One more test

One more test.

This is a test.

I am trying to set up a google group.   Please let me know if you have received this blog email.

Thanks
Liz

Christmas Morning in China!

What a great Christmas morning!  Everyone received a toy from Santa (a.k.a Lizzy Claus)and proceeded to play with them right away!  Just proving, you are never too old for a toy! Everyone received a model to build.

Here is Tony working on his model plane with help from TJ.

 

Sitting around chatting and enjoying the Christmas music and drinking tea.

Lizzy Claus, enjoying the happiness around her.

TJ and Kris enjoying their Christmas cards.

 Scott is working on his wooden model plane with his dad looking on.

 Tony and TJ sharing a laugh.

 Kris working with her dad on his model of Expo China Pavilion.

TJ and Tony still working hard with Kris looking on, is she helping or distracting him? 

 Kris and Scott calling their mom on their 'facephone'.  She can see them and they can see her - way cool!

 Getting the last bits done.

All three models completed! A very Merry Christmas morning for all!  Next up......Christmas dinner DELIVERED!

Chinese Breakfast Burritos Again!

Here we are enjoying yummy street food for breakfast! Every day I have been making sure that everyone gets a real "taste" of local Shanghai.  Yesterday we ventured out and tried the famous Jiang Bing or as I call them, Chinese Breakfast Burrito.  It was everyone's first time and it was a huge success! I have documented the process on how they are made in the next pictures. And yes the cooking instrument does look like the top of a garbage can.  In this first step a crepe like batter is dropped and spread out on the top of the hot "can". There is a gas flame inside.

Then and egg is broken on top and spread over the crepe.

Cilantro, green onions and pickled onions are sprinkled on.

Then it's folded in half and a chinese bbq/hosin sauce is spread on and some hot chili if you like.

A large fried wonton is place on top of the sauce and it's folded into the shape of a burrito!

The taste was so good Tony and TJ went back for another the next day!

After breakfast we headed over to a lovely coffee shop and had some coffee and relaxed in the morning sun.

We then took a subway to an interesting artist community - TaiKang Lu - but before we got there we ventured into a local wet market and saw some customers ordering up fresh chicken.

I don't know if you can make out the writing on the sign, but it says Mollica Bakery.
The weather was nice and sunny and we had a lovely day walking around in Shanghai. Next up, local dumplings for breakfast!

TJ and Kris in Shanghai

TJ and Kris arrived Monday afternoon. Tony went to pick the kids up at the airport while I took the subway and bus to and from work - that's 1 hour 45 minutes each way! Only 45 minutes when we drive. As we only have one car I was on public transportation duty. Fortunately I got a seat both ways and class was short as it was final exam day! I met up with TJ, Kris and Tony as I was coming out of the subway heading toward the apartment, they were just having a walk around the neighborhood and enjoying the sights.

Tuesday morning we headed out to the fabric market to get a few items made for the kids. TJ, a new black double ply cashmere coat, 4 new work shirts and 2 new pairs of jeans. For Kris a new winter white coat. After that we went over to a small cafe and rebooted with some coffee and for TJ a shot of espresso as well! Here he is ready to caffeine up!

After the coffee fix we wandered through some of the old streets of Shanghai (forgot to take out my camera and shoot as I was enjoying watching the faces of TJ and Kris seeing the sights and smells of old Shanghai.) and ended up at YuYuan Garden for lunch at the famous Nanxing Steamed Bun Restaurant. Here we are eating up all the yummy food.

Since the weather forecast said today was going to be one of the warmest (45F) we decided to climb the Lupu Bridge. Unfortunately the day was very hazy so the view was not that great, but the climb was fun!

Here we are heading toward the bridge.

The stairs look quite steep in this picture but in reality they were not steep at all and the climb was very easy.

Here we are at the top. If you look to the left of Kris you can see the Chinese Pavilion at the Expo.

And here they are on the way down with the highway(s) in the background. A full day for all. We headed back to the apartment and everyone crashed from 4:30 - 7p. Even Tony, as he only arrived back from the States 18 hours before the kids did. No one was up for going out to dinner so grilled cheese sandwiches and salad for dinner.

Wednesday we have not made much of a plan yet but we are expecting Kris's dad and brother to arrive in the evening at 7pm.

The Giving Tree

It’s the most wonderful time of the year - the Giving Tree gift giving ceremonies have begun! Volunteers and donors alike have been getting ready for this for months now. It is time to go to the migrant schools, hand out gift bags and watch the smiles abound! Without the community at large, Giving Tree would not have been able to reach 15,000 deserving migrant and orphaned children this year. Right now volunteers & donors are charging camera batteries and checking Google maps for directions, all in an effort to arrive at one of the 23 ceremonies held at migrant schools all over Shanghai and beyond.

What a wonderful experience to watch their faces while they open their bags! I wish it could be xmas everyday for these kids!

A day in Suzhou with friends - Oct. 2010

Martina and me! The Cloud Rock Pagoda in the Tiger Hill Garden built in 961AD.

Decorated stairs in the garden. Martina, Joan and Deb.

These are lollipops made with sugar in shapes of animals. Can you see the bird, butterfly and crab?

On the canal.

I came across these pictures and remembered what a wonderful day we had visiting Suzhou, a small town about 2 hours away from Shanghai. I am with Joan(behind me) Martina (next to me) and Deb(Martina's friend) on a "boatride" down a small canal. The weather in October was warm and sunny and we had a splendid time walking around the pedestrian section of the town where no cars are allowed.

Santa Claus in China!

Our apartment building put on a tree lighting ceremony last week (pay no attention to the incorrect date on the corner of the picture....darn camera) and here I am with Santa helping to distribute toys!

Can you tell he is a Chinese guy dressed up? China does not really celebrate Xmas yet the streets are decorated colorfully and there are many trees up and sparkling! Dec 25th, which falls on a Friday, is a regular work day.

Saturday

A wonderful day and a wonderful lunch at the Citizen Cafe!