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Published: June 25th 2012
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This past week was crazy trying to see everyone that we wanted, pack and decide when we should leave Hangzhou. Thanks to Kirsten we decided to treat ourselves to some R&R at the Portman Ritz Carlton in Shanghai for 3 nights before our flight on Tuesday afternoon back to the USA.
We met up with Crystal for drinks at Starbucks on Tuesday evening. WOW, I hadn't been to that Starbucks at 8pm, only 8am before work, but it was the place to be as it was packed with young professionals socializing with friends. Blows my mind at times how much the coffee scene has grown in this tea culture since we moved to China in August 2009. Crystal had finished her first year of her Pre-Masters program in Glasgow, Scotland so it was great hearing about her experience abroad for one year. Crystal has traveled to Hong Kong, Australia and some European countries before this experience.
Wednesday afternoon I went to the Doctor as my right knee has been bothering me the last couple weeks but luckily it is just minor strain on my T band connection to my knee from my hip. Rest and
ice is my prescribed therapy. That evening we went to Vineyard, one of our favorite Expat restaurants/bars with Andy, Business English teacher and Ash, Business English student.
Thursday was my last day of work at FESCO and they took me out to one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Hangzhou, Grandma's Kitchen and gave me a FESCO toiletry travel bag, very useful as we love to travel. Dora, my newest Chinese friend, gave me a kite and a necklace which was very kind of her.
Thursday evening we had Sean & Galyna over for dinner which was amazing...which I prepared a green salad with veggies, home fries, green beans, chicken breast with BBQ sauce and dinner rolls with Sparkling Pinot Grigio. S & G were in heaven and thought they now need to step up their cooking as they embark on their 2nd year of teaching in China. They have moved into our apartment as of today (6/25) and will be teaching at WXP next school year.
Friday we took a day trip to Tonglu to visit Crystal's hometown and then packed up.
Saturday was a whirlwind as
Crystal & Pete
Pete's former student he tutored for the English Speech Competition Fall 2010 I thought I had chipped my tooth. Dr Wang was able to get me in and took a digital xray of my tooth to verify there was no nerve damage and I didn't chip it. My filling is shrinking and I knew I needed an inlay or onlay on that tooth as of last Summer but put it off due to the cost $1500 with no dental insurance wasn't my idea of fun when two dentists said I could wait until this Summer to get it fixed. That time has arrived!
We had a full house with us and four of our friends to see us off Saturday around 12:30pm as our train departed Hangzhou at 2pm for our last 3 nights of R&R in Shanghai.
We are grateful for all of our amazing friends and know it won't be the last time we are in China. We just don't know when our return will be; sooner or later time will tell.
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Paulette
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Having fun picture
I just called Karla's to have them make sure and see the Having Fun picture - I thought I was looking at Madison - the pose is VERY Madison and it's that cousin thing coming thru -