No matter where in the world you live, life starts to fall into a routine : school, work, dinner, sleep, school, work, dinner, sleep, repeat… Shanghai is becoming the backdrop to our everyday schedule. Along with the mundane, we are experiencing a lot of life’s “firsts” with a Shanghai influence.

 

Shanghai Sluggers : Jack’s first baseball season in Shanghai started in March and ends in June. Unlike much else here, this league looks, feels, and breathes American. In April, the Sluggers hosted an international tournament with teams visiting from Beijing,  Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan. It’s an American experience, but Jack had the opportunity to appreciate how much his love of this sport is shared around the world.

 

 

Our first International ER visit: This is something I could’ve waited longer for. The good news is that Luke is fine and we are now more prepared and understand the system for any future visits. The bad news is that Luke had a scary fall out of an enclosed trampoline onto concrete…and although I’ve tried to avoid trampolines in the US, it seems that EVERY expat backyard has one.

 

 

Strawberry picking at a Shanghai “farm”: A bit different in a city of 23 million people. I’m not quite sure what I was expecting, but I was dismayed to turn the corner of a city block and find a row of greenhouses squeezed between apartment buildings. I’ve seen the local “gardens” as we drive on the highway since the day we moved here: rows of vegetables growing in any opportune space: whether that be under rows of power lines or in piles of rubble from recently demolished buildings. I was looking to find a bit of hope provided by a legitimate farm. Luke’s school trip to this farm was originally scheduled for Earth Day…but it had to be rescheduled due to high pollution. After finally arriving at this farm, I was disheartened by the reality of how poor food regulation affects the majority of Shanghai. There’s a lot of change that must happen to create a sustainable and healthy environment. I’ve been experiencing first hand the importance of the clean air act, government regulations, and recycling to our environment. You and I both directly impact the earth. Please take care of it.

 

 

Antique Markets: One of my favorite places to search for items that need a new home. It’s fascinating to uncover the antique world of China.

 

 

 

Our first care package from Ohio: What can’t we get in Shanghai that our kids really miss? Malley’s chocolate, Oatmeal Creme Pies, Twix, Kit Kats, Oreos, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Starburst…of course. They were beyond excited to open their bags which have since been secretly stored and deemed precious commodity.

 

 

My new Shanghai scooter : The battery lasts a lot longer, the ride is much smoother, and it’s much more stylish.

 

 

Celebrating Kate’s birthday in Shanghai : Of course, her birthday lasted 36 hours. It started with a FaceTime birthday celebration with cake, singing, and presents. It ended with something only China can offer; a grand Karaoke party!