(no subject)

[lizzybennet]

If you look closely at this pic, you can see the older boys running up ahead. Rascals! Chris had to race after them.

Today we learned that there was a "foreign" bakery close by our apartments so we set off in search for it. The Skyline Bakery sells real bread! Most bread in China is very sweet, more like a dessert than stuff to make sandwiches from. They also sell cheese and deli meat, as well as a case full of decedant desserts. The walk there was interesting, along a hilly road. All stairs are accompanied by ramps, for bicycles I suppose.

We ate dinner at the bakery, just cold cut sandwiches. It was a nice break from the constant Chinese food we've been eating everyday. Don't get me wrong, I really like the food we've been eating. The cook employed by the group is very talented. Petey and Zack love the duck she serves. We just wanted a change and deli sandwiches were perfect.

I'm interviewing nannys tomorrow. Now before you think I've gotten too big for my britches, remember that I'm homeschooling the kids as well as taking three classes this semester. Chris will be gone from 7-5 everyday. In order to maintain my sanity, as well as get any shopping, etc. done, I will need some help. The nanny will help watch Connor while I teach the boys in the morning and she'll also watch all three of them so that I can get some studying in. We'll see how it all works out. This is all very new to me.




The dessert case at the bakery. Cheese cake of every flavor. We didn't buy any. I wanted too, but I can't justify a treat everytime I see one :) Kudos for my self control, lol!



An example of Chinese fashion. Notice the lacy shirt with the bedazzled, acid washed jeans shorts...the other outfit has jewels glued to the shirt. We've been here for one week so far and I've only seen one woman (outside of a resturant uniform) wearing what I would call "traditional" chinese style clothing (high collar, silk, etc.) Not to stereotype, but I hadn't expected such trendy-ness. My own clothes feel much too casual. Jeans are somewhat rare and certainly no women wear athletic shoes (which I wear all the time thanks to my gimpy foot.)Of course, the ultimate irony is that I'd have to lose about 50 more lbs. to be able to fit into any of the clothes made for Chinese women. They simply aren't made in XL sizes. Speaking of that, there was a billboard that I kept seeing all around town and I finally asked what it was for. Weight loss products. Yup. A nation full of thin, beautiful women, and they are pushing weight loss products. Sad, if you ask me.



The boys really enjoyed the walk to and from the bakery. The sidewalk was railed off from the road, which made me feel safe in letting them run ahead now and then. Plus, they got a lot of energy out running up and down the stairs. When we first arrived here, the kids complained everytime we had to walk anywhere. Today they didn't complain once. I'm glad they're starting to realize that walking and riding in taxi cabs is our new way of life (at least for the next year.)

Comments

[masteralida.livejournal.com]

With all the walking, you'll be fitting into those clothes in no time :-D It's always an ego blow to me to wear my Chinese made silk dresses. I'm a 10/12 normally - not huge, but yes, I have weight to lose... but in those, I'm a XXXL! Wince.

Will the nanny be able to help teach the boys Chinese? They're going to pick up the language quickly and soon be speaking like they were born there :-)

[mysteena.livejournal.com]

Yup, I have a XXXL Chinese top. Chris wears a 5XL in Chinese size!

I'm hoping she will teach both the boys and I Chinese :)

[risingpheenix.livejournal.com]

That is the cool thing about living in a city, you can walk everywhere you want to go. It is one thing I wish Americans would pick up from Europeans and Asia. In Germany the shopping district was in one area so you would just hop on the bus and hit the street. Grocery, clothing, anything and everything was right there. In the states you have to drive everywhere to do anything unless you go to the mall. I would prefer walking outside to a mall anyday.