Ready for the First Day of School!

I still cannot believe that I am going to be sending all three of my kids off to school tomorrow.   There is a lot of excitement in the air here but I can't say it is coming from me.  We landed just under two weeks ago and I think the kids are looking forward to starting school in their new "home" country.   

This year Ayden is going into a PreK4 program at SAS.  It happens to be full day and she rides the bus with Garrett and Jordan.  It is a toss up what she is the most excited for... her new backpack, the lunch box or riding the bus.    I asked her if she wanted me to drive her the first few days to school.   She was quick to respond, "No, Mom... I am fine taking the bus with Garrett and Jordan."  

So we broke them in quick... walked the .25 miles to the bus stop and off they went....

I am not going to lie... I was far more nervous then they were.  What am I going to do without any of my pals home????

Jordan starting 3rd Grade

Ayden in Pre K 4

Garrett starting 1st Grade

As you can imagine... I take a lot of pictures.   I also have a tendency to be late to just about everything.   The first day of school,  I somehow managed to get the kids to the bus stop 15 minutes early!!!  That lasted one day.    In our spare time, I took pictures.... and as you can see the kids have just about had it with me... and my camera! 

You blink and then they are gone.... 

I did not follow the bus.... as some may have thought I would.... Instead, I walked away with a very heavy heart.... really... I did.  

Okay... I may have skipped...  (Just a little) 

Hard to believe you can find this in the middle of a booming city...

One thing for sure is China is HOT in the summer!  

We were at loose ends last weekend and decided to break away and find us a pool with a tiki bar.  In Florida, we have numerous choices to choose from, but in Shanghai... where do you go???  

The Marriott!   We packed up our bags and headed further into town and found us a roof top pool to play.  You would never know of the hustle and bustle of the city going on below.  With the exception of the nearby window washers precariously dangling from the 80th floor above us, we felt right at home with our lounge chairs and umbrella... and of course the bloody marys always do the trick!

Yuyuan Gardens and Town God Temple

The weekends have taken on new meaning for us.  With no lawn to be mowed, pool to be maintained or "Crusher" to be worked under, we have now found ourselves with considerable time on our hands.  We have finally hired a driver, Mr.Zhu (pronounced Mr. Jew)   and we have found ourselves venturing far outside the compound of our temporary housing.  At first it seemed rather odd to be driven around, but I will admit, it quickly grew on me and I have gotten rather comfortable with my new role of "Ms. Daisy."   

Our adventures today took us downtown Shanghai to a beautiful garden nestled in the middle of  a hustling city.  Yuyuan gardens (We called Yu gardens) is a  famous garden that was built over 500 years ago.  Attached to these gardens  is a beautiful temple celebrating three town Gods.

The garden was first established in 1559 as a private garden created by Pan Yunduan, who spent almost

20 years building a garden to please his father Pan en, a high-ranking official in the Ming Dynasty, during his father's old age.  Over the years, the gardens fell into disrepair until about 1760 when bought by merchants, before suffering extensive damage in the 19th century.  In 1842, during the Opium Wars, the British army occupied the Town God Temple for five days.  During the Taiping Rebellion, the gardens were occupied by imperial troops, and damaged again by the Japanese in 1942.  They were repaired by the Shanghai government from 1956-1961, opened to the public in 1961, and declared a national monument in 1982. 

 Just outside the gardens are a ton of shops and restaurants.

 There was a lot of local foods available.... and as much as Garrett wanted to dive into a lot of these exotic dishes, I wasn't in a place to be a positive role model.

 The temples were beautiful... but as sacred as the place seemed to be for a lot of people,
Chris and I nearly melted from all the flames and incense.  People would light these large sticks that burned similar to incense and wave them in the air.  I am not clear of the significance, but everyone doing it seemed very peaceful after.

 This was Garrett's favorite God in the Temple.  We called him - the
"Youpushtomanbuttons God"

 We had a fantastic day exploring a unique part of Shanghai.

Counting our Blessings! 计算我们的祝福 (Jìsuàn wǒmen de zhùfú)

The Careys are in Shanghai!

Road Produce

Walking through the French Concession

City Place Grocery Store...  Finally found some syrup!  

Two subways later we made it to the Shanghai Aquarium!

We arrived in Shanghai two days ago.   So far things are good... even with the jet lag.     As luck would have it, our temporary housing is at Lanson Place which is right across the street from Life Hub (a large shopping area).  This has been enormously convenient.  As we landed,  Ayden (with significant sleep deprivation) asked if we could go bowling.  Mind you she has never really bowled before (except with my family on vacation once a long time ago). We were laughing wondering where this was coming from.  As I looked out of our apartment building window low and behold on the top floor of Life Hub is in fact a bowling alley!!   

I am planning on taking the kids to the aquarium tomorrow.   This is located across the street from The Bund -  big tourist attraction.   I looked up info on both the zoo and the aquarium.  The zoo  I have heard has larger crowds on the weekend. From what I have read online, the zoo is a bit run down and it seems some animal rights activists reaped havoc on their website so I was like whoa... perhaps that could be a trip that Chris can enjoy with us too.   

We have enjoyed touring around our place and heading up to the Carefour (the grocery store) in JinQiao (where our permanent residence will be.)   The grocery store in itself was a field trip for the kids.  There is an Emart (another grocery store) across the street from our current apartment and I got quite the core workout manipulating the carts with four movable wheels.   I really like this grocery store as it was much quieter and easier to move through - not considering the crazy cart.  I am seriously sore!    

We were able to see our apartment we rented.  We held our breaths until we saw it  because we rented it without seeing it.   One thing I never considered was the smoke.  We have two apartments side by side in Lanson Place and one had a smoker in it.  I swear I have black lung and rarely set foot into that  apartment except to use the laundry machine.  So we were a bit worried with our permanent residence and thankfully it was fine.  The kids all picked out their rooms and we were able to pick out our furniture.  We are even allowed to pay rent without penalty with our credit card so that is going to be a huge bonus with our Marriott points!     

Yesterday, I was finally able to get a sims card for my phone so I feel like I am able to at least have contact with someone.  Mind you the only person reachable that I know here is Chris.    There is something about feeling connected though.  I felt immediate relief.  You can imagine the thrill feel I receive when my phone rings.  Out of habit, I still look to see who it is with a smile.    Oddly though.... my 8 and 6 year old were the only ones that knew how to use it.    I am still new to the technology and rarely answer it in time.  

I think the biggest challenge so far has been grocery shopping.  I think there should be a service here where someone walks a newcomer through the isles of the store.  I came home with a pounding headache after trying to read labels and figure out the contents of each package using all of my senses.  I did make my first meal last night with some random package and  I got a half thumbs up and a couple of eye rolls.    We do not however have a clue what it was, but no one has gotten sick so all is good.   The meat department may or may not grow on me.  I love a good steak but the this department in the store turns my stomach a bit.  I know the smells will grow on me at some point but watching the "butcher" in the back with the machete took it over the top for me.    I managed to buy several bags of produce only to have to dump them under the register (by the attendant)  because I didn't realize I had to weigh it and get a sticker.  The checkout girl wanted me to send Jordan back through the store to gather them up...  well, you can imagine how much attention she received walking through the isles at Carefore in the first place so I shook my head no.  We found one non Asian person in the store and decided to follow her and put in our cart whatever she did.  As it turns out, she had just moved here too and was shopping blind like us.   In the states, I  had to herd my kids up at the checkout line, often walking ahead and hearing them yell out, "mom, where are you??"  Here, they flank each side of me  with a death grip on my cart.  Ayden wonders why I won't let her sit in the cart seat but after reading the articles on split pants I have been creative with my engineering stories of the cart seats and weight limits.     It didn't help that some fight broke out near the eggs and all the Chinese people went to watch.  I took this as an opportunity to jockey for a spot in line to checkout.  Yet another stress.   The only thing I know about RMBs is that 70 RMBsenglish speaking teller there.   So that was a wash...    This has given me new appreciation for all the foreigners we have met in the states.  

Feeling triumphant though.... we left the Carefore and now I am actually prepared for the bottom of the conveyor  belt.  There is a small group of Chinese women that congregate there. I have yet to learn just what these people want with my receipts????    

I have come to realize.... each day is a new adventure.   It is fun to see it through the kids eyes... but getting Garrett's "bobble head" ways will be a challenge out on these streets with all the scooters and bikers.    I am close to putting a helmet on him when leaving the apartment.  :)

I have learned early on to cram reusable grocery bags into my purse before heading out to the  store as you pay for each plastic bag you use.   You could say I have officially gone green!  Good thing big purses are in style.  I never thought that I would have to fill mine with reusable  bags and toilet paper!     (another story)

After two two short days, I have grown to really miss a few key things....  first and foremost obviously would be our families and friends - my morning calls to my mom (yet they will pick up once I am able to stay up after 7p -  my book club who met last night and I thought about the entire time - my morning crew gym friends (including the crystal meth instructor) - COFFEE that I either don't have to cut with a knife or put hair on my chest.  

However with each new day there are constantly  new adventures....     I am glad to be alive to seek them out!