When You're Ready You're Ready

When we moved to Shanghai my good friend, Carrie, put me in touch with her co-workers cousin who is also living in Shanghai.  I've learned in ex-pat life a friend of a friend of a friend is a friend.  I reached out to Carrie's co-workers cousin (CCC) when we got here.

CCC and I met for coffee. She is great, nice, has kids my kids age-ish, friendly, and real  She seems to think my skill set with organizing and social work would totally take off here in Shanghai.  I am more cautious with the idea but she swears her knitting group would crush it with my help.

A few weeks ago she asked if I could come by and help with her kitchen. Shanghai kitchens can be very much like Manhattan kitchens so I said yes! I accepted the challenge.  I think we both did great! I suggested she get an additional shelf built in an empty space in her cabinet and the next day she texted me a picture of the installed shelf.  When you are ready you are ready.  CCC was motivated, aware and ready to declutter, prioritize and reuse.  It's not all about throwing things away but merely making a little time and seeing what you really use!

A difference between Shanghai kitchens and Manhattan kitchens? Spice and oil storage.  There are way more spices and oils used in cooking and thus more ways to find space to keep them fresh, neat and accessible in a small space.

In the spirit of Marie Kondo's new book "Spark Joy" I ask myself "is there a spark?" If not, it's out. But you have to be in the zone and ready. With two young kids and working I understand it's not always easy to find time to get organized, keep organized, let alone focus on non priorities.  I hope my time with CCC gave her the push to keep on moving because I saw she can totally do it!

Perhaps in the New Year we will see Spatial Relations: Sweeping Shanghai edition.

Monkey Business

It's all monkey business in China these days as we prepare for Chinese New Year, also known as CNY, the year of the Monkey.

CNY marks the beginning of Spring Festival.  It starts on the second new moon after the winter solstice and ending on the full moon fifteen days later. It is marked by visits to family and friends, special meals, fireworks, and gift giving. Everyone we have met is planning on going to their home town to be with family.  The city is preparing to shut down to give people enough time to travel home.  While the holiday itself is 3 days the city seems to be off for 2 weeks.  And fireworks are being banned as its affects on pollution and air quality.

The kids have no school for a week, my husband's office is closed and the markets are all closing down.  We are heading to Thailand at the end the week, something I thought I'd ever be saying.  We also seem to be traveling to Thailand with almost all the other ex-pats I ask what their plans are for CNY.  We are going to Bangkok for 3 days and Phuket for 5 days. I am most looking forward to traveling, much warmer weather and being with my family.

Stay tuned for pictures of the CNY decorations.

In the meantime find out what zodiac animal you were born under.

What will $15 get you in China (the equivalent of 100 RMB)

The 100 RMB which is the Chinese Yuan or the renminbi is the official currency of the People Republic of China. The 100 RMB is basically like the US $20 bill.  From the ATM, generally the money is dispersed in 100's.  And much like 20 dollar bills, they seem to go easy and fast.

What does 100 RMB get you in China?

4.5 cups of Starbucks Tall Americano
1/3 of a 60 minute Pilate's class (assuming you are taking it with 2 of your friends)
3 hair washes and blowouts at the salon (included ear cleaning, back, neck and head massage;
   no tip needed)
About 6 one way rides to my son's school in a taxi which comes down to ($2.30 a ride people!!!)
1.5 jars of maple syrup at the imported supermarket
40 cans of Diet Coke or Seltzer
1 meal a Chabad includes chicken/beef/fish dish and a side of fries/salad/rice
4 organic Pomelo's
2 unlimited metro passes for 72 hours of travel (45RMB each)
33 rides on the metro at 3RMB a ride beats NYC, cleaner and more prompt with countdown clocks
3 hours of babysitting (about 30-35RMB per hour)
64 Pampers diapers

3 scoops of Hagen Daiz ice cream

Costco China

I love Costco.

I love everything about Costco. The selection, the variety (and sometimes the lack there off, makes decision making easier) and the size. The fact that I can buy Kosher London Broil, the best baby wipes around and Clorox wipes all in the same place? What could be better.  Oh, their sheet cake is amazing!

There was some buzz earlier this year that a Costco was coming to China.  What could be more of a creature comfort than Costco in a foreign land.  Sadly, I recently learned that they opened a virtual store with limited product selection.  Kirkland Wipes are the only thing I would want to buy at this point.  To order them from Amazon and have them shipped here would cost nearly $150 for 2 boxes of wipes.  

In June last year an article came out researching the cost/benefit's of really shopping at Costco versus smaller retail stores. Sometimes buying bulk is not necessarily saving money but for me not to have buy weekly used products like toilet paper, paper towels, wipes, etc, weekly then I am happy to shop Costco.  

In 2013 CNBC aired a show about the Costco Craze. You can view the 42 minute episode on this youtube link.  I highly recommend it. It's fascinating to learn how the company works and how the select exactly what they will sell.  For example, I learned what extensive research and testing Costco does to decide which toy products they choose to sell each year.  As a consumer it makes me feel like if I buy a toy or book at Costco it is quality and durable and I will feel less guilty being impulsive because it's quality and durable.

My comfort for Costco will have to wait until we return to the States and I hope they continue to enhance their selection and quality.  

Who Wore it Best: Part 1

I've been trying my hand at getting tops remade and getting dresses made from scratch.  You decide, the top picture is the idea/inspiration the bottom pictures are my turnout. Because when you buy more than 1 you get a "better" price.  This item I broke about even. But as people remind me what I get made is custom so it should be measured better than off the rack.

The 17 Best Chinese Restaurants in America

Reading the NY Post just now I was so excited to read this story, 17 best Chinese Restaurants in America.

Sadly disappointed the true #1 best Chinese food in America was not mentioned, Gan Asia of the Upper West Side. Having been living in China for nearly a year I can say that with all of the delicious food we have been eating here the search for General Tso might really be in our backyard.  Who knew?

And I'm Back...

I'm here and I'm back.  Perhaps it was the post-Beijing blues, or the pollution, that prompted the writing drought or the 2 weeks I've been single parenting here but I'm getting back into it not that we are all reunited back in Shanghai.

We do it.  We do what we have to do.  I've heard the expression and believe it to be true that God gives us what we can handle.  I think this is why, for the most part, I am able to enjoy the ride here.   It was hard. Being the only adult when most times I can't believe I am an adult.  Not having the family support but the routine saved me. 

Luckily for us, my cousin came to visit for a week while she was on break from law school.  The kids had a great time and I had fun catching up with my cousin and finding out what "younger" people are into in NYC.  My cousin is 10 years younger than me so I am relying on her to keep me in the loop.  

People say once you have kids one develops a new found respect for their own parents. I most certainly did and still do has I face the challenges, dinners, tantrums and creative fun of raising my own kids.  We did it, we do it and we'll keep on doing it.

And to get back in the groove I stopped at the flower market before Shabbat.  

                                                       

                                                           

Jaywalking: Don't Even Think About it!

I would not recommend jaywalking or Jay-walking while in Shanghai.  While I have not seen it yet I have read online that China is cracking down on illegal street crossing by fining pedestrians, according to this site, granted it is 3 years old. Though I do wonder if it is a lure like in Manhattan.

You cross the street at your OWN risk, with or against the pedestrian light.  They do not care whether you are walking by yourself, holding the hand of a child or pushing a baby stroller, drivers have the right of way, always.  As I tell my 4 year old, "China drivers are CRAZY."   Rush hour is everyday all day long.

Jaywalking from NBC's Jay Leno, as seen in some of these clips, is not recommended either. The segment — which asked normal citizens to answer grade school questions about politics, science, and history — is the most depressing expose of the failings of the American education system. But, still, entertaining.  I would not be interested in approaching anyone on the street to ask even directions, mostly because I don't know where anything is, let alone in Mandarin.  But when talking Mandarin, each word can have at least 4 different definitions depending how you pronounce the word.

Search Renamed Part 2

Being in the land of needle and thread you'd think it would be easy to get clothes made.  But to know what clothes you want made means you have to know what clothes you want made.  I've posted pictures of endless reams and reams of fabric in the Fabric Market.  But you have to know what style and fit and which kind of cotton you want too.

I've had a few things made.  It's hit or miss. A great skirt, a so-so dress, another good dress and another so-so dress.  I am looking for everyday, comfortable and somewhat fashionable tops and bottoms.  At home the Loft has been a great shopping experience.  Alas there is no Loft here. I am toying with the idea of taking one of my favorite shirts and seeing about getting it replicated in various colors or tweeks in style but then how to decide which stall to take it too. And another questions at what value is remaking the item.  If the shirt cost me $40 in the store in NY, it will most likely cost me about the same, if not more to have it made here.

My mom is an awesome and big knitter.  Sometimes I'll find sweaters online and ask her to knit them for me. She usually responds that it'll be less expensive to buy it then to buy the yarn and actually knit it to custom fit.  That is what I am finding here in my search for clothes.

Jeans either have too much stretch, too little stretch or are just plan wrong for me.  I don't want to wear "Not Your Daughters Jeans" or "boyfriend" style jeans. I just want to wear wearable jeans that look good on me.

The search continues...

Beijing was AWESOME!

When you hear Beijing you probably think smog.  Well, with our masks, we think they don't really do anything, and our bags packed we took the high speed train, 4 hours and 45 minutes to Beijing.

We got lucky.  It wasn't freezing but was colder than Shanghai and the air was not unbearable.

Beijing, The People's Republic of China's capital, is setup based on 6 rings.  In the center of the city is Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.  The city has a rule, much like Washington, DC, that no buildings can be taller structures within this ring.  As the circles expand the buildings get taller.   It felt like a highway super highway system as we traveled from where our hotel was located in ring 4 to sight-see in the city center ring 2.  We learned that with the cities growing size the government is expanding city limits into the 7th circle.  Most of the business done in Beijing is government related.  I definitely felt the difference of urban shopping fashion, business, modernity, and pulse of excitement like you feel when you are in Shanghai.

The way up

Mutianyu Tower

The gift shop

Prior to entering the Forbidden City

Someone taking a picture of our kids at Tiananmen Square

Yet someone else taking another picture of our kids

Someone else taking a picture of our daughter

As for the Great Wall, I recommend everyone to go visit. It was just cool to experience something of this size, much like the Old City in Jerusalem and Masada in the Negev, so much man power and such innovation.

On a mountain by the wall there is a saying built inside "If you haven't been to the Great Wall, you aren't a real man," Mao Zedong once said or also translated as "He who doesn't reach the Great Wall is no hero. You can buy a suvionir medal on your way down if you'd like. We took a ski lift up and a tobogon down. From start to finish it was awesome.

Facts & Figures: Beijing

It only took 3 attempts to purchase train tickets. We already know things here take twice as long to do, we've established that fact early on, even before our arrival with getting Visa's etc.

Attempt #1 involved not knowing the train schedule and being able to communicate with the non-english speaking agent. Attempt #2 was almost successful but I did not have my passports, which are required for purchase.  Attempt #3 was the trick as we have confirmed seats and we are almost ready for our first express on the "express train" taking nearly 5 hours to Beijing.  I for one think it will be faster than if we chose to fly the 90 minute flight.
 
The Forbidden City was once know as Zijin Cheng ('Purple Forbidden City'). Being that I am a huge lover of the color purple I am even more excited to visit the Purple Forbidden City.  

Train Store

Fun facts of the Forbidden City: 

*It is the world's biggest ancient palace.

*China's most popular single site tourist attraction.

*The structure is almost 600 years old.

*Home of dynastic clans for 500 years.

*1987 UNESCO World Heritage List

*The largest collection of ancient wooden structures in the world.

*It has 9,999 rooms

*200,000 - 1 million laborers and artisans constructed the complex.

*24 emperors lived there.

Fun Facts about the Great Wall:

*The official length is 21,196.18 km (13,170.7 mi) 

*The Great Wall is more than 2,300 years old.

*The Ming Great Wall crosses 9 provinces and municipalities

*The Great Wall of China is the longest structure ever built by humans.

*The widest section of the wall is around 9 metres (30 ft).

*The highest point of the wall is around 8 metres (26 ft)

*Rumors astronauts can see the Great Wall from the Moon with the naked eye are untrue.

An Oldie But a Goodie

I am a fan of Weight Watchers. When I graduated college and was officially living on my own I started to make a more active effort to eat healthier.  

After already being in the habit of journaling my food, a key element to Weigt Watchers success, it seemed like a good strategy for me. 

My friends and I were always looking for easy "zero point" foods that were filling. An egg white omelet with salsa and mixed vegetables was a staple in my apartment. At the time (I'm not sure what the point system is today) 3 egg whites was 1 point and veggies and salsa were zero points. You can imagine how many WW omelets I made/ate. 

My roommate at the time had access to the paid online version to WW. She kindly shared her log in (really it was her mothers log in) and I searched for recipes. Endless recipes. 

I came across this recipe below for Chocolate Chip Biscotti. It seemed like a healthier version of a cookie. 

I have a thin binder of recipes I've saved. In effort to purge I'm getting rid of recipes I am not ever going to cook or cook again. This recipe is a keeper. 

It makes 20 biscotti at 2 points each. Thanks old roommates mom for sharing your log in so many years ago. 

'Tis the Season

It does not feel like Christmas Day here the way we felt Christmas in New York. Much like I hear it is in NY, it's mild here. Not quiet jogging in Central Park in no shirt like I've seen pictures of but still unseasonably warm.  People are certainly in the holiday spirit especially for a holiday they do not actually celebrate.  Below are just a few snapshots of the festive style we pass along our daily walks.  

The Waffle Bar

"A white tree Mommy?"

Carrefour

Local flower shop

Costa Coffee

The lobby of our building

                                                                                      

Good Wall or Great Wall?

Good Wall or Great Wall? I'll be the judge of that.

We just made reservations for next week. New Years in Beijing. It's cold, it's polluted but we are going.  I am banking on the the city not being crowded because it's super cold (apparently in the 20's farenheight) and with the holidays this week perhaps the pollution won't be so bad.  Although they might be working double time to meet deadlines before the Chinese New Year in early February when everything basically shuts down for the month.

In doing my preliminary research about the Great Wall, in fact you can not see it from space. Apparently it can only be seen from low atmospheric orbit not from outer space.

Great Wall we are coming for you!

The Search for Drunk Man Noodles is Over

This may just be a geographically centro post, for those who know about Gan Asia's fine cuisine dishes of Chinese, Thai and Sushi.  

For $16.99 you get an entree dish of deliciousness of Drunk Man Noodles described from the Gan Asia menu: Broad rice noodles sautéed with tender chicken, bell peppers, white and green onions, fresh basil, and Chinese eggplant, in our spicy black soy sauce. I special thank you to Tamar Davis from introducing me to this heaven and breaking me out of my tried and true order of General Tso with brown rice.

Tonight I have found a comparable version of this dish, AT HOME!  Seems I might have miss named my search while in China. In the meantime I'll enjoy my findings.

Taxi, Dishi!

Getting a taxi in Shanghai is much like getting a taxi in NYC.  You go out to the corner and stick your arm up.  There is a lot more competition to Uber to "reserve cabs" with services like Didi and WeChat taxi .

Basically every cab has two lights, one on the top and one on the dashboard.  If the top is green and the dashboard is green then the cab is available.  If the top is green and the dashboard is red then the cab is reserved from a call or an app or they just don't want to pick you up (as I am recently learning).  If the top is red and the dashboard is red then the cab is clearly unavailable.

On the dashboard is a plaque with a photo id of someone who may, or may not be your driver along with a number.  The lower the number, the long the driver as been driving.  Drivers with numbers over 350,000 are newer drivers, 200,00 ranger are average and anyone with a number below 100,000 is considered a veteran driver (meaning knowing the streets of Shanghai best not necessarily safe driving).

The star system on the id card is based out 5 stars.  The drivers seeking higher stars must past extensive written exams.  I have been advised that any taxi with 2+ stars is considered good and will safely get my to my destination in one piece.  Maybe three times since I've been here I've been in a cab with 4 stars and the majority of the time the drivers have no stars.  Apparently the drivers who have 4+ stars have more likely been driving for 20+ years.

It's an experience every time you get in the cab.

Smoking, required.
Seat belts, not required.
Air conditioning, not likely.
Traffic, a must.  

Chestnuts Roasting

I've seen them popping up in street corners, on the back of bikes. I thought I've seen just about everything, flowers, fruit, nuts and now chestnuts.  Apparently it is chestnut season.  Courtesy of the Shanghai Daily News, a feature article and recipe suggestions. I am tempted to try to make the chestnut rice with chicken and shitake mushrooms.

My father always got a kick out of us enjoying things he liked, for example, roasted chestnuts, potato chips and crossword puzzles (I learned in my teens that he would just fill in the missing clues with random letters to make it look like he completed the puzzle).  I am not sure he would enjoy such an unorthodox form of chestnuts in the recipes below, but I enjoy them more now knowing he liked them too.

The Heat is On!

While it is certainly not as cold here as it is in New York (thought I heard it was nearly 66 yesterday), it is chilly, some days.  The other day my husband commented, "it really is starting to feel like fall," to which I responded, "it's about time it is December already!"

Fall is not as nice as it is in New York but I am enjoying the delayed onset. I hate the cold. I hate being cold. There is a reason I went to college in Miami, Florida.

I remember whenever I was with my dad, during the summer, he always had the air condition blowing at full blast. I was an icicle and he didn't seem to care.  And I hated it.  He reminded me that when he grew up he didn't have air conditioning.  Makes sense, give yourself and your kids what you didn't have yourself?

I guess I am doing for me what I felt by running my heat anytime I feel chilly.  I like it cozy warm. Not drowsy warm, but cozy.  You may come to our apartment and feel like it is a sauna, sorry, but I don't like being cold. It does not feel like Eilat thought, I can tell you that much.

Lego My Ego

My son had a pollyanna at school this week. The request was to spend under 100RMB which is about $16, age appropriate toy for a boy. We gave a football (soccer ball).  I figured my kid likes kicking it around, why wouldn't one of his classmates?  Below is the gift my kid got. Please note on the box it says age 6+. Perhaps the kids in my sons class are super advanced?  It's a mix between Lego's but called M38's and a transformer.  How quickly do you think it will *fall to pieces once my son starts playing with it??

*update: seconds, under 5 seconds.

The goal

331 pieces

The finished product

The left over pieces

Wok and Roll

I bought a wok. Yes you might think it would have been one of the first things we bought here but it wasn't. And we managed nearly 10 months without one.  While at Ikea the other day I was intrigued and bought a wok.

When I hear wok I think sukiyaki.  Who knew this was a real, authentic dish not something my mom made up to have a fast and easy dinner for her family.  I honestly did not think this was a recipe until my mom so kindly shared it with me when I got married.  All this time I thought it was something she made up.  And now I have a real wok, as she did, to prepare it.

Does the shape of the pan really change the flavor of the food? Basically I have read that the shape of a wok heats faster, cooks faster which means less cooking oil which equals healthier food.  Because of its shape, the ingredients always return to the center, where the heat is most intense.

And look at all the cooking styles you can use with a wok:  stir frying, steaming, pan frying, deep frying, poaching, boiling, braising, searing, stewing, making soup, smoking and roasting nuts

And since I have a "wok flame" on our stove top, why not utilize it.

My first attempt with my wok....Mexican fajitas.

*While not my mom's recipe, this was close enough.

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds beef sirloin strips
2/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup chicken broth
1/3 cup white sugar
3 small onions, sliced
2 cups chopped celery
1 (14 ounce) can bamboo shoots, drained and chopped
4 green onions, sliced
1 (4.5 ounce) can mushrooms, drained
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained
1 teaspoon cornstarch

PREPARATION

Heat oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Brown beef in hot oil, then stir in soy sauce, MSG, broth, and sugar. Mix in onion and celery, and cook until tender. Stir in bamboo shoots, green onions, mushrooms, and water chestnuts. Reduce heat to medium, stir in cornstarch, and simmer until sauce is thickened.