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Published: November 29th 2009
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Well I have to say I have had a truly wonderful weekend. Yesterday, we experienced our first ever Thanksgiving and my friend Suzanne explained to us how, before we started to eat our dinner, we had to go around the table saying what we are thankful for. I know all the adults present were surprised to hear my say how thankful I am for the adventure I am having our here and that this time last year, I certainly wouldn't have said that. Of course, I said I was thankful for my family and friends also! I truly am having a great time at the moment. Obviously, there are some huge stresses and strains at work, but I guess you get that anywhere. I am in the midst or organising the Winter Festival and it is tough to do when I come against barriers every day, but I am trying so hard to remain positive and keep reminding myself that I am doing the best I can and if everyone isn't happy, then it is ok, you can't please everyone all of the time.
Thanksgiving dinner was so delicious...we were introduced to all different kinds of food dishes like green
bean casserole, sweet potato mash like I have never tasted before, homemade stuffing and having jello (I have to say it the american way as it was an american festival!) with your main course! I have to say Suzanne did such an amazing job....having no oven is a test at the best of times, but when you are trying to make a usually roast dinner, it is even more of a challenge. Using 2 hob rings and a microwave, everything was just srcumptious. We were all full to bursting and ventured out into the cold evening for a brisk walk to help us digest! We then came back for pumpkin pie and pecan pie which were yummy but were then so full we had to come home!!
On friday evening, Sophie and I experienced another very unusual treat in that we slept under the sea! 24 Girl Scouts and 4 of us adults ventured to join another school (SMIC) at the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium for the evening. We had a little trouble when we arrived with food, but it was just the normal Chinese miscommunication and we got it sorted in the end. After eating, the girls made candles,
then we ventured upstairs where everyone was able to touch the baby sharks. Ms Maddi had joined us to chaperone as she is totally mad (!!) on sharks and was so excited. We then had an educational talk about sharks and everyone learned loads, I know for sure! After this, we had a tour of the aquarium which included parts that you can't normally go to on a normal day, so we were very lucky. Then came the really exciting part....we wandered through the glass tunnel with all the sea life swimming above you, to be told that this was where we were sleeping that night! We all collected sleeping bags, which were surprisingly new and clean, and were instructed to find a nice hard bit of floor to settle down for the night. By this time, it was already 10pm and the girls were in no way tired, so we encouraged them to get into PJs and brush their teeth before snuggling in.
We had some trouble calming them down, but after much story-telling and cajoling, we think that last girls went to sleep by about 1am. They then started waking up by 5.30pm, so there wasn't much
'Sleeping under the sea', but we were pleased to get some sleep, we had been worried there would be none at all! Next morning, we had breakfast and the parents collected them at 8am. I have to say, it was a fabulous experience and it was lovely to see the girls interacting between grades, especially ones who do not normally interact. I do believe this made a huge bond for the SUIS Girl Scouts Troop, which is so lovely to see.
Today was our friend, Linda's birthday and we all went out for a gorgeous brunch. We went to Maya's, a Mexican restaurant and had such yummy food. (I have to say at this point, that my xmas eating splurge seems to have started early, so I think I might just have to give up and aim for that January diet already!!) Anyway, we all ate such lovely food and the children were so well behaved, that we came home and went for a wander around the compound to try and digest it all! Our friends stayed for a cuppa and we then sang Happy Birthday to Linda and gave her a homemade chocolate cake which was yummy, even
from our small oven!
It is cold again today, although it has been warm this week and having our underfloor heating on has pretty much meant we have boiled in the bag at home, but it is better than freezing like we did last year!
I have to depart now as I haven't caught up on my sleep yet and I have another mad, jam-packed week ahead...the fun starts here!!
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