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E-mail to our Friends and Family 12/9/07

Hello Everyone,

Christmas in China is interesting to say the least. It’s a mix between totally unaware to overdone tacky decorations and festivities. The one thing that we’ve done so far that was very nice was we went to a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton in Shanghai that was a “Christmas” mix of both cultures. They had a small Chinese string orchestra with carolers playing and singing both types of holiday music. The Christmas songs that we’re used to were sung using both languages. It was a beautiful show. Sophie escaped at one point and found her way to the Christmas Gingerbread House where we found her elbow-deep in frosting. I’m not sure management approved but we thought it was hilarious. She’s become extremely independent here in China going wherever she pleases. Gaudy Christmas decorations are easy to find as well as poinsettias. In China you don’t pick out your Christmas tree and put it on/in the car and drive off. You pre-order a tree and they deliver it to you in a pot with dirt. The only catch is you do not get the tree you ordered. They pick one out and deliver it and you take it. Our tree is hilarious this year, one I wouldn’t buy in a million years back home. It has no real shape and a 45 degree tilt to the right. We also found lights for it that worked great in the store but ½ hour after we plugged them at home, they went out, so ½ the tree is lit and my job is done! That’s China for you!

Both Sean and Sophie are really excited for Christmas and are very worried about how Santa is going to find us in China and how he’s going to get into our apartment when we don’t have a chimney. I’m craving Christmas music so I think I’ll download some songs and make a CD for the car. Scott will love that!! (ha, ha) Scott has introduced Mr. Lin to “Godsmack” (heavy metal band) which Mr. Lin seems to like so I need to get some Christmas music fast!! For Christmas dinner we’re all going to my favorite Thai restaurant dressed in our Christmas bests, I’m over the turkey thing. My mother, her husband and Scott’s sister are coming to Shanghai for Christmas this year. We’re all really excited to welcome our first house guests!

This is also the season where we hang onto our purses. I’ve met many women that have had their wallets stolen this time of the year and it’s pretty serious. Usually one person distracts you and another takes your wallet out of your purse. Often times they use children as distractions. These people have their families living in the country and are trying to get money to go home for Chinese New Year.

Thanksgiving was a typical day here. Sean and Sophie had school and Scott went to work. The Chinese do not eat turkey so we decided to try a restaurant for dinner that was serving turkey just for the Holiday. The turkey was served with all the usual trimmings all on one plate. Reading the menu we were all very excited but when it came down to the meal, the Chinese defiantly do not know how to cook a Thanksgiving dinner. I’m convinced as far as they’re concerned, if everything is loaded with butter we will like it. The next day our friends found a turkey and cooked it with dressing. She had to make her own breadcrumbs and make the pumpkin pie from scratch (used an actual pumpkin) but it was worth it. The party was for 12 adults and 10 children and everyone brought a dish. The food was excellent and the company was even better. It was by far one of the most memorable Thanksgiving dinners we’ve experienced.

Sean and Sophie are doing fine in school. Sean’s class had a fascinating culture week where each child gave a presentation on their culture. Only ¼ of Sean’s class is from the US so the presentations from Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Australia were fascinating. Sean did an excellent presentation on NASCAR. Sophie is doing great. She’s learned to stop kissing the boys and now she just holds hands.

Our landlord has decided to terminate our lease so I’m frantically looking for another place to live. He gave us 45-days to find another apartment. We all really want to stay in the same complex so finding an apartment has been difficult. By January 4th we’ll be in a new apartment hopefully in the same complex. Once again I find myself having to pack after Christmas. The good news is hopefully it will just be a short elevator ride away.

It’s interesting how it’s been almost a year since we arrived in China and how everyday life seems so “normal” now. The live chickens being sold on the street, the wet laundry hanging on the streets to dry, the people having their hair cut, shoes fixed, pedicures, cooking lunch, and wearing PJ’s - all on the street - seems very “everyday” now. I was telling our driver he’d think North Carolina boring and way too quiet compared to all the action we see just driving here in Shanghai (not sure if he understood me or not, he just nodded and smiled). We’re even getting used to the really loud bull horns coming from the ships on the river at night. Sean and I were walking the other day through this very busy shopping district with a huge mall and other shops near our apartment. Right in the middle, in the small area of grass, a family lifted up their 2 year old daughter (waist level) pulled her pants down and held her up as she urinated right there in the grass. Sean said very calmly “you sure don’t see that in America” and walked on. It was as if it was just another day in our lives.

Don’t get me wrong, I still hate going to Carrefour and am doing much better at showing my displeasure with the people when they get too close and obtrusive. Yesterday, as I was buying a blow dryer there, 2 sales women stood right on top of me the entire time wondering which product I was going to buy. They didn’t say anything just stood close enough to block my way in either direction. Last year at this time I would have smiled politely and tried to make pleasant conversation. This year there were no smiles and definitely no pleasant conversation in fact my body language had to scream “get the hell away from me”! I decided to play their game and I just stood there pondering between the purple or pink blow dryers. I stood there for about 10 minutes thinking they’d surely leave but once again at the end of the game they were the last standing. I grabbed the purple one out of pure frustration and bolted. Where was the shot of Bailey’s when I needed it? Yes, I know, always a Carrefour story to tell…

On that note, we hope you all have a very happy holiday season!!!

Jennifer, Scott, Sophie & Sean

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E-mail to our Friends and Family 12/9/07