Bazaar

Shanghai Community Center Spring Bazaar


Friday the Community Center Shanghai held their annual spring bazaar at the Pudong branch, and it was a flying success! The weather was divine, there was an excellent array of vendors and there were hundreds of expat and local supporters taking advantage of the unique offerings.

I certainly did my part to stimulate the local economy! I bought several gifts and also took a great interest in the Jinshan peasant paintings by artist Lu Yongzhong.

Before walking to the bazaar my husband and I had a conversation about our time here so far. We both agree that it hardly feels as though we're living in China. The area we're living feels very similar to a short visit we made to Rome (and other Italian cities) last year. Just like Rome, Shanghai is a true international city so we're living a vastly different lifestyle had we been relocated to any other city in China (except Beijing), just as the cities of Italy felt much more 'Italian' compared to Rome.

All continues to go well. It's uncanny how the 6 degrees of separation seem to prove out...yesterday I met two ladies from SC and both graduated from Clemson, my husband's alma mater. Met another fella who lived in Hickory for years, and yet another fella who has been in Shanghai for 12 years and owns a condo up hwy 25 near the Blue Ridge Parkway. My husband struck up a conversation with him upon seeing his NC Tarheels hat. Small world.

Mother's Day

HOLIDAYS WITHOUT FAMILY

George Burns once said, “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” But I say holidays SUCK when they can’t be shared with loved ones. We have three terrific growns (pictured) and today I miss them more than ever. Traditionally for Mother’s Day the kids manage to find their way back to the nest. They cook, present me with silly cards and wonderful gifts, and they indulge me by playing Scrabble or other board games. I just realized I didn’t pack my Scrabble game…

At any rate, I'm making the best of the day by chillaxin'. As I blog my husband has ventured via taxi to the nearest KFC. Today I’m in the mood to dine on something familiar – it’s much more of an emotional need than a real craving for the greasy fried stuff. I’ve requested sauce-less spicy wings. My husband tried in vain to place an online delivery order, but we *think* the error message read we had an invalid address or we were beyond the home delivery area (the message was in Mandarin). YES, folks – KFC and McDonalds DELIVER in Shanghai for a mere $1US service charge (and no tipping). Home delivery service is a huge business here - anything you can imagine can and will be delivered to your door for a very nominal fee.

Back to the holiday and family topic. Before this weekend we were planning a trip home this fall, but having assessed the holiday situation and the kids’ schedules we will be waiting to make a family trip back to the states at Christmas. Expat life is a privileged adventure and something my husband and I enjoy very much, but absolutely nothing is more important than our family; children, parents, siblings and dear friends.