I follow Anthony Bourdain on Twitter. I used to watch the Travel Channel frequently. Andrew Zimmern and his bizarre foods...I get it. To really understand another culture, you have to embrace their cuisine. But do you? Do you really have to? Can't I just look over Jiang's shoulder as she is eating lunch and utter… Continue reading Confessions of a Wannabe Foodie
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Did someone call a plumber?
In keeping with the sort of mundane but not so mundane things that happen around here... A couple of weeks ago we heard running water in the bathroom as we were going to bed. Baths were done, tubs were empty, teeth were brushed. We thought surely it must be someone upstairs taking a shower. Nothing… Continue reading Did someone call a plumber?
The Little Things – Revised…addendum below!
When living in a foreign country, it's the little things that tend to seem important...finding (and being able to get to) a grocery store, mastering the German washing machine, figuring out how to turn on the lights...Really, this is (these are) light switches. The one on the left, flip it and...nothing. It's a switch to… Continue reading The Little Things – Revised…addendum below!
From tourists to residents…or residents to tourists?
I'm not sure which title suits me more right now - Shanghai resident or Shanghai tourist. We've been here long enough for me to feel like I know a little about living here and getting around - enough to feel a little more comfortable than a tourist passing through. But then again, everyday I am… Continue reading From tourists to residents…or residents to tourists?
The Great and Powerful China
We've been here long enough that I'm now using Jiang's meaning of "tomorrow." I said last Thursday that I would post a video tomorrow. Now it's another Thursday and tomorrow has finally come! You see, I'm not actually supposed to be blogging here in China. The government doesn't really want to encourage such free sharing… Continue reading The Great and Powerful China
Mom and Hunter Go Exploring
I noted before that supposedly our neighborhood of Pudong is not a place just wander and explore. But I may just write those travel snobs at the Rough Guide and tell them I beg to differ. There may not be ancient temples and statues, and sure this area was just built to house massive multinational… Continue reading Mom and Hunter Go Exploring
The Ayi
I've mentioned before that we have an Ayi. I'm not sure an exact definition of "Ayi" exists but I think most commonly people think of them as "household help." If internet translation websites are to be trusted, then I think "Ayi" literally means "maternal aunt." We knew before we came that we would have the… Continue reading The Ayi
Where the peacocks and the fishies play
We did end up taking that walk around the compound and snapped a few photos. So here is more of where we are living. The "house" back there with the dog on it says, "Dog Toilet." I think the dogs use it as much as Hunter uses the toilet. Never. But oh how we love… Continue reading Where the peacocks and the fishies play
The Mansion
The Chinese are into status. I'm not sure if it's related to their long dynastic past with the gentry vs. the peasants or something relatively new with the influx of money opening their economy to the West has brought. But I do know, if you have money you should show it off and if you… Continue reading The Mansion
Golden Week
We didn't celebrate Columbus Day this year, nor can we drink pumpkin spiced lattes, nor can we jump in a pile of orange, crimson and golden leaves...we did however, get a week to celebrate the season (in sunny, 80 degree heat) during China's National Day and Golden Week, a.k.a. the Mid-Autumn festival. After Chinese New… Continue reading Golden Week
Kathleen Siddell 