11/30/09
Before disaster struck, Uncle Hal visited Shanghai, which meant Hallie and I got a social life and good food. The incredible restaurant list included: Lost Heaven, a tasty Western Chinese food restaurant, continued with some of the best sushi ever at a place called Haiku, fajitas at Blue Frog and an amazing show at the Shanghai Circus. The Shanghai Circus was a highlight if I do say so myself. I was on the edge of my seat with sweaty palms the whole time! Between the canister tosser, the motorcycle pack, the contortionists, and the hoop boys, I was really impressed. But my amazement did not stop there. After the show, the encore performance took place. We hopped in a taxi and dropped Uncle Hal off at his hotel. After that, Hallie and I headed back to our apartment. But our trip back took longer than expected. Our taxi driver hit a curb when he accidentally ended up in the biker’s lane. A loud noise and some Chinese mutter filled the car. We popped the front, left tire. And our driver got out in the pouring rain to jack the car up (with us inside) and changed the tire in less than 10 minutes, no lie. They don’t mess around over here with time! Best and only tip I’ve given in China…to a well-deserved taxi driver.
As my school week continued I started feeling sick. I spent three days in bed and didn’t see the light of day. I got a little panicky, needless to say, but I was reassured I was going to make it. My trustee lab rats (Dad, Grumpy, and Dr. Galen) and concerned Mom came to the consensus that I had a respiratory infection and gave me the go to start a Z-Pack. Being sick gives you free reign to be as lazy as possible; a task that I don’t do well. But, I embraced it for what it was and did a pretty good job of assuming my given role. My agenda from Thursday through Saturday: watching as much online TV/movies as humanly possible. I got through Adventureland, Lords of Dogtown, The September Issue, and a whopping seven episodes of Glee. Not to mention my uncanny ability to MAKE Hallie become lazy too (at a distance, of course). We managed to get through three seasons of Dexter a little too fast.
So I missed out on Uncle Hal’s last few days in Shanghai, which was a big bummer. I had a lot of fun being included in his China adventure. But, I’m feeling better despite my lingering cough that I can’t seem to get to go away. We enjoyed our first big holiday away from home and managed to have a pretty good time. All the foreign teachers (ie: Americans) pitched in and bought a turkey. We each made a side and feasted at Josh and Becky’s apartment, where our Chinese colleagues joined us. The Americans brought mashed potatoes (Me), pumpkin pie (Hallie), green beans, soup, salad, etc, while our Chinese friends brought sushi, Korean dishes, and a really questionable looking fish. Although far from traditional, Thanksgiving was ‘lovely’ as they would say in China. The best part, it felt nothing like the real holiday, so there was no way I could get to my saddest potential. Sounds kinda pathetic, but it was a grand feast and I enjoyed myself with my new friends. I didn’t have to miss my family and friends until the next day (Thanksgiving Day in the states), which was more tolerable after the holiday had technically ended here.
My first weekend back in action was spent outside thank goodness! We went to Yu Gardens on Friday and it was such a delight to see old China in our new Shanghai. The greenery, the gardens, the architecture was perfect. Not to mention the HUGE bizarre located outside of the tourist attraction. Who says there’s no Christmas in Shanghai? No one anymore! There were more trinkets and decorations filled on the streets than back in the states. Hallie and I spent a few too many RMBs on decorations for our apartment. Plastic ornaments, puffy snowflakes, and our very own artificial evergreen tree now grace our apartment, bringing in holiday cheer.
Saturday we went to the Fabric Market to get coats made. We have yet to see the end product, but anxiously await our handmade treasures! I opted for a cream, patched pea coat and Hallie went for a grey wrap one. Can’t wait to pick them up in a week! But what I really can’t wait for is my Mom and Mimi’s arrival to China! The countdown is on and I’m merely days away from seeing them! They’re stopping in Beijing first, we’re meeting them in Xi’an, we’re all coming back to Shanghai together, and then they’re making a stop in Hong Kong before they head home.
I’m thankful for my health getting back to normal, for my friends and family back home who care about me, for new friends, for a grand, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, for my kids (who probably got me sick, but I love them anyway), for Hallie, for our visitors, for City Shop, for getting to see my Mom and grandma in a few days, for having individual freedom, for being American, and for coming home in two months and counting…giving thanks couldn’t feel better.
Weijing: MSG
Thanks to Gam and Grump for my AWESOME care package! I will no longer be cold =)
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