Updates!

June 1, 2010

We arrive from our short flight from Hong Kong. Hot, very hot. Customs is like every other tropical destination I have been to, slow, hot and casual. Bags arrive quickly and our host is ready with the van. Josie is a mess from the stomach bug we all had in Hong Kong that sort of dampened the fun we had
expected to have at Disneyland, but we still had fun. She is overwhelmed by the humidity after the virus and basically just wants to be held. We arrive at our new home, and on the drive into the complex (6 towers of 8 apartments per floor on 30 floors per tower) it is impressive. Palm trees, grassy fields, guards at the bottom of the elevators, a huge pool and a kiddie pool, all right on the river that leads to the sea. Our apartment is not as impressive, and if we get past the initial "whoa" of it, we might survive. We did have delicious "northern" cuisine including dumplings and other goodies for dinner.

June 2, 2010

Rain is fresh on the square across the river from our new 14th floor "space". It smells different here, the fresh rain. Not better or worse, just different. The people down below on the river are starting their day. We suppose they live on the many boats, but it is hard to say which are occupied and which are abandoned for the season. Not that I can say which season we are in or why I think there is a season. Just seems to be the kind of place that functions with seasons. We started lessons today - 2 hours of private tutoring outdoors for Lisa followed by 2 hours for Mike, plus we talk (theoretically) in Chinese with the Beach Chinese staff during meals. 

The kids have jet lag and sleep is not on a normal clock, but we are getting there. Oscar has now slept through two dinners in a row and Josie hasn't eaten dinner since we left California as far as I can tell. The kids also make me really sympathize with the Hollywood stars who are followed by adoring fans, because here EVERYONE stares at Oscar and Josie and tries to touch them and talk to them - I mean everyone. In the Hong Kong airport yesterday some man came right up and picked Josie up and posed for a photo with her - I almost flipped out, he had about 2 seconds more to put her down before I lost it. Mike and I think they have never seen a double stroller (one-child policy), and have rarely seen curly haired white kids. The pool has been a delight.
 
June 3, 2010

We have found a way to bypass the blocked blog behind the great firewall! Lisa's trusted employee, Megan, was clever enough and kind enough to offer to post our missives for us from the US. Xie xie (thank you) Megan! So tell everyone to sign up again. 

First Mandarin encounter for me (Mike) today. "How much is that" I asked. Hoping they would understand me and for some reply I could understand. I hear numbers and familiar sounds, but I cannot make out the "65" price my teacher can. I take my cue and fire off "tai gui la" (tie gwee la) or "that is too much". Soon we get down to "50" RMB and a significant savings. 

I (Lisa) am completely disenchanted with the so-called shower in our apartment! For all of the incredible Chinese inventions (such as the chair), you'd think they could have built a shower stall or something. It is so unappealing to have the shower water all over the tiny bathroom. Oh, and when we did the first load of laundry (washer only, no dryer), the water didn't go down the hose it should have and instead made its way from the "washer balcony" to the shower and down the drain. Nice. On a brighter note, both children ate dinner tonight! And the lessons are going well. And I had my first shopping trip - what a trip. Oscar also offered up today: "Noodles for breakfast? That's the silliest thing I've ever heard!" as we were slurping some ramen-esque soup in a very local corner shop at 9am. I can't say I disagree with him, but they were good, and lets face it we had been up since 5.30am with the jet-lagged kids anyway so that was actually lunch.