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E-mail to our Friends and Family 4/1/08

Hello Everyone,

Ok, so I’ve become a little lackadaisical on the e-mails lately. For this I apologize. Ok, where do I begin???

Oh, yes, Phuket. In my last update we were leaving for Phuket, Thailand in the middle of the worst snowstorm in China history. Shanghai, didn’t get a whole lot of snow (maybe 6 inches) but you’d have thought it was 20 feet. We got to the airport at 6:30am for our flight and just as we were checking in they closed the airport. Not a big deal as we just went to the business class lounge and figured on a couple hour wait for the airport to open again. The airport did open about 3 hours later but our plane had not arrived. Then 9 hours later (with 4 very cranky people) we were told our flight was cancelled. This is when the fun began. The airport staff had absolutely no idea what to do with us. We found ourselves weaving aimlessly through the airport following a staff person then waiting in a line that had no beginning. I learned a very interesting fact about Chinese culture that day. As long as there is a line, everyone is happy. It wasn’t until about an hour later that we found out there was no reason to be standing in this line and how we found out is Scott went looking for help. He was told there was another flight at 1:30am we could take but that we’d have to be at the airport at 10:00pm to make sure we were checked in. So, 34 hours later (delayed in Shanghai for snow and Bangkok for heavy rain) we landed in Phuket.

Once we all caught up on our sleep we found Phuket simply amazing. It is an entirely different world with extremely nice people and beautiful scenery. The most amazing part for all of us, was no doubt, the elephants. Elephants walked the beach, the pool area and outside the restaurants freely. I’d be sitting at the pool reading a book and look up to find an elephant in front of me! There were 2 elephants at the hotel that just walked around all day giving people rides and hanging out at the beach. They were not chained or restrained in any way. Both Sophie and Sean got to ride them and had a really good time. We mostly ate our meals outside the hotel on the beach and the food was fantastic. The spices and freshness of the Thai dishes was a real treat. They also know how to make amazing Mojitos and Margaritas so Scott and I were happy. We went on an Elephant Safari where we learned about monkeys, buffalo, how to make rubber, how to cook Thai dishes and then got to ride elephants through the jungle up to the top of a beautiful mountain overlooking the ocean. We all enjoyed some awesome snorkeling and island hopping as well. All in all, it was a great trip and a place I’d revisit in a heartbeat. When we arrived back in Shanghai, Chinese New Year was coming to an end and the big firework display did not disappoint.

After that was the Lantern Festival. This festival marks the last day of Chinese New Year. We decided to go to Yu Garden for the festival this year as we heard it was an amazing site to see all the red lanterns and other decorations. Little did we know about 2 million other people wanted to do the same thing. Our time at Yu Garden was reminiscent of the time we spent in Tokyo smashed on a train in the middle of rush hour. All us of were getting pushed and shoved, Sean and Sophie were scared to death. What was interesting was the Chinese were totally calm about it like it was just an everyday inconvenience. I had my cell phone zipped up in my purse and someone unzipped my purse stole my cell phone and then zipped my purse back up. We didn’t last long at Yu Garden but at least we can say we saw the beautiful lanterns, lights and other decorations.

A couple weeks later, Scott had a nice surprise. He went to a Vessel Naming Ceremony and ran into George H.W. Bush and Barbara! Barbara Bush named the vessel TEXAS (she named another AMERICA in 1995). As you can see by the pictures, the secret service guys behind them do not look happy. Scott was one of 3 or 4 Caucasian looking attendees and HW came to him first when he came out to meet / greet the attendees. These are the times when Scott doesn’t want to leave China. He was thrilled with the experience.

Speaking of presidents, we just returned from a short trip to beautiful Guilin, China. This area is said to be the prettiest in China and it was gorgeous. We stayed at an inn on the river which was also the place visited by Bill Clinton. (Scott’s ears perked up when he heard this.) Anyway, we all got a real taste of Chinese culture and got to see how the farmers plant their rice and vegetables and how they live. They don’t use big farm equipment. The main tools they use are their hands and a water buffalo. The bamboo rafting was great fun. It was nothing like Shanghai and a trip well worth taking for peace and quiet.

Sean and Sophie are doing great. I wonder sometimes if all these experiences are spoiling them or opening their eyes to the world around us. Scott was talking about taking everyone to NYC this summer for a couple days to see the Yankees play their last games in Yankee stadium. Sean said they only way he’d go is if we stayed in a 5 star hotel. Where did that come from?????? Spoiled little brat! Anyway, Sean is doing fine in school. Another friend is leaving but hopefully another will take his place. Both kids have started taking Chinese lessons at home once a week as well. I decided they weren’t learning fast enough with just an hour at school everyday. Sophie is doing well, she really enjoys school, but who didn’t enjoy kindergarten? She’s doing great in Gymnastics but still refuses to play any other sports that would make my life a lot easier. She also just learned how to ride a 2 wheel bike. Yes, I know, it’s a little late, but she was determined not to fall and hurt herself, therefore she wouldn’t get on the bike. She was so proud of herself when she finally did it. She’s not quite ready to ride the streets of Shanghai but I’m not sure I am either.

As for me, I’m still going strong with Chinese lessons and have just signed up for a Web Design course. I’m really excited about that! I was also offered a part-time job as an assistant principal at Sophie’s old school but turned it down. I have 2 kids of my own and volunteer at their school twice a week. I don’t think I could take anymore kids in my life. My next project is to find out how I can get Sean and Sophie involved in helping/volunteering at a migrant school or hospital. More on that later.

Which brings us up to Tomb Sweeping Day this Friday. This is a national holiday in which offices are closed so the Chinese people can pay respects to their ancestors at their tombs and plant willow trees which is said to have miraculous powers against evil. The Tomb Sweeping Festival is the day to clean up the burial plots and tombs as it is believed that the spirits of the dead still remain with their bodies underground and take care of the living members of their families. Thus family members are known to leave food, cash and other items as gifts to the spirits for taking care of the family. This is also a day to celebrate spring by flying kites and having picnics. Sean and Sophie have school that day so I guess we won’t be sweeping any tombs!

We’re all looking forward to coming home this summer, but first I have a trip to Borneo, Malaysia to plan for the next holiday. We hope to visit/learn about the endangered Orangutans in their natural habitat.

Enjoy the pictures!

Jennifer, Scott, Sean and Sophie

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E-mail to our Friends and Family 4/1/08