Hello world,
I am thinking about using this platform again.
First, I want to see if anyone out there is still accessing this.
If you are, please comment to let me know. Then, stay tuned...
-Brittney
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Sunday, February 28, 2016
February 2016
Hello World...long time no update.
We had not realized we had an unpublished post in our account since October (Moganshan). However, even if we HAD posted it, October is too long ago to have not written a new post. SORRY!
Let's recap by holiday.
October: Halloween.
Each year, our school parent group (PTSA) hosts a big carnival. We are not sure if it is always during Halloween or if that was coincidence this year. Student clubs, local vendors, and a variety of performers come to campus for the whole day and do fun things.
In addition, our school had just opened their new (and phenomenal) Performing Arts Center (PAC). To kick it off, the first High School play was Night of the Living Dead. Brittney volunteered to be one of the extra 'zombies' for the big closing scene. What a good time. Students 'zombified' a costume for her (tear it up, cover with blood), and then turned her into a zombie with their newly acquired special effects makeup skills. To promote the play, the extra zombies thought it would be fun to go into the carnival, scaring people, and then say..."come to the play"!
So they did.
November: Thanksgiving.
We were excited to see that 'American Thanksgiving' was a recognized holiday within our new community. We even had a three day weekend to celebrate. We had potential plans: Korean Blitz with some second year DINKS (dual income no kids). Attend the (poorly scheduled) teacher formal hosted by the school. Host or attend a traditional feast. However, unexpected and very exciting opportunities presented themselves. For Brittney, she attended the Green Educators Conference at The Green School in Bali, Indonesia. For Phillip, he became the Varsity Girls Basketball Assistant Coach. This meant that Phillip was attending a tournament in Thailand that weekend. We were both in different countries for Thanksgiving but having a great time.
The tournament went well and the conference was, life changing. More on that later.
Sneek Peek: it was AMAZING...and Phillip eventually attended it when it was offered for a second time!
December/January: Christmas/New Years/ Brittney's Birthday.
Remember when we went to South Africa last spring? So many of our colleagues at the time strongly encouraged we take that trip by saying things like
And then we bought tickets, made arrangements, and announced we were going. About a week before our trip these lovely colleagues started to add things like
Thanks guys!
When we arrived in Shanghai, we found ourselves among Kiwi's (people from New Zealand), or people that have or frequently travel to New Zealand. We knew we wanted to go backpacking somewhere during this holiday so we were pleased when these colleagues told us about all the opportunities to do so in NZ.
So we did, with enthusiasm. We were headed to the South Island, Fiordland National Park to go 'tramping' as they call it. Hiking and backpacking through different 'great walks' of New Zealand. Then, the week before our trip the conversation changed a bit,
Thanks guys!
Last minutes, we swapped our cotton shorts and tees for thermals and waterproof layers. Then...we had an amazing time. It was physically and mentally exhausting, a true practice in mindfulness and gratitude. We were blessed with weather and the opportunity overall. We met interesting people, saw beautiful things, and tried something, a few things, we had never done before.
We were quite out of our element living out of a backpack...but we did it, and loved it. The experience really got us giddy about our plans to Yosemite (the ones we have been dreaming up since 2012).
When we returned from the break, it was time to have the beer tasting party. If we have not mentioned it before, our dwelling is huge, more than enough space for the two of us. Brittney had no interest in hosting an exclusive tasting party, and clearly there was room for a crowd, so she pretty much told anyone and everyone they could come. Then, forty people said yes...and 40 people had a great time. It was a fun party and hopefully the start of a tradition.
MISC Photos:
We had not realized we had an unpublished post in our account since October (Moganshan). However, even if we HAD posted it, October is too long ago to have not written a new post. SORRY!
Let's recap by holiday.
October: Halloween.
Each year, our school parent group (PTSA) hosts a big carnival. We are not sure if it is always during Halloween or if that was coincidence this year. Student clubs, local vendors, and a variety of performers come to campus for the whole day and do fun things.
In addition, our school had just opened their new (and phenomenal) Performing Arts Center (PAC). To kick it off, the first High School play was Night of the Living Dead. Brittney volunteered to be one of the extra 'zombies' for the big closing scene. What a good time. Students 'zombified' a costume for her (tear it up, cover with blood), and then turned her into a zombie with their newly acquired special effects makeup skills. To promote the play, the extra zombies thought it would be fun to go into the carnival, scaring people, and then say..."come to the play"!
So they did.
November: Thanksgiving.
We were excited to see that 'American Thanksgiving' was a recognized holiday within our new community. We even had a three day weekend to celebrate. We had potential plans: Korean Blitz with some second year DINKS (dual income no kids). Attend the (poorly scheduled) teacher formal hosted by the school. Host or attend a traditional feast. However, unexpected and very exciting opportunities presented themselves. For Brittney, she attended the Green Educators Conference at The Green School in Bali, Indonesia. For Phillip, he became the Varsity Girls Basketball Assistant Coach. This meant that Phillip was attending a tournament in Thailand that weekend. We were both in different countries for Thanksgiving but having a great time.
The tournament went well and the conference was, life changing. More on that later.
Sneek Peek: it was AMAZING...and Phillip eventually attended it when it was offered for a second time!
Aside from all of that, Brittney managed to locate a mule* to bring some Pumpkin spice Cookie Butter from Trader Joes. It became a huge hit with our colleagues.
(*you are considered a mule if you are coming to China from the US and willing to bring back goodies).
One colleague in particular was obsessed with this stuff. He also happened to be one of our science teachers mastering his skills at homebrew (making beer at home). We will call him the Guru. Brittney was intrigued at the idea of homebrew and remembered a delicious beer her good friend, Ashely, introduced her too. It was seasonal, Pumpkin, served with Turkish honey and cinnamon rimmed glass. She said to the Guru, ‘Let’s make a pumpkin spice brew’. So…we did. He had the equipment, located the ingredients, and walked us through it at his house. It was all pretty simple.
December/January: Christmas/New Years/ Brittney's Birthday.
Remember when we went to South Africa last spring? So many of our colleagues at the time strongly encouraged we take that trip by saying things like
'It's lovely'
'The best season'
'You will enjoy it'
'You must go at this time'
'So much beauty'.
And then we bought tickets, made arrangements, and announced we were going. About a week before our trip these lovely colleagues started to add things like
'Oh it is very dangerous'
'Don't stop on the street at night...don't go anywhere at night'
'Don't carry any money'
'Don't hold your phone in public places'
'I knew a guy that got robbed at gunpoint when he was at a stop light'
'It is VERY dangerous...Don't trust anyone'.
Thanks guys!
When we arrived in Shanghai, we found ourselves among Kiwi's (people from New Zealand), or people that have or frequently travel to New Zealand. We knew we wanted to go backpacking somewhere during this holiday so we were pleased when these colleagues told us about all the opportunities to do so in NZ.
'Its the best season' they say.
'Beautiful summer weather', they say.
'The trails will be lovely, book now because everyone wants to go at this time'.
So we did, with enthusiasm. We were headed to the South Island, Fiordland National Park to go 'tramping' as they call it. Hiking and backpacking through different 'great walks' of New Zealand. Then, the week before our trip the conversation changed a bit,
'Oh, South Island...expect rain'.
'Oh, Fiordland, late December..it could snow'.
'Oh, Kepler track, the weather is unpredictable, wear layers and be sure it is waterproof'.
Thanks guys!
Last minutes, we swapped our cotton shorts and tees for thermals and waterproof layers. Then...we had an amazing time. It was physically and mentally exhausting, a true practice in mindfulness and gratitude. We were blessed with weather and the opportunity overall. We met interesting people, saw beautiful things, and tried something, a few things, we had never done before.
We were quite out of our element living out of a backpack...but we did it, and loved it. The experience really got us giddy about our plans to Yosemite (the ones we have been dreaming up since 2012).
When we returned from the break, it was time to have the beer tasting party. If we have not mentioned it before, our dwelling is huge, more than enough space for the two of us. Brittney had no interest in hosting an exclusive tasting party, and clearly there was room for a crowd, so she pretty much told anyone and everyone they could come. Then, forty people said yes...and 40 people had a great time. It was a fun party and hopefully the start of a tradition.
February, Chinese New Year (CNY), Trivia night:
Here in Shanghai, we have a week off for Chinese New Year (CNY). Chinese people consider this a very family oriented holiday, so most people from the city leave to visit older family in more remote places of China. We were told it is a great time to visit Shanghai because it is less 'busy'. We considered going somewhere, but felt like it would be a good time to actually ‘take a break’ so we opted for a staycation. Brittney also thought it would be a perfect time to try her hand at a solo homebrew for the next tasting party.
We met some friends in the city on Sunday to bring in the year of the monkey. Another friend hooked us up at a hotel with incredible free upgrades: rooms, food, drinks. We had open happy hour at 5:30pm, then a huge breakfast spread the next morning. We drank and hailed a five person taxi for six people. Found ourselves in a shady pizza place. We practiced our Chinese and deeply wondered what the actual business of this place was because ‘New York Pizza’ was clearly just a front. For starters, imagine walking into a ‘pizza place’ and they hand you a dominos menu. Ignoring your bewilderment, you scan the menu looking for something you might want. Then you tell them what you want and they call dominos and inform you it will take extra forty minutes because they are busy making deliveries tonight. That was just the start.
At any rate, it was actually a very fun part of the evening. The next day is known as Super Bowl Monday and there were super bowl parties all over the place. Here, the super bowl aired live on Monday morning, around 730. Phillip left the hotel around 6am and headed to one hosted by a brewery. Brittney asked if the venue would also be airing the Puppy Bowl from the Animal Planet network. For some nonsensical reason they were not so she slept in and enjoyed the hotel breakfast with their friends.
By Monday evening, Brittney was sick. We cannot remember the last time she was sick. Coughing, sneezing, stomach pains, aches, lethargy...awful. She could not shake it-but had minimal interest in going to the doctor to be handed antibiotics. She pulled out all of her tricks and essential oils. She was not getting worse...just not getting better. It was not how we planned to spend the 'break'. But we were thankful that we were here and not on a vacation-or at work. We had a week to get through it.
In hindsight, we are pretty sure her body needed to go through this. Life in Shanghai is fast and furious. Work is demanding, social opportunities are a plenty, lots of late nights, casual but regular drinking opportunities...it is not Saudi. We have over indulged and are now seeking balance. Brittney eventually found a TCM doctor (Traditional Chinese Medicine). He looked at her tongue, checked her pulse, asked personal questions about bowel movements, sleep patterns, diet, exercise...you know, 'woo woo' stuff that indicated health status. Then, he sent her home with a bunch of Chinese herbs to mix with water and drink every morning and night. They are not delicious, but she prefers it to antibiotics. And...she is much better now.
The school PTSA hosts a Trivia Night to raise money for various initiatives for school. A team of us new people became a team called 'Love Train'. We were a disco fever group of 11 dreaming of a world where people get over their divides, join hands and start a love train. We heard that best dressed team wins something...so we took that very seriously. We went to the fake market and had some groovy outfits made. The day of the trivia night, Brittney started her brew since she definitely did not get to it during CNY. She realized the Guru was very helpful and that brewing isn't so simple. It is technically still brewing but there is a good change its a bust. Let's just say...there were some road bumps and a big mess of a kitchen.
We did not win the contest but the night won our hearts. It was a lot of fun and we surprised Phillip with (a delicious almond cashew plant based) cake and a 'happy birthday' song. The next morning, we met for an Indian Buffet birthday brunch. Then...Phillip hopped onto an airplane and flew to the Green Educators Conference....what a way to start a birthday.
 |
| Phillip being magical on his birthday brunch. Notice anything unusual? |
Exciting adventures from the conference in Bali is coming up next. We will share Brittney's experience of it from November, Phillip's experience of it from February, and then what we plan to do with the beautiful lessons learned from experience overall.
Stay tuned.
Until next time...
B and P
MISC Photos:
 |
| Pretty sure she was also secretly taking a picture of me. |
 |
| #LetTheWayYouLiveBeTheWayYouGive exciting new things on the horizon :) |
Saturday, February 27, 2016
Moganshan October 2015
Hello World, [sorry this was not posted as intended...see next post for more info...]
In the beginning of October, we finished our Fall Break. Phillip learned that this is a school holiday exist for two different holidays. One, the Mid Autumn Festival which Chinese mark by eating sweets called Moon Cakes (shout out to Brittney'c college roommate 'Mooncake', also known as Denise), and two, the Chinese National Day, October 1st marking the day Mao declared that the country becomes Communist.
The weeks leading up to the week off were busy with our first hiking trip (JiaHua), Professional Development days, Phillip hosting a Middle School athletics tournament and other factors that messed with our scheduled weekly routine. It seems like our coworkers usually take one of two options during this week off...get the heck out of dodge... or have a staycation. We chose a little of both. Going on a three night excursion with 36 other teachers and their families to Mogonshan (the bamboo forest mountain).
Showing up at the bus stop at 9 in the morning we realized we probably didn't pack as much as the big families that packed most of their pantry. We also realized we are one of few that have not purchased really nice bikes for going to school (50 minute bike ride) or exploring some of the city canals. There were many bikes on one of the busses so we chose to sit in the less full bus. We didn't realized at the time but our bus ultimately became the 'adult bus' because many parents stayed with their kids on the other 'kid bus'. However for the first hour and half of the bus ride-our bus might have been the most noisy one with much of the bus playing the cherades type game called Heads Up which is a popular ipad/iphone app where you hold the device up to your forehead it gives a card to the audience and they must give you clues to say what is on the card.
When we arrived at the village we were surrounded by green all around us. Eventually we found our way to the bunk house and a very nice Chinese owner helped our whole group check in. We then found a small group of colleagues to take a walk with. As we were walking down the hill to the main road we discovered two dogs that belonged to the guest house were walking with us. In fact they were almost like our tour guides. Walking with us for the whole two and a half hour hike and barking at other dogs in neighboring villages that would come to close to us "their guests". We saw many local garden plots and people that were tearing apart bamboo as well as gathering bamboo leaves into one bushel to perhaps be dried out and made into street brooms.
Upon getting back we had a buffet style dinner. It was very delicious food. We were told that most of it was grown down the hill and it was served family style like most Chinese meals. The flavors were amazing.
On day two we had a large group that came together after breakfast. Many of us agreed to take a van ride half way up the hill and then hike to the top of the Moganshan Mountain. We piled 11 people in a 8 passenger van and a quickly opened the windows as we could get enough fresh air to keep us healthy with all the switch backs up the mountain. Phillip jumped out first and was one of the first ones up the trail with Brittney right behind. Christina was a high school student of the family that has organized the trip the last four years and took the lead as she knew the best routes to go. We hiked for about 40 minutes until we cleared all the bamboo and were hiking along side a mountain.
After a short rest break we continued up to the touristy village, passing a glass overhang and a wooden bridge that we were told to "jump across" to make it shake for you and the person behind you. We stopped for lunch at a spot the reminded Phillip a lot of Lake Tahoe. A large cabin feel among large trees. Another large Chinese style lunch around a lazy-susan spinning as dish after dish just kept coming out. We also noticed Chinese rice wine in a jar with a large Chinese snake in it. We stuck with the beer and tea instead.
The second full day there was a rainy day as a tropical storm had come inland. The day was full of games and games and card games. However, Brittney escaped with a group to walk through the village and down to a green house that grew fresh edamame peas. The dogs once again followed the group every step through the village and beyond. Phillip stayed at the guesthouse and through VPN and a Sling app was able to set up a live viewing of Monday Night Football live on Tuesday morning in China watching the Packers beat the Chiefs. Later that afternoon we taught more people our new favorite card game, Wizard. We were treated with another great BBQ dinner with plenty of vegetables. We ended the late night playing Burro, a Spanish Card game we learned during our blizzard trip to Jordan (thanks Jose!), at a bar on top of the village. Brittney and Brady (a new colleague and neighbor) tried to ask the bartender about the mysterious things soaking in the glass barrel on the bar. Then, realizing the language barrier was thick....he offered them a taste, of all three. One was good, one was so so, and one was awful. It was eventually a long night... and a late morning.
The last day we all took another misty walk to the same greenhouses that Brittney had been to the day before. This time we stopped to forage grapes. Our wonderful Chinese friend, Fan, was given a bunch by the owners because the owner thought he was Tour Guide that brought a bunch of 'Westerners' to his farm (even though Fan is a part of our teaching group). We got back to the guesthouse just in time for another delicious freshly made lunch, settled our bill, and were able to say good bye to the dogs on more time.
When we got back we started a staycation, we started finalizing plans for our Christmas trip to New Zealand and ticking things off our to-do list. We enjoyed a famous dumpling restaurant near downtown and Phillip checked out the tailor/fake goods market just so we can know what is there. Overall it was a lovely little break that allowed us to connect with our new surrounding surroundings.
Until next time...
B and P
In the beginning of October, we finished our Fall Break. Phillip learned that this is a school holiday exist for two different holidays. One, the Mid Autumn Festival which Chinese mark by eating sweets called Moon Cakes (shout out to Brittney'c college roommate 'Mooncake', also known as Denise), and two, the Chinese National Day, October 1st marking the day Mao declared that the country becomes Communist.
The weeks leading up to the week off were busy with our first hiking trip (JiaHua), Professional Development days, Phillip hosting a Middle School athletics tournament and other factors that messed with our scheduled weekly routine. It seems like our coworkers usually take one of two options during this week off...get the heck out of dodge... or have a staycation. We chose a little of both. Going on a three night excursion with 36 other teachers and their families to Mogonshan (the bamboo forest mountain).
Showing up at the bus stop at 9 in the morning we realized we probably didn't pack as much as the big families that packed most of their pantry. We also realized we are one of few that have not purchased really nice bikes for going to school (50 minute bike ride) or exploring some of the city canals. There were many bikes on one of the busses so we chose to sit in the less full bus. We didn't realized at the time but our bus ultimately became the 'adult bus' because many parents stayed with their kids on the other 'kid bus'. However for the first hour and half of the bus ride-our bus might have been the most noisy one with much of the bus playing the cherades type game called Heads Up which is a popular ipad/iphone app where you hold the device up to your forehead it gives a card to the audience and they must give you clues to say what is on the card.
When we arrived at the village we were surrounded by green all around us. Eventually we found our way to the bunk house and a very nice Chinese owner helped our whole group check in. We then found a small group of colleagues to take a walk with. As we were walking down the hill to the main road we discovered two dogs that belonged to the guest house were walking with us. In fact they were almost like our tour guides. Walking with us for the whole two and a half hour hike and barking at other dogs in neighboring villages that would come to close to us "their guests". We saw many local garden plots and people that were tearing apart bamboo as well as gathering bamboo leaves into one bushel to perhaps be dried out and made into street brooms.
Upon getting back we had a buffet style dinner. It was very delicious food. We were told that most of it was grown down the hill and it was served family style like most Chinese meals. The flavors were amazing.
On day two we had a large group that came together after breakfast. Many of us agreed to take a van ride half way up the hill and then hike to the top of the Moganshan Mountain. We piled 11 people in a 8 passenger van and a quickly opened the windows as we could get enough fresh air to keep us healthy with all the switch backs up the mountain. Phillip jumped out first and was one of the first ones up the trail with Brittney right behind. Christina was a high school student of the family that has organized the trip the last four years and took the lead as she knew the best routes to go. We hiked for about 40 minutes until we cleared all the bamboo and were hiking along side a mountain.
After a short rest break we continued up to the touristy village, passing a glass overhang and a wooden bridge that we were told to "jump across" to make it shake for you and the person behind you. We stopped for lunch at a spot the reminded Phillip a lot of Lake Tahoe. A large cabin feel among large trees. Another large Chinese style lunch around a lazy-susan spinning as dish after dish just kept coming out. We also noticed Chinese rice wine in a jar with a large Chinese snake in it. We stuck with the beer and tea instead.
The second full day there was a rainy day as a tropical storm had come inland. The day was full of games and games and card games. However, Brittney escaped with a group to walk through the village and down to a green house that grew fresh edamame peas. The dogs once again followed the group every step through the village and beyond. Phillip stayed at the guesthouse and through VPN and a Sling app was able to set up a live viewing of Monday Night Football live on Tuesday morning in China watching the Packers beat the Chiefs. Later that afternoon we taught more people our new favorite card game, Wizard. We were treated with another great BBQ dinner with plenty of vegetables. We ended the late night playing Burro, a Spanish Card game we learned during our blizzard trip to Jordan (thanks Jose!), at a bar on top of the village. Brittney and Brady (a new colleague and neighbor) tried to ask the bartender about the mysterious things soaking in the glass barrel on the bar. Then, realizing the language barrier was thick....he offered them a taste, of all three. One was good, one was so so, and one was awful. It was eventually a long night... and a late morning.
The last day we all took another misty walk to the same greenhouses that Brittney had been to the day before. This time we stopped to forage grapes. Our wonderful Chinese friend, Fan, was given a bunch by the owners because the owner thought he was Tour Guide that brought a bunch of 'Westerners' to his farm (even though Fan is a part of our teaching group). We got back to the guesthouse just in time for another delicious freshly made lunch, settled our bill, and were able to say good bye to the dogs on more time.
When we got back we started a staycation, we started finalizing plans for our Christmas trip to New Zealand and ticking things off our to-do list. We enjoyed a famous dumpling restaurant near downtown and Phillip checked out the tailor/fake goods market just so we can know what is there. Overall it was a lovely little break that allowed us to connect with our new surrounding surroundings.
Until next time...
B and P
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