Ni hao

I spent two weeks in southeast China on business.  I've been to Dongguan once before, but it was over 4 years ago and times are always changing.  I always think it is such a great experience and so eye-opening to see different cultures.  That's why I love to travel, even though it is not nearly as fun when you have to work!  I still have a lot to learn, but that comes with time.  Only speaking English, I always feel so "dumb" in other countries.

A few observations:

A lot of people smoke.

You can smoke virtually anywhere, including the mall and probably your desk at work.

No traffic safety.

People walk through main traffic roads wherever and whenever.  

Bikes, rickshaws, vans, large trucks, and mopeds all use the same lanes.  Or lack of lanes.

No one wears a helmet.

Forget child seats, kids aren't even buckled in.  They often climb to the windows and stick their head out.

I saw several bad accidents (after they happened).

You can fit your family of four on a single bike.

Landscaping along the main roads is beautiful - probably better than most people's private home landscaping in the US.

Noticed improvement since the last visit - better roads, more luxury cars, new border patrol.

It is so humid!  I was wearing sneakers taking a walking in the morning and almost fell because of the moisture in the air/ on the ground.

Billiards is very popular - driving to the factories, I saw pool tables sitting outside.

Soccer and baseball seem to be growing in popularity.

Watermelon is an after meal treat.

They cook with a lot of oil.

Had an amazing Taiwanese lunch and Japanese dinner but didn't venture very far into the food world on my own.  Surprisingly, didn't have much Chinese food but a lot of Italian!

Western toilets are not always available.  Reference picture below of what is commonly available...  yes, a flushing hole.  (or sometimes non-flushing!)

Chinese manners are different from ours - spitting is common.

Very respectful in the workplace - always stand when you walk up to them, always "present" things to you with two hands (handing you their business card, giving back a credit card, etc).

Buddhism is the most common religion.

Stayed tuned, more to come....

Thirty

It's not the way I had imagined spending my 30th birthday, but it definitely was a memorable one!  I arrived in Hong Kong late the night before.  I turned thirty crossing the border into China.  I arrived at the hotel so tired my eyes were burning.  I had to get up and be ready for work early the next morning, so I fell fast asleep but awoke throughout the night.

I've been to China once before, but this was my first time in over 4 years and with my current employer.  I started the day at our local office putting faces to all of the names I've been working with for last six months.  Then we headed out to see a couple of our suppliers.  I did not expect to pull up to red carpet treatment!  I wish I was prepared, so I could have taken a couple of pictures.  The owner and several employees were waiting for us lining the entrance steps and holding huge, beautiful bouquets.  What do you know birthday flowers.  :)

(This was afterwards, when it was starting to blow away).

After stopping by another supplier, I came back to the hotel.  It was early, but I was already getting tired and didn't feel like going to dinner.  I was skyping with my mom, then my husband called, and then the doorbell rang and a birthday cake was delivered.  (From the hotel - so sweet and such a nice surprise!)  It all happened all at once, so it kind of felt like a birthday party.

I went to bed, but when I woke up it was still my birthday... in the USA.  I had more phone calls and cards.  It ended up being a three day birthday with unexpected flowers and cake and love from all across the world.  :)

Patriot's Day

I joined my mom, aunt, and cousins in Boston for a quick weekend of fun.  I got in really late Friday night, so we stayed up into the wee hours talking, laughing, and catching up.  Saturday we spent ALL day shopping.  I'm sure my aunt and cousin would have preferred to have their teeth cleaned, but they were good sports while I found some good finds for Spring on Newberry Street.  We stopped to have a great lunch and take a load off.

They had already set up for the marathon on Monday, so we took a few pics at the finish line.

My mom was prepared with her Vibram Five Fingers.  :)

Then it was back to more shopping.  We ended the night with some early birthday drinks.

Sunday we walked to the Charles River and by Fenway Park.  

Spring in the air...

Cousins!  My cousin Kristen was comin' as I was goin'.  

The fun was just beginning for Patriot's day, but it was already time for me to catch the train back to NYC.

Upstate Update

Last week, we went upstate to check a few to-do's off the list.  We got a new land survey so we could determine where to place the house on the lot.  (I don't know if I've mentioned on here that we plan to build a house!  It is a long-term project, but hopefully, in about a year we'll have something close to completion.)  Anyway, we have a VERY funky shaped lot, but we have more space than we thought!  :)  From the far back corner of the lot you can't even see the cabin.

We plan to have a big side porch.  I think this is what the view will be when we're sitting outside.  Not too shabby...

All the snow has melted, but it's still cold and cloudy.  Not a creature stirring (oh, wait, we did see mice!  Eek!).  The water looked like glass.

This is my favorite view driving down the mountain.  I can't wait for Spring and all of the brown to turn to green.

On our way home, we took a small detour to The Catskill Distilling Company in Bethel, NY.  Trivia for the day:  Did you know Bethel, NY was the host of Woodstock?  Not, in fact, Woodstock, NY?  My husband had read about the distillery in a magazine article, so we picked up a bottle of Peace vodka and looked around for a couple of minutes.  Look at the awesome copper pots!

I hope in the summertime, the place gets a good crowd because it was a really neat spot.  I'd love to come back and sit on their patio and listen to some live music.

Spring Break 2012

After lots of whining about needing a vacation, one morning a few weeks ago I awoke to a plane ticket in my inbox.  My husband arranged for us to spend a week in Jupiter, Florida at one of his friend's family's beach house.  We had an entire week together to do nothing except relax in the sun.  We had beautiful weather, took in a Spring training baseball game, went deep sea fishing, and asked ourselves everyday what should we do – beach or pool?  Those are the tough life questions.

 The million dollar view.

Marlins vs. Rays

Josh Johnson in action.

Daily walk on the beach.

In 5 foot waves in the Atlantic.  Not very many other people around.

Flying Fish that jumped into the boat and brought us luck.

Reeling in the catch of the day.

King Fish.

Night out at the Square Grouper Tiki Bar.

Sunset the last night at The Yacht Club.

Even though we had a mild winter, I think a warm spring trip is required every year.  It’s just what I needed, except coming home to over a thousand emails at work.  It was fun while it lasted.  Too bad we didn’t hit the mega millions or else we could have done it every day for the rest of our lives.     

Have you missed me?

I started a new job and then fell off the face of the Earth.  I'm still here.  Just working much longer days which doesn't leave time for myself or my blog.  :(  I will try to do better, but it probably won't be much more frequent until my husband lifts the hiring freeze on the full-time position of housewife.  Until that day comes, I'll try to keep up with short posts and a few pics on the Life in the City & the Sticks facebook page.

A lot has happened in the past 2 months.

We went to St. Louis for Thanksgiving and hung out with some of my fam.

cutest cakeballs ever

my cousin caught a fish from the stream? in the backyard

drank quite a few beers including the local O'Fallon Gold

teaching the youngin

devouring chili cheese late night

Freese cup!

Intercontinental Freese Cup Runners-up

My hubby finally met my Grandpa.  

We played cards and had Imo's pizza which is #4 on my fave pizza list.  I think that was just because it had been so long since I had it.  I definitely got my fix over the weekend.  I think I had it 4 separate times.  That alone should push it into top 3.

I loved watching OSU football this season at Stillwater Bar.  T. Boone Pickens even hung out there with us one night.  And we got to watch the Pokes play in the Garden (unfortunately iphoto just deleted those pics).

We had some friends from Kentucky visit, but somehow I don't have any pictures?!  They brought some awesome bourbon.  That's a trade for housing anytime!

December 21st we celebrated our first anniversary.  I can't believe how fast the year flew by!  I've loved every minute of it and glad I get to spend the rest of my days with him.  We went to the top of the Marriott hotel to have dinner.  This was our view...

No, we didn't trade tables 3 times, the restaurant rotated!  One revolution took about an hour.  I really enjoyed the food, view, and of course spending time with this cutie...

It was a rainy night so we postponed the carriage ride and headed home to pop some champagne.

 If taking down the Christmas tree doesn't wear me out, I'll continue the updates tomorrow!