Settling in

Wow, it has been two weeks since my last post. Well, a lot has happened in the past two weeks. For all of you out there who have been craving a sense of what life is like as an expat in China, well here it goes.

First of all a routine is key. Now, that all the major fall holidays (in China) have passed, and we have healthy kids, the daily routine of getting out the door at 7:30 to walk to the bus stop is a smooth as it could be... Get kids up, feed kids, dress kids, load back packs, make snack, fill water bottles, baby in a stroller, then go. After dropping off the boys, ER and I go for a walk or a run. Then I get my self together for some activity. Since I started feeling settled, I have been able to work on my list of self improvements. Monday- digital photography, Tuesday and Thursday mornings are a mommy and me class with ER. Tues/Thurs afternoon I have my mandarin tutor. Wednesday morning is my parenting with love and logic class. Also, I am a room parent in JP's class and a class photographer for AC's class... I am at the bus stop everyday picking up my boys with the little sister feeling like a normal human being because I have not spent the day cleaning but have done something to enrich my mind and/or body. We have an hour of homework each night and I cook. I have cooked more in the past 3 months than I think I have in the past 3 years.

Over achieving you say, not really. The key to being able to do all this is having help at home, which is one of the major benefits of being an expat in China. Let me give you an example. Before coming to China, I bought JPs uniform pants from Lands end. I purchased five pairs figuring one pair a day for five days, with laundry once a week. Well, I have yet to open 3 pairs of pants because laundry is completed every day. Steve jokes that he has only worn two pairs of underwear in China!!!! We are now enjoying two authentic home cooked Chinese meals a week complements of our Ayi. So, for those of you out there, who have been toying with the idea of becoming an expat, it is quite an experience with some nice benefits. Right now, we are used to the hassles of the the grocery store, the inefficient processes and the masses of humanity. It is just China.