Time moves in a strange arc. On one hand I can't believe that it is October already. Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner. At the same time, when I am asked how long I've lived here in Shanghai, I have to think hard and am amazed to say that it has only been 6 months. It feels like I have been here so much longer than that.
This week is October Holiday for China. October 1 is National Day here; it's the day the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949. Many offices here are closed for the week, though this does not necessarily mean vacation for expats. Being an expat means that you work on the schedule of your home office, no matter where that may be, as well as the local schedule in Shanghai. As for us, we're staying put. We have a trip planned on the 19th to Yellow Mountain, which is supposed to be one of China's most beautiful mountains (though I think the appellation is applied to everything).
This past Saturday, we had Eric's officemates over for a barbecue. I made chicken and beef kebabs to grill. I also bought Johnsonville brats, potato chips (Lays!), Doritos, hummus and pita bread. I made a cold couscous salad with white beans and shredded carrot. I had a puzzling time trying to explain what couscous, hummus, and pita bread were to some of the Chinese people. I can't tell you how good a grilled brat is. I never thought that I'd have such nostalgia for Doritos; I rarely bought them back in the U.S.
Now I'm contemplating the enormous fruit basket that Eric's officemates brought as a gift for the barbecue. I don't know how I'll manage to eat all that fruit. I'll probably have some people over to eat fruit and drink beer and wine, since I am left with ample amounts of all 3 since the barbecue.
Eric is doing a bit of work from home, but still is quite relaxed. We are having a nice, leisurely day here at home -- breakfast of scrambled eggs, gym, leftovers, reading quietly.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Friday, September 7, 2007
The Orphanage
Yesterday, I volunteered at an orphanage with a friend, Lee. Lee had a girl friend who had been volunteering at this orphanage for the past year. She and another woman go to the orphanage every Thursday for 2 hours. There, they play and interact with a group of 2-year-old children. Though this is something I wanted to do, I had my reservations. I suppose I was wondering about the conditions at the orphanage and I was wondering about the children there. I really didn't know what to expect. There are no pictures per the orphanage director's request.
The orphanage we went to (I don't know how many such facilities are in Shanghai) was on the outer edge of the city, near the Hong Qiao Airport. The building was large and looked like an ordinary school. The grounds and the building were well-maintained and clean. When I say the place looked like a school, I mean literally that. There were various hallways lined with classrooms set with windows both looking into the hall as well as outside. Instead of desks, classrooms would have metal cribs set in 5-6 groups of 8. Each crib had identical bedding but with a different stuffed animal set in each. There were little child-sized chairs lining one of the walls. In one hallway, I saw at least 4 rooms set up in this way. One of the other women said that there were infants on another floor. According to them, the orphanage housed up to 1000 children. The building was empty at the time as the older children are bussed out to school during the day.
We went to a classroom set up as the playroom; the two regular volunteers automatically knowing the routine. The playroom had a single crib filled with toys. There were low shelves lining one wall, mostly empty except for a few toys and books. Mats lined the floor in one corner of the room. Near the door sat one of the ayis (Ayi is a general term used for women who act as maids and nannies.) reading to a group of children sitting on the floor. When we entered the room, some of the children, recognizing the regular volunteers, raised up their arms to be picked up. Who could resist?
The two regular volunteer women, Ann and Tracy, took some children outside in a couple of different double-occupancy strollers. Lee and I moved to the corner and sat down amidst some of the other children. I soon had 3 children in my lap. Though these children were in the 2-year age range, none of the children looked like an average American 2-year old child. These children were smaller, probably due in part to the average Chinese person being smaller than than the average American and also due to their circumstance. Many of the children seemed to have developmental disabilities and many were deaf. The children were much more subdued than other children of this age I have seen. They were not rambunctious, but rather were content to sit in your lap and be cuddled. Lee and I took a group of children outside where they could enjoy some fresh air and sunshine.
At the end our time there, we brought all the children back inside. It was time for their evening meal. That was probably a good time to leave as the children would hopefully too be preoccupied eating to notice we were leaving.
I plan to go back. Though I can't help but wish that there were more child development programs in place, especially one that taught sign language, I got the sense that the women there caring for the children were doing the best they could given what resources they had. This was my first time; I don't know much about the orphanage itself or the women who work there. I don't know enough Chinese to know exactly what was going on or what the ayis' opinion was of these foreign volunteers. I suppose the biggest question I have is what kind of future these children can expect. Tracy and Ann mentioned that they know of a few children there who have been adopted. China is not yet very accommodating for the handicapped. One of the children there is very bright though he is deaf. His deafness will most definitely be considered a liability when considered for adoption. Maybe it's a selfish thought, but I hope that my presence can be of some benefit.
The orphanage we went to (I don't know how many such facilities are in Shanghai) was on the outer edge of the city, near the Hong Qiao Airport. The building was large and looked like an ordinary school. The grounds and the building were well-maintained and clean. When I say the place looked like a school, I mean literally that. There were various hallways lined with classrooms set with windows both looking into the hall as well as outside. Instead of desks, classrooms would have metal cribs set in 5-6 groups of 8. Each crib had identical bedding but with a different stuffed animal set in each. There were little child-sized chairs lining one of the walls. In one hallway, I saw at least 4 rooms set up in this way. One of the other women said that there were infants on another floor. According to them, the orphanage housed up to 1000 children. The building was empty at the time as the older children are bussed out to school during the day.
We went to a classroom set up as the playroom; the two regular volunteers automatically knowing the routine. The playroom had a single crib filled with toys. There were low shelves lining one wall, mostly empty except for a few toys and books. Mats lined the floor in one corner of the room. Near the door sat one of the ayis (Ayi is a general term used for women who act as maids and nannies.) reading to a group of children sitting on the floor. When we entered the room, some of the children, recognizing the regular volunteers, raised up their arms to be picked up. Who could resist?
The two regular volunteer women, Ann and Tracy, took some children outside in a couple of different double-occupancy strollers. Lee and I moved to the corner and sat down amidst some of the other children. I soon had 3 children in my lap. Though these children were in the 2-year age range, none of the children looked like an average American 2-year old child. These children were smaller, probably due in part to the average Chinese person being smaller than than the average American and also due to their circumstance. Many of the children seemed to have developmental disabilities and many were deaf. The children were much more subdued than other children of this age I have seen. They were not rambunctious, but rather were content to sit in your lap and be cuddled. Lee and I took a group of children outside where they could enjoy some fresh air and sunshine.
At the end our time there, we brought all the children back inside. It was time for their evening meal. That was probably a good time to leave as the children would hopefully too be preoccupied eating to notice we were leaving.
I plan to go back. Though I can't help but wish that there were more child development programs in place, especially one that taught sign language, I got the sense that the women there caring for the children were doing the best they could given what resources they had. This was my first time; I don't know much about the orphanage itself or the women who work there. I don't know enough Chinese to know exactly what was going on or what the ayis' opinion was of these foreign volunteers. I suppose the biggest question I have is what kind of future these children can expect. Tracy and Ann mentioned that they know of a few children there who have been adopted. China is not yet very accommodating for the handicapped. One of the children there is very bright though he is deaf. His deafness will most definitely be considered a liability when considered for adoption. Maybe it's a selfish thought, but I hope that my presence can be of some benefit.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Kitchen Sink
As Eric and I were walking through the metro, we were talking about how we had seen people bring just about everything on the metro, except the proverbial kitchen sink. And then we saw one.
Well maybe not exactly a kitchen sink, but a sink nonetheless.
Well maybe not exactly a kitchen sink, but a sink nonetheless.
Changing Seasons
Time goes by so quickly. It's hard to believe that it's September already and we'll be marking our 6-month anniversary here in Shanghai. We've had a hot, hot summer. August was the worst of it with temperatures in the high 30Cs (nearly 100F) accompanied by the soupiest humidity I've ever had to endure. I couldn't walk far without being soaked with sweat. Thankfully, the heat has lately broken and today, despite the drizzle, was pleasantly cool.
Recently, we went skiing again with Penny. This time, we were accompanied by 7 members of her family, including 4 children. We weren't paying close attention when we on the metro and forgot to get off at our correct stop. It was literally the end of the line, so we had to wait a moment before the train started up again.
The only person on the train was a woman sweeping the cars. The train started up again to resume the opposite route back. We got off the train this time and took a taxi to the indoor ski place. The place as busy; full of people. For most of the people in our party, this was the first time they had been on skis.
Here is Penny and her family. The children are 13, 10, 10, and 6. Dang Dang has been to Shanghai before. He and Eric have a shared interest in G.I. Joes. You can't see it here, but Dang Dang is playing with a toy grappling line that came with the G.I. Joe action figure Eric brought him from the U.S. We were all surprised that he managed to hold onto the thing throughout the skiing excursion.
We parted ways after skiing with plans to meet up again later that night. We walked along the river on the Pudong side so we could see the bright lights of the Bund. The children were quite tired by that time as were the adults.
Recently, we went skiing again with Penny. This time, we were accompanied by 7 members of her family, including 4 children. We weren't paying close attention when we on the metro and forgot to get off at our correct stop. It was literally the end of the line, so we had to wait a moment before the train started up again.
The only person on the train was a woman sweeping the cars. The train started up again to resume the opposite route back. We got off the train this time and took a taxi to the indoor ski place. The place as busy; full of people. For most of the people in our party, this was the first time they had been on skis.
Here is Penny and her family. The children are 13, 10, 10, and 6. Dang Dang has been to Shanghai before. He and Eric have a shared interest in G.I. Joes. You can't see it here, but Dang Dang is playing with a toy grappling line that came with the G.I. Joe action figure Eric brought him from the U.S. We were all surprised that he managed to hold onto the thing throughout the skiing excursion.
We parted ways after skiing with plans to meet up again later that night. We walked along the river on the Pudong side so we could see the bright lights of the Bund. The children were quite tired by that time as were the adults.
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