Skip to main content

in America

Yes, I'm sitting in Dad and Mom Steiner's house this morning. It is so nice. I love looking out at the neighborhood behnind the house. I love hearing some birds tweeting happily as the sun comes up. I love having Maddie lying on the floor watching cartoons. I just love knowing that we're here. I love that we're going out for breakfast and then doing some shopping at Dutch Valley store.

Yesterday we shopped all day. I had forgotten how wonderful thrift stores are. In fact, I know that I have a whole new appreciation for them now that I haven't had one anywhere near for almost 4 years. Honestly, why would you shop anywhere else? I got almost everything I had on my need list from a Salvation Army and a Goodwill. Ok, you probably aren't going to be impressed because you may not know the horror of shopping for hours in an itty-bitty sized jeans world (aka Asia) and only leaving with the impression that your butt can't even fit in an XXL pair of sweats but I got 2 pairs of jeans yesterday for less than 10 bucks. It makes me so happy even now.

Just the whole process of easily shopping and having great choices was wonderful.

We had Mexican for lunch. I was most impressed with free chips and salsa, free refills and the beauty of that huge pile of guacamole dip. Oh my, that was good. No wonder America is the plump capital of the world.

I'm noticing how light we American's dress in chilly weather. Yesterday was in the 50s and breezy. I saw people in t-shirts, shorts, flip flops (ok, when did all of American women start wearing flip flops?) and no one looked or acted cold. Also, there are so many pregnant people. They are everywhere.

I love being able to understand everyone's conversations. It's so odd looking at a rack of clothes and understanding every word of the 2 ladie's conversation beside me. Yeah, that will look cute.

So, it's great. I'm really happy to be here.

Popular posts from this blog

sourcream

Today I'm making a chicken dish in the crockpot with sourcream. It's actually quite amazing that this is happening. I would never normally have sourcream here because first of all I'd have to make a 30 min trip (not including the prep time to get the bus or taxi) to METRO in HanKou and secondly I'd have to spend a large sum of money for a gigantic tub of sourcream that wouldn't even fit in my little fridge and on top of that Phil doesn't even like sourcream (poor fellow). So how did I get this wonderful gift? The office bought a big tub for a party and they sold the leftovers. So, I'm making something like chicken stroganoff. For those concerned about what Phil will think, he'll like it because it's mixed in the dish. There's a stray dog that's been living on our floor (12th floor apartment) outside of the elevators. She showed up a few days ago. She either walked the 12 flights of stairs or rode the elevator. She's little, blac...

moving time

Well my house looks like it did at some point when we moved here about 2 years ago. Boxes lying around, no pictures up, hammers, cleaning rags and tape sitting in random spots around the living room. It's a mess. Another move, more good-byes and mixed emotions. I'm going to miss... ..real CH food whenever I want it for dirt cheap, ..a tailor that made all my curtains and waves to me every time I walk past her shop, ..the little boy who's parents own the light bulb shop and yells, "hello!" every time we pass by, ..all the little kids that very politely say, "Ayi" (Aunt) when they pass me, ..our first friend in Chengdu who owns a local shop and buys birds as a hobby - bird guy, as we call him, ..the best dumpling makers, the steamed bread makers, the shopkeepers that deliver our milk for free and know our address by heart, ..the courtyard of our complex where Maddie can play by herself or with her friends while we keep an eye on her from our 4th floor, ....

thankful

This morning I spent a wonderful time in my itty bitty kitchen with my little girls. We (I) made 2 pumpkin pies while they snacked on popcorn and cracker sticks. It's not often that I find cooking with 2 little ones underfoot wonderful. But this morning before tackling the job I had pryed for strength, patience and for an understanding that my job is one of the most precious ever. I also knew I had pretty much all day to get 2 pies made so there was no time pressure. This year I already feel in the Christmas spirit. There have been plenty of times in my life (adult life) that I didn't "feel" it. I was glad for it but I didn't have that cozy, let's make cookies and crafts, then snuggle on the floor under a blanket and watch It's a Wonderful Life feeling. Today is Thanksgiving. We'll celebrate it with turkey and all the trimmings tomorrow. I'm thankful for: Having all the spices I need for making multiple pumpkin pies. An oven that fits a 12 l...