And...

I wonder if as I age that I have more personal "epiphanies" than others.  At the age of 45, I realize my lack of knowledge about things; always making be feel young as if there is so much life to grab and so much life to live that I can not quench my thirst.   Yet, I see my hands as I write... and realize my age.  Quite the juxtaposition; wouldn't you say?

I am content in my position within the process of "growing up" and do not focus on the "growing old" as others do.  I realize that aging gracefully is actually in the mind and has nothing to do with the body.  Yes...I probably should have used sunscreen and been more careful with my body when it was younger.
That would have taken out part of the fun of actually being younger..don't you think?

So this leaves you to question where this is going.  This adventure in The PRC has allowed me to see myself "within the world" in quite a different way.  Oddly enough, had I not come here first my head would have been too noisy to focus on writing or research.  Being here has taught me how to be more patient, to be comfortable in my skin (for the first time ever) and has shifted my paradigm enough to see myself as a researcher in a different way.

And...that is where we end this blathering... mid thought...because that is where I am as well.

Finally...A Storm Came

It has been a while since my last post ... almost three months to be specific.  A lot has happened in these four months here in China.  I moved to Shanghai, moved to Ningbo, flew back to the states to see my son graduate from college and then opened the first new DE center in this "satellite" market of Ningbo.

The lack of posting is more reflective of lack of voice as opposed to lack of time.  I had many hours in airports, train stations and bus stations where I could have penned a sentence or two.  But...I chose not to for the specific reason that so much was happening I couldn't even imagine where to start.  The adventure of China quickly turned on it's heels to become the survival of China.  I expected this to happen.  I expected to become silent because so much was going on that I was on information and experience overload.  Today that changed for me.

I described the day to my husband as the first time I ever felt like I was "normal" since arriving in China to be greeted by the frozen tundra of Beijing in early February.  I have located several hundred miles south since arriving and the seasons have changed.  But...this is not the real difference.  Today was the first day I actually heard a thunderstorm here in this coastal town of Ningbo where it rains quite often.  "So what" you might say.  What is the value of the storm?  Simple - memories and familiarity.

The storm reminds me of the rains on the metal roof at the "McMullin farm"; and of times when the kids were younger and my boys and I would make a day of indoor games because it was too wet to go out.  It also represents the simplicity of life and hushes all of the car horns and street noise so I can just think in peace.  I know...dangerous to realize I am a thinker - huh?

So tomorrow when I leave my apartment to take my first walk of the day in all of the mud and muck washed around by the storm, I will be oddly content.  I will happily wear my rain boots and have a little smile on my face.  I will take my daily stroll to work feeling like the storm actually washed away the distance between here and home. The distance that had turned this adventure into survival.  Yup - really glad the storm finally came.

Being "Shanghai'D"

So you are probably wondering what the word "Shanghai'D" means.  I am referring to the common thinking that when you are Shanghai'd you are being taken over or ganged up on in a manner that you can not prevent.  Pretty much sums up my past week here in China.

I was in the airport waiting to fly to Shanghai when I realized that even I was looking at the "foreigners" at the terminal. I was sitting with the locals and the "others" were sitting alone in an area.  I was working on my computer, eating my rice, drinking my hot water...then it hit me.  Ummm - I'm a foreigner too! I started laughing out loud because  of the silliness of it all.  I was just choosing to sit with people I work, eat and recreate with everyday.  So yup - I have been Shanghai'D by China in a sense.

I choose to use the capital "D" because it stands for Disney.  It represents the lens I view most Chinese with.  They LOVE Mickey Mouse here and because of that there is Mickey and Pooh paraphernalia everywhere.  It is on cars, store windows, bikes, clothes, etc.  As a result, my mind can only associate China with Disney.  In some strange way, that makes sense of why I am here.

I kind of feel like I am working a political campaign of sorts...LOL.  You know, trying to get Mickey elected for king of English or something.  Oh I'm not your average political "hack" you might know in the states.  I am the one who is like a mix of street vendor trying to sell you something and the one who is always asking you to "sponsor" their candidate (well-my candidate is Mickey).  Now spin that with the fact that I look totally different than my "constituents" and there you have it - Andrea's past week in China somewhat resembling a traveling circus.  Can't get any better than that.

Working for the Weekend

This humongous city of Beijing can be described in the acronym of CRAZY

C ars - way too many!!!  If you think New York or Chicago are bad, you would be crazy here.
R unning - people are always running down the streets to catch subways and such.  Not sure why when
                  they come every two minutes. I kept looking for fires the first two days...
A lways hearing fireworks!  If you ever desired to own a firework stand - come here and be rich. 
Z eleanders - New Zeleand to be specific - butter, breads, mayonnaise and foreigners from there-bunches
Y oung - the age of the police and security guards.  I have been told that most students are made to serve
                the government for one year as police or public security (like in subways) before they go to
                college.  If so, this would explain one why Chinese exchange students want to stay in the
                states. Yet..the crime is very low.
 
I am starting a new schedule this week and looking forward to having my days off during the week.  Less crazy and more time to be productive because the banks (no online banking here) and such are slower and I will only have to wait in line for 30 minutes at the checkout as opposed to 60 minutes.  Oh yes - I said standing in line for sixty minutes playing bumper crash of the carts (called trolleys here) the entire time (thank goodness they respect the elders so I can cut and not get cussed out - LOL).  No wonder you can have McDonalds and KFC delivered to your place.

As I have told some, my process of being "Disneyfied" is in motion and reflective of how I think at times.  I sing silly kids songs in the shower and occasionally the subway, I wave with the big "hellooooo" hand like I do all day at work (just like my man Mickey) AND I have been know to phonetically introduce food to my other foreign friends - yup you can hear me now: p p p p pop....ugh!

For those of you who care to know, my Chinglish is progressing nicely and I am fluent in chopsticks now.  I have even been observed hailing a taxi and haggling over the fee. So as much as there are differences now, some parts of me are deeply engrained and always present.

Later Mates!

Welome to Beijing...

Interesting day filled with lots of plane changes and airport food.  And I took the challenge of the game "Last Supper" seriously.  I made sure to eat everything - and I mean everything I enjoyed and did not thing I would be able to eat in China.  That means lots of diet Mountain Dew, beef jerkey. good french fries, and the list goes on.  The only snag with my plan was by the time I got to Seattle, I had a stomach ache.  Imagine that??  I proudly ate some Tums like any good American who eats inappropriately would and boarded the jet to Beijing.

The last time I came here in China (like 16 years ago)  I was
one of only six westerners in the airport.  Today - all of first class and a bunch in
coach were.  Cool for me.  Here in Beijing it is 26 degrees and snow -
just like home.  Yet NOT like home.  I had a great plane ride and a
scary commute to the hotel with the driver who was in training for the
Indy 500.

 I had forgotten how much people stare at Americans and how giggly
Chinese are.  My urban girl keeps wanting to say "what you lookin at!"
and "really??" Then we have the fireworks for the New Year
celebration...I keep doing a duck and cover move...imagine that one.
Everything here is so small - my bathroom is like a version you have
on the plane just a little bigger and completely made of plastic - the
bed - OMG who can sleep on bricks!  I will totally be out tomorrow
looking for something to fix that problem!  My hotel room is about the
size of my office at school and...wait for it...the Phoenix Center is
across the street - too funny!! (just like the name of my last school)

Off to unpack my over poundage luggage and figure out how to handle
the need for so many converters for the eletrical outlets.  Ahhh - it shall
be quite a Disney adventure ... but without the fun rides.

The Night Before China

After a long drive to Memphis with a car loaded full on luggage and items to take to the farm, I arrived.  My husband met me here to say goodbye.  After a great meal and even better company, I am in the hotel room making sure I have everything.  I mean doesn't everyone travel with one suitcase just for shoes!?  Well, I do and am glad I have them.  Tomorrow I depart at 8:35 a.m. to begin the whirlwind adventure with Disney.  Yeah!

Let the stories begin

Today....the day of firsts.

First day without being required to go to work AND not getting paid....
First day back from a whirlwhind of amazing out of town experiences...
First day being parentless...
First day of ever going out for a late night date during the work week...
First day of realizing that - yes...life is going to change drastically in the next few months.
First day to own up to the committment I have made to...
First day of my future as a totally independent, self sufficient adult...
First day I have ever been so scared of change