It is hot hot hot!!

So we have been here two weeks, and all I can say about the weather is that it is hot hot hot. Not the kind of hot I am most accustomed to ie Southern California and Colorado...I have blocked out Chicago humidity from my memory. It is stick to your skin hot. Last night I went out to put something in the trash and I felt like I was walking through marshmallow mist. The air is so thick, as you wave your arms through it, I swear you can see it sway. We are absolutely living in a cloud...I wonder what shape it is... oops sorry, stream of consciousness. Seriously, I know the talk about pollution in China, especially the Olympics in Beijing, but you have to remember there are two parts to the equation, smoke and fog = smog. Here in Shanghai, there is a large portion of fog. It is just hot fog. On an ozone action day in So. Cal, I have definitely seen worse. It is not like I have time to exercise here, but I remember days in high school after a long run or a race when I could barely breath because the pollution burned my lungs so bad.

It is so humid here, that I think even my bone straight fine hair can feel a little frizz. So what do we do to beat the heat. It is hit the pool baby. Probably the best thing about not working are long days at the pool. Our compound, in the states known as sub division, has a respectable pool, gym and indoor playground (remember its hot) and spa. So our daily routine includes some activity in the morning, then then lunch (freshly prepared by yours truly, another change in this household), then we get Emmy to bed for her nap, and it is off to the pool. BTW I don't abandon Miss E at home, our Ayi (another blog entry to come) is home while she sleeps. Luckily we are with in walking distance of the clubhouse, and off we go with our floaties and sub-par sunscreen. You see we have not received our household goods shipment that has a lifetime supply of SPF 50 available) that may be water proof... Thank God for the swim shirts. Mr. J unfortunately inherited my pasty skin tone, so we can't have him burning in the sun. So far we have had no sun casualties.

I started this blog intending to incorporate health care/ eastern medicine, and I still plan to do so more thoroughly, but work with me I just moved a family of five to a foreign country. So the secret to the beautiful Asian complexion...Sun avoidance. I think JP put it the best. "Mommy, they use umbrellas and it isn't even raining!" Yes, I am sure they have been way ahead of us for some time. Why spend the money on creams, you buy one umbrella and it works for years. So the secret to looking young for a long time, total sun protection. Now of course in China this goes back to the caste system. The laborers were hardened and darkened by the sun which was unacceptable for the upper class... How green and healthy would we be if we started using umbrellas to shield us from the sun. I haven't purchased a parasol yet, but I am thinking about it.

So, for now we hit the pool everyday. I am hoping the exposure prolongs my needs for getting highlights a little longer. Getting my hair done is a task I dread to no end at this point. There is a snack bar, which has been a great lesson for JP. It costs 10 RMB (remimbi otherwise known as Yuan) for popcorn or french fries, and 20 for chicken nuggets. 10 RMB is about $1.50, so I make JP go up with the money for snacks to help him get accustomed to the currency. BTW it is only 20 RMB for a Corona, as well, but I prefer spending it on the Perrier, it is just too darn hot even for a cold beer. I know, blasphemy but water is the new wine. I just made that up, don't listen to me. Nothing can replace a good California Cab....sniff.

Well the lazy days of summer will be coming to an end as the kids start school next week, sigh... It is good news and bad news. The good news is that I will get to go out and explore this amazing city. The bad news, my babies keep growing up on me. Well, more to come...