We were missing China before we left so I guess it is no surprise that we miss it so soon after returning to Canada. It was a very memorable year and a half. Especially all the memories we have interacting with the Chinese people and their culture. We went for the 20 week ultra-sound of our second baby and sitting their in the waiting room felt really weird because no one talked to us or even to each other, it was so quiet, people are really friendly here just more reserved. I spent alot of time in waiting rooms at clinics or hospitals in China, mostly for Jada's check ups and shots, and everyone interacted and talked with each other and everyone was very curious about us and had a million questions. Usually all along the same lines; where are you from? who old is your baby? Is it a boy or a girl? (everyone guessed boy which is kind of funny because she was usually wearing pink or girly looking clothing but that really dosen't mean much in China.) And everyone always had an opinion about what i should or should not do in regards to taking care of Jada. Everyone just loved Jada. The last few weeks there, when we were doing alot of shopping to pick up gifts for family and other thing, we went to the silk market a lot. So many of the workers their got really familiar with us and just loved Jada. We couldn't walk down this one asile without having to stop to let them play with Jada. This one day they told us "You are going to have another baby soon, let us have Jada. How much money do you want?" Mike jokingly told them that they would have to pay 10 000 rmb per month. And right after that they told us "You guys go and do your shopping and leave Jada here with us?" We of course said "no way!" and they pouted and begged. It was pretty funny. Mike told them "There are alot of people here, what if you were not looking and someone carried her off then what would we do?" Every where we went was like trick or treating for Jada because people were always offering her pieces of fruit and other snacks. Chinese people have a everyone pitches in and helps out like a big family mentality and people were always trying to help out with Jada or other things they saw us in need of. Riding the bus if I just started to sway a little or loose my balance everyone grabed me to steady me. Looking different didn't exclude us from the big family. They are always trying to take care of you. Everyone around became Jada's playmate. She had stranger anxiety around 3-4 months because all the actions and attention was just overwhelming but by a year old she would let anyone hold her, touch her, talk to her, play with her and just loved all the attention. People were pretty funny with their comments some times (to me at least because I can understand both cultures and the contrast are sometimes funny to me). The chinese, at least the last few generations with the new nanny culture that has immerged, are extremely protective of their children. So seeing how I take care of Jada according to my own culture got ALOT of comments and opinons and do this don't do that. I didn't worry to much if Jada got dirty, I figured it was all part of letting her experience things so she could learn. And I told them, it's no big deal, she gets dirty and then I clean her up, no harm done. It always started up a conversations. Some were very traditional and could not except that way of thinking and yet many were very intriged and interested and thought that it was good. Many westerners got offended by how opinionated the chinese are. They felt they were being judged but a chinese friend of mine explained it to me and said chinese tell you what you should do because they are concerned for you and just think that you don't know. Some of the cultural clashes are quite funny though. One of our friends was making Jello and his landlord saw him putting the pan of boiling water in the fridge and freaked out. The whole yin yan thing. Some chinese people stopped by and saw my friends baby in here high chair with only a diaper on and were totally tooken back and thought it was horrible. When Jada was a new born I carried her around in a sling wrap thing and the chinese had never seen that before. They were so worried that she was uncomfortable. I would show them her face so they could see she was quite comfortable.
It feels so weird to think that all those people we saw day in and day out and the streets we walked countless times are on the other side of the world now going on without us. We hope to be back there as soon as possible but we have things to do here to prepare for our future. And with baby number two (sex still unknown) we are glad to be close to family.
2010/11/22
2010/11/15
One week in Canada
Well, we made it back to Canada.
The last few weeks that we were living in Beijing were VERY busy! We probably went out most days, and went shopping for various gifts and stuff that we needed. We found some good deals on a lot of things. For me we got a suit, some jeans, and a really nice leather jacket. Chelsey got some shirts, some jeans, some jewelry. We also got a lot of gifts and such for our families. It was a lot of fun, but we ended up spending a lot of money. We usually don't spend a lot, so it was different, but it we had fun doing so. We decided that one day (if we are able) we would love to have more disposable income - after tithing, taxes, living costs, and savings - to have to use to buy more things that we don't often buy, or do other fun things. But, all those other things come first.
Our flights went really well. However our flight from Beijing to Vancouver was delayed a hour, which also bumped our flight to Calgary by one hour. We wanted to send my father an email telling him that, but I could not get on the Beijing Airport WiFi to do so. It was being stupid or something. We were able to call in Vancouver quickly and let him know. Because our flight was delayed, when we got to Vancouver we had just enough time to get through customs, immigration and security, use the bathroom and walk to our next gate. In fact, by the time that we got to that gate, they were boarding so there was no waiting at all! Jada did really well on the flights. She slept 8 or 9 hours of the Beijing to Vancouver leg (10 hour plus flight) and about a hour of the Vancouver to Calgary leg (not quite 2 hour flight). That made it very nice for us! Chelsey and I did not sleep very well, so we were tired when we got to my parents house. We are now just getting over the jet lag. Jada is already adjusted and is sleeping well. She is also very happy exploring the new places. She loves her Grandparents.
Now I'm looking for a job. I have a application with the federal government. I took three tests in regards to that this past Saturday. It is something that I would really like to do, but it takes a long time. If I am shortlisted, I'll get a call in January or Febuary, and then a few more months after that. I can't afford to wait around without working, so we are thinking that I'll try to find a job in Lethbridge area. That way we can stay near family, and we won't have to move to much. It could also be that #2 bean could be born in this area, which would be nice for family, considering Jada was born in China.
We are happy to be back in Canada, and we will see where life takes us
The last few weeks that we were living in Beijing were VERY busy! We probably went out most days, and went shopping for various gifts and stuff that we needed. We found some good deals on a lot of things. For me we got a suit, some jeans, and a really nice leather jacket. Chelsey got some shirts, some jeans, some jewelry. We also got a lot of gifts and such for our families. It was a lot of fun, but we ended up spending a lot of money. We usually don't spend a lot, so it was different, but it we had fun doing so. We decided that one day (if we are able) we would love to have more disposable income - after tithing, taxes, living costs, and savings - to have to use to buy more things that we don't often buy, or do other fun things. But, all those other things come first.
Our flights went really well. However our flight from Beijing to Vancouver was delayed a hour, which also bumped our flight to Calgary by one hour. We wanted to send my father an email telling him that, but I could not get on the Beijing Airport WiFi to do so. It was being stupid or something. We were able to call in Vancouver quickly and let him know. Because our flight was delayed, when we got to Vancouver we had just enough time to get through customs, immigration and security, use the bathroom and walk to our next gate. In fact, by the time that we got to that gate, they were boarding so there was no waiting at all! Jada did really well on the flights. She slept 8 or 9 hours of the Beijing to Vancouver leg (10 hour plus flight) and about a hour of the Vancouver to Calgary leg (not quite 2 hour flight). That made it very nice for us! Chelsey and I did not sleep very well, so we were tired when we got to my parents house. We are now just getting over the jet lag. Jada is already adjusted and is sleeping well. She is also very happy exploring the new places. She loves her Grandparents.
Now I'm looking for a job. I have a application with the federal government. I took three tests in regards to that this past Saturday. It is something that I would really like to do, but it takes a long time. If I am shortlisted, I'll get a call in January or Febuary, and then a few more months after that. I can't afford to wait around without working, so we are thinking that I'll try to find a job in Lethbridge area. That way we can stay near family, and we won't have to move to much. It could also be that #2 bean could be born in this area, which would be nice for family, considering Jada was born in China.
We are happy to be back in Canada, and we will see where life takes us
2010/10/19
Massive Update
Wow! We've gotten busy with life and all of a sudden we only have three weeks left in China! Time sure goes by quickly.
Even though there has been a lot going on, we haven't updated our blog in a little bit, so this update will cover a lot of stuff!
First, from the end of September to the first week of October is the last major holiday season in China until the Chinese new year in late January/Early February. We are sad we are going to miss that... But anyway we decided not to go anywhere this time. We were thinking that we could go to Xi'an, but it ended up being too much money and too much of a hastle with little kids to go too far outside of Beijing. But we did have a fun Rail Baron game, last one we will host in China. It was a fun game. It always seems to happen at the end of the game, including this game, where someone is going home, and I am close enough to catch them (and their $50,000) but roll one spot short of them. C'est la vie. We had fun.
As Canadian Thanksgiving does not really get a lot of credit outside of Canada, Chelsey and decided to host a small thanksgiving party for the Canadians (and spouses) in our branch, plus one from work. We did it on the Friday after Thanksgiving. We could not find turkey's at all right now (come US thanksgiving we can find them) so we did a couple large chickens. We had a bit of a (mis)adventure with that. We decided to debone them. That went fine enough, and it made it easy to cut up the chicken afterwards. We also cooked the Chicken in a crock pot. Which is where the misadventure part started happening. We decided to stuff the chickens with some stuffing that we made the other day. The stuffing got overcooked a little bit as one of the chickens split open during cooking. One (borrowed) Crock pot decided it did not like our transformer - the transformer started to smoke and also shorted the crock pot. So we put the chicken in a double boiler to cook (it worked) all day. The chicken got a little overcooked, so it fell apart, but at least it was not dry. Other then this, our dinner went really well! We had about 14 people all in all, and everyone had a lot of fun.
Now, our Jada update. She seems to be getting taller everyday, but not much heavier. She weighs in at a little over 10Kg. She is also quite smart, and understands a lot of words in both English and Chinese. The other day we were out and somebody said hello to her in Chinese and she started waving at them. She does so many cute things: She dances with music (wiggling her little body around). She has discovered dipping french fries in ketchup or bbq sauce (she loves it! So much that she started to dip just to get the sauce!). She copies us a lot, when she sees Chelsey sweep Jada will try to grab the broom and sweep as well. Once after she had made a mess she went and grabbed the broom and pushed her mess around a bit. She giggles, and all it takes to get her going is to Chelsey laugh a little bit. She is also very ticklish. She first smiles, but after the second or third time tickling her, she is going in full laughs. She is getting 4 new teeth, really close together too. A couple of weeks ago, she got her first molars on top. Then this morning we noticed that she is (finally) getting her next two bottom middle teeth. Poor Jada, did not get a break at all with those teeth! But by the time we are in Canada, she will look like she has a mouthful of teeth! Jada also will fake cough when Chelsey coughs. It is pretty funny!
Well, I think that is everything that is going on. We've been doing a lot more stuff around Beijing, at least shopping. We are almost done that, still a few more things to get. The Weather turned colder the last few days, so still have to do some of the outdoor touristy things. We've been here for a year and a half and still need to go see somethings. You might ask how is that possible, but we get busy with work then don't feel like going out on our day off.
Even though there has been a lot going on, we haven't updated our blog in a little bit, so this update will cover a lot of stuff!
First, from the end of September to the first week of October is the last major holiday season in China until the Chinese new year in late January/Early February. We are sad we are going to miss that... But anyway we decided not to go anywhere this time. We were thinking that we could go to Xi'an, but it ended up being too much money and too much of a hastle with little kids to go too far outside of Beijing. But we did have a fun Rail Baron game, last one we will host in China. It was a fun game. It always seems to happen at the end of the game, including this game, where someone is going home, and I am close enough to catch them (and their $50,000) but roll one spot short of them. C'est la vie. We had fun.
As Canadian Thanksgiving does not really get a lot of credit outside of Canada, Chelsey and decided to host a small thanksgiving party for the Canadians (and spouses) in our branch, plus one from work. We did it on the Friday after Thanksgiving. We could not find turkey's at all right now (come US thanksgiving we can find them) so we did a couple large chickens. We had a bit of a (mis)adventure with that. We decided to debone them. That went fine enough, and it made it easy to cut up the chicken afterwards. We also cooked the Chicken in a crock pot. Which is where the misadventure part started happening. We decided to stuff the chickens with some stuffing that we made the other day. The stuffing got overcooked a little bit as one of the chickens split open during cooking. One (borrowed) Crock pot decided it did not like our transformer - the transformer started to smoke and also shorted the crock pot. So we put the chicken in a double boiler to cook (it worked) all day. The chicken got a little overcooked, so it fell apart, but at least it was not dry. Other then this, our dinner went really well! We had about 14 people all in all, and everyone had a lot of fun.
Now, our Jada update. She seems to be getting taller everyday, but not much heavier. She weighs in at a little over 10Kg. She is also quite smart, and understands a lot of words in both English and Chinese. The other day we were out and somebody said hello to her in Chinese and she started waving at them. She does so many cute things: She dances with music (wiggling her little body around). She has discovered dipping french fries in ketchup or bbq sauce (she loves it! So much that she started to dip just to get the sauce!). She copies us a lot, when she sees Chelsey sweep Jada will try to grab the broom and sweep as well. Once after she had made a mess she went and grabbed the broom and pushed her mess around a bit. She giggles, and all it takes to get her going is to Chelsey laugh a little bit. She is also very ticklish. She first smiles, but after the second or third time tickling her, she is going in full laughs. She is getting 4 new teeth, really close together too. A couple of weeks ago, she got her first molars on top. Then this morning we noticed that she is (finally) getting her next two bottom middle teeth. Poor Jada, did not get a break at all with those teeth! But by the time we are in Canada, she will look like she has a mouthful of teeth! Jada also will fake cough when Chelsey coughs. It is pretty funny!
Well, I think that is everything that is going on. We've been doing a lot more stuff around Beijing, at least shopping. We are almost done that, still a few more things to get. The Weather turned colder the last few days, so still have to do some of the outdoor touristy things. We've been here for a year and a half and still need to go see somethings. You might ask how is that possible, but we get busy with work then don't feel like going out on our day off.
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