Fall is here!

The best part about having a birthday on Sept. 23 is that it marks the coming of fall. So even if I hate to see another calender year come upon me, it is welcomed with cooler temperatures and changing colors. Surprisingly Shanghai has not been a disappointment in the change of seasons. It was like a switch was turned on. The first day of autumn erased the heat and humidity that had been relatively oppressive and now each day is pleasant. I have been warned that nice weather is short lived and it will get cold. Cold!? I highly doubt that it will rival Chicago cold, but I will wait and see.

The coming of fall marks our two month anniversary of being in China. Honestly it feels more like six months. We are definitely settling in. We are finally all healthy....knock on wood. So how are we doing really? On the culture shock cycle we should be restless, impatient and disenchanted. I am not sure if is entirely true. I think AC may be feeling a bit restless, he loves school, but full days can be tough. He has been a little more whiny. JP seems realistic and insightful, but has not embraced the Chinese culture. Dad seems to be adjusting and enjoying the job, albeit the work schedule is more demanding. I am now ready to dive into language learning and am enjoying some photography. I am not ready to jump back in to medicine, but it is always in the back of my mind and I am waiting for the right opportunity to speak to me.

Don't get me wrong this no utopia, we are constantly bombarded with cultural differences that at times can be maddening. Yesterday, I stopped at the "Super Brand Mall" to make a couple of returns which went better than expected. Chinese businesses don't do returns quite as easily as the US. Then we went to a clothing store and found coats for the kids. All was well until I went to check out. First off they don't have an organized system to make waiting to check out fair for all. You line up behind a checker. So I lined up, then a local decided he was in front of me. OK, I am used that and like I said the lines are blurry. Then some guy out of know where decided he could jump in with some issue monopolizing two checkers. Meanwhile my kids start running around the store, in and out of the clothing racks. Although this mortifies me, kids are allowed to run amuck in China. As time passes, I started to get "resentful" of the 1st cutter, because now I am still waiting. Finally, it is my turn to check out and guess what? Yes, a Chinese woman shoves her stuff right in front of me, saying something loudly in Chinese. OK... so I lost it. No way was I going to be pushed aside again. So I speak loudly back, at the check out girl, who absolutely knew that I had been waiting patiently in line. More loud abrupt Chinese was exchanged, the 1st cutter who hadn't left yet, looked me... I am guessing he understood some English and realized I was upset with his actions as well, but I am sure it didn't phase him. In China, it is a free for all. If you are not aggressive you won't get anywhere. Common courtesy is not part of the culture. The lady backed off and I ended up with some coupons for money off my next purchase. I think they gave me extra, but I left with a bad taste in my mouth.

You get hit with these cultural differences and sometimes they throw you over the edge. I think I have done quite well over all. Let's see:
Kids squatting on the middle of the sidewalk to pee.
Stepping over phlegm on the ground indoors.
Having to put your toilet paper in trash can next to the toilet to protect the plumbing. ( I often forget this practice, who knows how many toilets I have ruined)
Using a squatter toilet.
Carrying toilet paper with you at all times.
Vying for position to get into an elevator with the entire family, because they will shove past
and you could lose a kid.
All eyes on the road when you cross the street, because they will run you down.

These are just some of the things you encounter daily, and for the most part, it is what it is. I just have an issue with the pushing and shoving and cutting in line. I also hate the fruit and vegetable weighing. At the Carrefour they have one lady weighing all the produce and everyone at the store is buying fresh produce. So, they just shove on through to get there stuff weighed. I have to admit many a time a courteous Chinese person will take pity on me and make it so I can get my stuff weighed, otherwise I could be there all day. I mainly try to buy the organic products which come pre-weighed because they are more expensive. Whether they are truly organic I have no idea.

So, aside from brief moments of disgust or frustration, I think we are taking everything in stride. We are off from school again for a few days. This time it is National day and the kids get Friday through Tuesday off, so hopefully we can get some exploring done. I hope you all have a nice weekend.