(no subject)

We arrived in Shanghai around 4 pm yesterday afternoon. We decided that since it was still too early for dinner, we'd come straight to Chris' buddy's home and offer to take them out for dinner, in return for their hospitality for letting us stay with them. Well, once found their neighborhood we were unable to find the house. The cab driver was literally driving in circles in this maze of a neighborhood. This was the first time in China that I've seen actual stand alone houses up close. It was strange, as most of them are just sitting empty. I wonder if that is because the house are just too pricey? We called his buddy's home to get more exact directions and the nanny answered. No one was home except the nanny.

We found the house and went it, feeling a bit awkward because we felt as if we'd shown up too early. I've learned from this experience not to let the husbands make the arrangements next time. There were numerous miscommunications, and I can't help but think that if Sandy and I had been able to speak to each other, we'd have had all the details ironed out. We ended up hanging out in their house for close to two hours before Sandy was able to come home. She'd been out taking their son trick or treating. By then, it was too late for us to take them to dinner and Sandy just brought Papa John's pizza home. Wow, I forgot how good that was. Funny thing is that back in the states I don't really like Papa Johns :)

I was never very keen on the idea of sleeping here. Chris really wanted to see his buddy though, so I agreed to it. Plus, the idea of saving the money we'd spend on a hotel was just too tempting to pass up. Well, during the time they weren't home we had plenty of opportunity to see that there was really no where for us to sleep except the floor. That's exactly where the whole family slept last night: the floor. I must say, I feel like I hardly slept at all. I feel like I spent the whole night rehearsing the conversation in my mind where I would tell them that we are going to a hotel for the rest of the stay.

The actual conversation was painless enough. She tried to insist that we stay, and protested that we were no trouble at all, but I have to say it reminds me of that quote "Me thinks thou doest protest too much, my dear". I know what it's like to have house guests and I can also look around at how she runs her house and see that she is a class a neat-freak. I mean this in the nicest way! For example, in the toy room (where we slept) she has bins, labeled in both Chinese and English, for each type of toy (small cars, wooden blocks, etc). Moving over to the book shelf, she has the books shelved according to size and category. All the dr. suess books are together, all the bob the builder books are together, etc. I admire any woman who can have two small children and keep their house in such an orderly fashion. However, I totally realize that these type of women get stressed out when their orderliness is disturbed, even if they assure and reassure that they don't care. I also know that it stresses me out to realize that I'm stressing her out. Does that make any sense?

So, despite her numerous protests, I succeeded in convincing her that we are very thankful for her hospitality, but we'd all feel more comfortable staying in a hotel. I think I handled it tactfully and I hope she understands. We are still planning on meeting back up with them for dinner tonight and maybe to go to the park together tomorrow too.

Lesson learned: if we have the money, stay at a hotel! Avoid this awkwardness all together!!