Paparazzi

The girls are looked at and photographed quite often in Beijing.  It is usually one guy or gal who whips out their camera phone to shoot a pic of their lovely locks and big blue eyes.

But when we went to the Great Wall this past weekend, it all changed.  Suddenly we weren't in Beijing where they are somewhat used to seeing the occasional expat.  Now we were in the country where the rural Chinese were in awe of these two gorgeous girls.

Or they wanted pictures with the girls.

The Great Wall photos above are only 2 of the many instances when the paparazzi descended on the girls.  You have to see it to believe it!

School Days

Fiona's 1st Week at the British School of Beijing (BSB)

Fiona had a fantastic first day - made 6 new friends and loved her teacher and teaching assistant.  I was very touched by the warm welcome she received from everyone.  She is such a social child so having a group of gals to chat with and play with is very important to her (and me I suppose).  She seems to like the lessons, especially her Chinese lessons.  She is coming home telling me all the shapes and it's going in one ear and out the other.  She could count to 5 by the first day and is already up to 10 after a week.  We hope to get an Ayi who will help her with her pronunciation.

She started her swim class in P.E. today and her first day of After School Activity is this afternoon.  She chose Endangered Animals on Tuesdays and I chose Chinese Culture on Wednesdays.

She really wants to participate in the BSB Idol which is a talent show but it is on April 29th (9 days away).  I think she is so brave to want to try out but I'm not sure we  have time to put something together.  I don't even know the other mom's so how am I suppose to help organize some act?  I think it would be best for her to do something with others but who?

Her favorite friend from the first day is now "not very nice" so a very important lesson has been learned.  You have to get to know someone before you'll know whether you'll like them.  ;-)

Isla's First Days at BSB

Isla just wants to be like her big sister.  She loves that she has a uniform and a water bottle...just like Fiona.  She has an adorable cubby hole and hook with her name and picture on it.  Her teacher is super sweet just like she should be.  Isla gave her a BIG hug goodbye on the 2nd day.  They are learning about bugs this week - butterfly & caterpillar crafts are decorating our apartment and she was crawling around like a worm today.  Her day starts at 8:30 and ends at noon.  We have lunch together then she naps before we head back to BSB to pick up Fiona.  It will be much more convenient when we move to our apartment 4 blocks away from the school...10 more days. 

I am very pleased with how well the girls have adapted to all the changes in their lives.  They are truly amazing!

First Impressions

I've been meaning to write this entry since we arrived last week.  Now it will be difficult to capture those first 2 days when I was thinking "What have we done?"  I am much happier and it has only been 6 days.  Alot of that has to do with Fiona's transition to her new school and how thrilled we are with our soon-to-be apartment, building and neighborhood.

As you know I am doing this blog as an electronic memory book which is my motivation.  I absolutely despise writing which explains why this is so late.  I feel like I'm in high school, procrastinating on a paper.  Hope you give me a good grade.  ;-)

I've read about it but to SEE it...

• Pollution - First day was bad - the air smelled funny and then we were idiots and decide to go out that evening at rush hour and "explore" the neighborhood.  Yeah, great idea!!  Let's breathe in fresh fumes while we walk around the masses of people staring at us (see below).  Since then, I haven't noticed it.  We've had several blue sky days but I hear from others that it can be bad so I must be prepared.
• Masses of People - yeah, I know, they have a billion+ people but to see them is another story.  The buses are filled to the brim, the bus stops, they are EVERYWHERE!  I ate at Subway the other day and there were 6 people behind the very small counter...doesn't sound all that odd but it was.  BUT they are a friendly billion people.  Have not met a rude person yet (except drivers-see below).  They are so friendly (even when they are staring and pointing) and kind.  They've got 'southern hospitality' down.
• Bad Driving - Imagine the worst driver you have ever seen and multiply it by 10 - no exaggeration!  They don't signal, they don't wait, they'll plow over pedestrians and bicyclists, they merge like it's a game of chicken.  I saw a poor man and his 3 year old stuck in the middle of the street b/c cars would not stop to let them cross.  I've heard that the drivers here are only one generation from the bicycle which is why they drive cars like they are bikes.  Very pleased we won't need to drive much when we get to our new home.  Fiona and Isla's school is a bike ride/long walk away and Patrick plans to bike to the subway station.  But now I am spending 2+ hours in traffic (see below) so I've seen some off-the-chart bad driving.  If it wasn't so dangerous, it'd be funny.
• Traffic - I'm from Houston...I've seen my fair share of traffic.  Just avoid certain areas during rush hour and you'll be fine.   How can you avoid the entire city when it is a parking lot?  I might be exaggerating but not by much.  Did I mention how I am thrilled to not be driving in the not-near-enough future?
• The Chinese Love Children (especially Western children) - That is 110% true.  Case in point: I was setting up a bank account on Friday and I look over to check on the girls and they are surrounded by SIX Chinese women hugging them, taking their picture with them, overall spoiling them with attention.  And that trend continues...wherever we go, Isla gets stares and smiles.  She, of course, loves it!  :-D
• Communism - I've only noticed it a few times - had to find a way 'out' of China to get access to Facebook, Iphones are sold here without Wi-Fi, that's about it so far.

Let me know if I missed something you have read about but would like to know how it compares to reality.  Also, please join Facebook or visit often.  I'm posting status updates, pics, etc.

Status Updates - April 5th to 11th

I know some of you are not on Facebook or don't check it regularly (or at all) so here is the day to day comments since we left Houston.  This is just to get you up-to-date.  No point in typing it out again when I can just cut and paste.  ;-)  I'll be writing a First Impressions article soon.

April 5, 2010 - Happy Easter Everyone! Just had lunch with the British fam in Wales. This keyboard is different than US ones...damn Brits have to make everything more difficult. :-P Head to Holland tomorrow. Hope to have more consistent internet. xoxo

April 6th - Arrived in Holland. Went to the beach for some fritas and mayo. P is working tomorrow and we have a playdate in Wassenaar. Happy to have internet access in the hotel - even if it is terribly slow. ;-)

April 7th - Had a wonderful day in Holland, lovely weather, fantastic company, yummy satay for dinner. Tomorrow is THE day...am I ready? Hell, that doesn't matter at this point. :-P

April 7th - Waiting in Schipohl for our flight to Beijing...relieved the wait is almost over, excited to see how it all compares to my imagination and nervous it won't live up to my imagination. I'll let you know as soon as I can bypass the Great Firewall of China. xoxo

April 8th -Arrived in Beijing 12 hours ago...taken this long to battle the Great Firewall of China. Enjoying my small victory of finding Facebook Lite through some vtunnel but the war has not been won. Too tired to fight...going to bed. xoxo

April 9th - Is stilling using Facebook Lite which only allows me to post comments so no Mafia Wars :-( 

Took Fiona to her school for a tour and to buy uniforms. Also opened a bank account - P and I have to have separate accounts since there are no joint accounts. (What's the symbol for "how odd"?) Hope to write a blog entry soon ...but too busy running around. xoxo

April 10th - Has broken through the Great Firewall of China. Mao is no match for my obsession with Mafia Wars. Oh...and I also wanted to see what my friends were up to. ;-)

April 10th - Had a wonderful day in Beijing today...our 1st good day since we arrived on Thursday. Sunny, blue skies, looked at apartments, found one we really like so keep your fingers crossed, got Facebook to work so playing a bit of MW, took girls to Chaoyang Park to the best amusement park EVER, delicious dinner in a fun new area...could go on but I need to write that darn blog entry. Tomorrow, I promise.

April 11th - If yesterday was 'wonderful', then today was Fantastic! Found an apartment/location 20 times better than the one yesterday. Suddenly I am very excited about our time in Beijing. We are going to have a wonderful time biking/walking around our new neighborhood. Check out the website to see where we are moving in a week. Fiona starts school tomorrow so I'll update you tomorrow. xoxo  

http://www.embassyhouse.com/

What We Love About Houston

• Fabulous food - every nationality, every price range, every level of yumminess - Kanomwan, El Tiempo,  Pei Wei, RA Sushi, Churrasco's, Saltgrass Steakhouse, Melting Pot, Mark's, Captain Tom's, Beck's Prime in Memorial Park, Nirvana's, El Rey, you get the point...
• Things the Girls Will Miss - Memorial City Mall's playground, climbing wall and train, grandparents, letterboxing, zoo, cycling in Memorial Park, all the playgrounds, aunts, ball pit at Ikea, Pump It Up, friends, Cypress Gymnastics, WonderWild, dinosaur museum...
• Things Patrick Will Miss - shooting ranges, steaks, H1 Beef at Kanomwan, his garden, his house, his dog,  Miller Genuine Draft, inexpensive luxury cars, mountain bikes
• Things Kim Will Miss - her bookclub, Sami's skills at Touch of Red, Stacy at Faces365, monthly dates with Stephanie, ritas @ Spec's, lots of stuff @ Costco, Target, DSW, Half Price Books
• Fantastic Friends
• Kimmers - 20 years of friendship and it has never been difficult, we have never fought, never argued, never not seen eye to eye, how rare is that?, I'll miss just having you within a 20 mile radius
• Stephanie - I checked you out from across the room, thought you were a good looking, sassy, pregnant chick and said "hey, we could be friends" - 7 years later...As you said in your card, we are as different as we are similar but we'll be friends forever.
• Nichola - I've said it before and I'll say it again ... you are the most thoughtful, considerate, generous person I know.  You amaze me and I'm lucky you moved 2 door downs 7 years ago
• Ellen -  I remember the moment we realized we were neighbors, how long did that take??  You are such a generous and kind soul and I'm happy you moved caddy-corner to us.  I have enjoyed our walks, our chats and our Mafia Wars obsession.  Still miss you in SL.  ;-)
• Too many to keep on mentioning - thank you for your friendship and kindness.  I am a lucky woman!!

• Family
• Mom - What do you say about your Mom? - You rock!!  You're my rock!  You're a wonderful woman who I'm lucky to have as my role model.   I'll miss you and the girls will miss you but we'll be seeing you soon on Skype!
• Dad - You have always been my best friend.  Well, maybe not when you were waking me up in high school but the other times, I can say we have always been buds.
• Amy - 7 years age difference should be insurmountable but we managed to hang out in the 90s and the early 00s.  I know we don't hang out socially as much but I have enjoyed our Bachelor nights, our movie nights and just hanging with the girls. 
• Ashley - 11 years are pretty insurmountable but it won't always be.  We're living different lives but we'll always be sisters and I will always love you.

We'll miss you all.  We might be on the other side of the world but you'll all be in our thoughts and hearts every day.  xoxo