Greetings

posted by Alan
*click on pictures to see them full sized

One of the most confusing things about living in such an international city is simply greeting someone. The word 'Hello' seems to be pretty universal and understood in many countries around the world, but it's the accompanying actions that are so hard to keep up with. When meeting or seeing someone in Shanghai, you don't know whether you're about to get a handshake, a hug, the handshake-one-arm-manhug, a kiss on one cheek or a kiss on two cheeks. It all depends on where the person is from. The result is many awkward hesitant lean-ins and pull-aways where you have to come back in for a hug or a kiss. I have yet to find a solution to this dilemma, but if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to let me know.

We've just hit Autumn in Shanghai...which pretty much consists of the month of October. We get 4 weeks of beautiful, sunny, 75 degree, no-humidity weather before the dreaded, humid Shanghai winter starts to creep in. It's making me count down the days to when riding my scooter no longer becomes enjoyable. So, before then, allow me to show off my favorite summer joyride machine.




We were also able to get out and enjoy a little late summer retreat with our small group a few weeks ago. They're some of our closest friends in Shanghai and when moving to another place, community like this is so important. It was a two night, three day getaway at a beautiful resort-like place about an hour outside of Shanghai at a place named Oriental Land. No, that's not a joke. Despite the unfortunate name, it was a really great time of getting away from the city, growing closer with our friends and growing closer to G0d.



Click here to see a full album of pictures from the Retreat: Retreat 2010

Stay tuned for the next update which will come much quicker than this one did. I'm just itching to post about our October holiday trip to the Philippines.

Year Two

posted by Alan
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What does it mean when something feels like it's been a long time, but also like it's happened really fast? That's what our two years of marriage have felt like. Today marks our two year anniversary, yet it feels like we've been married for many more than that. But then again, it feels like our wedding was just last month. We've been through alot our first two years of marriage and all the years after this promise to be even crazier (and there won't only be just the two of us anymore after this one). So Happy Anniversary to my awesome wife Daisy. She may not write on this blog much, but she reads every posting.

This past weekend, our friends here in Shanghai threw a baby shower for Daisy. It almost feels like we're cheating by having two of them (one in new york and one in shanghai). Special thanks to Corine, Bonita and Stella for organizing and to Suzana for planning the delivery of the gifts.
Click here to see the full album of pictures: Baby Shower Shanghai



The Organizers (Corine, Stella, Bonita)

A couple of weeks ago, our friend Dorothy was here visiting. She specializes in Eastern medicine, so I placed my trust in her hands and had my first acupuncture treatment here in China. Of course, I waited for an American to come here to do it. I had sprained my ankle a couple of weeks before and it wasn't fully healed. The treatment definitely helped the swelling go down and bit and loosen up the ankle. She even stuck a needle in my forehead which is supposed to relax you and make you drowsy. I felt drowsy, but I'm not sure if it was the needle or I was just drowsy. My final verdict: if you have a friend that is staying at your house and will treat you for free, I highly recommend it.


Response to comments:
Angela - No upcoming trips to HK planned...but you're welcome in Shanghai anytime!
Corinna - Checked ur pics on Facebook. Way to rub beautiful weather in our faces.

Gong Bed & Breakfast

posted by Alan
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This summer has been the summer of visitors. My brother Steven and his friend Mike kicked it off. Since then it's been an endless stream of people passing through Shanghai, which has been great. I'll say it again, when living abroad, it's GREAT to see people from back home. Tiring too, but totally worth it. We specifically chose an apartment with an extra room so that people could use our place as refuge when they come visit. After the baby comes, we might need to start apartment hunting again though.

Pictures of some of our guests:
Genevieve and Laureen (and friends)


Dorothy and Grace


We went on a grape picking trip last week. Right up Daisy's alley. The girl loves her grapes. Not exactly exciting for me, but I'm always up for hanging out with people.



Next up (after Grace leaves) is a retreat with our small grp, a visit from Aunt Lois and then the Philippines for October holiday. Oh yes.

I hate...

posted by Alan
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Spoiler Alert: We typically try to keep this blog light and fun to read with things we think and do here in Shanghai. Today's post is not so typical. If you read this blog because you enjoy the playful, entertaining aspect of it, i present you with a clip from my favorite cartoon of all time, Calvin & Hobbes. Read it, be entertained and please enjoy the rest of your day.


If you are prepared for something deeper, read on...and then enjoy the rest of your day.
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This post is mildly inspired by my friend Mike C. and his own blog in which he had a post that was a venting of things that he hated. A common misconception people often refer to is "you're a christian, you're not supposed to hate anything." This would be incorrect. This post is not about or directed towards any one person. I love every person who is reading this. This post is about something I hate.

I hate the selfishness that leads to pride, that leads to envy, that leads to greed. I call it sin, some call it human nature. Call it what you want, it's real and it's there. I hate it in other people, and even more in myself. I hate what it does to people and I hate what it does to relationships. I hate the destructive things it makes people feel like they need to say, even though they don't really want to say them. Selfish, hurtful, scarring things that can be apologized for, but never taken back. I hate Satan and the lies he places in people's minds. The way he twists things that were meant for good into something so ugly.

Life is not a competition between people. We were created with enough of what we each need. Taking away from you is of no gain to me. It is isolating and exhausting to live life based on 'How Much Can I Get?' 'How much can I get?' becomes 'Where can I get it from?' 'Where can I get it from?' becomes 'Who is keeping me from getting it?' No matter how much we get, where will we put all it when we're done here?

Stop comparing. Stop competing. Allow yourself to be free. Start living.

Summertime

posted by Alan
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I miss the New York City heatwave. 100 degree temperatures are no problem compared to 100 degree temperatures with humidity. Shanghai feels like a sauna these days and there don't seem to be signs of letting up. Although, coming from me, this isn't a complaint, it's just letting you know what it's like out here these days. I LOVE summer. Even more than Spring or Autumn. I would take this weather over cold, winter weather ANY day.



What I love about this weather is that it provides ample opportunity to do outdoor activities. It's not too hard to find a great outdoor pool either at a friends apartment complex or a hotel out here. The beach isn't too far from Shanghai either, which we've already been to once this year and will be going to again next week. The first time we went, there wasn't much sun, but with all the humidity, we don't need sun for it to be hot. And of course, there's always Ultimate Frisbee. For those of u who are planning to come visit, if you don't like this kind of weather, you know when NOT to come.




When we left Shanghai for our trip back to New York, it was hard to tell that Daisy was pregnant. Her baby bump mutated while we were home and now that we're back, people are like "whoa, NOW you're pregnant!"

3 Months, 4 months, 5 months


we've been back less than two weeks, but have already had a few visitors from home. Megan, Gen and Laureen, it was great having you guys in Shanghai. Hope you enjoyed the heat.



My Top-3 Summer Songs:
3. Summertime - Ghostface Killa feat. Beyonce
2. Fantastic Voyage - Coolio
1. Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

Response to comments:
Corinna - Glad you made it down there safe. Man, with the warm weather and all the outdoor stuff to do in Australia, I wouldn't mind ending up there someday. We miss you at Ultimate. Thank them for Crocodile Dundee for me. Oh, and its a GIRL.

NYC

posted by Alan
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click on link at bottom of the post to see full album



It's been about a month since the last post on here. The main reason being that we weren't in China for the past three weeks. We were blessed with a nice, long, restful vacation BACK home in NYC. I thought about posting while we were in New York, but I realized that people in China can't see the blog and we'll see everyone at home anyway. We just arrived back in Shanghai two nights ago. It's great being back, but jetlag is a butt-kicker.

One of the great joys of living abroad is coming home. Relationships just seem that much more special and you realize that closeness has nothing to do with distance. Loved seeing the family, all the babies (born and not yet born), playin ball with my boys, going back to CEMCQ (my home church), going to a Mets game and enjoying the heatwave. Coming from the humidity of Shanghai, the NYC heatwave felt wonderful.






The second best part about living abroad is coming home and binge eating guilt-free because you're on "vacation." Both my dad and dad-in-law can work the grill, so we had BBQ galore. Steak, chicken, ribs, oh yes. I already miss it. Also NY pizza, Taco Bell, White Castle, Shake Shack, Arby's, Crif Dog, Rutger's Grease Trucks, deli sandwiches, Chinese take-out (not the same as here) and good old home cooking. I ate so much that even my dad remarked at how much I was eating. He's used to my monstrous appetite and even this impressed (or maybe disgusted) him.

Fat Darrell at Rutgers Grease Trucks; BBQ at the Chan House; BBQ at the Gong House

Mom's Chicken Parm; NYC Hot Dogs


Special thanks to my mom and cousins Jennifer and Shirley for putting together an awesome baby shower for Daisy. And thanks to everyone for coming and all the generous gifts. Afterwards, Daisy just kept mentioning to me (more than once) that she felt so loved.





Click here to see more pictures from Daisy's NYC Baby Shower: Daisy's Baby Shower

This last trip home was different than any other before it. It felt like we never left New York. It instantly felt like home, still knew where everything was, how everything worked and things were just really easy and comfortable. Although I've lived in China for extended periods before, it now feels like both Shanghai AND New York are home. It feels like we belong in both places. No awkward transition periods. It was a peculiar and very welcoming feeling.

The kicker was watching the New York skyline out of the window of the airplane at JFK and the Shanghai skyline out of the window of the airport bus just hours later. They're both incredible and both felt so familiar. This world is an incredible place, with so much out there to see and do. But when it comes down to it, it's not so big at all.