Angela finally decided to 'let go' and take a few steps...she was so proud of herself!! Sorry for the choppy video but I was home alone at the time and of course had to get video immediately.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wo Shi Mei Guo Ren
Although I have managed to get around just fine using hand gestures and taxi cards, I figured it was finally time to start some Mandarin lessons. I have now completed about twenty hours of lessons and have a basic understanding of the tones and language structure, can communicate to a taxi driver how to get to our apartment and (of course) I can shop .
I am finding that my basic Chinese is earning me some credit. The other day I announced 'Tai Re Le' in the playroom after an Ayi turned the heat up too high. She smiled and said 'Oh' and then turned the heat off. Getting home in a taxi is so much easier now that I can tell them that we live close to the Shangri-la (versus telling them to go to the Shangri-la and then pointing them in the right direction from there).
Hopefully these new language skills will continue to make my life in China easier and easier!!
I am finding that my basic Chinese is earning me some credit. The other day I announced 'Tai Re Le' in the playroom after an Ayi turned the heat up too high. She smiled and said 'Oh' and then turned the heat off. Getting home in a taxi is so much easier now that I can tell them that we live close to the Shangri-la (versus telling them to go to the Shangri-la and then pointing them in the right direction from there).
Hopefully these new language skills will continue to make my life in China easier and easier!!
Friday, May 7, 2010
dubai
Our latest travel adventure landed us in Dubai. It was a business trip for Rich but Angela and I tagged along for some fun - a work-cation. I will post some photo's here, but if you want to see the entire set you can check them out on Facebook (unless of course you don't have a FB page - but I really think that Rich is the only one that is still holding out on Facebook).
We were a little nervous leading up to this trip because Angela was not such a great traveler on our last trip (to Seoul). She managed to redeem herself though and we really had a great time in Dubai.
When we arrived in Dubai, it was hot. I was excited about this after many cold and rainy days in Shanghai. It was also clean. And everybody spoke English. I guess I've grown accustomed to living in China so I rarely notice how gross this city can be and how much the language changes your everyday life. It was so nice to be able to get into a taxi and tell them where to go without needing the address written out. And to walk into a restaurant to find baby chairs readily available. Dubai does come with its own culture shock but I guess in comparison to China it didn't seem quite as difficult to adapt.
We stayed in a great hotel in Jumeirah Beach - right on "The Walk" which is an area filled with hotels, shopping and restaurants. The hotel had a great kiddie pool and the staff were so great at keeping Angela happy during the day. Our good friends Shannon & Darren moved to Dubai late last year and were so gracious to show us around the city.
Our big day out was Friday - since the work week is Sunday through Thursday in Dubai (Friday is a holy day and most offices are closed). We went to the top of the Burj Khalifa, had a fantastic brunch at the Westin hotel, and then relaxed at Shannon & Darren's apartment. The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world and has a viewing platform on the 126th floor. A few weeks after the building opened (earlier this year) there were stories in the news about visitors being stranded when the elevator malfunctioned. It has now been fixed and we were eager to get up there to see the view. As the elevator descended on our way back down, we felt it stop and most of us noticed that the screen showed "G" meaning we were on the ground level. Well, the doors didn't open and the elevator started moving again - it was obvious we were going back up to the top. We reached the 126th floor and the doors opened and then closed again. A minute later we were back on the ground level and this time the doors opened. Whew...
We headed back to Shanghai very early Saturday morning - most international flights leave Dubai in the middle of the night. Our flight left at 3am which was nice because Angela slept for the first half of the trip. We only had two nights of jet lag induced sleep trouble, which was pretty amazing considering it used to take a week or longer to get back on schedule (although that is comparing a four hour difference to the 12 hours from NY).
Angela LOVES the water!
Hanging out at brunch - for some reason she loves putting her feet up on the table.
We were a little nervous leading up to this trip because Angela was not such a great traveler on our last trip (to Seoul). She managed to redeem herself though and we really had a great time in Dubai.
When we arrived in Dubai, it was hot. I was excited about this after many cold and rainy days in Shanghai. It was also clean. And everybody spoke English. I guess I've grown accustomed to living in China so I rarely notice how gross this city can be and how much the language changes your everyday life. It was so nice to be able to get into a taxi and tell them where to go without needing the address written out. And to walk into a restaurant to find baby chairs readily available. Dubai does come with its own culture shock but I guess in comparison to China it didn't seem quite as difficult to adapt.
We stayed in a great hotel in Jumeirah Beach - right on "The Walk" which is an area filled with hotels, shopping and restaurants. The hotel had a great kiddie pool and the staff were so great at keeping Angela happy during the day. Our good friends Shannon & Darren moved to Dubai late last year and were so gracious to show us around the city.
Our big day out was Friday - since the work week is Sunday through Thursday in Dubai (Friday is a holy day and most offices are closed). We went to the top of the Burj Khalifa, had a fantastic brunch at the Westin hotel, and then relaxed at Shannon & Darren's apartment. The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world and has a viewing platform on the 126th floor. A few weeks after the building opened (earlier this year) there were stories in the news about visitors being stranded when the elevator malfunctioned. It has now been fixed and we were eager to get up there to see the view. As the elevator descended on our way back down, we felt it stop and most of us noticed that the screen showed "G" meaning we were on the ground level. Well, the doors didn't open and the elevator started moving again - it was obvious we were going back up to the top. We reached the 126th floor and the doors opened and then closed again. A minute later we were back on the ground level and this time the doors opened. Whew...
We headed back to Shanghai very early Saturday morning - most international flights leave Dubai in the middle of the night. Our flight left at 3am which was nice because Angela slept for the first half of the trip. We only had two nights of jet lag induced sleep trouble, which was pretty amazing considering it used to take a week or longer to get back on schedule (although that is comparing a four hour difference to the 12 hours from NY).
the view from our room
the view from our room (yes, camels!!)
Angela LOVES the water!
Hanging out at brunch - for some reason she loves putting her feet up on the table.
Family photo op at the top of the Burj Khalifa
Monday, April 19, 2010
Getting our exercise
Angela isn't yet walking on her own but is getting really good at moving around while holding our hands. Tonight, we realized she can run. I'm so afraid of her being able to do this on her own!!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
sunny days
We finally had a weekend of nice weather - bright sunny skies and a nice breeze - so we spent lots of time outside exploring our neighborhood. Nana is here visiting from CT now so we're having lots of fun with her!
We also had our first pony tail!!
happy spring!
Monday, April 12, 2010
The Bund is open!
In preparation for the World Expo which opens in May, the entire city has been cleaned up and revitalized. Our streets have been paved, sidewalks cleaned, trash bins replaced and fresh flowers have been planted everywhere. At times it is entertaining to see just how much effort is being spent on making the city look nice.
One of the key projects that was to be completed in time for the Expo is the Bund. This is one of the top tourist stops in Shanghai and had been closed for over a year as they renovated the entire area. A few weeks ago on a gorgeous Sunny day, the Bund was opened up for visitors. We made our way over on the ferry to catch a glimpse of the new walkway. Although parts of it were still closed off it was obvious that they had done a pretty good job of refreshing the area. As usual, Angela got lots of attention and loved every minute of it.
I was feeding her a banana and these guys thought it was a riot - they cheered and laughed every time she took a bite.
One old building in view of the bund - I have a feeling this won't be standing much longer
Rich and I were out for dinner over the weekend and realized that many of the local apartment buildings now have facades and new lights. A friend of ours recently told us that one of his local Chinese friends received a letter from the government about the Expo. They have assigned 'wardens' for each of the local blocks that will help to enforce some rules that are meant to help enhance the image of Shanghai. These rules include not walking outside in pajamas, not spitting in the street and not hanging your laundry from the window. It will be interesting to see how much of this is actually followed. I don't mind seeing the laundry drying and people in their pajamas. The spitting, that I could definitely live without!!
One of the key projects that was to be completed in time for the Expo is the Bund. This is one of the top tourist stops in Shanghai and had been closed for over a year as they renovated the entire area. A few weeks ago on a gorgeous Sunny day, the Bund was opened up for visitors. We made our way over on the ferry to catch a glimpse of the new walkway. Although parts of it were still closed off it was obvious that they had done a pretty good job of refreshing the area. As usual, Angela got lots of attention and loved every minute of it.
I was feeding her a banana and these guys thought it was a riot - they cheered and laughed every time she took a bite.
One old building in view of the bund - I have a feeling this won't be standing much longerRich and I were out for dinner over the weekend and realized that many of the local apartment buildings now have facades and new lights. A friend of ours recently told us that one of his local Chinese friends received a letter from the government about the Expo. They have assigned 'wardens' for each of the local blocks that will help to enforce some rules that are meant to help enhance the image of Shanghai. These rules include not walking outside in pajamas, not spitting in the street and not hanging your laundry from the window. It will be interesting to see how much of this is actually followed. I don't mind seeing the laundry drying and people in their pajamas. The spitting, that I could definitely live without!!
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