Highlights from Moscow

God only knows what time it is right now. We left Shanghai at 1:40 to Moscow arriving at 7:00am and eventually arriving in Israel Thursday afternoon. I have no idea what time it is and whether or not my kids slept "enough" or when they should be napping. But my OCRATP (one child crying at a time policy) can be extended to one child sleeping at a time in airports! It's worked out great that one has been asleep and one awake. MUCH easier to entertain one than two.

Below are some highlights of sights in the Moscow airport. Basically, lots of warnings not to leave your children, at least 3 minyans, lots of people sleeping around the airport and a beautiful sunrise.

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The Untold Story: The Anniversary

In one short week we will be approaching a special anniversary.

Last October, my husband had traveled to Singapore for work, overlapping with the celebration of holiday of Sukkot.  Rather than stay in NYC and celebrate the holiday I decided to get on a plane (with the 2 kids) and spend the holiday with my family in Israel.  While I am not adverse to flying with the kids myself, this trip was my first international solo-parenting experience.

With the time difference from Israel to Singapore and 3-day holiday it was a challenge to communicate with my husband.  Texting was the best way to communicate.  As the holiday was about to start the last text I received from my husband was "Want to move to China?" To which I replied, "yea....no."  Then we went into a communication lock-down for the holiday. It would be at least 72 hours before I could follow up and get any indication that moving to China was even a realistic possibility. I figured he was enjoying the Asian culture, traveling.  Honestly I thought it was a joke. Over those 72 hours I was talking about China with my brother. He was telling me what he heard about the Jewish community there (which was a must have for us on a relocation plan) and how Shanghai is so urban and progressive (in some ways).

When we came out of the 72 hours of technology lockdown I ran to my phone to see what the follow up text was per my response and to write back, "sure I'm up for a move".  Needless to say, the weeks that ensued have now led us onto our current path.  In 2 weeks I will be traveling (solo-parenting) back to Israel for Sukkot.  This time my husband will be joining us for the end of the holiday and celebration in honor of my nieces' bat mitzvah.

I can't help but think how just a year ago I thought my husband was making a crazy joke to move to China and here I am living in China.  Crazy as it is, we are doing it. One foot in front of the other, together.  Happy Anniversary to asking one of the craziest questions and I'll say "yes" (most of the time).  

The Emmys Were On??

The Emmy's where on? The Mets are in 1st place? Things I have completed missed in US TV news. I am aware the Pope is coming to DC, NY and Philly.

Who knows what else I'm missing from Pop Culture??


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Squeezing into Your Favorite Jeans

I will say that readjusting back to China has been much like fitting into my favorite pair of jeans.  Perhaps you can relate to this (and if not, well lucky you).  I have had a pair of jeans for about 2 years (a newer favorite). I bought them right before I was pregnant with my daughter.  Now when I put them on it requires to some stretching and squatting but it's worth it because they actually feel good (the first wear post wash is always snug) and are comfortable.

Being back in China seems to be harder readjusting then the actual adjusting when we moved here in March.  Perhaps I have been doing photo posts because (1) it's fun and (2) I have been having a hard time finding the words to our readjustment, until now.  We are back and yes it is familiar like that pair of jeans. I like looking at them in my closet much like I enjoy experiencing Shanghai has to offer.  Getting in to the jeans requires some work but in the end the pay off is worth it.  It is a different kind of hard coming to Shanghai this time.  We started looking at International Schools for our son.  Socially not much has changed. No new families seemed to have moved in our neighborhood or joined our sons class and with the Jewish holidays we aren't getting quiet into a groove yet.

So all I can do is stretch and squat and know that it will feel good and comfortable again....

New Fruit, New Year

In the spirit of the Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, my new fruit was the surprisingly delicious and sweet lotus fruit. The lotus fruit was sugary sweet with a chewy texture.  I have no idea how to cut it or prepare it but it was delicious almost like a jelly bean.

In past years I've gone with the pomegranate as my new fruit but after a few years I think it loses its meaning.  As you can imagine it is very easy to try "new" fruits and vegetables here. I like to think I am have an adventurous palette while in Shanghai but I have fallen into my routine of menu ideas, or as we call it in my family the laminated menu.  We eat a lot of steamed rice, fried rice, chicken with broccoli, steamed vegetable dumplings, and noodles.  In my efforts to motivate and keep exploring this week I will venture to make steamed bread roles, a Chinese delicacy (which I think would translate into Challah for Jewish but I'll let you know).

I can say with certainty that I did not think I would be celebrating the beginning of 5776 in China if you had asked me at the start of 5775.  Just goes to show what a difference a year makes.

Because I Can't Make This Up: photo post

We've been having some internet issues, hence the major delay in postings.  More photos to share of my daily encounters as you just can't make this up.

A new form of caddying?

Three generations 

Because you need a raincoat when you play in the sprinklers...in your bathing suit?!?!?!

Not sure what to make of this one....I come from the philosophy

 that they won't crawl down the aisle...

Another example of the gawking...full on

Yes that is a very patriotic dog with the flag of China in its head

Just got out of a traffic jam, seriously, a kiddy traffic jam. 

This is how China babies roll.

A Bicycle, not built for 2 but rides for 2.

Couldn't resist a beautiful sunset. Makes the hard days a little more beautiful.

A meeting of the minds at Zoo Coffee.

Just Another Monday: photo post

Ran some errands and these are what I came across:

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Bento Box

This post as nothing to do with a Bento Box* but I can't help but call the box that was delivered to me a Bento Box.  I am trying to streamline my grocery shopping. This website that I order from,
Kate and Kimi,  caters to ex-pats and has a huge variety of products.  There is an option to select an
"easy box". Based on the number of people you are feeding you can basically get a surprise box of whatever is in season.  Friday we had our first "easy box" delivered.  I am so excited to report for 155 RMB ($23) we got a ton, A TON of amazing produce.  From lettuce, kale and raddishes, to okra, maitake mushrooms and mint. I was so excited for the value and the product to start cooking.  Granted it probably all tastes similarly as I am stir-frying it all but it is fresh and easy and loving my bento box.


*definition source dictionary.com: a partitioned lacquered or decorated box made of wood or other materialin which a meal consisting of various types of Asian food (bento) is served;also called obento

Victory for Us

We spent the better part of Victory Day at the Shanghai Sculpture Park.  It was about a 35 minute drive within Shanghai.  It was listed something like 82 out of 1200 "must sees" while in Shanghai.  Now we check that off our list.  There was a lake, beach, pools, sprinklers, a tree house, trampolines, playgrounds and much much more we didn't even have time to explore.  Enjoy the photo's below from our day.

Thumbs up in the cool water

Our local gawker, resting.

Trains!

"My head hurts, I need a rest"

Shanghai's version of Chicago's "The Bean"

The treehouse

Victory Day

Tomorrow is a holiday in China, Victory Day. This holiday marks the 70th anniversary of China’s ‘contribution and sacrifice’ in the fight against fascism in the second world war.  Schools and banks are closed. We are very much looking forward to having the day together, less jet-lagged and more functioning.

The holidays here come with a catch.   As noted in this Wall Street Journal blog, if you are off on Thursday for Victory Day, you have to go into work either on Saturday or Sunday that weekend to make up the day.  It does not seem so much that this is a "holiday" in my eyes.  No school Sunday and looking for entertainment for my kids.

I will consider Victory Day a victory on Sunday night if I am both my kids remain overall happy, entertained and don't cry at the same time.

Shang-lag

The three of us have varying forms of jet lag.  One-third of the travelers seem to be over the brunt of it while the other third dictates whether my third gets over the jet-lag sooner than later.  Not much has changed in Shanghai.  It's just as hot when we left in June,  school started and we are trying to get back into our groove.  Finding that groove is giving me some Shang-lag.  I feel like I am moving in slow motion (which may not be so good in a city of 24 million people).

Every day is getting more clear, more productive  and hopefully a little more sleep-filled and the lag will become Shanghai-days. But with the Jewish Holidays coming up and our next big trip to Israel in just three short weeks I have a feeling I'll be lagging while my other two-thirds are pulling me (hopefully in the same direction and not crying at the same time).

Jet Lag Buffet

In case you are interested the jet lag is in full affect, as expected. A little different hours than coming to the States but the same in that people are awake when we don't want them to be.

The Jet Lag Buffet is open as some people here have fallen asleep from 4:30pm-12am, not having eaten dinner. On our menu this evening was a request for peanuts, in a bowl not the bag, a banana, water and an Ego pancake. For my buffet it was Dunkin Hines brownies (with chocolate chips) and coffee.

This child spent a good part of the morning trying on all of her new shoes.

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And We're Back

These two pictures pretty much sum up out return. Jet-lagged and up early admiring the technology of street sweeping here in Shanghai.

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Whack-a-Mole

I remember fondly spending time as a child at Long Beach Island and going to Fantasy Island for rides and arcade games.  One of the games we played, aside from skee-ball, was *whack-a-mole.  It was a test of my agility and coordination.

Fast forward 20+ years, when I was pregnant with our second child a friend shared with me this advice: If both kids are crying at the same time, pay attention the child who has the more pressing/urgent issue.  Obviously the most pressing or urgent issue is debatable.  Taking that advice, I felt I would address the child who's crying I could curtail faster.

In the past 16 months I noticed early on that, thankful, I did not have to practice this advice so frequently which has led me to the development of my "One Child Crying at a Time Policy" (OCCTP).  This policy has taken a life on of it's own in our home.  Our daughter was colic for the first 16 weeks of her life.  Thankfully our son thought it was cute and did not cry much when she was crying (shocking behavior for a 3 year old, I know).  When things leveled out with the colic I noticed that one kid would cry, we'd calm down and the other would start they would not often be crying at the same time.  At first I felt like I was playing whack-a-mole, get one kid down before the other one pops up.  For some reason continuous crying didn't seem has hard than both kids crying at the same time.

OCCTP has been self imposed on my kids, for the most part.  The other day both kids were standing at the screen door, crying together with their hands against the screen calling my name as I was taking the garbage to the curb.  In my head I was thinking keep walking but in my heart I knew I could calm them down, eventually, and thank god they don't cry at the same time often.  



*In case you are unfamiliar with the game: an arcade game in which players use a mallet to hit toy moles, which appear at random, back into their holes.

Going Back to the Future

We are winding down our 58 day trip to the States. We will have flown 18,000 miles (round trip), driven nearly 4,000 miles by car and traveled between New York, New Jersey and Connecticut enough to keep EZ Pass in business for a while.

Things we've learned:
-My kids have adapted to waking up and not knowing where they are and not freaking out, as much; my son just asks every day "is it morning time yet?"
-My 16 month old learned where her nose, ears and mouth are in English (she knew in Chinese already)
-My 4 year old hates the sand but loves the beach
-My parents would have been married 50 years next week
-My brothers still know how to push my buttons and I love them for that
-I have awesome sister-in-laws who have made being here less hard and being away less hard
-I was told by my mother (of all people) that calling my Husband my Beloved in my previous post was "corny"
-Avoid dairy products before long car rides (more than 30 minutes)
-My family and friends have been so sensitive with our travel schedule and adaptability with shelping around everywhere and understanding it is not easy and in fact this is not relaxing nor a vacation for me
-I have some angst about going back to China for the "long haul" (til next summer as we don't have plans to travel back to the States this year) but I am starting to look forward to going back getting into our China groove sharing our adventures with you.


I will bid farewell as we head back into the Flux Capacitor.

Is it 7/11 or 11/7

When we are in China it gets quiet on FaceTime and Whatsapp (our most popular modes of communication with the States) around 11am until about 7pm. I always have to remind myself we are a day a head. It's confusing a lot of the time to think we are starting our day and my family and friends are wrapping up a day and when we are wrapping up a day they are just starting.

Now being on the other side of the time difference trying connect with my Beloved has been a bit of a challenge. Things get quiet here from 11am-7pm as he is winding down but the windows to talk are hectic as the kids are waking up/eating or driving me loco-I-mean having so much fun so it's not the most ideal time to catch up with each other.

For example, right now we are up (it's 7am) and Beloved is on a delayed airplane traveling back to Shanghai from a business trip and it's Thursday night already. It blows my mind, still.

To look on the positive side we have been able to catch up frequently this week from 2am-5am as one child or the other has been waking up for one thing or another. The kids did not get the memo: The sound of the ocean is supposed to help you sleep better #roadtrip #travelingwoes #lifewithkids #itiswhatitis


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Ruminations From the Turnpike

Two thirds of our trip in the States and over 2,500 miles driven on our rental car #Enterprise we've had a lot of time to think and talk about some random things in the car. Below are some thoughts.

-Drive thru #dunkindonuts is clutch when in a car with kids
-My 16 month can crush stairs, going up and down
-If my 4.5 year had to physically roll the window up and down every time the novelty would have worn off weeks ago
-Having a cold in the summer stinks
-The expanded #NJTurnpike is awesome
-Thank whoever created #ezpass
-How can people NOT have #ezpass, it's 2015 people
-Gas is really cheap in NJ ($2.23)
-Stores are anti-mothers: they don't open until 10am and they close at 8pm
-Good thing #wholefoods opens at 8am #earlyrisers
-My kids must wonder each night where they are sleeping the next night and how much time are we spending in the car
-Counting Light Sabors and Ewoks thanks to Stars Wars learning workbooks #costco
-My 4.5 year old asked me if there is TV in the sky, he's concerned what my father does all day. And he's hoping it is not making thunder


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Clowns, Clowns Everywhere

Be careful if you get pulled over by these clowns!

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Single Parenting/Parenting Single

It's been fantastic being able to finally take things a little easier (because parenting is anything but easy) getting over the jet-lag (midnight wake-ups, midnight snacks and midnight visitors) and spending time with my family. They have certainly made the transition home easier by welcoming us with open arms, upside down kids and all.

Lots of NJ turnpike, car sick kids (nothing like throw up at exit 14 and the nearest rest stop near exit 10), swimming, shopping and family and we are 1/4 of the way through our visit. Hard to believe but time is flying by.

I'm still enamored by the amount of available kosher products in the stores. I'd have to say when people ask me what am I most excited about being back, I'd have to say the selection at the store.

We've been in the US just over 2 weeks and about to reunited as a family tomorrow afternoon. We could not be more excited. I'd say I'm capable at parenting my kids solo but I certainly say I miss my co-pilot. Thankfully we've been able to find some sort of crazy balance and support each other being so far apart.

Fortune Cookie Friday

You will be hungry again in one hour.

Apparently there are many theories why one is hungry so soon after eating Chinese food over other ethnic foods.  I came across this blog create by "Five Hungry Jewish Guys on a Quest to find the Best Chinese Reasturant on Long Island and NYC".  This blog has done agreat job of collecting the top 10 reason why you feel hungry an hour after eating Chinese Food.

1. A Chinese gentleman I work with told me that this is due to the effects of mono-sodium glutamate (MSG), which, in addition to enhancing the flavor of food, acts as an appetite stimulant, leaving the consumer with a sensation of hunger, despite having eaten. In some people, MSG produces even less desirable effects, such as headaches and nausea.

2. It could be the high glycemic load– there’s white rice, there’s white noodles, there’s sugar and white flour somewhere in the main dish, there’s more white rice, and then there’s a fortune cookie made of sugar and white flour. It spikes your insulin, you get full fast, and then you crash and need more food. An interesting experiment would be to make a typical American Chinese restaurant type meal using wheat flour, brown rice, and an unprocessed sweetener such as rapadura or agave nectar, and to give it to people who didn’t know what the experiment was about and seeing if they got hungry again soon after eating it.

3. Chinese food is traditionally very low in fat, and it’s the fat in food that keeps you feeling full longer. The Chinese themselves tend to fill up on carbs (rice, noodles) and mostly vegetables at their meals (they eat MUCH less meat than we do in the West), so it may be that you’re actually not eating enough (you say you don’t eat too much)! I don’t think it’s MSG, as that’s simply a flavor enhancer derived naturally (from beetroot), most Chinese restaurants don’t even use it any more (and haven’t for years), and those that do would only use a tiny, tiny amount.

4. While there is some protein in any of the meat options you have, the rest are full of carbs and sugars. This will make you feel extremely full right after eating, but usually once your body has processed the carbs and broken them down to just sugar, your body is hungry again.

5. Researchers now believe the culprit may be carbohydrates. More specifically, certain types of carbohydrates, including rice and pasta. These carbohydrates have a high glycemic index (GI), which means the body needs to produce extra insulin to digest them. Certain diet doctors believe consuming these carbohydrates can cause overeating, since excess insulin causes the blood sugar to plummet, creating a hungry feeling.

6. Noodles and rice are the staple of most Chinese dishes. Both are very easy to digest and turn to sugar which your body uses very quickly. So if you eat a dish high in simple carbohydrates likes noodles, rice, or potato, you may get a sugar spike and a burst of energy followed by tiredness and hunger.

7. Because real Chinese food is very low in essential fats and essential amino acids. They also tend to be high in empty calories (white rice, refined flour, refined sugar) which has lots of calories but no nutrients. When you don’t give your body essential nutrients, it will make you hungry until you have consume enough of them.

8. Typically Chinese buffets tend to load the food up with MSG so you feel fuller after eating less. Thus they save money because you’re not eating as much as you normally would.

9. The preservatives are most likely making you dehydrated. Dehydration often gives you the false sense that you are “hungry”.

10. Chinese food is full of sodium. Sodium is salt, if you didn’t know that. Salt makes you thirsty, that’s why at the bar they serve peanuts for free or pretzels so that you will order more to drink. So really you are thirsty not hungry.