Skip to main content

home again home again jiggety jig

We had a good trip to ChongQing. This is a city that we could possibly move to after language school. So, we took 6 days and visited a company there and saw what they do.

I'm so glad we took Maddie. She was so much fun for the most part. I couldn't believe how well she did with the long bus ride out to the county. It was about 6 hours over some pretty rough roads and she didn't just do well she loved it. On the way out she took a nap pretty sooner after we hit the road. When she woke up she looked out the window and said, "Going, going, going, going, going!" She was so excited to be going!

We had our own small bus for the group so that was very nice in that Maddie had her own seat. Our first 2 days in ChongQing were tough because we were so tired. Maddie refused to take a nap in the hotel and would only nap in moving vehicles. So, the 3 days that we were traveling to the county, in the county, and out of the county she had several naps. Which made that time less stressful because we all got more rest.

I don't really know what to say about the county we visited or what we're thinking about ChongQing because it's not that clear in my mind. We need more time to talk it out between the 2 of us and we haven't had a chance to do this yet. We learned a lot and have a lot to process. This is a big, big decision. As I process more and recover from all the traveling I'll share more. Right now my mind is just tired. And there are so many details and things to share that I just can't start tonight.

I'll just share a story of Maddie for now...in this part of Asia you always take off your shows when you enter a home. This just becomes a habit so when we go to hotels we always take our shoes off right at the door to our room. You especially don't walk on carpet in a hotel room or home with shoes on. The other day we had stopped for lunch at a nice hotel. The lobby was tile flooring but the restaurant was carpeted. When we stepped on the carpet, Maddie immediately started taking her shoes off.

Only a child raised in Asia would think this way at such an early age. For some odd reason, this makes us proud.

Oh, by the way, I can't read any comments that are left on this site. The proxy I use to view blogger won't let me see pictures or comments so if you have a burning desire to tell me something better email it.

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...
Read more

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, ....
Read more

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...
Read more