seek out fashion and in order to be fashionable, they go to the retail markets.

At the fake market and when shopping for a fake...whatever...be on the lookout for 3 levels of quality. Several of the stores are set up in a tri-level fashion, poorest quality at or near the entrance; you can find better quality walking towards the back and the best quality (for a fake whatever) that the vendor has to offer is usually in the very back of the store. This is where many of them have "secret" drawers or cabinets or even doors that pull out to show you their best stuff. The "best" stuff can be anything from better threading, to higher quality silk or material to exact replicas of higher-end name brand bags, purses, watches, etc.

Yes, the "secret" doors hold the good stuff. IF, that is what you're looking for, of course. I know I have mentioned this before, but the reason for the secret doors is because the government is trying to crack down on the really good, fake replicas of things. My very real and [relatively more] expensive Coach purse from the States has a leather label inside that indicates the purse was made in China, even IF the designer wants me to think it's from Italy. The fact is, most everything is made here in China (and now Malaysia) and these street sellers have *ahem* "opportunites" to get the very same material and make a replica of any item. It's an interesting experience to see, what you thought was a wall of shelves, actually become a door and you're shoved inside to see that they do, indeed, have MUCH better items than the store front originally indicated. That's when you're negotiating skills are truly put to the test. YOU know what they have...they know what you want...the fun begins.

The art of negotiation. I still feel very inept in this department. However, I have learned a few things and here are some guidelines that I have found to be more successful in the world of marketplace negotiations.

1) Know your product. I know this is difficult, but try and get a ball park figure on what you would pay for something in your home country. Do you really want to pay MORE for something here in China (where it is probably MADE) than you would pay in your home country...with all the import mark ups, etc? I know I don't. This can be tricky, though, with the currency conversions you have to do in your head, and quickly!
2) Shop around. When there are vendors in your face, trying to get you to buy their product, the last thing I really want to do is "encourage" more of them by shopping around. Also, it's not like you can walk into a vendor shop, see the price, and walk away. EVERYTHING has to be negotiated! It's exhausting. But, this is worth it for a couple of reasons. a)After the negotiations, you get a feel for the "real" price of things as you make your way through the shops, and b)Once you negotiate a price, the vendor REALLY hates to see a customer walk away. SO, more often than not, the vendor will keep coming down in price - if they can - to keep you in their store. If a vendor doesn't try and stop you from walking out, you really have undervalued their inital cost on the product. This, of course, also helps you gauge how much the product is truly worth.
3) Quality. Decide on the level of quality you are really after and look around. Some vendors are MUCH more, uh, skilled, than others...or have better quality material.
4) Shop where the locals shop. One day, I went to the fake market just as the vendors were opening their metal doors...about 10-10:30 in the morning. I was surprised to see so many locals gathering at one or another store, waiting for their doors to open. It was enlightening to see where the locals preferred to shop. They have an eye or nose for exceptional quality, as many of them, themselves, sell some kind of product. And since the locals don't generally make a ton of money, they especially have a keen sense to look for balance between reasonably priced items and better quality material. They don't want to spend their hard earned money on, well, crap.
5) Make "friends". The term "good friend" is used a lot when trying to bargain. The vendors "give u betta price 'cause you good friend." What this really means is that they will be willing to give you a (slightly) better price if they sense that you might come back or if you DO come back a second time...or even better, bring your own friends back to their store. It's all about relationship building here in China...even at this level of interaction.
6) Divide by 4. Now, this is not necessarily a scientific formula. However, this can be used as a very general guideline to begin the bargaining. The vendors will always start high...you will always want to pay low. Where do you start?? An example: If I want to buy something and the vendor starts at 400 RMB, I divide that number by 4 as a much more reasonable place to start...in RMB. I then double check in my head and quickly do the currency conversion and decide if that is really how much I want to spend in US dollars. Again, this is a very general guideline.
7) Don't wear expensive jewelry. The vendors can spot it a mile away. They already view expats as a $$$ symbol.
8) Consider NOT bringing your small children to the street markets. They provide just the distraction the vendors are waiting for. Also, many of these markets, whether it's the actual store or the walkways outside of it, which are not generally stroller friendly. If your small children are not strapped to the stroller, it is very easy for them to get distracted themselves with so many things to see. Just something to keep in mind.
9) Take a break. It's easy to get worn down and the vendors can sense it! Take a break if you have to, or shop the market in small doses.
10) Don't get emotional. It's a sign of weakness. This is a great place to try your "poker" face...if you have one. Maybe think about avoiding the markets if you're PMS-ing, etc.
11) Beware of the up-sell! The vendors will ALWAYS...and yes, I mean ALWAYS try to either up-sell you on the product you are interested in OR try to sell a variety of other items from their store that might "compliment" your product.
12) Don't get too attached. It's usually when you think you can't part with a particular product...that's when you're headed for trouble. You will probably end up paying WAY too much compared to what the product is actually worth and then you head down 'buyer's remorse' lane. Especially when you see the same or similar product for much less money just two doors down. If the bargaining isn't going your way...walk away. Look around. Then go back to re-negotiate if need be.

Wow! I didn't realize, until I wrote all of this down, that there is a lot I consider when shopping the local markets! And, yes, I usually keep all these things in mind whenever I go. And, YES, it IS exhausting! No wonder I'm so tired by mid-day. haha If you have never been in this type of environment before, it's very intimidating at first. However, after a few "great" buys...you get addicted to the rush of accomplishment you feel when you walk out with something you really love and paid a basement bargain price for it! Who doesn't love a great bargain?!

The most important thing to remember when navigating these markets, is that some days you win and some days you lose. That's just the nature of the beast. Also, you live and you learn. :)

Back online!

Random thought...

Why...in a country of a majority of smokers...can't I find matches? Why is this sooo flippin' difficult?

Anyway...

Our internet server was down for a few days. It was like cutting off my arm! No skype. No emails. No blogging. This is what I do! What do you mean the internet is down!? And, as you can imagine, finding a way to fix it, calling tech support who only speak Chinese, figuring out the problem, figuring out the problem, figuring out the problem...well, it's a process. Deeeep breath!

Now, we are back online. Yah! I've blogged about our weekend, in case any of you thought I dropped off the face of the planet.

I really want to take a minute and talk about massages again. Just a minute...please. Massages over here are like gassing up your car. The Chinese view it as a necessary item for many different kinds of people. Massage parlors are like Starbucks...one on every corner. Business dinners usually end up at a massage parlor. Going out with friends...you end up at a massage parlor. Tired of walking so much? Go to a massage parlor! Got health problems? Go get a massage!

This is a typical massage parlor menu of choices:

Foot massage - 60 min
Special "house" Oil foot massage - 90 min
Body massage - 60 min. (clothes on)
Oil body massage - 90 min. (clothes off, but they only really massage your shoulders and back...for 90 min)
Traditional Thai massage - 60 min (they show you pictures of this as a sort of "liability" clause)
Back Cupping
Leg Pinching
Foot Scraping
Ear Removal (I assume they mean ear wax removal)

What? No hitting, scratching or biting? Well, maybe in the "happy ending" massage parlors...I guess I'll never be sure about that though.



Cupping - Cupping refers to a practice in which a cup is applied to the skin and the pressure in the cup is reduced (by using change in heat or by suctioning out air), so that the skin and superficial muscle layer is drawn into and held in the cup.

Cupping developed over time from the original use of hollowed animal horns to drain toxins out of snakebites and skin lesions. Horns evolved into bamboo cups, which were eventually replaced by glass. Therapeutic applications evolved with the refinement of the cup itself, and with the cultures that employed cupping as a health care technique. Cupping eventually developed into a separate therapy, with healers treating a variety of conditions.

In some cases, a small amount of blood letting (luoci; vein pricking) is done first, using a pricking needle, and then the cup is applied over the site. The pricking is usually done with a three-edged needle, applied to a vein, and it typically draws 3–4 drops of blood (sometimes the skin on either side is squeezed to aid release of blood). This technique is said to promote blood circulation, remove stasis, and alleviate swelling and pain. It is employed especially when there is a toxic heat syndrome and for a variety of acute ailments.

Pinching - This is where they pinch your legs continuously to also draw out the pain or bad energy in your legs and get the blood flowing. Yep...that oughta do it! I can only imagine how long those marks are left on your legs.

Scraping - They have techniques to scrape the skin off your feet. Tools and details...not really sure. I don't want to know.

Allen and I walked into a massage parlor and both decided to get foot massages. I can't tell you how many times, during both body and foot massages, that I just wanted to get up and leave. It happens a lot. During this particular foot massage, the guy had nails and wasn't afraid to use them on my feet. If that wasn't bad enough, I actually counted the number of strokes he used on each and every muscle. These are quick and vigorous strokes on the SAME little muscle...and then it's repeated on the next little muscle right next to the first one. I counted anywhere between 12 and 40 strokes each and every time! Ugh!

As the massage continued and my pain threshold decreased, he resorted to rubbing. When I say rubbing...I mean that the guy used both hands to light my legs on fire. His hands were the instruments...and my leg was the twig. I really thought I was going to spontaneously combust at some point. I was almost "rooting" for him..."C'mon man, you can do it!" and "You've almost got it now!"

I think Chinese massage is actually a form of torture over here. A massage parlor on every corner...and not ONE single decent massage. I want one of those bone melting, endorphin inducing, slobber enhancing kind of massages. Sorry folks! Not here!

I keep wondering if these massage "therapists" are actually trained to do this? Or are they just employed by a fly-by-night company, given a shirt and put to work? Who knows! But, they all seem to know exactly where to find the rawest and sorest NERVES under your skin. The nerves that feel like they are on fire when they are rubbed or touched. Yep...they seem to have a knack for that...and they zero on in until you want to scream!

Check PLEASE!

Taste of the Nations!

Allen and I had purchased tickets to what's called "Taste of the Nations". A company (Torres China) who specializes in selling wine from many countries around the world, puts on this event once a year. It is a fantastic wine tasting event, representing 12 countries across the globe. This year, it was set on a yacht that was supposed to cruise the river. However, due to inclement weather, the boat didn't actually "cruise", but stayed attached to the dock. No matter, because the event itself was a really great time!

In the States, many people...myself included...tend to stick with their favorite wines. Usually, they are a domestic brand of fairly good quality, but also cheap because it's from home. We have some VERY good wine produced in the States. It's hard to justify venturing much further if the cost is too high. However, if people get adventurous, there are the "stock" wines from other countries like Spain, Italy, France, etc. The big ones. And, of course, they are the more vague, harder to find varieties...but rarely does anyone I know search that hard to find a wine or even prefer the more obscure varieties anyway.

China, and Shanghai in particular, has a much more comprehensive representation of wines from around the world. China, itself, is not much of a [grape] wine producing country. But, it more than makes up for itself by importing so many types and varieties of spirits from across the globe. As I mentioned, this one event hosted by Torres China, represents several different names and varieties of wine from 12 different countries. The 12 countries were: Spain, Australia, Portugal, Chile, United States, China, Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa, Hungary, France, and Italy.

The entire 2nd and 3rd levels of the yacht had tables lined up with several bottles of wine and even some liquor based spirits as well. Every guest received a handy neck chain attached to a booklet of all the wines represented and a pen to take notes. Each table had a few spit receptacles in case the wine you chose to drink happened to o-ffend you in some way. The event was well organized, the yacht was clean, and every guest walked away with a party gift...what more could you ask for here in China!? :)

They served food as well. I remember thinking prior to boarding the boat and asking Allen, "Do they know here in China...that CHEESE and wine go very well together?" Once the food appeared, I looked at it with skepticism and more than a little disappointment...the cheese cubes were covered with an unidentified...something...could have been mushrooms...could have been meat....could have been minced fish eggs...you just never know. Never sure about the origin of any of the meat here in China, I chose to decline in the beginning. After finishing a thorough examination of the wines on the 3rd floor, I attempted a few of the "safer" looking savory appetizers. By the end of touring the 2nd floor of wines, I didn't really care and tried most of the appetizers. I'm still here! :) What an education! I learned so much about the different wines from around the world! It's exactly what I have been wanting to do for quite some time. If you attended something like this in the States, it would easily have been a higher price to get in...about $100 per person is our guess. However, this event was very affordable (about $30 per person) and came with lots of "extras" to boot. It was a 3-hour event.

What about the wine??

By far, the wine from Italy held my attention the most. Wow...they make some very good wine! I found many of their Merlots, Cabs and Pinot Grigios to be very smooth. They had a White Chocolate and Bottega Grappa that was absolutely to die for!!!! YUMMMMMM!!! Grappa, by nature, is a very strong spirit and caters to, I think, a smaller crowd. So, when mixing it with the white chocolate, I'm sure they had to overcompensate the stingy Grappa with EXTRA creamy and smooth white chocolate. OMG! It was so good! For those of you who like white russians...you'll definitely like this combo. But, unlike a white russian that never gets creamy enough in my opinion...this Grappa combo nails it in it's creamy, silky texture. And the white chocolate is so incredibly yummy! The Italian table also had a Lemon Grappa mix...but talk about potent! I'm glad I wasn't wearing a wig when I tried that one! Whew! It just about knocked my socks off! The Italian table also had a couple of bubbly options that both Allen and I found very appealing...even better than the "host" champagne that was served throughout the evening.

The French table held my interest a bit, but not nearly as much as the Italian table. In fact, I was a little disappointed in the French wine as a collective group. However, in France's defense, they may not have had a great representation, through this company, of their more refined wines. I'm not sure. Although, there was a BIG French company being represented at the table, B.P. Rothschild. With THIS being said, I did find a few that were more than a little incredible. They had both a Bourgogne Chardonnay and a red that actually tasted buttery! I'm not kidding! Now, how did they manage something like that? They actually had a buttery, smoothness to them that left you smacking your lips after you had a taste...like a french fry. It was incredible...and good! Now, THAT is impressive. These buttery wines were made by Joseph Drouhin.

Australia, again, delivered and didn't disappoint! They had a good representation of wines and their table was quickly depleted of product. I have been very impressed with Australian wines.

The US wines were horrible! There were some bottles from California...the vicinty of Napa Valley (but clearly new to the industry), Sonoma, Monterey and the State of Oregon. Definitely NOT a good representation of what the US can offer, ESPECIALLY from the Napa Valley region. Too bad...

The country that surprised me the most was South Africa. I really enjoyed sampling some of their wines and the results were, again, surprising. Actually, there was only one company from South Africa being represented at this event. The company, Kleine Zalze, is located in Stellenbosch, north of Cape Town...just how far north, I don't have a clue. They had a Merlot unlike any I have ever tasted. It was very spicy (not like a Merlot at all), but with an incredibly smooth finish! Different and yummy! Their Cabernet Sauvignon was truly amazing! It was rich in aroma as well as flavor and the smoothest Cab I have ever tasted. It was such a pleasure to drink! They had a Pinotage that was more of an experience than a drink...again, amazing. This Pinotage tasted...raw...but beautiful all at the same time. It mirrors what I imagine the country of South Africa is like in many ways. The fact that this wine could reflect or mirror something like that defines logic, but nevertheless...that's what it did for me.

China. This probably doesn't come as any surprise, but all of the wines from China were pretty bad. Ok...really bad. They have a long way to go to catch up to the world's standards in the [grape] wine industry. However, I heard they put out a pretty good rice wine. Their wine at the event was tasteless and to say "dry" would imply that any of the bottles held any sort of depth...which is NOT the case. So, I'm not really sure how to describe the wines of China, other than to say...they have a long way to go.

Allen and I found ourselves outside, on deck, about an hour into the event. We ended up meeting this very nice Australian couple, which we talked with for the rest of the evening. It was a very fun, relaxing, unique and entertaining evening out of the house. BOTH Allen and I had a really good time.

Shanghai Aquarium

Over the weekend, we went to the Aquarium here in Shanghai. We were SO impressed! Having lived in places like California and Hawaii, we have been to our fair share of big aquariums and scenic fish spots. However, the one in Shanghai was one of our top picks!

This aquarium is home to the world's longest water tunnel, where people can see all the sea life with a 360 degree view, while being transported on a mechanical walk way. As you walk through the aquarium facility, the enclosures for the water life are separated by themed environments, ie, sandy beach, pier/docks, river, lakes, and then all these environments are further expanded in the different regions all over the world. Each "theme" had the appropriate props set up in each enclosure. Then, you were guided to the DEEP sea environments and finished your tour through the water tunnel. The water tunnel, again, had different themes along the route and it seemed to go on forever. All the signs were both in English and Chinese, which helped tremendously. Every enclosure was very clean and spacious for the animal(s) inside.

Each enclosure in the different environments, were accessible to the people, with the glass only coming up about waist to upper-chest high on an adult (depending on what was behind the glass). This was great, because you could see the top of the water and it really did give you a much more thorough perspective of the entire environment. thus creating a more 3-dimensional effect for each enclosure. Back home, many people would probably worry about this kind of set-up and that the animals and the water would be touched and harassed. Amazingly enough, not one single person had any desire or acted on the impulse to reach over and disturb the environment. At least, not during the entire time we were there and we were there on a weekend day. The entire effect of the aquarium brought out a desire to learn more about each of the animals and they were displayed with that in mind. Accessible, but not in a dangerous way to either the person or the animal. Well done, in my opinion!

One of the most fascinating displays for me, was the live shark's egg cycle(s). They had a live display of the different egg phases/days and you could actually see the shark moving around in each of the egg. It was divided into developmental phases which was based on how many days since it had been conceived. You could even see their tiny umbilical cords. One had "hatched" already and was swimming in the tank. It was...educational.

Ryan liked the frogs and turtles a lot...and, of course, ALL the different kinds of fish. He was a little afraid of the crocodiles though. Brandon really liked the jellyfish and stingray enclosures and was a little hesitant around the huge Alaskan crabs. Allen really seemed to dig the shark eggs as well.

The water tunnels were absolutely fantastic! It's rare you get to see the underbellies of so many fish and other sea life. Brandon got to see the underbelly and sharp teeth of a shark, up close! There were so many beautiful fish, of every color!

We had a great time! And, of course, at the end of our tour, the rest of the aquarium facility is packed full of toy and souvenir vendors, food and then an arcade after that! So, navigating through all that fun stuff without purchasing anything was quite a task!! haha

I definitely recommend a trip to the aquarium for both kids and adults alike. It is located right next to the Pearl Tower and the Insect Kingdom Museum. Two other places I would also recommend to see during a visit here. :)

Just some news...

MILK

Well, many of the expat women over here are in a small state of panic over the contaminated milk. We are finding out that many of the local name brands have been contaminated and it has spread to even the liquid milk, yogurt, ice creams, etc. We are worried about the milk, cheese and yogurt being distributed at the schools our kids attend, and we are now even worried about a recent report that the [one] imported milk from France (Presidente) is also contaminated...as recent reports have suggested.

Many of the locals are aware of the problem, but like many issues here in China, the majority of the local people have complete and absolute faith that the government will protect them from further harm. The "scare" doesn't seem to affect the locals as much as many of us expats. But, then again, neither does poop in the pool.

As reports are continuously pouring in, I think our little family will be ok with rice or soy milk for a little while. However, many of the expat women over here are faced with MUCH bigger problems because their kids are within that milk or formula age range. We all just hope this can be worked out soon. What else can we do?

BOYS

The boys are doing GREAT in their school. Brandon is currently being assessed to skip a grade by his teacher and principal, since he already has a very good handle on many of his future English lessons this upcoming year. However, both Allen and I feel that, socially, he is extremely happy where he is and we are afraid that moving him up too fast could create levels of increased insecurity and thus, cause him more harm than good. Their school has an extra curricular program called, Jelic Curriculum. It is a Taiwanese-based curriculum and we think it is right up Brandon's alley. So far, he really likes it. This, plus the additional thematic lessons in the classroom, such as science, art, history and cultural studies, PLUS the Chinese lessons he is learning SHOULD be enough to challenge him throughout the year.

Also, Brandon will be doing a photo shoot for a well known, reputable photographer next week. The photographer's client is one of the biggest brand name clothing giants in China and they like Brandon's style. So, we'll see how that goes. The photographer possibly wants Ryan to do a shoot in October as well. We'll see... The photographer came with recommendations from other moms. He pays hourly for the actual shoot and we get to keep several catalogues of the final product. I realize the expectations of such a "shoot" may be different in the States...but, we're not in Kansas anymore folks! Everything is done differently here, for several, several reasons.

Brandon LOVES China! He says so almost every day. He tells us he doesn't want to go back to Tucson and wants to stay in China for a long time. He also tells us he really likes looking at all the buildings and the cars and the people. There IS a lot to see here...I'll give him that. Like his father, Brandon loves a change of pace and scenery. It really seems to get his blood flowing. It's the Sagittarius in him.

Ryan has slipped into school very effortlessly, thus cementing my theory that he was ready for this, even at his young age. He goes to school with Brandon every other day with not a tear or peep of regret from him. But, he also enjoys being with mom in between the school days. I think the schedule is working out for him...so far.

Ryan and I went to one of our favorite plazas the other day and they were having a mini festival with dragon dancers and lots of music. Ryan loved watching them...and so did I! The entire ensemble of both music makers and dragon dancers were women! It was lots of fun. Ryan really boogied to the drums! haha

ALLEN

Allen is doing great at work. He enjoys the challenges he faces (every day) at work...which keeps him busy, but also tires him out quite a bit as well. There is a lot of mental energy involved in living here, especially at his work. He is constantly being challenged by his Chinese co-workers, the suppliers he meets, the language barrier, the differences in business practices, the NON-verbal communication that occurs between people here, etc. However, despite the difficulties he continuously faces, I think he also appreciates the different sights, environment and atmosphere he is exposed to while living here. He likes change every once in a while...it's the Sagittarius in him, I think.

Allen also benefits from eating truly authentic Chinese food. Not only is lunch brought in every day to work, which is usually from some local joint, but he also gets to experience something much more authentic and unique...Chinese [business] dinners! On occasion, he attends business dinners with clients, suppliers, etc. A Chinese business dinner is MUCH different from a business dinner in the States. There is usually a seat of honor, facing the door and in the middle of the table. Several dishes of truly authentic Chinese food are ordered, including many body parts of the animal and different KINDS of animals to choose from. And then comes the wine...Chinese wine, that is. A Chinese dinner, for many Chinese, is all about the drinking. They will drink this rice wine and "shoot" it by the glass, shouting "encouragement" along the way. The more an individual can drink, the more of a "hero" he is. And if a person wants to decline on the wine? There is a protocol and technique for etiquette when declining the wine. The entire process is supposed to present subtly so nobody loses "face". Sounds exhausting...

MEEEEEE!!

As you can probably tell from reading my blogs, I'm feeling a little better about...life, my husband, China, etc. I still want to go home. This still doesn't feel like home...only a very long, extended, way past due (to go home), trip to China. But, I'm still striving toward that six-month mark. So, I guess we'll see. C'mon...just look at the news...now it's milk contamination (pre-meditated no less)...who knows what tomorrow will bring. I'm a mom and wife, with two small children and family to look after and protect, living in a society of government "believers". When can I feel comfortable? The POINT is, I can't. Ever. Not here.

However, I meant what I said in a previous blog...I'm ready to "look" around as long as I'm here. I feel a familiar part of myself has returned...the adventuress in me. If we are going to do this thing...then let's really DO IT! There are several places I'm thinking about visiting in the next couple of months...small weekend trips. We are planning a trip to Huangshan in October. When my mom visits, maybe some more looking around. So...that's good.

I would like to find some more time to myself. I feel like I have been doing a whole lot of running around since the kids began school. A whole bunch of stuff that I was specifically waiting to do when school started. haha Like I already mentioned, living here takes a lot of mental, physical and emotional energy. I'm exhausted by noon every single day! I'm not kidding!

I signed up for a quilting class through the community center. That should be fun. I'm hoping to join in on a book club that's held one Sunday a month. It's quite far from where we live, but hopefully it won't be too bad only once a month. I tried to join a choir, but the practices were on a weeknight on the opposite end of town. We sat 2 hours in traffic during rush hour and hadn't even gotten halfway there. Ugh! Needless to say, joining the choir wasn't very practical from where we live. Bummer! I'm beginning to enjoy all the local markets around town, such as the flower market, the fake market(s), etc. I'm getting a pretty good handle on the 'art of negotiation'. Feeling a bit "empowered" goes a long way to being successful at any one of these types of markets. Today, I visited the 'Tailor-Made Market'. Very nice! The Wet Market is still something I try and avoid. It's a place with the "freshest" meat, grains, rice, veggies, fruits, etc. Sounds lovely, right? When I say "freshest"...I mean from the locals point of view. Stuff grown in people's backyards, the stench of rotting "freshly" caught or killed meat, live chickens, ducks, pigeons etc. with their feet tied to keep them still, just waiting to go to slaughter, flies everywhere, the heat of the day adding to the smell, etc! Ack! While it's something everyone says needs to be experienced at least once...I would advise against it.

Weeeeeee

Allen and I have begun to try and repair "ourselves", both independently and together. We are both eager for the gym to get their kids club facility up and running so we can take the kids to the gym with us. Without it, it's hard for either of us to get to the gym very regularly. We both realize that exercise might greatly improve our stamina, on several levels. We are taking Chinese lessons from the boys' ex-teacher from their summer camp, for two hours a week. They are very casual lessons and we definitely aren't practicing enough. However, just the few lessons we have had have helped boost our confidence when trying to pronounce the few Chinese words we already know. We hope to continue with these lessons, for as long as we can. We try and go out by ourselves a couple nights a week, for dinner or something. This coming weekend, we have tickets for a wine tasting cruise along the Huangpu River. It should be fun.

BLUE

Blue is doing really good. His sutures are in good condition and the t-shirt is doing an amazing job of keeping him from licking or scratching his wounds. I MUCH prefer a-t-shirt to the gigantic collar! He is eating very regularly and taking his meds without a problem. He goes back to get the stitches out next week. He has generally transitioned well here. However, I sense he is not as happy as he was in Tucson. He doesn't have as much carpet to lay around on or as much wide open natural spaces to roam freely. I also think he misses his neighbors back home. He had special relationships with many of them. BUT, he does get walked regularly and our ayi treats him with with extra special care. So, he's ok.

Well, that's the news and updates from this end. I hope all is well on your end!