Ducked up Hey Craig! We'll go back on the duck hunt, but if our experience in Shanghai has taught us anything it's that we'll trip over that great deep-fried duck stand you found when we least expect it...in fact, there's probably a chain of them! Sorry to hear about your bad case of the lag...on our part Shanghai is awfully dark and cold since you guys left :-) Love, Amy
P.S. Roel wants twice daily bedpans...and a room with a view. Preferably, the Riviera.
Reverse Duck Maybe you could walk down Jianguo to the Wet Market, then head up to the Technology Mall. A reverse duck hunt if you will...slowly climbing out of reverse duckedness myself. I don't know if it's the dark dreary days or what, but this lag's been impossible to shake. With that said, however, I'd do it all again in a second. Just for the royal treatment we received while in your care, I'm going to see to it that Roel's bedpan is emptied daily. Way to invest in your future Roel!
So. very. tired. Hey guys!
Craig and I did indeed make it home safely, but I think we've really managed to reverse (insert unprintable word here) ourselves really good this time. Without your slave driving ways, Craig and I have no reason to try make it through the day. So, on Saturday I took a 4 hour nap, we stayed up until 3am that night, and woke up at 3pm the next day. Reverse (unprintable).
It's all worth it though - Craig and I had a fantastic time! Maybe it's in the cards to do it again.
Love
Car
My toe thanks you... Hi Sherry, Your 'two-monther' comment about my toe has rung through my mind on all of our holiday travels...which have been extensive...thanks for the tip! Do you know that from personal experience? Amy
This year they had yet a new techie way to track Santa around the Globe. It was very cute, hundreds of little tiny Santas making his way from east to west. Anyway it sounds as if Carly and Craig's flight plans were just as complicated! Photos are great. Did you like your books and Christmas cake? Happy New Year!
Toe Finally catching up with your blog and ouch, your toe hurts just looking at it. Hope by now you are feeling better although they are usually a two monther.
Be well, both of you, Love, Sherry
Thanks for sharing! Thanks so much for sharing your adventures! I love to see what life is like in China. Don't know if Gary and I will ever get there so am living vicariously through your China 'blog'!:) Hope your toe is better!
Happy New Year! Wow! Love it. It was great to see your latest blog and talk to you all on skype -very cool. It looks like you both had an adventure getting there but I'm glad you did -here we kept seeing spots on the CBC of people waiting like 6-7 days?!! I mean at that point (or way before) why not just go home? Maybe they're connecting or something? Anyhoo glad you made it! Did the captain actually come on and say that he needed to jettison fuel and that he’d never done anything like this before?!!! LOL. Did he then manoeuvre the plan upside-down to deploy? Picturing this is really fun for me. Sorry. Buckle up I guess. I'm not going to lie-I had to look up that word! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_dumping
Well you ‘fantastic 4’ over there --I’m wishing you a warm and safe new year and that all of your wildest dreams will come true! Safe flight back Carly and Craig. Got your message about your friend coming and would love to entertain etc. Where do you think I should take them?
Love,
Chalo
Christmas in Shanghai Thanks once again for sharing your adventures with us, Amy and Roel. I loved seeing the pictures of Craig-er and Carly! Craig-er looks quite cosmopolitan in that beard ;-) We had enough ice here in IL for everyone; it made the ground look white. I sure hope our paths cross again--how about this summer in MB??
Ditto! Hey Chalo and Chris, Thanks for dropping by!! And, yes, you got it!! That's exactly how one puts themself in a situation -- which as your mom pointed out -- is not a good place to be in Shanghai. Tucking and rolling down the streets now is even more challenging...let alone going to work, shopping for prezzies, etc. But the bright side is I'll have a great excuse this Xmas for putting my feet up! Looking forward to talking to you on the big day...and the grinch says hi :-) Love, Amy
Wowzers! OMG! I mean really OMG! A picture does tell a 1000 words! But here's a few to try though: woman runs full speed in the dark while somehow sticking her toe out to block any and all possible doors or obstacles when...BOOM...OMG. I mean I've stubbed my toe but this looks sooooo painful. Chris P came and looked over my shoulder and yeild out in horror! He felt really bad that this happened to you. Me too of course. We loved Carly's WTF comment though! LOL.
I'm glad your on the mend and that you'll be surrounded by family love. I'm sure we'll talk xmas eve or day.
Say hi to the Grinch!
Love,
Chalo and Chris P
Glass half full... Hey Car, I like your upbeat attitude...I hadn't thought about my other bones! One always tend to focus on the half empty part of the glass :-) And the same can be said about your 'blown up' oven, as it sounds like you and I will both have to put our feet up for the holidays...maybe we'll be setting a whole new Xmas tradition? Look for our prezzies in the Carly and Craig return express...in the meantime I can't wait to see them (with or without prezzies :-) Have a GREAT Xmas...sounds already like it should be memorable. Love, Amy
Thanks for the offer... Hey Margaret...great to hear from you!! I should have texted (sp?) you but I shall be back tomorrow, hitting the ground running (or hobbling so to speak). And yes, you'll have to come by the French Concession! I think you'll all enjoy the ''Xmasy" efforts...See you soon, Amy
The other bones look gooood. You have had yourself quite the fall. Mosquitoes, flu bugs and now the mischeivious toe fairy does you in. Kudoes (spelling?) for getting around Shanghai. I found it challenging dodging the traffic with all my bones intact. Anyway soon you can put the 'little piggy' up and relax and drink with Carly and Craig. My only 'mishap' is that the other night whilst dinner was baking away, the oven 'blew up'. So I'm going to have to be a little creative as far as managing Christmas without an oven. Oh well, Toronto is full of amazing patisseries. Just like Joanna I sent your parcel to D.C. on November 24 with Canada Post. Fool that I am! It still hasn't arrived. So, take care of all your extremities. Love, Carrie:)
Amy! Amy! So that explains your absence y'day!! My huge sympathies. And just in time for the hols, not to mention the ITCs! We will all be on hand (and foot) to help out at Minhang for sure. Cotton's and the French Conc. looks very cosy . . Xmas not quite so big in Qibao. Warmest Xmas wishes to you and all the family!!!
EW! I was going to give you a hard time about the toe, especially since Craig and I arrive in 10 days, until I saw the X-Ray!! EWWWWWWWW. and WTF? Did you really do that from stubbing it??? Ouch!!! It looks so painful that I'll give you a break (no pun intended). Better not be a hip next time!
Really looking forward to Chinese Xmaseyness... But more importantly can't wait to see you and the grinch.
Love you both
Car
PS - It's 'wannbe' not 'want-to-be'. You're a wannabe wannabe.
The toe! Ewwww.. that toe looked gross! You should be careful to keep up your christmas spirit Mom because that toe might be one of the ghosts that haunts you later on.
Take it from an expert expat... Hey Car, Yes, you're absolutely right. We ARE still learning (to love Shanghai, that is) and it's a very steep learning curve! And from one who was an expat for a long spate, we appreciate the tips! I will definitely put the netting on the "Santas'" list, while we stock up on Xmas goodies at our end. There aren't very many, come to think of it, but at least the gluwein is back! Haven't imbibed yet, but when I do I'll toast you and our days at Paulaner's. Love you, Amy
Cést la vie! Dear Yvonne, It's so good to hear from you...but i'm sorry to hear about your bike accident. I imagine that will require quite a healing process, and I hope it goes by quickly. It sounds as if you have things in perspective...and I appreciate you sharing...you're absolutely right! Don't sweat the small stuff will be my mantra:-) Looking forward to seeing you when I return...keep in touch. Soyez bien, Amy
We are a couple of intrepid wannabe hippies -- young at heart -- who have dropped out of the Canadian rat race to explore life in the Shanghai teaching circuit. Join us on journey -- but only if you dare (or have nothing else better to do) What we lack in youth and energy, we'll try to make up for in entertainment value -- or a couple of laughs with us (or at us, at the very least :-).... full info
aimsey and roelie
amelia vanderwal
Ducked up
Hey Craig! We'll go back on the duck hunt, but if our experience in Shanghai has taught us anything it's that we'll trip over that great deep-fried duck stand you found when we least expect it...in fact, there's probably a chain of them! Sorry to hear about your bad case of the lag...on our part Shanghai is awfully dark and cold since you guys left :-) Love, Amy P.S. Roel wants twice daily bedpans...and a room with a view. Preferably, the Riviera.