Hey all, Yes, it's true. We’re really not in China, anymore. To explain, well, let's just say we had a crazy weekend recently…only that means a normal one, actually. Normal for over here, that is... It all started with happy news from an old friend, and actually my boss’ boss’...(boss? exactly how many echelons up, I’m not actually sure:-) namely Hugh Mckeown, the Executive Director of Learning Connections at York Region, and the man responsible for the beginnings of our China adventure back in 2002. Hugh was the director of Huamei-Bond College (our previous school) and was the person responsible for sending out an ad for teachers, which Roel told me to apply for, and because Carly and Craig were over there, with Chris too, well, I applied and got the job, and then we met ... read more

Well, Carrie left this week for Pudong Airport, and it was really sad to see her go. After our back-to-back visits from Chris and Carrie, we're finding both the apartment, and Shanghai, suddenly very big and quiet. And that last comment is really saying something! Carrie arrived at the end of January, so her departure today on March 5 has meant she had become part of the fixtures around here -- just like Chris did. I really miss the fact that we had someone to share our adventure with...and our favorite haunts...and now we're back on our own to fend for ourselves...when she left Carrie said that she was proud of me...for braving the streets of Shanghai, for one thing! So she has seen firsthand what a daunting daily prospect that is...and everything aside, you really ... read more

Hey everyone, Well, we've been back to work now for over two weeks, so our Xmas break ending on January 3rd has been a bit of a shock to the system -- not to mention having Chris' visit rapidly winding down. But we've been managing to stave off the January blues...sightseeing, barhopping and restaurant sampling along with just chilling at night with a movie or odd game of scrabble -- which has all kept the holiday spirit alive!! And what a holiday! As you can see from the last entry, we celebrated a wonderful Xmas and New Years followed with a decidedly festive night at Shanghai's oldest temple, Longhua. Before that, we enjoyed a whirlwind trip to Hangzhou, of the famous West Lake, and Suzhou, of the famous canals, gardens and 'crossing the bridge' noodles...where Chris ... read more

Hello everyone from all of us...that makes three of us, including Chris, who is here for one month over Christmas and the new year. It's great having Chris here, and apart from the fact that he has brought Christmas with him (see previous blog) it is simply amazing to share our Shanghai adventure with him. From the start we've been storing up places for him to see, and so far since he arrived his itinerary has been to buy a bike (on his second day) and since then we've been covering the waterfront (or Haungpu riverfront!) Chris himself has requested that we shelve the bikes for a while, since as he says, we're whizzing past some of the sights he'd prefer to be walking past and savouring, so perhaps we'll have to build in a little ... read more

Hello all.... On popular request (okay, no one asked, but humour me) on this eve of our fourth month in Shanghai, I'm going to write about our neighbourhood...it seems a topic that is long overdue, and besides, I'm running out of ideas...so keep those cards and letters coming in. Seriously though, thanks for all the supportive comments -- and if I haven't got back to anyone replying, it's because it's becoming very difficult to get in to Travelblog.org. Let's hope that it's not shut down -- as China has been known to do to blog sites -- so for what it's worth, here is my 7th entry, on our locale....it's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood, la, la la........and we LOOOOOVE China :-) SO! We live inside a box of one-way streets - Huangpi (Wong Pee) ... read more