Birthdays

As I start thinking about Chase's birthday, I can't help but think of the birthdays that my parents so lovingly pulled together for me.

I remember that one of my birthdays, long ago, was held on a farm. I don't remember much about it, except there were all sorts of games and a scavenger hunt for socks. I think the ones I found were florescent green (gotta love the 80's).

I also remember my father going to great lengths to throw "surprise parties" for me. And, while I sure appreciated it (thanks, Dad!), I never really liked having surprise parties.

There's just something about being an insecure little girl and having your e-n-t-i-r-e class attend a function hosted by your parents that is "like, sooooo embarrassing." This embarrassment, is of course heightened when boys you have crushes on are invited, attend, and you show up to your own party, in just-going-to-the-grocery-store clothes.

Now, as a parent, I can certainly understand the concept of a surprise party. I can see how fun it would be to plan. I can just imagine the look of surprise (aka shock and embarrassment) on my own little girl's face years from now. And of course, this would mean that I did a good job, because she never saw it coming.

And so, as I contemplate what kind of birthday party throwing parent I'm going to be - and what to do for Chase's first birthday - I realize that whether she likes it or not, her first birthday will, in fact, be a surprise party.

The funny thing is, I can tell her a thousand times, buy the presents and decorations in front of her, and she will still be surprised on the day. How fun is that? Maybe this will be the only surprise party I throw. Hmmm, maybe not - it's just too much fun.

Sorry little darling! Surprises are in your future. But don't worry, I'll be sure to drop hints, like "Sweetheart, why don't you wear that sparkly pink party dress to the grocery store."

Chase's First Birthday

Chase's first birthday is in a few weeks (March 18). Let the party planning begin!

Thank You, Jack!

We just bought Jack Johnson's Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the film, Curious George (which we have yet to see). I can't say enough good things about this album.

It's about time that someone, in today's barbie-emulating, shaved-Britney-head, celebrity world, has taken the time to write positive songs for children. The album talks about such modern concepts as sharing, recycling and taking responsibility for one's actions. Imagine that!

Don't believe me? Here are a couple good ones ...

"With My Own Two Hands"

I can change the world
With my own two hands
Make it a better place
With my own two hands
Make it a kinder place
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands
I can make peace on earth
With my own two hands
I can clean up the earth
With my own two hands
I can reach out to you
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands
I'm going to make it a brighter place
With my own two hands
I'm going to make it a safer place
With my own two hands
I'm going to help the human race
With my own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands
I can hold you
With my own two hands
I can comfort you
With my own two hands
But you've got to use
Use your own two hands
Use your own
Use your own two hands
With our own
With our own two hands
With my own
With my own two hands

and ...

"The Sharing Song"

It's always more fun
To share with everyone
It's always more fun
To share with everyone
If you have two
Give one to your friend
If you have three
Give one to your friend and me
It's always more fun
To share with everyone
It's always more fun
To share with everyone
If you've got one
Here is something you can learn
You can still share
Just by taking turns
If you've got a ball
Bounce it to the gang
If there is a new kid
Invite him out to hang
If you've got one sandwich
Cut that thing in half
If you know a secret joke
Tell it and share a laugh
If you've got two drumsticks
Give one to your friend
Make one beautiful rhythm
Share a beat that never ends
And if you're feeling lonely
Share time with your mom
Share some milk and cookies
And sing the sharing song
It's always more fun
To share with everyone
It's always more fun
To share with everyone

Pool: Take 2

Chase, unfortunately, was in no mood to swim today. I learned this only after we got into the water. She clung to me like a little, wet, koala bear. Refusing to let go, refusing to splash, refusing to smile. Looking into her eyes, I could see her begging to leave.

Oh well, we'll try again in a couple days.

Making Friends

Hubs and I went for a walk today. On the way back, we passed a (white!) guy (who lives in our complex!). He was roughly our age - and was kicking a ball with his small child.

As usual, Hubs and I debated for a couple minutes as to whether or not to introduce ourselves (I believe there is a fine line between wanting to make new friends and looking like stalkers – or worse, appearing too "needy").

Well, we decided he was worth a small detour. After exchanging names, I asked, “so, does your daughter attend the Maple Leaf school (local private school for foreign kids –and strangely, no Chinese kids are allowed to attend) or a local kindergarten?” To which he coolly replied, “my son attends a local kindergarten.”

And that was that. No new friends for us today.

But seriously, his little boy looked like a little girl.

Swimming In February

After a lazy week at home (mostly spent inside because everything is closed due to Chinese New Year celebrations), we decided to check out the pool.

Admittedly, it has taken us far longer than originally expected to get our tails to the pool (even though it is less than a 5 min walk from our front door), as we had to (1) buy Chase a new bathing suit, (2) buy Hubs a new bathing suit, and of course (3) get motivated to get into the bathing suits - it is February, after all.

While Hubs swam laps, Chase and I checked out the warm water pools (the water is piped in from the hot springs near our complex) and a kiddy pool next to the big pool. The fun part about the kiddy pool is that it has buttons that one can push to make water cascade down and bubble up from various places. Plus it is deep enough for Chase to swim, but shallow enough so she can stand (with her head above the water). Good fun!

And, while I didn't get a chance to swim laps, I got my work out trying to wriggle out of a wet bathing suit while holding a squirmy, wet baby, with a huge, wet diaper; trying not to let her touch the floor. Finally, I threw down a towel and let her stand on it, while I quickly pulled dry clothes on. Now that's a workout.

Chase slept so well last night. It was great.

I see much more pool time in our future.

Visit China

Thinking about visiting us in China? Need a little motivation?
Take a look at http://www.imperialtours.net/destination_main.htm

Hair

Yesterday, we bought Chase a comb and brush of her very own.
As a result, we're facing a difficult parental decision.
Our choice will probably impact the rest of Chase's life ... (oh, the pressure!)

Should we comb it forward? (I think not)




















Comb it to the right?




















Or ... comb it to the left?

Sippy Cup

11 Months

Where has the time gone? I can't believe that in one short month, Chase will be a year old.

She is still in the 90th percentile for height; her head circ. is still in the 75th percentile (exactly where it was when we measured her months ago). I'm not sure how much she weighs (we need a scale), but she is slimming down as a result of being in constant motion.

I have never been so conflicted. So happy to see her getting older and more independent - but at the same time - so sad to say goodbye to that little, helpless, dependent bundle. She has always been a little, independent being, with her own feelings and desires - the difference is that now she can express them in a way that we can understand (most of the time).

She will be walking and talking soon (it is clear there is already so much she wants to say). Potty training is also right around the corner, as she now tells me when she goes to the bathroom. Next thing I know, I'm going to be saying to her "you want to wear what to prom?"

I can just hear Hubs talking to her prom date now, "so tell me, what - exactly - are your intentions with my daughter?"

Chinese New Year: The Aftermath

AP reports:

• At least 125 people were injured setting off faulty Chinese New Year fireworks Sunday in Beijing; three of the injuries were serious.
• One person had to have his eyes removed.
• There were 114 accidental fireworks-caused fires in Beijing.
• Nationwide: Accidental fires from fireworks killed 63 people in China over the holiday last year.
• Fireworks sales (by government-approved vendors) hit 380,000 boxes this year ( compare to the 240,000 sold last year).
• About 560 million illegal firecrackers were seized (more than four times the amount confiscated last year).

Chinese Food

I’m what some might call a jag eater. That is to say, when I get a craving for something I have to eat it until the craving is gone. Not in a bulimic, eat all the cookies in a package until I’m sick kind of way, but in a eat a couple cookies every day kind of way. Eventually, I lose the craving and move on to something else. It doesn’t happen all the time, every day, but when it does happen, I just have to eat whatever it is until I get it out of my system.

For example: When I was pregnant with Chase, I needed to have the same sandwich every day. It wasn’t a pregnant lady craving thing, this is just the way I am. It didn’t matter if it was for breakfast or lunch. It was egg white, with a slice of cheese on whole wheat bread with spinach or greens on top. I think I ate it every day for a month. (Hmmm, it’s starting to sound good again)

At any rate, when I arrived in Asia, I started craving dumplings and won tons. Now, two months later, I have eaten so many dumplings that I’m finding it hard to think about eating another – ever – in my life.

Over our dumpling lunch (must be dumplings, it is New Year’s Day, after all), hubs and I started discussing Chinese food. While the food here is better than I could have possibly imagined, it is actually getting hard to think about eating Chinese food every day. (I think it is going to take us a long time before we order Chinese food after we move back to the US.)

So why not mix it up? Why not cook some Indian food, or some Italian food?

Well, one of the hardest things, I’m finding, is that it is near impossible for me to find Western ingredients here. There are some shops that sell some odds and ends, but for the most part, when I look through my cookbooks, I can not find all the ingredients needed. Also difficult, I’ve found, is that packaging is different (and in Chinese) – so I never really know what I’m getting.

Then there’s Pungy (the lifesaver), who I often send to the grocery store so I can avoid the crowds, but she often comes back with something totally different than what I asked for. Generally speaking, however, she is excellent at picking out produce, etc.

Anyway, I sent her to Walmart on Friday, with a list of about 14 items. Granted, it was right before the Chinese New Year, so it’s bound to be crazy, but the trip took her an hour and a half and when she got back, she had only found half of the items on the list. And for some things, she did a little improvising. For example, I asked her to buy cream (I was having a friend over for tea and really wanted to make scones), but then she came back with cream cheese. Hmmm, right.

So now I find myself in a hard spot, because while Chinese food is good, inexpensive and plentiful, I am craving thai curry, indian food, French, Italian ... Anything but Chinese ...

Chinese New Year

Last night was Chinese New Year's Eve. The house was sparkling clean (for good luck), the knives and scissors were put away (to keep from cutting the good luck), there were three unopened lilies amid a bouquet of many more (one bloomed today signifying we are bound to have a prosperous year – hurray!), I had frozen dumplings ready to go for New Years day (good luck), and a bowl of oranges (for good luck and wealth).

The fireworks started around 6 p.m. There were massive explosions everywhere. The fireworks lit up the sky, leaving ash and paper on the streets, and the smell of gunpowder lingering in the air. The celebrations continued all night long; the largest display took place at midnight.

I’m finding it difficult to describe what it’s like to have massive fireworks going on outside your window for 6 hours. After about the first hour, it all turned into white noise. But it’s not over, yet.

I believe there will be more fireworks tonight and the “big” fireworks display, which will take place quite close to our apartment, is scheduled for Monday night.

Given the sheer quantity of huge fireworks (being set off in the streets and parking lots nearby), I’m pretty sure that the average Joe can purchase the same fireworks that are used in most professional displays in the US.

And so today was pretty mellow. Most shops and restaurants were closed. There were very few taxis out and about. We spent the day on the couch. Trying to figure out what we are going to do for the rest of the week.

Traditionally, the Chinese spend the entire week with their families. This means that very few places are open. And so, while we have this whole week to ourselves, we are coming up short on what we should do with this time. We were thinking about going to Beijing, but we’re not sure what is open. We were thinking of traveling outside of China, but getting the plane tickets is proving difficult.

Stay tuned...

A Note Of Thanks

To all those parents out there who teach their kids to interact with other children. To parents who teach their children to S-H-A-R-E. I could note why I am thanking parents I don't even know, but in doing so, I would reveal more than I should do. As my mom used to say, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Things I just don't "get" about China: Chinese Holidays

The government dictates that the Chinese may have the week following the Chinese New Year off, but they are required to work the Saturday before and the Sunday after. In other words, you exchange two days, that you would have otherwise had off, for five days off in a row. Interesting.

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day to all! Love is in the air, couples are everywhere. I'm happy to report that Chase had her act together enough to send out a couple valentines (via Grandma Aiya). I, on the other hand, did not get my act together to make today extra-special for the man I love.

I seriously need a time machine.

Sadly, I can't help thinking about my deceased gran, Mary the Great, who would be celebrating her 99th birthday today, if she was still alive. I miss her. And so, in memory of her on this day, I will tell my favorite granny birthday story (do I remember this properly, mom?).

My mom took my grandmother out to a nice restaurant to celebrate her 98th birthday. My mom made sure to inform the wait staff that it was her birthday, so that they would pay special attention to her. One of the waiters, who had only the best intentions, made a huge deal about her birthday, which, of course, my demure grandmother hated. The wait staff sang happy birthday and then, when everyone in the restaurant was focused on her, the waiter asked her, "so what's your secret to long life?"

My gran coolly replied (with slightly pursed, perfectly painted lips) "minding my own business."

I love you and miss you, Mary the Great!

Chase Update

So what's new with our littlest? Well, for starters, she's not so little anymore.

She's incredibly easy going. She is happy about 99.99999% of the time, laughing and clapping all day long. She loves adventure. Leaving the apartment makes her so happy, it's like she can't wait to see where we're going this time. She has a basic understanding of the word, "no," although she often chooses to forget what it means.

She loves to hide on the right side of our couch. Well, okay, not really hide. She lies on a cushion I set beside the couch, and is totally quiet, until I "find" her, at which point she giggles uncontrollably. It's the cutest thing in the world.

Her favorite toys are still musical instruments. She loves electrical devices. She pounds on laptops (if given the chance), sucks on mobile phones and bangs the remote controls on the table. She doesn't think much about stuffed animals and spends very little time with them. She is an absolute book worm. I have set up little "stations" around the house - and she'll just crawl over to the books, pull them down from where they sit, and page through them. I've caught her thumbing through my Chinese dictionary more than once. To my delight, she does not try to rip out pages anymore.

She also has a little cooking set with stainless steel pots and pans. When I'm cooking in the kitchen, she bangs the pots and pans together. I look forward to being able to cook with her when she gets older.

She is now wearing larger clothes (12-28 mo. depending on brand); her feet are almost 5" long. I can't believe she can fit into PJs that are size 2T. Seriously, she's going to be super tall. Shocker!

Her mandarin is coming along nicely. She loves her tutor. And speaking of languages, I heard about a French school that's located nearby, so I'm going to look into a French tutor for her. How great it would be for her to grow up with three languages - right from the start. It would open so many doors.

She still loves banana, papaya, mango and kiwi. She also likes pasta, grains, pumpkin and spinach. She enjoys yogurt, mixed with Tahini, brewers yeast, wheat germ and grains. She also likes toast with melted cheese (who doesn't?). Pretty soon she'll get to try strawberries, honey and peanut butter (not together, of course). Yummy!

It's pretty amazing watching her grow up. We are so blessed.

Little Lolly

I noticed the other day that I need to start posting more pictures of Chase "Lolly" Allbritton.
Here she is!

Traffic Lady

I love the traffic ladies. They are super slim, leggy and dressed head to toe in leather (think cat woman). I have never seen them actually direct traffic. We have tried several times to get a good picture, but it's difficult when the cab is swerving to avoid oncoming traffic. This is the best picture we've got so far...

Pooh

Chinese New Year: Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Chinese New Year is Sunday, February 18^th. For those who don’t know, we are about to enter the year of the Pig. I am so excited to see the firework celebrations planned (just across the river from where we live). The trees in the square are decorated. Red envelopes and pigs (stuffed animals) are everywhere.

The Chinese New Year is a huge deal. The Chinese take off a full week to visit their families – it is bad luck if you don’t! As expected, traveling during this time is extremely expensive and reservations must be made well in advance.

To ensure we are celebrating the New Year appropriately, I did some research – only to find that I need to get my tail in gear this coming week to ensure we have a prosperous New Year. The following information has been pulled directly from http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/15-day_celebration.html

The Chinese believe that New Year activities set precedent. All debts should be paid by this time. Nothing should be lent on this day, as anyone who does so will be lending all the year. Everyone should refrain from using foul language and bad or unlucky words. Negative terms and the word "four" (Ssu), which sounds like the word for death, should not be uttered. Death and dying are never mentioned and ghost stories are totally taboo. References to the past year are also avoided as everything should be turned toward the New Year and a new beginning.

If you cry on New Year's day, you will cry all through the year. Therefore, children are tolerated and are not spanked, even though they are mischievous.

So where do I start?

House cleaning:

The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away.

After New Year's Day, the floors may be swept. Beginning at the door, the dust and rubbish are swept to the middle of the parlor, then placed in the corners and not taken or thrown out until the fifth day. At no time should the rubbish in the corners be trampled upon. In sweeping, there is a superstition that if you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of the family away.

Also, to sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away the good fortune of the family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out, then no harm will follow. All dirt and rubbish must be taken out the back door. (Hmmm, we don’t have a back door)

Decorations:

Prior to New Year's Day, Chinese families decorate their living rooms with vases of pretty blossoms, platters of oranges and tangerines and a candy tray with eight varieties of dried sweet fruit. On walls and doors are poetic couplets, happy wishes written on red paper. These messages sound better than the typical fortune cookie messages. For instance, "May you enjoy continuous good health" and "May the Star of Happiness, the Star of Wealth and the Star of Longevity shine on you" are especially positive couplets.

Blooming plants - every traditional Chinese household should also have live blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth. Flowers are believed to be symbolic of wealth and high positions in one's career. Lucky is the home with a plant that blooms on New Year's Day, for that foretells a year of prosperity. In more elaborate settings, plum blossoms just starting to bloom are arranged with bamboo and pine sprigs, the grouping symbolizing friends; the plum blossom also signifies reliability and perseverance; the bamboo is known for its compatibility, its utility and its flexible stems for furniture and other articles; the evergreen pine evokes longevity and steadiness.

Other highly prized flowers are the pussy willow, azalea, peony and water lily or narcissus.

The Chinese firmly believe that without flowers, there would be no formation of any fruits. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to have flowers and floral decorations. They are the emblems of reawakening of nature, they are also intimately connected with superstition and with the wish for happiness during the ensuing year.

The candy tray - arranged in either a circle or octagon is called "The Tray of Togetherness" and has a dazzling array of candy to start the New Year sweetly. After taking several pieces of candy from the tray, adults places a red envelope (lai see) on the center compartment of the tray. Each item represents some kind of good fortune.

Food:

Everything you eat means something …

* Candied melon - growth and good health

* Red melon seed - dyed red to symbolize joy, happiness, truth and sincerity

* Lychee nut - strong family relationships

* Cumquat - prosperity (gold)

* Coconut - togetherness

* Peanuts - long life

* Longnan - many good sons

* Lotus seed - many children

*Oranges and Tangerines: Etiquette dictates that you must bring a bag of oranges and tangerines when visiting family or friends anytime during the two-week long Chinese New Year celebration. Tangerines with leaves intact assure that one's relationship with the other remains secure. For newlyweds, this represents the branching of the couple into a family with many children. Oranges and tangerines are symbols for abundant happiness.

* In the north, steamed-wheat bread (man tou) and small meat dumplings were the preferred food. The tremendous amount of food prepared at this time was meant to symbolize abundance and wealth for the household.

Once your house is properly decorated, the festivities can begin:

The first day of the Lunar New Year is "the welcoming of the gods of the heavens and earth." Many people abstain from meat on the first day of the new year because it is believed that this will ensure long and happy lives for them.

On the second day, the Chinese pray to their ancestors as well as to all the gods. They are extra kind to dogs and feed them well as it is believed that the second day is the birthday of all dogs.

The third and fourth days are for the sons-in-laws to pay respect to their parents-in-law.

The fifth day is called Po Woo. On that day people stay home to welcome the God of Wealth. No one visits families and friends on the fifth day because it will bring both parties bad luck.

On the sixth to the 10th day, the Chinese visit their relatives and friends freely. They also visit the temples to pray for good fortune and health.

The seventh day of the New Year is the day for farmers to display their produce. These farmers make a drink from seven types of vegetables to celebrate the occasion. The seventh day is also considered the birthday of human beings. Noodles are eaten to promote longevity and raw fish for success.

On the eighth day the Fujian people have another family reunion dinner, and at midnight they pray to Tian Gong, the God of Heaven.

The ninth day is to make offerings to the Jade Emperor.

The 10th through the 12th are days that friends and relatives should be invited for dinner. After so much rich food, on the 13th day you should have simple rice congee and mustard greens (choi sum) to cleanse the system.

The 14th day should be for preparations to celebrate the Lantern Festival which is to be held on the 15th night.

Some Chinese Superstitions:

• On New Year's Day, we are not suppose to wash our hair because it would mean we would have washed away good luck for the New Year.
• Red clothing is preferred during this festive occasion. Red is considered a bright, happy color, sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. It is believed that appearance and attitude during New Year's sets the tone for the rest of the year.
• Children and unmarried friends, as well as close relatives are given lai see, little red envelopes with crisp one dollar bills inserted, for good fortune.
• For those most superstitious, before leaving the house to call on others, the Almanac should be consulted to find the best time to leave the home and the direction which is most auspicious to head out.
• The first person one meets and the first words heard are significant as to what the fortunes would be for the entire year. It is a lucky sign to see or hear songbirds or red-colored birds or swallows.
• It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room.
• Do not use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune.
• While many Chinese people today may not believe in these do's and don'ts, these traditions and customs are still practiced. These traditions and customs are kept because most families realize that it is these very traditions, whether believed or not, that provide continuity with the past and provide the family with an identity.

***

Year of the Pig Predictions:

So what should we expect in the Year of the Pig? The following is from Sherman Tai, Fortune Teller & Feng Shui Master (http://www.shermantai.com/eng/shermantai_bio.html ).

“The year of the Pig entails a lot of changes and a lot of opposition. There is constant gossip and disagreements; it is rebellious year. But don’t forget those who are highly successful and wealthy arose from tough competition and change, so therefore, we must be bold, have ambition and wisdom. When you see danger, do not proceed; plan carefully then take action. Work hard, take advantage of networking and opportunity, then you may find that career and finance can be within your grasp.

The I Ching (ancient Chinese text) tells us how to live life. It says that before the brightness comes, it must be dark; therefore, before success can be obtained, there must work hard. In the year of the Pig, you must have a good understanding of yourself; know what you are capable and not capable of. Don’t do bad things. Be humble, hard working and be wise. When those above and below cooperate, the sun can rise from the ground. The year of the Pig is a year where it is initially difficult, then good. When good comes to you, don’t be too careless and arrogant; make friends and be modest. With everything, you must ask more, learn more, and do more.

Though there is disarray, there won’t be major disasters or wars. Infectious diseases won’t be as serious (ie. SARS, flu pandemic), but people will still need to tend to their health. In general, the year of the Pig is good. Stability is winning. As long as people cooperate with each other, and not be too ambitious and arrogant, then everything going smoothly is peace for the people. In general, finance and economy is good.

In the past two years, banking, economy, and business activity flourished. Productivity and living standards were increasing. Unemployment rate was at a low. Most importantly, inflation was low. However, property values were high in both East and West coast increased by over 15%. The Dow Jones will increase over 11,000 points. What I have predicted in the past was correct. However, for people, things are not always good for a thousand days and flowers do not stay red for over a hundred days.”

A couple things he notes about the American economy:

· In 2007 there will be initially some increase in interest rates, approximately 0.5 – 0.75%, and then it may decrease by about 1-1.25%, so that averaged, there is a 0.5% decrease, producing a soft landing at the end of fall.

· In autumn, the economy will be more stable, so the last half of 2007 is where the American economy begins to recover. Buying power of the people will be weak. Housing prices will slowly decline. Depending on location, property values may be decrease by 5-8% decrease.

· Natural resources will decline in value, which will slow down the rate of decline of the American economy.

· This year, crude oil may drop below $60 USD a barrel, though will fluctuate between $58 and $68 USD, and gold, to $580 USD/ounce to $640 USD.

· For the small investor, don’t invest unless you have a lot of money. It is advised to wait until after autumn when the economy and financial market is more stable, before coming up with new investments.

· If you insist on investing in US stocks this year, consider science/technology, medical, mining, and finance/banking. The American dollar will not be very strong in the year of the Pig. USD to Euro will range approximately from 1.27 to 1.3. Therefore, USD to ren men bi will be approximately 7.8 to 7.78.

· Attitudes towards the Middle East continue to be very strong; however there is no chance of capturing Bin Laden.

· Safety of the people will not be good. Public shootings, school shootings, and robberies will be more frequent and prevalent.

· Government and financial scene may have a scandal. Corporate crimes will be more than before.

· There will also be more natural disasters in 2007, in particular fire, flood, and tornado disasters, and especially in the north and southeast, be aware of major accidents and disasters.

Go Figure

Of course. It always happens this way. I had no sooner hung up the phone with another mum (after I told her I would skip a play date due to the fact her child was sick), when I noticed Chase's nose had started to run - again. Oh, great, another tooth, I thought to myself.

This morning, however, the poor darling woke up with red cheeks. They were so rosy they looked like they had been painted on.

And so begins quarantine. I called and cancelled everything. Her music and language lessons. My language lesson. I stuffed her full of kiwi fruit this morning (vit. c), passed on the yogurt (to reduce mucus generation) and have been following her with tissues all day. The hardest part is trying to catch what comes out after a sneeze - before she does. Otherwise she wipes it all over her face. Her eyebrows and eyelashes will then stick together or form unusual shapes, much like the hair of a teenage boy who is using gel in his hair for the first time.

And so begins the waiting, watching, monitoring. Is she eating? Is she behaving normally? Does she have a temperature?

And to think I was just thanking my lucky stars that she had not had a runny nose for weeks.

The Car

As mentioned in previous posts, the transportation situation in Dalian is, well, frightening at best. Our best mode of transport is by taxi. The typical taxi does not have seatbelts and reeks of cigarette smoke. You are extremely lucky if the handles, which are used to operate the windows (1) are there, or (2) work.

And then there's the fact that taxis view red lights as decorative objects, pedestrians as nuisances, and sidewalks as elevated highways.

This wouldn't be so bad if I didn't have to actually leave my apartment. The fact is, I have to get Chase to/from appointments, I have to go shopping, and I have to do this all without a car seat. It makes me ill just thinking about it. So I try really hard not to.

The good news, is that hubs is working on securing a car and driver, which will actually provide safe transport (yes, we have a car seat that is ready to go!). He has been working with an agent to determine which cars are in our price range - but they must include a driver, as we have heard that Western drivers are often targets. You end up in court, and of course you can't understand a thing, and are taken for everything. Not fun. Plus all signs are in Chinese. Sure, we navigated through Europe, but reading characters on a map is, well, beyond difficult. (I can just see me saying to Hubs, "look for the exit with a sign that has a box with a couple dashes coming from the center, one dash from the right and it has what looks to be a hat on the top.")

So Hubs had four cars pull up in front of his office yesterday. With two representatives from each car company. He sat in the back of each, determined how much leg room/head room each offered, etc. Sadly, the one I was rooting for ended up being the one with the least headroom (he couldn't even sit up straight in it!).

After a thorough investigation of each, with a huge party of car representatives taking note of his every move, he almost decided on one. But it wasn't the car he wanted. So, he contacted another party to see if he could get a better deal on the car he wanted, and presto, change-o, it looks like we can get the car he wants - and it is within our price range. Fab-U.

So come Febbie, we'll have a safe mode of transport. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to that - although I must say, I won't miss the driving on the sidewalk, the move to outrun a trolley in a lane with oncoming traffic, making a right across oncoming traffic from a far left lane ... I wish I could get some good action photos, but really you must be in the car as it can only be enjoyed if you are in a zen state.

Mandarin Lessons: Numbers

Today's Mandarin lesson is about numbers.

The numbers 1-10 are extremely important. Once you know them, you can, of course, count and tell time. Unlike romance languages and English, where you have to learn different words for days of the week and months in a year, the Chinese base these words on the number of the day within the week, and the month within the year. Example: the word for 1, is yi. Monday is xingqi yi. January is yiyue.

It's worth mentioning here that the number two is a tricky, tricky number. It's tricky because it is pronounced er, but if you talk about 2 of something, the number is pronounced liang.

While we are still talking numbers, I must admit I am currently fascinated with "measure words." You can't just say two elephants. You have to use the word zuo (which indicates you are talking about big things, like buildings or elephants - the example given in my phrase book) between the word two and the word elephants.

Other measure words include ba (chairs, knives, teapots, tools or implements with handles), bei (drinking receptacles), zhang (flat things - tickets, envelopes), duo (flowers - blossoms, not plants), tiao (long things - fish, snakes, rivers), zhi (non-descript animals - cats, dogs, chickens - I kid you not this is the example in my phrase book) and ke (trees).

I have to wonder who came up with that idea. Seriously.

Absolute Silence

I have developed a real appreciation for absolute silence.

While I was living in London, there was never really a time when I didn't hear city noises. I could close my door and my windows, but I couldn't really shut them out. Wimbledon was a little better, but as we were living on ground level, I could still hear cars passing by, and that strange whirring of the milk truck at 3:30 a.m., which I swear I thought was an alien the first couple times I heard it.

When we lived in Zurich, we were never far from a tram. The sound of wheels screeching to a halt became a familiar sound.

In China, we are up high enough to avoid street noise (except the occasional fire engine). The only real noises we hear are the neighbors upstairs, who are learning to play the piano (and rehearse all the time, which I don't mind too much because I'm sure some day soon they will play something good). They also seem to run around quite a bit.

Anyway, as I sit here typing, the only real sound I can hear, besides the soft buzz of Chase's baby monitor, is my own typing and the whir of the fan in my computer. And I love it. I love how quiet it is.

And then Chase will wake up and coo, and laugh, and giggle, and sing - and I would not trade this for the world - and I'll forget all over again what it was like to sit in absolute silence.

Waterfront

As the weather was a little warmer and the sun was out, Brian and I decided to take a stroll along the waterfront. Just 5 mins from our apartment, we stumbled on an amusement park and a lovely boardwalk. This place is going to be crazy in the Summer!

Below is a view of the city from the boardwalk:














A view of our apartment complex, which is just left of the castle on the hill:














A seemingly popular game - you rent whips and a top.
You then whip the top to keep it spinning:














Sunset over the Yellow Sea:

Thousand Year Old Egg

This is a Thousand Year Old egg.

Okay, it isn't really a thousand years old, but it sure looks like it. The Chinese make this delicacy by soaking a chicken egg in a chemical bath for a couple months.
Tasty! (Just kidding. I tried it. I would prefer not to have another.)

Dinner Out

On Friday nights, Hubs and I tend to cross the river and eat at one of the nearby restaurants. Craving something, anything, other then Chinese food, we decided to give Dalian's only French restaurant a try.

The food, unfortunately, was anything but French - or good. Hubs ordered a sole fillet, with some sort of creamy, yellow, salty sauce. It was accompanied by oversalted, French fries. Nothing on the menu really appealed to me, so I decided to get a pizza, which was okay, but definitely not French.

Will have to try one of two Italian restaurants next weekend!

Giving Hil A Run For Her Money

Dental Work, Dumplings And American Cable

This morning I went back to the dentist. "Be brave," I told myself. The German dentist went with me. Once we got there, we waited for her Chinese interpreter friend. I also had Pungy come to watch Chase. Quite a large group for what would otherwise be a standard dentist appointment.

After reviewing the x-ray, the German and the Chinese dentists had a little chat and decided to carve out and fill a small cavity on my tooth, rather than do a full blow root canal. I have to admit I cried like a baby when she gave me the Novocain shot in the roof of my mouth. The German dentist held my hand through the whole thing. I wish all my dentists did that.

From there, I went to the grocery store. Pungy is such a help in so many ways. She is so clever and knows so much more English than she lets on. At one point, I was muttering to myself, "hmmm, I wonder where this cheese is from...." And then Pungy said "New Zealand." At another point we were in the bakery and she pointed to a hot dog wrapped in pastry and said, "hot dog."

When we got back to the apartment, she showed me how to properly cook a dumpling, which goes something like this: (1) Boil water, (2) Add dumplings, (3)When the water comes back to a full boil, add a half cup of room temp water (which cools the water enough so it isn't boiling). When it boils again, you add another half cup of room temp water. You do this three times and then they are ready to eat. I'm going to have to ask Pungy to teach me more ... the food here is awesome and it would be great to learn how to make real Chinese food.

Pungy left early today, because I had plans to go to the Communications Office, to register for American cable. Apparently, the channels and programs are kept under wraps and locals are not allowed to know about or view them. When I asked my residence office manager if she could tell me what channels were available, she said she couldn't because the Communications Office doesn't disclose that information.

Excited by the idea that we might just have American cable, I went to see the resident office manager, who was going to go with me. She said, "do you have all the documents?" I told her I had our passports, like she had requested. "Oh no, you need a working certificate and living certificate, too." Turns out we need a letter from Hub's company indicating he works there - no problem, and we need a letter from our local police station indicating we have registered - turns out this is a big problem.

Turns out we need our landlord (who lives in Canada) to be present, because he owes some back taxes. Oh, great.

So no cable tonight or the foreseeable future.... not that it really matters, Chase has been going to bed anywhere from 9.30 - 11 pm (not sure why) and by then we’re too knackered to even watch TV.

(Note: I am very jealous of my friends who have kids who go to bed at 6 pm. How do you get your kids to do that?)

Dalian, China: Out and About

I've been getting requests for photos of Dalian. Unfortunately, it is too cold to walk around, so here are some quick pics from our cab rides this weekend.







































































Hubs and I also stumbled across a great indoor market (in the old convention center). It is filled with dried teas, fruit, baked goods, raw goods, clothes, etc. I've heard it even has some Chinese furniture - although we didn't see any when we were there. It was a little crazy, so I only took a couple pictures.

Dalian, China: Russian Street

This weekend, we decided to venture out (in the freezing cold) to check out the Russian Street of Dalian.

The street is supposed to epitomize 19th century Russia. It was created to add an exotic touch to Dalian. The 430-meter-long street was pretty much empty, with the exception of a few brave, shivering street vendors.

I had heard there were a number of duty-free shops, supermarkets, antique stores and painting shops - but thanks to the time of year (I'm guessing) it was pretty quiet. The street is also supposedly packed with Russian, American, Italian, French and Portuguese restaurants and street performers - I didn't see any.

It is probably worth a trip back in the Summer. Maybe Chase will be awake to enjoy it; this time around she was fast asleep, tucked under my coat (lucky because it was so cold).

Let's Get Down To Business

Avaya: Dalian Grand Opening

Avaya!















Chase and "da-da":



















The ceremony:














Dragon dance in the courtyard (LOVE IT):














You Pung and Chase:














Chase in charge (she took over da-da's office when he wasn't looking):














Brian's print is the blue one in the upper left:














The office looked great. It was a fabulous event!

Taxi Drivers

It must be great to be a taxi driver in Dalian; they have the freedom to come up with creative driving solutions to problems like traffic, pedestrians, bikers and those pesky red lights.

I believe one can summarize their philosophy in three words, "Outta My Way."

One of my favorite taxi stories thus far: A friend was in a taxi on the highway. The taxi driver's phone rang. The driver came to a complete stop - ON THE HIGHWAY - to take the call. The driver did not even pull onto the shoulder. He stopped in his lane and did not hit his hazzard lights.

Now if only they had those bumper car bumpers on the car - then we'd be in for some real fun.

The Dalian Expat Community

I have met several expats at this point; they all seem to know each other. I knew this expat community would be small, but I didn't realize it was "that" small.

At this point, I have lucked into a good group of German ladies. One has the little boy who is 14 months - Nicholas - who is super cute and will make a good playmate for Chase in the coming months. I really like Nicholas' mother as well.

I've decided that meeting new mums (and potential friends) is like dating. It's like you try to figure each other out as quickly as possible. Because what is the point of wasting time if it just isn't going to work. (It's not you it's me) It is all about the fit. Not only on a friend level, but there needs to be a good fit in parenting style.

I'm not sure what any of these ladies did before they had children. I'm not sure what they do during the day. All I know is that they are also trying to make sense of their lives here, which I find extremely reassuring.

As Martha once said, "it's a good thing."

El Canal Del Rooto

Scheduled for Tuesday. Just thinking about it makes my tooth hurt. Of course it didn't hurt all day. And now it hurts. Time to stop thinking about it. The only way out is through.

Our Little Dalian Pearl

Month 10

Hard to believe we are 2 months away from Chase's first birthday. Time has absolutely flown by, but I guess that's what all the parents say.

There is something so utterly magical about watching a baby grow in the first year. I count my blessings that I have been able to be with Chase the entire time.

At this point she is babbling non-stop. Ma-ma, Da-da, Nei-Nei, Pa-Pa. She is scooting around everywhere. She loves pulling up and walking along besides furniture. She is adventurous and like to head off exploring on her own. I pretend not to notice and then follow her on my hands and knees, at which point she "floors it" and speeds off into either our bedroom or her own, giggling the entire way. Encouraging me to chase her. How appropriate her name is.

She is eating almost everything now (except the obvious like strawberries, honey, egg white, chocolate). She loves fruit. Kiwi, mango, papaya and bananas are staples.

She loves her musical instruments. She loves her little soccer and basketball. She loves pulling things off of shelves; making chaos out of order. How interesting that I love the exact opposite.

She continues to be a people-person. She loves to engage people. Make them smile and laugh. She will go after the person in the room who is the coldest and work them until she gets a smile. Being the center of attention (all the time, and not just at home) has ensured that she is strong, independent and self-confident.

She is good with other kids, too. Although she still tends to scare them because she is so outgoing. (I guess it runs in the family - today I made a little kid cry in Gymboree music class - because I'm white. Yep, I left feeling terrible. Chase, on the otherhand, continues to be totally oblivious to the fact that there is any difference between her and the other children).

She is such a blessing. Such a joy. Such a wonder.

Chase, darling, we love you so much and we are so fortunate to have you in our lives.

You've GOT To Be Kidding Me

So I've had the littlest (okay, not so little) pain in my front tooth for the past two days. I have been in complete denial, as it is, after all, my FRONT tooth and I am living in CHINA. Well, I finally found a dentist today (THANK GOODNESS she speaks English). She informed me that YES, I need a ROOT CANAL on my FRONT TOOTH.

I had a number of translators weigh in to ensure she really meant root canal. This then, would be my second since I had Chase. Apparently some women who get pregnant suffer greatly in the dental department both during and after pregnancy because the baby takes what would otherwise go toward keeping teeth strong and healthy. Some women actually lose teeth (note to self for next time 'round).

Anyway, I went to this dentist lady, who was very nice and very reassuring that everything would be okay. Meanwhile I am close to hysterics. What? Another root canal? Are you sure?

Luckily, my contact at Gymboree (LOVE HER) knew a German woman who used to be a dentist, who actually lives in my complex/compound. I visited her this afternoon. She confirmed the diagnosis. But she also told me she visited the dentist already and was quite happy to see all of the equipment they are using is top-of-the-line. I told her about how they took x-rays (three people standing in the same room - me with the vest, them with nothing). She said it was okay, because the technology is so good. You actually get exposed to more x-rays when you fly (sorry Chase! I think you're going by train from here on out) and that is why all those flight attendants are having infertility problems (I didn't know it was a problem).

Anyway, she went on to tell me that if I wait, my front tooth may turn black, whereas if I do it now, before it really starts to hurt, I can keep my front tooth white. Hmmm. Much to think about. Because it really doesn't hurt "that bad" or "that often." But a black front tooth is not exactly something to look forward to, ya know?

So the German lady said she would come with me (THANK YOU!) and oversee it (hold my hand). Of course this all corresponds exactly with Brian's Grand Opening, so he needs to be elsewhere. Strangely enough, the tooth that needs the work is the same tooth that is giving Chase a real problem. Her left front tooth has yet to emerge, yet her right is growing up a storm.

On to other things…

You Pung, my helper ran to the grocery for me today while I was at Gymboree (I had asked her to buy Tofu and Spinach). When she came back, she told my Gymboree contact that I should NOT eat them together. I asked my language teacher about it and she said that the Chinese believe that when certain foods are eaten together, they create a poison – tofu and spinach being one of these combinations. Hmmm, good to know. Another one is crab and persimmon (rather an unlikely combination if you ask me).

Funny that. Jamie Oliver never mentioned this in his cook books!

2008 Election

Inside sources report that Chase may announce her entry into the 2008 presidential race and give Hil a run for her money. She is working on her platform between naps.

Mandarin Lessons

Today I learned the Mandarin words for various fruits and vegetables. I also learned some interesting things about how the Chinese prepare food.

I have been on a rampage looking for ideas of how best to clean the food we eat and the water we drink. In the US, I hardly ever thought about it. I didn't think about it in London - although I did keep tabs on what they found in the tap water (unusually high levels of estrogen, lead and prozac). In China, however, I've found myself obsessed with eliminating toxins.

So I asked my Mandarin teacher, a really attractive 20-something Chinese gal (I can't pronounce her name, but it means sunrise - because that's the time of day she was born), how the Chinese wash their vegetables. She told me her mother soaks them for 2-3 hours in rice water (water that has been used in the 2nd and 3rd time to rinse rice). The rice water is supposed to bring out the chemicals and toxins. Can this be scientifically proven or is it just an old wives tale? I guess I could buy that the starch from the rice pulls out the toxins. Would love to see if someone knows more on this subject?

I have also heard the Parcell's method, which includes adding a small amount of clorox bleach to a large amount of water, is supposed to clean food and remove toxins - although I must say I am hesitant to try it.

Anyway, she went on to tell me that the Chinese believe this rice water to be very nourishing (which is interesting because in America, white rice is bad, brown rice is good). The Chinese ladies actually use it in their hair as conditioner, and some make-up companies include it in their formulas.

My teacher provided me with a recipe and I taught her the word chili pepper, let her sniff one of Chase's maple biscuits (they don't have maple here) and tried to explain how a dill pickle tastes, which I must admit, is actually pretty hard to describe.

Oh, and as an aside, I also learned that when the Chinese pose for a picture, they say a word that sounds like "cheese," but really it means eggplant.

Weekend Activities

We started out this weekend with a Chinese language class. There are many things I find interesting about Mandarin. First, there are four tones - which are actually more like music notes. Second, there are only three tenses (past, present and future). In romance languages, one must conjugate the verb to indicate tense, but in Chinese, one only adds the word today, tomorrow or yesterday. The verb remains the same. When asking a question, one simply adds the word "ma" to the end to indicate it is, in fact, a question. I'm also learning how to write Mandarin, because no matter where you are in China, you can communicate using the characters (while local accents, meanwhile, vary so significantly that people living in different cities can't understand each other). It is hard, but I love it.

Chase loves her instructor too. This week, she started forming the word "ne ne ne," which I'm convinced is the start of "ne hao" (hello) in Mandarin.

After class, we went looking for a frame store to get our artwork framed. But there were no black frames. Anywhere. Turns out the Chinese don't like black frames. They like big, shiny gold and silver frames. Unfortunately this just won't work for our artwork. Maybe we should just have everything laminated and thumb tack it to the wall - HA.

Today, we bought an oven because they don't come standard with apartments (it is actually just a little bigger then a toaster oven, but it has a rotisserie function). Oooooh Ahhhhh. And, like everything we've purchased here, it lacks set-up instructions.

Still working on baby proofing the apartment. I don't think it's possible, especially as the Chinese don't seem as concerned about the whole thing. For example, I have yet to see a baby gate.

More to come when I can access blogger again ...

Another Week

Another week has flown by. Internet connectivity is horrible, due to a cable that was damaged thanks to the earthquake in Taiwan in late December. They say it should be fixed by the end of the month, but reports indicate the damage is extensive and there are too few people available to work on it. So until it is fixed, I can't download photos, and I find myself often reading gmail in html - good times.

I must say quickly that we have absolutely loved receiving Christmas cards from friends. Thank you!

So what's new? Not much. I adore my helper, You Pung. I don't know how I ever got along without her. The house is always sparkling clean. You could eat off the floors, which is good as Chase is crawling around all over the place.

Mostly spent this past week unpacking, getting our stuff sorted. Trying to find those missing pieces (like Brian's knee braces). Chase is really talking up a storm, saying both Mama and Dada. It's awesome.

I started language lessons (6 hours per week), and Chase has her own instructor(3 hours per week). We are also learning baby sign. This week the words are turtle, bird, dog, cat, and fish. She is also quite the eater. She loves mango, kiwi, and papaya. I have also been feeding her grains from Switzerland, and the local pediatrician recommended some Vit A & D drops. Plus, I'm still slipping her fish oil occasionally, along with brewers yeast and wheat germ. She's looking really good.

Brian's office is having a grand opening soon, so he has been staying at work until quite late. I'll be glad to have him back to myself after the opening.

I promise to take more pictures and post them when I can.

Little Darling

Chase's Room

A quick pic of Chase's room; it is still a work in progress.

Stuff

I am realizing now how silly it is to have "stuff." I was chatting to hubs last night about it.

We have repeatedly had to pare down our belongings - bringing with us only what we could fit in 4-5 duffle bags (used to be 2-3 before we had baby). And we have lived off it for weeks and weeks. Sure, my jeans now have a hole in the crotch and my whitish khakis are no longer whitish, but at the end of the day, a person can live with only four pairs of pants. Basically, one finds out what one really needs.

I am realizing this is very different from the way most people live. If we were not so nomadic, I'm sure we'd have a house full of stuff. Lots of stuff. People are just programmed to buy and store stuff. Take Pottery Barn for example, they have a whole catalog of stuff, just waiting to be put on shelves, in drawers, or on display.

And then our stuff arrives. And I find that I have missed our stuff. It makes our new home feel more like home - but in a weird way. It doesn't change the appearance of our home, it just means we can eat off our own plates.

Hmmm, speaking of which, I am still trying to locate our silverware.

Don't tell hubs, but he may have to eat his cereal or French toast with chopsticks tomorrow if I can't locate proper utensils...

Just Another Day...

Today started off with a grocery run with my new helper (fabulous!). I like to think of her as my Chinese body guard. She really watches out for us. She made sure we had the best fruits and veggies in our basket. The cab gave us a discounted rate.

Plus, she watches Chase and makes sure that (1) there is no skin showing ever - the Chinese love to overdress their infants - and (2) she always has a tissue at the ready to catch a baby boog. Her name is You Pung. At least that is how you pronounce it.

Anyhoo, this afternoon I had a doctor appointment for Chase. Just a check-up with a local pediatrician from another hospital. You Pung and I made our way to the hospital. When we got there, we realized we were in the wrong hospital. Apparently the No.2 affiliated hospital is not the same as the Second affiliated hospital - go figure. The doctor said he would come to my apartment to see Chase, as he didn't want her to be exposed to germs. Cool.

So back the apartment we went. A half hour later, there was a knock on the door. The doctor, it turns out, has actually retired, but he works sometimes. He proceeded to tell me that he would have liked to walk; it would have only taken a half hour. He was a really nice man. Very friendly, although we had a couple miscommunications (nothing serious). He brought with him a stethoscope - and that was it. He asked me questions about Chase's development. Apparently she is the size of an average 1-year-old. When he went to look at her throat, he asked me for chopsticks (yes, chopsticks) to compress her tongue.

I asked him if he could check her ears. He said no, that was the job of the ear doctor, not the child's doctor. Okie dokie, artichokie. And then he left. He didn't charge us for the visit. Nice man.

And then I received a call that the movers were going to deliver our belongings (oh, yah, we do have more stuff). So I spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking. There are still boxes everywhere.

You Pung is going to shed a silent tear when she walks in tomorrow morning. The place is a mess and I am knackered.

Must go to sleep ...