Finding things to celebrate isn’t difficult when living abroad, but for some reason May/June are very bitter sweet months to celebrate when living as an expat. We celebrate friendships we have made, birthdays were are going to miss over the summer months... and we celebrate saying good bye to friends we have made along our journey... I have read so many articles about how expats are a particular breed of people that thrive on adventure. No doubt, we are adventure seekers, but never thought I would experience it in such a way.
I have to admit, being an expat and living in China wasn’t high on my bucket list. In fact, it wasn’t even on my list. However, when given the opportunity, that sense of adventure Chris and I seem to share and thrive on... kicked in. It didn’t take long to figure out that the experience really can change a person. I often tell people that making friends in China must be like speed dating.... you find a few things you have in common and immediately your find yourself calling that person because you have no idea how to turn on your oven (or dishwasher or washing machine)... or find that recipe to make a ricotta cheese alternative for the meal you were able to find MOST of the ingredients to. These friends listen to you when you want to vent about the four grocery stores you visited that day to make one meal... or complain about the air pollution that you can’t imagine ever escaping your lungs. These women are the people you call and whisper... “hey do you have any of that lice shampoo?” knowing that you will get a response without any judgement... They are the people that see you out running in 220 plus index and don’t say a word to you because when they were out earlier when it was even higher.... They are the people that meet you at the “Garage” for that toxic margarita just to listen to you vent or celebrate the fact that you were able to run your errands in record time and without getting hit by a scooter or yelled at by some security guard on a power trip. These friends know you... know your kids... and would drop just about anything to be there....
We have done some crazy things in China… One thing I learned about being an expat is… anything goes. The adventure seeking options are abundant and there isn’t much you can’t get away with. For a few of our May birthdays, My girlfriends rented this Brew mobile. We pedaled our way around JinQiao with a giant keg. (You can’t see it, but it sits right behind our Brew Master driver) I do have photos of all of us when we returned… but I will reserve those for private screenings.
A few of my girlfriends got together and gave me this incredible birthday/going away gift. The streets of Shanghai… They had it customized to contain some of the places that were special to us. Every day that I see it I am reminded of the incredible memories they provided me/us.
If only I could have an ounce of my daughters confidence and independence… Jordan simply put, beats to her own drum. So when she came home and told me that joined a school dance club, I was shocked and in awe of her ability to step outside of her box in so many ways. For someone that has never taken a dance class in her life… she spent three years at SAS learning various dance numbers. I loved helping the girls do their hair and make up for the performances and we loved watching her do something that wasn’t on a field or required a ball…
While living in Shanghai, I got involved in volunteering in an orphanage. This orphanage was a bit different then most in China and Russia. It was an orphanage that took children in from all over the country that were born with physical defects. These kids would come to The Healing Home to get nutrition before surgery and then be cared for after surgery. Most of these children had cleft palates, heart issues or hydrocephalous. We tried to find ways to give back… and a few of Garrett’s friends heard about Garrett’s connection with The Healing Home and asked for monetary donations to this cause in liu of gifts. One of the experiences I hope my children remember for a lifetime…
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