December 2016 – Page 4 – Just An East Coast Girl

Good Monday Morning Shenyang!

Good Morning Shenyang! I hope today there are blue skies and warmer temperatures BUT …not likely.

Today is the first day of business meetings for David. So he was up early and ready to go! I was up early, actually earlier than him, and ready to figure out what to do today.

I have been in touch with a few different Chinese friends here and want to try and see them. I also want to go to a couple of parks and shops and of course my favourite Wulihe park but I may have to wait until we have a clear, less smog day. It’s just nice being here so I am trying to relax and savour the quiet moments. So that is exactly what I did today. Nothing much. Just enjoyed being here. I went out for a little, ate lunch at a huge food court, interesting dishes and flavours. It looks like a lot of food for one but it is so cheap that you have to try it, besides I didn’t eat it all. And then I enjoyed a wonderful long nap.

The guys got back at 5:30 and were pooped from their day. Ron, David & I went to Pizza Hut for supper and then the guys had a presentation to prepare so I took a hot bath, I’m writing this post, and then it’s off to bed.

Being Tour Guides

Sunday was another day exploring familiar places in Shenyang. This time David & I were tour guides to USA colleagues as well as Ron, David’s boss from Bridgewater.

We thought early Sunday morning was a good time to show them Wuai Market. “Five Love” market is HUGE!!! Anything and everything you could imagine. Since there was 5 of us travelling it was fun to hail a cab for the three newcomers to Shenyang and tell the driver where to take them and then hail another for David & I and then tell the driver where we were going and as well to “follow that cab”. A lot of fun in a busy city.

I think the guys were amazed at what was to be found on the street and beside the heavy winter curtains at Wuai Market. Floors upon floors, booth after booth of clothes, shoes, purses, watches, clocks,wigs, bedding, other household goods, calendar, paper, decorations….and on and on…

It was fun to watch David assist them with buying a couple things. And…I got a 2017 Calendar for year of the Rooster.

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Next stop Gu gong. Shenyang’s Imperial Palace. I love this tourist area. It’s also the place that David & I did our 2013 Christmas Card dressed in Emperor’s Clothes. We didn’t go inside the Palace, there’s a lot to see outside and time just doesn’t permit to do a thorough tour.

15283949_10154781750651514_6063580434111297850_n 15326379_10154781751151514_566192258648734695_n 15327234_10154781753296514_902844224651600905_n We browsed some of the shops and I found my Jade lady!!! I couldn’t believe it. I picked up a few small Jade animals and helped the guys with their purchases. Our Jade lady was so sweet and I got BIG hugs as we left. I think she was pretty happy we stopped by today.

Here is a pic from when we lived here in 2012…

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And today… she hasn’t changed a bit sweet lady.

About this time it was lunch time and we thought it would be nice to have jiaozi. Dumplings are a staple food but we didn’t want to go to the large famous “expensive” spot. So we asked at a restaurant area if they had jiaozi explaining we wanted a “small hole in the wall” restaurant, we didn’t say “hole in the wall” but he knew what we meant. The Chinese people in general are so very helpful and go out of there way for foreigners. He left his restaurant for a few minutes, took us out on the street, led us down another little side street to a very small place, told the servers what we wanted and then helped order. Small places like this sometimes only have 1 kind of jiaozi. But that is ok. We had pork and celery. I am very surprised at how much of my simple Chinese comes back and what I can communicate when I need to.

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15317775_10154781756851514_8120958454926905999_n After lunch, we went back to the hotel where I stayed for a bit of a nap and the guys got turned around and went out for more exploring…David wanted to show them the Electronics street.

Sunday night we had dinner with our much loved China Family. Our driver, his wife, daughter and the family’s dear friend. This family is so very special to us and helped us more than you can ever imagine living in China. We enjoyed a feast of delicious food, and special memories, laughs and hugs. It’s hard to imagine that two cultures, so different, could be so close. We love them and were so happy to catch up!

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Our driver even had a special gift for me. A little China Bling.

I loved catching up with my China daughter Wan Jia Xiu and hearing about her boyfriend and teaching English in a private school in Shenyang.

It was a pretty AWESOME day. ( I think Ron can see why we enjoyed our expat time living and working here)

Just words for now…

Ok, this might work! I just realized that if I don’t try to add pictures and I just write, then just maybe I can post but add the pictures later. This would be a better option because then I won’t forget.

Yesterday, Saturday in China…I woke up early. Actually I wonder if I even slept much at all. Like I mentioned our first room had such a bad smell ( and I can tolerate a lot here) that it was bothering our breathing. Plus jet leg is a crazy thing to shake. So Saturday morning we were up early and had a nice breakfast at the hotel. Then it was time to hit the streets to show Ron, David’s boss, a few of the sites in Shenyang. A few of the Brazilian colleagues were out and about too. Arriving yesterday they had a head start and in their recovery from flying, so they were headed off to some of the interesting shops. David has experience in these parts and gave them some directions.

First Stop…Mao Square to see Chairman Mao! Born on December 26, 1893, in Shaoshan, Hunan Province, China, Mao Tse-tung served as chairman of the People’s Republic of China from 1949 to 1959, and led the Chinese Communist Party from 1935 until his death.

And then stops along Nanjing street, Zhongshan street, Heping, Zhongshan Park, a HUGE flower shop to show Ron the options he would have living here for surprising his partner with flowers lol. haha, I remember the HUGE bouquet David gave me one year for Valentine’s Day.

More exploring of side streets, the Underground ( my how THAT has changed) markets, hole in the wall places…

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…and then our first meal…Hot Pot! I love Hot Pot. Especially at Hai dai lo where they make your noodles in front of you. Just wait till you see the video!

We picked up a few things at Walmart. Gotta see Walmart in China. It’s the best. And guess what? We saw an advertisement for Nova Scotia , Canada lobster!! who would have thought?!

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After dropping off some things to the hotel, we took the Metro ( crowded at evening rush hour) to Middle Street. The oldest, most famous walking street in Shenyang. It was dusk so the lights were beautiful! Oh how I miss this. It was fun to walk the street, popping in some of the high end malls to get warm. The cold bothers David’s back so we stopped often.

When we were finished we took a cab to one of our favourite restaurants for some familiar dishes . Yum!!! This is what I miss!

This afternoon we were making plans with our first driver when we lived here. He and his family have become our China family. We will have dinner with them and he just happened to be close to our hotel so he popped in to say Hi. It was so great to see him, and I forgot to take those initial pictures but we will have dinner with them Sunday and have chance to catch up.

Time for bed…I am exhausted!!!

Just as expected!

It is so wonderful to be back in Shenyang China for a week to visit familiar places to eat some favourite food and to see some of the amazing Chinese people ( our friends) we met when we lived here.

But as expected ( although I kinda forgot) the internet here kinda sucks in places. Our first hotel room we had the night we arrived was pretty good and I thought I would be able to do a blog post every day but the room had such a wonky smell (this is common) that we had to be moved to a different room which thankfully doesn’t smell. However, the internet connection to be able to blog and post pictures or post to Facebook is awful, really awful. So…

I just wanted to say, we are great, having fun, recovering from jet leg , and trying to pack a lot in to a short week. However, pictures and blog will have to wait until I get back.

So take care friends, have a great week.

I am just hanging out here in Shenyang, enjoying the wonderful gift my husband gave me.

Guess where I am?

Can you guess where I am? This trip brought back such good memories!

And we saw someone very special to our family on our first leg.

And after a VERY FULL day…I am in one of my absolute favourite places!!!!!

Can you guess?

I am back in China!!

That’s right. Shenyang, China for 1 WEEK!!!!!!!!!

My husband had a business trip! He has a week of meetings with colleagues from USA, China, Canada and Brazil at the Michelin facility in Shenyang.

My early Christmas present was a plane ticket to go with him! Eeekk!!!!!!!! I am here. Pinch me because it seems like a dream! I may not post while I am here, but I may, we’ll see how well the internet and VPN works and we’ll see how much time I have. I may just really enjoy my time and update you LOTS and LOTS of pictures when we get back…

Wishing you a great week!!

It’s December 1st!

I’m up really early this morning and headed to the airport!

That’s right! That’s why I was so excited!!! Today I am flying!!!!! I will post tomorrow when I get to my destination…my early Christmas ( & Birthday gift) from my husband ( like he had a choice though haha )

BUT also because it is December 1st,and because on this date every year we do it… it’s time to send out our Annual Christmas Card.

MERRY CHRISTMAS From OUR Family…to YOURS ❤