Hong Kong Adventures

We are wrapping up our visit to Hong Kong and I'd like to think we hit some key sights. The mid-levels escalator (22 escalators combined making it the worlds longest), a ferry ride to Kowloon, Times Square, tram ride to The Peak (the Masada of HK), Ferris wheel rides, malls lots of malls and swimming by the pool.

People recommended getting clothes made while we were here. I feel like 1) since we live in Shanghai we can find good tailors there (people have recommended) and 2) I'm optimistic we will be back in HK if we change our mind.

It's rather difficult to travel most places with a 4 & 1 year old let alone go shopping with both in tow. With that being said I'm not really in shopping mode, at least not clothes shopping but rather food shopping. Every place we go to, I need to know where the nearest supermarket is. Then we browse every aisle for familiar products. We've had great success here buying products that are not common in Shanghai like graham crackers, marshmallows, juice boxes, granola bars, chips ahoy and Oreos. All foods we don't need but are a nice luxuries to have. We've got by for nearly 8 weeks on the products we brought and managed to supplement from the International stores in Shanghai. But I do certainly appreciate American supermarkets and their abundance on kosher products. Yea, I've become a good hoarder of sorts, an organized food hoarder.

A few things not found in Shanghai.

Highlight

Today we had fun but a highlight for me as a parent is I maned these kiddos at the kiddie pool by myself AND we had fun (no one cried and I'll be doing again!)!!

Road Game

We are on the road. We traveled 2 hours by plane to Hong Kong. The purpose, getting our long term resident/work visa's and actual work for my other half.

It was confirmed by the authority in the row behind us on plane that Asians love foreign babies. Hence, our baby girls 20 minute photo shoot and selfie glam shoot with the stewards and stewardess on our aircraft.

Can someone please explain to me how to explain to your 4 year old what the in-flight safety instructions are for? Him, (see picture below) very tough and appropriate questions. Us, not so interested in getting into what it's really for.

And finally for today, our stop after checking into the hotel? The JCC, which of course was our dinner destination.

And out pre dinner stop was the kosher marketplace. A true luxury for us coming from Shanghai. Spices, snacks, cooking basics, candy and cheese galore!!! (Exchange rate what???)

Shopping in China

Shopping in China is really non existent for me.  People joked with me before we left that how I'd never be able to find pants long enough or shoes big enough. Well let me tell you it's no joke and NO laughing matter.  Yes I can certainly and obviously wait until my visit home this summer but no shoe shopping, really no clothes shopping means I am just shopping at the supermarket produce section pretty much EVERYDAY (which is not so bad to be shopping for produce but not the same or nearly as fun as clothes shopping).

Old Navy is the place that is the most comparable and practical to the States.  Yes they have the high-end stores and even the Gap but the prices are just not worth the exchange rate.  The kids markets and knock-off markets also have clothes but to search the quality and bargain on the price....don't have the patience.  

It might just be me, but at the knock-off market the other day I swore people were looking at my feet as I entered their shoe stores.  After finally finding something I liked the highest size he had was 37, 37!!!! I am a 42 people.  Then I went into a real store in a real mall and the highest shoe size they have is a 37.  I am considering a toe-decapitation. I know it's not funny.  Even today I went to Old Navy and the shoe sizes were 6, 7, and 8.  I tried on a 9 for wishful thinking (the last time I work a 9 I was 14 years old)

My feet will have to suffice with shoes they are covered in for now...

Things Take Twice as Long...

People warned me that things take twice as long. Anything and everything.  I really though it was due to the language but natives told me it's the Chinese Way, things just take longer.  Taking that into consideration I lowered my expectations, which were already generally modified considering I don't speak the language, to things just take time.

For example, getting a cell phone. It took three attempts and nearly 3.5 weeks but we managed to get phones and plans.  God knows what the plan is but the calls connect, the Wifi signal is on and I am free to whatsapp and instagram til my hearts content.

Another example, the supermarket produce section. You gather your produce then it has to be weighted and closed then you can buy it at the register.  Rookie mistake, taking your bag of avocados and bananas to check out and not having a bar code to scan....ejected from the line.

My more recent example, I started exercising in the gym facilities in our building, a small attempt to get back into running, to some degree.  The first few visits to the gym were as expected in America, a few treadmills, bikes, elliptical, weights, etc; one or two other people working out, the gym guy who lifts way-to-heavy-weights and makes loud grunting noise (a universal character apparently).  Last night I was in the gym and their were two elderly people riding the bikes literally as slow as anyone could ride an indoor bike, forget that they were wearing jeans and shoes (as opposed to workout clothes for those who don't know what more appropriate gym clothes might be). I thought maybe they were new to the building and just testing out the machines. No, they actually were quiet spry.  How do I know, you ask?  After their bike ride that seemed to take FOREVER, they couple went to play ping pong, at which they were quiet fast.  Working out even takes twice as long.

Homemade Pizza

Thanks to the Lipson-Krieger Fam (and Kathi Mezrich for providing the dough recipe) for making dinner happen tonight. With a special visit from Earl & Lulu and 5 lbs of kosher cheese we are back in business.


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Cool Things I Get to See that None of My Friends Do bc I'm Living Somewhere Cool for 2 Years

Firstly, thanks to Jen Luftig Singer for asking me to post this title.  Secondly, thanks for thinking living in China is someplace "cool".

Things I like about living in Shanghai:

-the Ex-Pats I've met so far are amazingly friendly and warm AND helpful
-the fact that my family is learning a very hard foreign language
-my son can count to 10 in Mandarin
-my daughter can say"za xichen" which means "goodbye" in Mandarin
-Shanghai feels like New York City a little bit (we still love city living)
-We love city living
-We have been here 6 weeks and it feels so much longer
-We have been here 6 weeks and there are so many parts of the city yet to explore
-We are eating healthier
-the fact that New York fall produce (apples, butternut squash, oranges) are actually in season in Shanghai now!
-We are importing kosher cheese, finally
-We are going to Hong Kong in 2 weeks and I can't wait!
-The subway is easy to figure out
- I can get my hair washed, head massaged and blown out for $8, any day of the week
-you can buy knock offs almost anywhere
-as a wise friend told me before I left, Shanghai is not like Chinatown
-I'm in China!!!

Sensory Overload

My sense need a rest. I just returned from the Qipu Lu clothing market. Anything you could need or want could probably be found there. But my senses hurt. Mostly my eyes. So much crammed into each stall with such different lighting from each store, smells, noises/music/conversations.

The building seemed endless with escalators and hallways that connected other buildings. It was kind of like a flea market times 10,000 stalls. I entered at one spot and I exited at a completely different spot.

Even knowing what I was in the market for didn't help me stay entirely focused. I left with a Batman backpack and a "Burberry" headband. Until my next attempt...

Photo post

The gang is ready to roll...

Street fruit cart

My Kung Fo fighting 4 year old

She may not walk but she is ready to roll too

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Things I Miss...

-Family
-New York street coffee
-Spring in New York City
-Running into my friends down Columbus Avenue
-Supersol (despite their prices)
-New York drivers (they are tame compared to Shanghai; puts a game of human Frogger to shame)
-Amazon.com
-Playgrounds
-Google Express (but only with my free trial membership)
-Costco (but it's coming here in August)
-Riverside Park
-TJ Maxx
-After school playdates with dinner picnics
-MDS pick-up (familiar faces of acquaintances I loved seeing)
-Las Maris
-Cafe Viva
-ABC Cobb Salad

Thank goodness for FaceTime, WeChat, Whatsapp, Instagram, Twitter, and iMessage. Find me and say hi!

Free at Last...

Pesach. What can one say about Passover? This holiday is certainly something....and while I have admired many of my friends post about kosher for passover red velvet cupcakes or pancakes and ability spread cream cheese on their matzah I really missed having access to those items.  Cooking and eat for Passover was very much like cooking and eating for everyday in a kosher home in Shanghai....but with even less you can use to enhance the natural food.  My in-laws were able to send us a care package ( I am sure it cost more to ship the box to us than the cost of the items in the box, which I am sure were quiet expensive themselves) of crispy o's, coffee, and chocolate chips.  Those were the 3 staples to our diet for 8 days.

It took 3 days for my son to stop asking for granola bars and cliff bars and the last three days he was asking for more cucumber, carrots and bananas (of which he'd only eat with chocolate chips).

I think the older I get the less long I think Passover is.  As a kid I always thought the seder was endless; year after year, while sometimes it does seem endless, it is never quiet as long as I dread. The days filled up with activities exploring Shanghai and enjoying playing with our newly reunited toys but with are ALL looking for to school starting again tomorrow.

Passover Vacation Adventure at the Shanghai Zoo

Today we ventured to the very close and very large Shanghai Zoo. Large compared to Central Park Zoo standards.  Firstly, the subway stop is literally in front of the zoo, could not be easier to get to via public transportation.  Secondly, they only charged an entrance fee for me 40 RMB ($6.50) no kids. Can you tell, as a New Yorker I am shocked they didn't charge me for the kids? With no map in hand we explored our way around the expansive property the zoo is located on.

Shortly into our walk we saw a tram awaiting passengers. I figured, why not. We have no plan, no where to be.  As we get on the guy tells me 20 RMB ($3.25). Not knowing if it's hop-on/hop-off or multiple stops I figured whatever.  Waiting to depart two other expats walk up to join the tram, I hear the expat say to his friend 60 for both. I felt the need to interject and tell him we paid 20 for one.  He thanked me and got on for 20 each.  Somethings are negotiable...

Basically the tram took us to the back of the zoo the.... Red Panda's.  They were by far the most active animals in the zoo that we saw.  They had giraffes, sea lions, snakes, monkeys (eating their own poop), bears, tigers (napping), lions (lounging), kangaroos', elephants(looked like they were trying to use their trunks to unlock their cages), and much MUCH more. But most of the animals had one thing in common, they were all resting or lounging.  Granted it was not the warmest or driest day to be outside but it was by far the laziest bunch of animals we ever say.

It was certainly something...

The Search for Chumatz

The search for General Tso was set aside last week as we prepared our apartment for Passover.  Basically the prep felt the same as at home in NYC with the exception of going to Ikea to buy some pots and pans.  Living in New York, we appreciate how easy it is to get kosher food not on Passover and now especially ON Passover.  Not having the ability to stop at the Kosher Market Place or SuperSol for take out is a big miss here from the Fischel's. So now we are Chez Take-out.  It's not that cooking and eating on Passover is harder than year-round, it just requires a few more added steps of thoughts and prep.  Also, going to the supermarket and not seeing a single Passover item, not even a token box of matzah was a culture awakening for me.  I have a new appreciation for American supermarkets.  For me it's more the feeling of being restricted of all the foods I can NOT eat to be the hardest part of the holiday. But in the meantime we are eating ALOT of fresh fruits and vegetables and chicken and eggs.

Friday night we attended the family seder Chabad had organized.  It had truly exceeded my expectations for entertainment, for the seder experience and for my child's involvement.  It was a great balance of child participation with the adults and the children having their own experience in another room so the adults can have a grown-up seder experience.  There were mystery boxes, pyramid building contests, puzzles, performances from kids, and delicious food. Having only experienced family/home seders, we wondered if this feeling of being in a ball room is what it feels like at the seder programs across the world?

It was great to reach the age to see my child sing the 4 questions and really ask questions and part of the passover experience and meet other families in the Shanghai community.  Chabad really went above and beyond and preparation for the seder and we were so excited to experience this and made being abroad a little less far away from home.

Not so great is the question every morning my child asks, can he eat granola bar or cliffs bar or favorite cereal and why not??? Finding food, that is not chocolate, has been a challenge for me.  Aversions to eggs and not having anything to spread on the matzah has been less than desirable for patrons at my restaurant.

Growing Up Aborad

My friend Melissa Woods shared this article "11 Ways Growing Up Abroad Ruined my Daughters Life".  Clearly with my current life circumstances I immediately clicked on the article, aside from the fact that Melissa usually is posting funky vegan recipes that I would never make but sound delicious.

I was expecting the article to really list the disadvantages of living abroad, some of the feelings I've been struggling with I thought might be be articulated in this article. But alas, the article really turned that frown upside down for me.

The first point "She gets confused as to which language to speak." We've been trying to help our son find the words to express himself when he feels frustrated. In talking one night before bed, he shared that he is feeling confused. I asked confused about what and he said everything at school is different. In the school he attends they speak in Hebrew, Chinese and English. Not realizing that affect it could have on him on a daily basis from 8:15-3 everyday it really made me take a step back. It is confusing. I'm confused, what must it be like for his little brain to be processing so much at such a rapid pace. Our dialouge has developed before bed most nights into how confusing it is and how we are in this adventure together and over time it will get less confusing and we have each other. I want him to know that it's not just confusing for the kids but for the mommy's and daddy's too.

I've said in previous post how having kids has kept me a bit more distracted with dealing with my own confusion and challenges with uprooting our family and moving to such a foreign country (with such an unnatural ear for learning languages). But I am excited to partake in this adventure and see what tomorrow faces.

Reunited and it Feels SO Right...

After 3 weeks of being parted from our air shipment (and 1 week delayed) our boxes have officially  cleared customs and arrived in our apartment this afternoon.  No it's not an April Fool's joke.

I am not sure who is more excited me for my kids or my kids.  They've certainly had to get creative with what little we had and with what people had so generously shared with us.  33 Boxes, of which I could not have told you what was in them aside from a general "toys" have been opened and unpacked. Come on it's me here, are you surprised in 5 hours it's put away?

10 pounds of food, which is NOT alot have been added to our "American Stash" of things I haven't found here so glad to have them now.