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Published: November 25th 2007
Our Happy Family
"Pretend you like each other!" For the last few weeks, I have been anticipating the holiday season. I was getting a little nervous because I knew that the excitement and novelty of living in China would wear off right around Thanksgiving and Christmas. I had fully expected to be hit with some full-blown homesickness. This is officially the longest that I have been away from home and I honestly thought that I would be feeling it more. Surprisingly, I am not really homesick at all. I miss family and friends like crazy and there are nights when I would give my left arm for a cheesy gordita crunch from Taco Bell, but I honestly wouldn’t change a thing right now. One year seems like a long time, but it is going by so quickly that I am savoring every moment. Before I know it, I will be home again and there will be another holiday season to celebrate in the traditional ways. This year is all about creating new traditions and making memories that I will never forget.
I have so much to be Thankful for this year. My family and friends continue to be my greatest sources of inspiration and entertainment. I honestly don’t
Nick Investigates Gingerbread House
The Shangri-la had already started to decorate for the holidays. know what I would do about every single one of you. Ironically enough, it has taken a trip halfway around the world to reconnect with so many people. I may be farther away, but I feel closer to many people than I have in years. Thank you to everyone who has sent me emails, pictures, packages, cards and happy thoughts. They make my day!
I am also extremely lucky to be here in Wuhan with six incredibly fierce friends. Even though we started out as casual acquaintances/perfect strangers, we have quickly become our own little (dysfunctional) family. My life here would not be as easy, rich, entertaining, random, or livable if it wasn’t for them. I know all of the crazy things that we do here to entertain ourselves will become new traditions and habits in my life.
Not only did I come here with an amazing crew, but we have managed to befriend a menagerie of some of the most amazing people from all over the world. Our neighbors, David and Barbara, have become like surrogate parents/ “the bad influence aunt and uncle that everyone talks about after they leave the party”. We will miss them terribly
Pre-Dinner Snack
It was all real! when they leave (and not just because Barbara makes us chili). Wuhan won’t be the same when Stian leaves in a week. Vox just won’t be the same without our favorite Norwegian soaking up the music scene. Thanks to Wilder, we also had a few friends waiting for us. Wilder is like international currency: if you are friends with Wilder, you are okay in my book.
Sonya, the Queen of Wuhan, is one of these inherited friends. She works at a swanky hotel in Wuhan. They were having a Thanksgiving buffet and she was able to hook us up with the “special friend price”. We got to stuff our faces on turkey, salad, bread, cheese, and pumpkin pie. I think I ate more at this meal than I ever have at a single sitting. It had been so long since I had eaten anything as simple as real cheese that I savored every morsel and went back for seconds, thirds, fourths…Then they brought out the chocolate fountain and I went for more. It was a great night. After dinner, we watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade thanks to Nick’s slingbox. It was a bit choppy, but fun nonetheless.
Sonya
The Queen of Wuhan is also the Hostess with the Mostess :) We rang in the holiday season with a viewing of Elf on Friday night. I saw people putting up a giant Christmas tree in front of a local department store on Saturday morning. Maybe the holiday season won’t be all that different after all…
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Amanda
non-member comment
Wow!
That's an amazing amount of deliciously-looking food!! I hope you are having an amazing time in China!