Around town

I have decided to post pictures of around town. I am not traveling much right now so I figured I would show you the streets around where I live. These are all taken with a few blocks of my apartment.

Umbrellas are everywhere!

A love for umbrellas

Having lived in China for a year and a half now I have picked up on some odd things that the Chinese love. I guess they are odd for me (and other foreigners) but to the Chinese these things are probably not odd. For example, a food called cho dofu (translated smelly tofu). If you wonder how it got its name, the name explains it all. Literally you walk by where they are cooking it and you are bombarded with a stench. Another thing they (mainly the girls) are mixed match patterns and glittery clothes. Anything article of clothing is almost guaranteed to have glitter on it or have been bedazzled. However, they have a deep and devoted love to umbrellas. Considering it does rain quite a bit I would expect there to be umbrellas out and about quite often, but even when it does not rain they manage to emerge and make themselves present in the street. This wouldn't be so annoying, except that dodging umbrellas has become a regular routine that I am not too keen on. Today it was cold enough to snow. I will admit that I like it better when it snows over the rain because I don't get all wet and the streets are not as muddy, but I found it very peculiar that even in the snow the Chinese have umbrellas out. I am convinced that their deep devotion to them enables them to justify using them 365 days a year. I realize that there is a justification for using the umbrella so the snow does not fall on your head, but never in my life have I been out on a snowy day with hundreds (that really is not an exaggeration, maybe only a slight one) of umbrellas all around me. Oh well, such is life. Even after a year and a half of living here I have not picked up this daily commitment of umbrella usage, but then again I enjoy the sunshine on my face and collection of snow flakes on my head and jacket.

Freaking freezing

Right now China is freaking freezing. Now, I love the snow (as can be seen in my earlier posts) but the problem with Shanghai is that inside apartments are cold. You may be saying in your head "Sarah, turn your heater on, stop being so cheap" but my heater is on and it is still cold. It is set for 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) but it is still cold. I am sitting here with my pj pants, socks, and a fleece and my feet are numb. I attribute this to the fact that there is not central heating (only one unit per room that don't work super well) not to mention the zero insulated walls, and the fake hard wood floors (that are cold). Man, it is not fun. Oh well, such is life.

Right now it is snowing outside. The snow is melting when it hits the ground, but it is snowing. Someone said this is the coldest it has been in 10 years, and I believe it. I am bummed because I have a week off the week after next and I decided not to go to Thailand based on how much tickets were, now I am wishing I could be on a beach with the sun and warmth. Such is life and I know that I will get through it. I can now say that I have lived abroad and in a place where it snows. I am just going to have to think warm thoughts for now and drink warm beverages, but considering I love coffee that is not such a bad thing.

Little things

One reason I love Shanghai is because of the little things that make me happy. While I have access to a lot of "western" items, the options are still limited. While it can be annoying to not have a Trader Joe's or huge super market, it makes getting certain items really exciting. Earlier this week a mom in my class told me that she was going to HongQiao (an area in Shanghai) to the City Shop (a western market chain). Well, there are City Shops even closer, but she was going to this one because they have Flavored Coffee Mate creamer. Now you may be thinking, "so what?" but, this is the first time I have heard of it being in China as I have not seen it in any of the shops I go to. To make things even better, she said that she would pick me up some. So, on Friday, her son brought me a bottle of Vanilla Coffee Mate. I was so excited to be able to make coffee at break that day and use (and share) the creamer. Mmmmm, it was so good, ah, the little things. Then, yesterday (Saturday)I went to the Post Office to pick up a Christmas package from a friend. Getting packages is so fun and I was happy to get Christmas jelly beans among other Christmas goodies. If I were home these things would not excite me as much, but I am realizing more and more that it is the little things that make me happy.

When I was home (in San Diego) little things that made me happy were:

• Watching the sun set over the ocean (always a good thing)
• Being able to get in my car and drive. Did not have to be anywhere special, but just being able to drive.
• Being able to run and not be bombarded by tons of people, pollution, and crazy drivers
• Going to the grocery store knowing that they would have what I wanted
• Mexican food... nothing beats carne asada
• Good beer on tap
  
• Of course, friends and family, but seeing people is not a "little thing" in my eyes since I have to travel across the world, but nothing beats being able to call someone, make plans, and actually get to hang with them. I do miss being able to just go out for coffee to catch up and talk and catch up. That is something I do miss. While it is nice to have a phone and my blog to catch up, doing it face-to-face is always best.
  

Back to life, back to reality

After three weeks off of school and being back in California for the holidays, I am now back in Shanghai. While I cannot complain about having the time off, it does make it that much more difficult to get back into the swing of life. For now it is getting used to waking up at 6 am five days a week, lesson planning, being with kids all day, dealing with crazy taxi drivers and people who spit everywhere and the craziness of China. Oh well, all good things have to come to an end and so it is back to the daily grind for me once again.

Winter Wonderland

Over New Year's I went to Lake Tahoe to snow board and to just hang out. It was an amazing time with new and old friends. Over the past year and a half I must admit that I have done some amazing traveling and have seen some amazing sights, but it is good to know that places as beautiful as Tahoe exist so close to home.