February Update....

So far we have survived our first winter in China… but we were told that compared to previous years, this year has been very mild.  I am starting to feel like cabin fever has hit.  My Florida friends running races at home and taking family day trips to the beach is making my Facebook time depressing.  

I had forgotten how cumbersome winter coats can be and how having three extra hats and six gloves to keep track of is like adding another small child to the mix.   One that never wants to stay nearby and always seems to go missing.  It has been hard to not have our beach adventures to go to while living here, but we seem to have filled our weekends yet again with sports.   

                                                                

Jordan is playing in a co-ed basketball and baseball league and no surprise, is one of only two girls playing in both leagues.  She seems to be in her element while playing any sport and we are thankful she has this normalcy to her world here.   

It is hard finding some traction here now that I have all three kids in school and after seeing the ER a few times with Ayden, I am not so sure nursing is in my cards while we are here.    I had decided that there were a few things I had wanted to learn when moving here and figuring out how to use my high tech camera was one of them.   A cooking class was also high on my list, but I may have to put cooking on hold for a while after witnessing some of China’s meat markets on our photography adventures.  This class has been great at seeing some of the hidden treasures in our new home town and getting a true sense of the Chinese culture is both rewarding and eye opening.

There was a glimmer of home when I saw the familiar SAM’S Club sign.   Practically skipping into the store, it became immediately apparent that not all Sam’s Clubs are the same and I found myself deflated walking up and down the isles trying to figure out what was in the packaging. 

The meat section  looked normal only ALL the meat was labeled just that “Meat.”   I know I have gotten used to a lot of things while here, but THAT is not one of them.   I bought the chicken below all wrapped up… imagine the surprise to all of us when I put it on the counter to thaw out and noticed it was looking at us.  We had to have yet another family discussion on what to do with “Allen”.   It was a divided call… cook it or bury it and of course the “man of the house” took care of cleaning it up for us… and no it wasn’t Garrett. 

We are starting to plan our summer leave trip!   Hard to believe we have been here for five months already…