Pimp my ride!

Pappadumpling here. We've been pretty busy the last few weeks and its finally time to catch up with some past-due posts. This picture was taken two weeks ago when I stopped at Decathlon to purchase some camping supplies for the next boyscout campout.

I really, really, really needed a basket on my bike. There are many shops close to our house and a bike is better than a car to get those little day-to-day items. My collapsible bicycle didn't have a basket, so I've been borrowing from the rest of the Shanghai Dumpling Gang (tm). But as you recall I'm tall, incredibly tall by Chinese standards and my bike isn't big enough, it is much more comfortable than any of the others.

The color really makes it easy for me to find my bike parked in the massive bike-racks outside the stores so while it was the only color choice available, it turns out to be a big win-win.

Next....panniers! Momma's sister "Vintagegal" has been a city-cycler in DC for many years and swears by the "Ortlieb back-roller classics" that she purchased about 10 years ago. I'm still sorting out the best way to get my hands on a pair, but increased carrying capacity is definitely the next step! Vintagegal had some other interesting recomendations.

Name that fruit!

I've had the pleasure of trying two new fruits in as many weeks. The first was intentional. I saw this large citrus fruit at the grocery store and decided to give it a try. I think it is called a pomelo. It is larger than a grapefruit with a much thicker skin which is difficult to peel. The fruit was not nearly as juicy as grapefruit (maybe I just got an old one?) but the flavor was much less bitter. I would have loved this fruit if it had just been juicy, but didn't care for the dry texture. I might try another one just to see if it too is so dry.

The second new fruit we tried was accidental. I bought a melon I thought was a cantaloupe, but was in for a surprise when I cut it open:

Green flesh! So, off to the trusty internet I went to see what sort of melon we were about to eat. My best guess is that this is a galia melon, which is considered a cross between a honeydew and a cantaloupe. I would say that was a fair description of this delicious melon. I'll buy this one again!

To Ayi or not to Ayi?

I had heard before our move that it was common for families coming to live in Shanghai to hire a Chinese women, referred to as an ayi (pronounced i.e.) to help with household chores. Possibly even local families hire them, I really don't know. There is quite a lot of flexibility in what might be required of an ayi. Some are used to help with shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry and/or child care, and they may be hired as live in help or on a part time basis. We hadn't really discussed hiring an ayi because those are my jobs and I feel no need to give them up! In fact, doing the same old things here in China that I did in the States provides a certain amount of comfort for me. However, I will admit to feeling a little bit of social pressure to hire an ayi from the other Western women in the complex. Yesterday as I was walking the dog, 2 women stopped me and told my dog how lucky she is to be walked by her owner all of the time, rather than by the ayi. I admitted to them that I hadn't hired an ayi yet. Yet? Where did that come from? I am perfectly happy to cook and clean for my family and do the shopping and even walk the dog several times (most days, anyway!). These woman looked at me like I had a third eye! Aren't you overwhelmed at how difficult daily life can be? Yes, sometimes. Isn't the house too big to keep clean? No, not really. Nobody mentioned that these ladies need to make a living . . . wouldn't that be a better reason to pay them paltry sums to handle our dirty laundry?

Taken to the cleaners . . . at the hairdressers!

Ok, I'll start by saying I wasn't really taken to the cleaners, and that I was a willing participant in the events I am about to relate, lest the title mislead you! It's just that things had a funny way of turning out a whole lot differently than I had planned.

I will start at the beginning. Last week I took The Paying Customer to a hair salon next door to one of the local grocery stores that we have passed frequently. There are always employees hanging out at the door trying to drum up some business. Sometimes all of the employees go outside together and exercise or do a line dance together. They are all dressed in matching clothing and all of them are beautifully groomed. I decided that this would be a perfect place to try. With my Chinese phrase book in hand I pointed out the phrases for "I need a haircut" "Not too short" and "Scissors only, please" and we managed to get a decent haircut  with shampoo that fit all of those requests for 15 rmb, or roughly $2.35! 

Yesterday I spoke to a French friend who told me she also goes to this same salon. So today I decided to try it myself. Now, I wanted the full salon experience, so I readily agreed to the 55 rmb (that would be $8.65) treatment which included tea, shampoo, conditioner, cut and style and my favorite part, a scalp and shoulder massage! That tiny lady had some serious strength in her hands and she really worked some knots out of me! After she was done, I was moved to the stylist's chair. I used my smart phone to communicate that I was seriously overdue for a haircut and was hoping for something stylish but easy to maintain. The stylist then disappeared to search for pictures and 10 minutes later, he came back with 2 photos. One was super short, but very cute and the other longer and curly. Now, those who haven't seen me recently may not be aware of how curly my hair has become. It is no longer straight, especially in the Shanghai humidity. I looked at both photos and pointed at the curly one, with a questioning look. He nodded and suggested we try it. After he cut my hair, he rolled out the curler cart. Ok, does this mean a perm or just a set? I've learned to negotiate as you go, so we set a price ($688 rmb for everything about $101) and he got to work teaching another stylist as he went. It was quite the spectacle, with 2-4 stylists hovering nearby the entire time. They kept asking me if I had Chinese friends, no doubt hoping my new hair style would bring in all kinds of business? Jhonny (not a typo) gave me his card just in case his plan works. But really, I'll go back to him. Another of his clients came in and as she was leaving, she stopped to talk to me. She told me that the staff all thought I was Spanish because of my blue eyes. Hah! Who'da thunk it?

Minhang, the next great place to live!

The city of Shanghai into several administrative districts and the one we live in is called Minhang. Like all of Shanghai, it is growing and changing at an incredible rate. Here is a list of some of the things I love about our particular corner of Minhang:

1. Our commutes are quite short by Shanghai standards. Papa can get to work in less than 45 minutes and the kids get to school in about 20 minutes. I can easily ride the 2-3 miles to the school on my bike, too.

2. The Minhang Park is right across the street. This is a beautiful and popular park with gardens, sculptures, playgrounds, sport fields, bike and boat rentals, food vendors and more. It would be a perfect park if only they would allow us to walk the dog or ride our own bikes in there. Still pretty nice, though! (By the way, this is where we spent our last vacation day together.)

3. We don't feel like we are living in a bubble. Although we live in a compound with (mostly) other expats, we shop and dine and interact daily with the Chinese people who live and work around us. It feels like a nice compromise, with a balance of comfort and newness.

4. Minhang had the first bike share program in Shanghai. We want Auntie Veggie Dumpling to know that we see those orange bikes everyday out on the roads.

Golden Week

This week is a Golden Week, which are common vacation periods observed twice a year in China. This one is associated with National Day, a celebration of China, which is conveniently observed on Papa Dumpling's birthday. The other Golden Week is observed over the Chinese New Year, either in late January or early February. Originally we hoped to travel to Beijing this week to see the Great Wall and other sites, but were unable to arrange for a pet sitter. The dumpling children and I are happy to take things slowly (and maybe still feel a little burned out on traveling) but Papa Dumpling has had a major case of ants in his pants. He is compelled to get out and see as many sites as he can and is complaining that he has to drag us out of the house. Even at our slow pace, we have discovered a street of pet suppliers, revisited the flower market, seen the Chinese fireworks, watched the Shanghai acrobatic circus and visited one of the nearby water towns. Papa Dumpling also took his bike out and explored the neighborhood more closely,and picked up a few bulky grocery items for me. We only have one more day with Papa before he heads back to work (his office is open this weekend) so I guess we better make it count! I wonder what he's got planned?

Anyone wanna play sushi cat and sushi cat 2 and 3???

Link to sushi cat

http://armorgames.com/play/5379/sushi-cat

Link to sushi cat 2

http://armorgames.com/play/10471/sushi-cat-2

Sure hope it works in the states for you!

...Okay, I promised, I'll add in the third game as I said I would.

Link to sushi cat 3

http://armorgames.com/play/6301/sushi-cat-the-honeymoon