Celebrating Chinese National Holiday - Fall Festival

There is a lot to learn about a country that you can’t just read in a text book or online.  We have found its the things you learn when actually living in the country and experiencing the culture has been one of the most rewarding treasures.  While there are many days when we struggle performing the simplest of tasks… our Shanghai highs far out weight our Shanghai lows.  

There is a lot we have learned and grown from…  this month we are celebrating one of China’s national holidays - The Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Chinese have such great traditions and every year they celebrate this National holiday with The Mid-Autumn Festival being one of the four most important Chinese festivals.  Moon Cakes are pastries that have a rich thick filling usually made from red bean or lotus seed paste is surrounded by a thin (2–3 mm) crust and may contain yolks from salted duck eggs.   Seems like a perfectly great way to ruin what could be a tasty pasty treat.   We think they are nasty!  It is common practice to give these as gifts… we surely re-gifted any we received to our driver and ayi.  

Chinese National Day is celebrated throughout China with a variety of organized festivities including fireworks and concerts.  Most public places are decorated with the national flag and the fireworks are all night long!   It puts to shame Disney’s fireworks and is quite a show!!

They heard cake and immediately thought … YUM!! 

Lets just say the before pictures… were much better then the after.

I am so incredibly proud of my children for learning on very hard lesson in life so early on… learning how to adapt.  This is actually something they learn in nearly every aspect of their life here.   From the food they eat… the accents and difficulty with language… the challenges sometimes of getting even the simplest task done…  They take each challenge and grow… and I am grateful that they have learned the ability to adapt, because there are times when I definitely need a refresher & trust they are right there to give it to me!  

Back in Shanghai!

After a fantastic several weeks state side, we are back in Shanghai and hitting some local shopping markets to find furniture for our apartment.  We decided to “let go” of our rental furniture and buy some memorable pieces of our adventure here.  This particular shop/warehouse —  is named “The Rat Warehouse” by the expats that shop here.  It is like an extreme version of the T.V. show Pickers.   The store is dark and piled high with various furniture pieces and knick knacks.  The owner walks around in a leisure suit to bargain.  It is a true experience...

Once we recovered from the jet lag, it was time to go back to school!!!  

Ayden loves school and is starting her second year at SAS.  She is in Kindergarten with a fantastic teacher from Pakistan.  This year she is most excited to be able to sit at the “big” table at lunch and carry her own tray and select her own food.  She has a lot of the same kids in her class from her pre K year, but her best friend, Charley was put in another class.  (Not at ALL surprised with THAT one)  They seem to hook up though at lunch and playground and find trouble when they are together.  

Garrett is starting 2nd grade this year and is also the family translator.  (Along with Chris but Garrett’s Chinese is easier to understand as it lacks the “Boston” accent.)    He was excited to see so many of his friends in his classroom and was more excited then I expected going back to school.  He was most excited that being in 2nd grade meant that you get to play on the “big kid” playground.  Apparently, this is a huge status changer.  Garrett LOVES his new teacher.  We are hopeful the feeling is mutual...

Jordan is starting her 4th grade year at SAS.  No surprise that we walk down the hallway her first day of school to several of her pals “high fiveing” her.  

Much like Garrett, Jordan’s status also rose this year as she too went to a different “big kid” playground.  This new status change also means that they are able to decide if they want to be outside to play or they can go to the library to “chill out.”   It is nice to see them get some independence.   

The first day of school we were early to the bus stop in the morning… (for those that know me this is a RARE occurrence).  I was lost all day not having the activity they bring and I won’t lie, I actually felt a mid life crisis brewing.  I was 20 minutes EARLY to the bus stop in the afternoon… excited for them to come home.  The extra 20 minutes waiting gave me some time to think and worry about my mental status.   Day two:  we were in full sprint to the bus stop in the morning and I was back to my old self cutting it close at drop off.   Not sure what happened in between… I am still working on that… 

End of Summer... Sad saying good bye again.

There is a lot I can say about the past 12 months… there were times that we were challenged with some new life adventures, but it wasn’t until I got home and spent some time with one of my nephews Jared… that I realized an important life lesson.  As we landed, we were immediately introduced to two new concepts.  The first one was  “Roo” cups… Highly sugared drinks that come in a size much too larger for a little body and truly a parents nightmare 20 minutes after ingestion.  (Jared’s wicked sweet tooth)  You can almost see their eyes glazing over as they are drinking the toxic waste.   

The second concept, was “YOLO.”  It wasn’t until I returned to China that I realized it’s true meaning to me.    (A meaning I will get to in a future post) But what it means is.. 

“YOLO … You Only Live Once”  

We sucked every last bit of summer into our visit… and spent nearly everyday with the wind in our hair and sunscreen on our skin.   We  had an amazing summer…  Building sandcastles and memories…  

And while the kids are getting use to their city life in Shanghai...

They have learned that “home” isn’t a place...

Home is… who you are with!