Enjoying the springtime...finally!

We have had a much more active month exploring Shanghai...just what we needed! We have taken a few strolls around the People's Square, which is always packed on weekend afternoons! I volunteered at a school for migrant children to work on some Earth Day activities...pretty great,even if it was completely unorganized! And we went inside the Yuyuan Gardens...simply amazing! When we leave, these will be the things that I miss the most :)

What to do, what to do....

In the past 3 months, we have traveled back to the US, I finished another quarter of my master's program, and we have come to the conclusion that we are just too far from our family and friends to stay here. However, there is always the temptation of remaining in Asia for financial reasons...we are faced with a pretty difficult choice- stay and make money, or go to __________ (this could be filled with the US, Europe, and different destination all together!)

I know that I am not happy with our current situation, but could that change? could things improve? This is another crazy transition time for us both, and everything could be very different in a matter of a few weeks- I just wish that I was more sure about the decisions we are going to have to make in our search to be happier than we are now...

2010!

Happy New Year! As we all make resolutions to be healthier, happier and more successful, I really hope that everyone can find the motivation within themselves to achieve all of their wishes and goals in 2010!




This year, we were in Shanghai, and although we were sad not to be with our family and friends, we tried to make the best of it here. We brought in the New Year in Xujiahui, where there were concerts, fireworks, and geese (I'm not lying!!) Check it out! He was just hanging out under a table, music was blasting and a vendor was selling street food above him- that's just how things go here!


We even lit sparklers with about 10 strangers at the stroke of midnight, which made it perfect! Confetti, balloons and fireworks filled the air, and we celebrated all through the night...not bad, not bad at all! Cheers!

Let It Snow!

You know the saying that you never really appreciate something until it's gone? Well, I think that there is a little more to it: I think that you never truly appreciate something until it actually returns, that is when you realize how much you have missed it. Sometimes these things are things that you actually never thought you cared about, but when you get them back, it brings such joy, that you realize you have missed it all along...

Today it snowed. Big, fat, lovely snowflakes. It has been so cold in this city for a few months now, and it has actually been miserable. When I woke up today and looked at another dreary day outside, I just wanted to go back to bed and pull the covers over my head. But then something magical happened (yes, I used the word magical because that's what it felt like!). The snow started falling! Everyone said that it does not snow in Shanghai, but today, for a few hours we got snow!

What amazed me was the peace and serenity it brought with it...walking around outside was calm, people were quiet, and this city was actually pretty enjoyable for a change. I loved every minute if it :) I can only hope that the snow (and the quietness it brought with it) will stick...unfortunately I don't think that is going to happen, and by tomorrow this city will return to normal. But for one day, it was fantastic.

Just Walkin' Down the Street

I have become used to the fact that many people here will stare at me walking down the street simply because I am white; it has taken months to do so, but now I just stare back at them- and occasionally I make a ridiculous face just to make them feel as awkward as they make me feel. I have to admit that I am thankful for the frigid winter temperatures just so I can hide my blond hair under a hat! However, what really cracks me up are the things that people do not stare at, or even think twice about. I regret that I haven't had my camera on me when I have seen some pretty hilarious things, but the following are a few samples of the local sightings:

Take for example, the grown woman riding her bike down the street....on training wheels.


Or perhaps the large bulldozer plowing down the street among all of the crazy
cars, scooters and pedestrians...


And perhaps my favorite, just a girl taking an evening stroll...with her monkey!


I am sure there will be more ridiculous things to be seen, it's just a matter of time :)