Glamma hits Shanghai

My mom has been in town for the past 2 weeks, which is why I have been slack on writing. We've had a great time and this weekend, we decided to stay in downtown Shanghai. We chose Pudong, which is a totally new area on the West side of the Huang Pu river ("pu dong" means "west of river", we live in pu xi "east of river"). This area was literally dirt 15 years ago and now it is a totally futuristic metropolis. Amazing.


So, we have a new driver, Mr Dong, who is lovely but kind of green. We told him we were staying at the Hyatt, not realizing there are two Hyatts, each in giant enormous towers in Pudong. Mr Dong drove us up to the first one, Shanghai World Financial Center, which is the tallest building in Asia at the moment. I guess World Financial Centers are always a target because eight Chinese security guards surrounded our minivan and searched it (while Natalie flirted with them, as usual). Mr Dong pulled into the driveway but we didn't realize he was literally pulling into the hotel lobby - we almost crashed through the door of the hotel!! Sheepishly, we got out and headed up to the 87th floor of the Park Hyatt, which looked like a set for Minority Report Part 5 and realized we were at the wrong hotel. Luckily, a bellman helped us a across a giant street with screeching traffic with all our luggage, two kids and a partridge in a pear tree. We finally settled into the Grand Hyatt in the Jin Mao tower across the street. It was an adenture!

But, the room on the 72nd floor was great. The girls loved riding the elevators, the buffet, swimming pool, etc. We visited the Shanghai Science and Technology museum (again, out of the set of Minority Report), the brand new flagship Barbie store (a story for another day) and did lots of shopping at the SuperBrand Mall.

Jed and I hit the Kee Club, a new member's only club in the fashionable French Concession, Saturday night. Not like we have suddenly gotten really cool, my friend from Tufts Will Plummer and his lovely fiancee Elisabeth were having an engagement party. Lots of cool, interesting people from Asia, Europe, America, etc and tasty drinks all around.

Glamma is leaving tomorrow, and we will all miss her, especially the guys at the hair salon, where she has gotten a $10 wash and dry every few days for the last two weeks. I was thinking she was going to offer one a visa to come to Chicago with her :)

mama drama

This week was a bit of drama since we decided to pull Veronica out of the British school and move her to the American school. Not that we didn't like the British school, we really did and Veronica looked so cute in her uniform and was developing quite an English accent (which Natalie has almost perfected). The problem was that she was in Year 1, which was doing work equivalent to 1st grade but the kids were same age as K in the States. Our biggest concern was with her Sept birthday, would she be held back a year when we got back? Who knows. It was a tough decision but before she got too comfy at British School, it was off to the Shanghai American School, which is also walking distance from our "compound".

Interestingly, there are only 1-2 "Western" kids in each class at SAS - most of the other kids are Korean or Chinese, although the Chinese must hold a US passport. I am attending a wedding shower for one of the teachers today so I will try to get the scoop on where everyone comes from. SAS is a great school, with a fabulous campus, and as I am learning, an outstanding Mandarin program.

Speaking of which, I am into my second week of language class and trying to pick up as much as I can. Its hilarious listening to myself speak chinese (hilarious to chinese people too, trust me). If you are only reading pinyin (english spelling, ie - wo qu Xing Li Du - I am going to starbucks), its not that complicated. Chinese characters are another story, we'll see how I do with that. I would like to continue as long as I can, especially so I can tell if the girls are talking about me behind my back!

Brooklyn has also been in Asia this week. My friend Ellen's sister, Kerry, came to visit us and got a huge kick out of the compound and my life here in the Scottsdale Home for Expat Retirees. Maria's husband is meeting Jed for dinner tonight in Hong Kong, where he has been all week.

Saturday night, we have inexplicably been invited to the black tie Benelux Chamber of Commerce Ball in downtown Shanghai, which will be an event, I'm sure. The sun has finally come out so I will try to take some pictures around town and the compound. Hope everyone is well!

rain rain go away

Holy Chinese Arc, has it been raining here. This is the 15th straight day of clouds/rain. I really feel like I moved to Seattle or Northern England. It is a damp rain too, about 40-50 degrees, the kind that seeps into your bones. Luckily, our apartment is really well heated but I noticed that a lot of places aren't. Chinese construction is not the best quality, as you could guess. Coupled with the fact that Chinese people are notoriously cheap - well, we have a pretty drafty situation.

The rain is not usual and should subside later this month for the official start of Spring. Aparently, May and June rock and by July, its a tropical steambath for a few months, which sounds pretty good right about now. I will look forward to seeing those May flowers!

We did have a really special weekend. Veronica and Natalie found some wonderful new friends that invited them to a private pottery class at the Hongqiao flower market. For less than $10/class, the girls had a private lesson in the famous flower market and made some beautiful pottery. It goes on for a few more weeks so I will definitely take pix next time. While they potted, Jed and I bought an entirely new set of plates, bowls, mugs and serving platters for about $100. Oh, Jed was one happy guy after that.

Still working on the blog and will try to add more pix and less copy. Most days I am so happy to be here and be having this amazing experience. Some days I feel like I am running uphill in a sandpit. A very few days, I have wondered what the @#@$%$ I am doing here. Then, I have the ayi paint my toenails while I watch Oprah and I feel better (jk).

Love to all!