Solar Eclipse in China (by Michael)

This week parts of India and China were treated to a rare solar eclipse.  It was reported that this would be the longest (6 minutes) eclipse of this century.

In Dalian we only experienced a partial eclipse.  For about 5 minutes it got visibly darker and people flocked to the windows to try and catch a peek.  We had people looking though 4 pairs of sunglasses, results from their X-rays, paper with holes cut out, and even the old fashioned way...just looking up without protection.  

It was such a big deal here that we had meetings cancelled from 9-10am so that people could watch and the TV news couldn't stop talking about it.

Here are a few pictures from one of our factories in Shanghai, China (south of our location) where they got to view a full solar eclipse in a very cloudy sky.

This is a great example of how dark it was at 9am in Shanghai

A good look at a total solar eclipse (black and white photo)

A color photo of the moon ready to block the sun

Shengri Kuai Le! (Happy Birthday)

Last week we celebrated Emma's 7th birthday and according to her, it was "one of the best birthdays ever"!  I was unsure about what to do for the big day and I had heard people talking about an indoor water park at a nearby hotel. I decided I would try to host a birthday party there.  It contained all the craziness and quirks involved with trying to navigate a foreign country but in the end, fun was had by all.  Many of our new expat friends came along to swim, celebrate, and eat cupcakes (which barely survived the tropical climate of the park).

Swim caps are required at all public pools here.  

"Why?" you ask...TIC (this is China).  That's the answer folks 

around here give when there is just no logical answer.

Erin loved the slides and followed around her big kid friends most of the time.  

We are so thankful that her big buddies love her too!

Can you believe I have a seven-year-old?  

Couldn't resist taking a picture of the sleeping lifeguard! TIC!

Maybe it's heartless to post this on a blog...but I didn't think anyone 

would believe me if I told them that adults wear floaties!

Emma chose The Real Eddie's for her birthday dinner.  

She thoroughly enjoyed her BBQ chicken wings!

The people here really shower children with gifts.  Our driver gave 

Emma a giant stuffed animal and our Ayi brought her a cake.  

Chinese people are pretty wonderful and sweet...

Chinese cakes  - not so much!

On another note, the ease with which the girls have transitioned to life in China is nothing short of amazing.  Their only sources of stress come with shopping trips - too hot, too stinky, too many people, and don't even think about having to use a restroom!  They really enjoy life in and around our condo where kids and free time are in no short supply. We are so thankful that we have the support of so many people both here in China and at home...

Two-wheelin' Bliss!

It's funny how nearly EVERYTHING about our lives is different now that we are living in China. There is almost a strange contradiction when something actually feels "normal" in such a "non-normal" environment.  So here is a bit of normal for you...two little girls learning to ride two-wheelers!