Beijing Intro

We spent a busy weekend in Beijing. The first time we've been to visit in spite of living in China for almost 2 years!

My overall impression is that it is SO BIG - too many people, too many cars. However, even though I'm not a big city-lover, we did have a great time. We saw a lot, walked a lot, ate a lot, shopped a little, and got our MacBook fixed at the busiest Apple Store I've ever seen.

My overall impression of Chinese people was reinforced. They are kind and patient. And, the people who are not from the city are curious about foreigners, as they likely don't see them very often. Since we spent so much time at tourist areas, this is one of many photos taken of our "foreign" kids while we were there.

The kids and a cute little boy:


Kiana and another foreigner:

Actually we ran into her friend, Maddie, while we were there!

A view of the city:


So many people:


Shopping:


Old and new together:


This is taken outside of Beijing, but I liked the irony of the donkey carrying the generator!


More to come about Beijing...
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Leaving China, Part 2

It's an indication of how well Kiana and I have adapted to local life that while shopping at the local market last weekend, Kiana said to me wistfully, "I'm going to miss coming here. Are you?" And I replied, "Yes, I was just thinking the same thing!"

We go to this local market every few weeks, just to "shop." Not always looking for something specific, but just to look around. It has fruits and veggies, and also a mini-mall type building with clothes, shoes, stationery, food and household goods. It is cold, dirty and sometimes smelly. And we like going!

See this post for our first impression of the market:
www.barrhouse.blogspot.com/2009/08/buying-our-fruits-and-veggies.html

Adaptation. We see the piles of garbage. We smell the "China" smells. We're surrounded by crowds. And we feel comfortable. And normal. And we'll miss a place that used to be so strange and foreign to us.
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My Grandmother

I think it's a fear every expat has... what do you do when a family member dies "back home"? When you don't go back, how do you feel connected to your family when you are on the other side of the world? I guess for me, among other things, I blog.

Memories of my grandmother:

As a child, walking up the street to visit her.
Watering her trees while she was away.
Playing cards.
Playing the player piano with her singing along.
Playing in her big backyard.
Going together to the LA County Fair, and afterward throwing up on her white bathroom rug.
Riding the bus together to Trinidad.
Eating clam chowder on the pier.
Walking on the beach.
Her helping me move into my apartment in Ukiah.
Taking walks together in Ukiah.
Talking about politics.
Her love of beautiful trees and the hills behind her house.

I always felt welcomed and happy to spend time with her, even as a young child. And I'm thankful our relationship continued into adulthood. But very sad that she had to suffer so long before her death. So although today I am sad, I am also happy that she has finally been released from her body and mind that no longer worked.

Tomorrow I will lay flowers on our shared Pacific Ocean at sunrise and remember her. I think I got my love of the ocean from her.


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Leaving China, Part 1

This is the first of many blogs about leaving China. While it is not definite, we are pretty sure that we will be moving back to our US home at the end of June. Although I will be happy to be living in Portland again, I am sad to be leaving China.

I've spent the past month trying to sort out those feelings. What exactly am I sad to be leaving? And of course, there is not a simple answer. I am sad to be leaving our home. I am sad to be leaving our community. I am sad to be leaving my lifestyle. I am sad to be leaving my friends. And, I am sad to be leaving the country and people of China.

It feels a little strange. Because I am really looking forward to many things in Portland, but at the same time, there are not very many things that I am happy to leave behind here.

More to come....
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Sapporo

Sapporo was the last stop on our trip to Japan, where they were hosting the 62nd Annual Snow Festival. I first read about the snow festival while living in Portland, as Portland and Sapporo have been sister cities for over 50 years! I've always wanted to go, and since Japan is just a 3 hour flight from Dalian, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. Of course, most people in Dalian choose to go to Harbin, China for their snow and ice festival (about a 1 hour flight from Dalian). It was a tough choice, but at 20*F warmer (20 degrees in Sapporo v. 0 degrees in Harbin), Sapporo was the winner!

We had a great time!

Caught in one of many brief blizzards:


Snow Festival sign:


Frozen bananas that don't need a freezer:


One snowboarder jumping every 8 seconds:


Beautiful snow temple, a replica of an actual temple, actual size:


The little steam engine:


The snow family:


Hundreds of small snow sculptures:


Three blocks of ice carvings:


Frozen fish:


Lights in downtown Sapporo:


Outdoor food court:

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Skiing in Furano

Riding the lift.
Cold fingers.
Warm sun on my cheeks.
Endless snow below.
White flocked trees out of a picture postcard.
Mountains rising high in front of me.
And at 12:50 every day, Bruno Mars playing on the loudspeakers.

I forgot how much I love skiing. The quiet beauty of the snow and mountains paired with the adrenaline rush of going just a little too fast. Yup, I could stay here and enjoy for a really long time!

Here are some photo highlights from skiing in Furano (Hokkaido, Japan).



Super(snow)man flying outside our house:


The end of a beautiful snowmobile ride over the bridge and through the woods:


Happy, happy, happy:


Happy this lift was closed:


My favorite ski run (Kiana's too!):

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From One to Another

Tokyo ---> Furano.

9 million people ----> 25,000 people.

882 rail stations ---> 1 rail station.

urban noise ---> snow quietly falling.


The trip from Tokyo to Furano (in Northern Japan) was incredible. We flew from Tokyo to Sapporo, then took two trains to Furano.

When we boarded the first train at the airport outside of Sapporo, it was a modern station with escalators. The train was spacious and comfortable.

We laughed when we arrived at the town where we changed trains (Takikawa). Here is how we navigated the snowy platform with 4 suitcases.



And what a cute one-car train we took from Takikawa to Furano, about a one hour trip. There were about 15 other local people on the train with us.



We rented a small house through a property management agency in Furano that is about two blocks from the ski area and surrounded by small locally owned restaurants. We had planned to take a taxi to the house when we arrived. We were very pleasantly surprised when the property management agent was at the station to pick us up! And, even better, he stopped at the grocery store on the way to the house so we could pick up groceries. After giving us restaurant recommendations and a thorough orientation to the house, we settled in for the night to get ready for skiing the next day.



I fell in love with Furano after reading about it on the internet from home. I love it even more now. First class skiing and lots of light powder snow, in a small town atmosphere. I am really happy here :)
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