JUNE 18, 2008
There hasn't been a tremendous amount about which to report lately. Honestly, Randy and I have both been rather homesick and are really looking forward to our upcoming vacation back to Michigan. There have been a few great lunches with some of my expat girlfriends, and the usual daily walk with Suely. Also, Randy and I had gotten into the habit of dinner Friday evenings with Suely and her husband, Marcio. My friend, Ali, has been in Australia for the last few weeks and has just returned, so I am ready to resume activities with her. Evenings have seen Randy and I cooking simple dinners or perhaps dining out with Alan who is still working here until Thursday of this week. Mostly we have been biding our time until our vacation later this month.
One evening last week, we decided that a change of venue might improve our mood so we took off for Sasha's in the French Concession for dinner and an evening stroll along the tree-lined streets in the warm night breezes. At first, we thought we might be disappointed as Sasha's displayed a sign about a private gathering, but it turned out to be only the 2nd floor that was booked. So we found a table near the bar on the first floor and enjoyed a pleasant meal. It was to our advantage that the private gathering included a performance by traditional Chinese dancers doing an energetic display of dragon dancing. They were performing right in the courtyard outside the front door and we had the perfect viewing spot. Most of the folks from the 2nd floor came downstairs to witness the performance and hear the banging and clashing of the percussionists who usually accompany the scary, bug-eyed dragons as they wink, gyrate back and forth, and up and down in traditional fashion.
After dinner, we set out for a stroll around the very European-looking streets of the French Concession. Very near Sasha's is a French bakery called Paul's. Paul's is a chain that originated in France in the late 1800's but has recently gone global. I know of at least three locations in Shanghai but I wouldn't be surprised to learn they have more than that here. Wonderful pastries and baked goods!! I'd been trying to watch my diet (as I've taken recently to telling folks that I have become "Buddhist" since arriving in China, and I'm not referring to religion!) but as Randy can usually persuade me to follow him down a sinful path (NOT like that ... OK, sometimes like that), we wandered into Paul's to check out their offerings. The aroma was heavenly, and the surroundings were authentic French bistro-style cafe. We immediately began peering through the glass at the shelves covered with every imaginable baked treat, and all were very tempting! Suddenly I spotted a rhubarb cream pie on the top shelf. My grandmother used to make the most amazing rhubarb cream pies, and rhubarb isn't something we see here often. It reminded me so much of home that I felt tears stinging my eyes (see, ... I TOLD you I was homesick!). "I've made my decision," I told Randy. At the table, I just looked at it for a moment taking in the aroma of fresh baked flaky crust. I ate it slowly savoring every bite (and it did not disappoint) imagining I was in my Grandma's kitchen and the pie was fresh from her oven. And yes, I reluctantly offered Randy a bite which he traded me for a bit of his rum and raisin Napoleon ... also delicious! We finished our desserts and enjoyed a really lovely walk back towards the subway and made our way to our apartment feeling somewhat refreshed.
Randy's 50th birthday was this past Saturday, but we decided to honor him on Friday evening due to having to be at the airport to pick up guests on Saturday evening. I asked Randy what his preference would be for a celebration (I knew better than to try to surprise him .... he always catches on), and he opted for dinner and drinks at Malone's, one of the traditional American establishments in Shanghai. We had about a dozen guests for appetizers, dinner, and drinks, and the music was perfect .... 70's and 80's American dance music (live) which was fun (albeit a bit too loud at times). Happy Birthday, old man!!
This spring has been really quite pleasant in terms of weather but as is usually the case here, June has brought with it the rainy season. It's expected but somewhat unfortunate as we are currently having visitors from the states ... my son, David, his wife, Melissa, and their friend, Angie. They are only here for a week so we are working hard to cram in all the sight seeing possible while they are here in spite of the weather (thank goodness they are quite intrepid). I have to say that their visit came at a good time because it has been wonderful to have some family here, and the exuberance of the young folks has gone a long way to distract us from our melancholy. And of course, once they have returned to the states on Sunday, then we have only a few days before we travel as well.
One of Randy's former colleagues from ADS, Wind, offered his services as translator and tour guide, and he has been invaluable as both. On one of our walks (again through the French Concession) we happened upon the home of Chou En-Lai, the first Prime Minister of China. It was a big, older styled, European type home with gorgeous gardens all in very good condition. And the best part was that the tour was FREE!! We have visited Yuyuan Gardens and had dumplings for tea in a traditional Chinese tea house which once served Bill and Hillary Clinton when they visited Shanghai. And of course, our favorite shopping destination, the Hongqiao Pearl Market where the girls have gone crazy buying jewelry. Wind and I have had fun helping them decide which items were the better quality and showing them how to bargain.
If I do not find the time to post before we leave for the states (June 27), I may not be posting again until mid-September. I'm not sure what my access to a computer will be stateside, and besides, this blog is devoted to our Shanghai adventures which will be postponed until our return later this summer. Randy will be returning to Shanghai sometime in August after a quick trip to Brazil on business, but I am staying on in order to travel south to visit my brother in South Carolina and my son in Georgia. But rest assured, faithful readers, I'll be back to continue chronicling our Asian adventures in Shanghai. Everyone have a wonderful, safe, and restful summer (which is OUR intention). Adieu!
One evening last week, we decided that a change of venue might improve our mood so we took off for Sasha's in the French Concession for dinner and an evening stroll along the tree-lined streets in the warm night breezes. At first, we thought we might be disappointed as Sasha's displayed a sign about a private gathering, but it turned out to be only the 2nd floor that was booked. So we found a table near the bar on the first floor and enjoyed a pleasant meal. It was to our advantage that the private gathering included a performance by traditional Chinese dancers doing an energetic display of dragon dancing. They were performing right in the courtyard outside the front door and we had the perfect viewing spot. Most of the folks from the 2nd floor came downstairs to witness the performance and hear the banging and clashing of the percussionists who usually accompany the scary, bug-eyed dragons as they wink, gyrate back and forth, and up and down in traditional fashion.
After dinner, we set out for a stroll around the very European-looking streets of the French Concession. Very near Sasha's is a French bakery called Paul's. Paul's is a chain that originated in France in the late 1800's but has recently gone global. I know of at least three locations in Shanghai but I wouldn't be surprised to learn they have more than that here. Wonderful pastries and baked goods!! I'd been trying to watch my diet (as I've taken recently to telling folks that I have become "Buddhist" since arriving in China, and I'm not referring to religion!) but as Randy can usually persuade me to follow him down a sinful path (NOT like that ... OK, sometimes like that), we wandered into Paul's to check out their offerings. The aroma was heavenly, and the surroundings were authentic French bistro-style cafe. We immediately began peering through the glass at the shelves covered with every imaginable baked treat, and all were very tempting! Suddenly I spotted a rhubarb cream pie on the top shelf. My grandmother used to make the most amazing rhubarb cream pies, and rhubarb isn't something we see here often. It reminded me so much of home that I felt tears stinging my eyes (see, ... I TOLD you I was homesick!). "I've made my decision," I told Randy. At the table, I just looked at it for a moment taking in the aroma of fresh baked flaky crust. I ate it slowly savoring every bite (and it did not disappoint) imagining I was in my Grandma's kitchen and the pie was fresh from her oven. And yes, I reluctantly offered Randy a bite which he traded me for a bit of his rum and raisin Napoleon ... also delicious! We finished our desserts and enjoyed a really lovely walk back towards the subway and made our way to our apartment feeling somewhat refreshed.
Randy's 50th birthday was this past Saturday, but we decided to honor him on Friday evening due to having to be at the airport to pick up guests on Saturday evening. I asked Randy what his preference would be for a celebration (I knew better than to try to surprise him .... he always catches on), and he opted for dinner and drinks at Malone's, one of the traditional American establishments in Shanghai. We had about a dozen guests for appetizers, dinner, and drinks, and the music was perfect .... 70's and 80's American dance music (live) which was fun (albeit a bit too loud at times). Happy Birthday, old man!!
This spring has been really quite pleasant in terms of weather but as is usually the case here, June has brought with it the rainy season. It's expected but somewhat unfortunate as we are currently having visitors from the states ... my son, David, his wife, Melissa, and their friend, Angie. They are only here for a week so we are working hard to cram in all the sight seeing possible while they are here in spite of the weather (thank goodness they are quite intrepid). I have to say that their visit came at a good time because it has been wonderful to have some family here, and the exuberance of the young folks has gone a long way to distract us from our melancholy. And of course, once they have returned to the states on Sunday, then we have only a few days before we travel as well.
One of Randy's former colleagues from ADS, Wind, offered his services as translator and tour guide, and he has been invaluable as both. On one of our walks (again through the French Concession) we happened upon the home of Chou En-Lai, the first Prime Minister of China. It was a big, older styled, European type home with gorgeous gardens all in very good condition. And the best part was that the tour was FREE!! We have visited Yuyuan Gardens and had dumplings for tea in a traditional Chinese tea house which once served Bill and Hillary Clinton when they visited Shanghai. And of course, our favorite shopping destination, the Hongqiao Pearl Market where the girls have gone crazy buying jewelry. Wind and I have had fun helping them decide which items were the better quality and showing them how to bargain.
If I do not find the time to post before we leave for the states (June 27), I may not be posting again until mid-September. I'm not sure what my access to a computer will be stateside, and besides, this blog is devoted to our Shanghai adventures which will be postponed until our return later this summer. Randy will be returning to Shanghai sometime in August after a quick trip to Brazil on business, but I am staying on in order to travel south to visit my brother in South Carolina and my son in Georgia. But rest assured, faithful readers, I'll be back to continue chronicling our Asian adventures in Shanghai. Everyone have a wonderful, safe, and restful summer (which is OUR intention). Adieu!
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