Category Archives: Musings

Day 308: Red Light Green Light

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Sunday, November 4th

Do not cross. And when the light turns green make sure to check to your left, right, front, and back for any wayward vehicles headed your way.

Maneuvering the streets of Shanghai is like an intricate dance of cars, buses, bikes, and pedestrians caught in a web of their own traffic rules. Your best bet is sticking with the masses and putting bodies between you and incoming traffic. At least crossing the street is a great cardiovascular workout.

It certainly gets my heart pumping.

Day 305: Shanghai Style

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Thursday, November 1st

Just a typical scene on the Shanghai metro.

You know you’re in China when…

Cellphones, headphones, umbrellas, and leopard prints dominate the metro.

I do love leopard print. Maybe it’s time to bust out my leopard print pants?? I have to be honest here. I have yet to wear them. I know I know. I’m a fashion wuss.

I’ve also neglected my black heeled boots. My excuse is that my foot has been injured! It’s all sneakers over here baby. Honestly  I dress like I’m about to climb a mountain, not strut the city streets of Shanghai.

But I have a cozy AND fashionable outfit planned for our Saturday Thanksgiving feast (am I the only one who plans their outfit days in advance but can’t figure out what to wear on a day to day basis?). Black knit pants, Peter’s button down flannel shirt, wool infinity scarf, and either grey boots or brown moccasins. I am excited. And yes I realize that I will still be dressing like I’m about to climb a mountian. This just proves I belong in the snowy mountains.

Italy ski trip, here I come!

Day 299: Rest, Rebuild, Adapt

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Friday, October 26th 

You know the best part about starting a new exercise regime? For me is it the excitement of starting one! I love jumping into a new program determined to see results and excited to get stronger. Don’t forget excited to eat  more! The worst part though? Soreness and exhaustion. 

When I started Crossfit I went all in. After living without a gym membership for several weeks I was antsy to get back into  shape. I had lost a considerable amount of strength and was ready to be strong and able again.

However I forgot that my body was simply not strong enough or fit enough yet to handle the quick transition from simple walking to high-intensity exercise!

About 4 days into Crossfit I was sore from head-to-toe, absolutely starving, and just physically exhausted. So I took a day off, slept in, and went to the spa for a head and neck massage. It was glorious.

I guess what I am trying to say is that we need to listen to our bodies, especially when starting a new exercise program. Your body needs time to rest, rebuild, and adapt to the new changes you are putting it through. You can lift heavy weights day in and day out but your muscles cannot repair and grow if you do not give them give them adequate rest and fuel.

It is important to slowly work into a new exercise program and also plan to sleep and eat a lot more! Your body needs it!

Now just for kicks… evidence of my China style: 

Purple jeans, loose cotton shirt, bright and bold bracelet, and Toms on my feet. This was taken at the spa after my glorious neck massage. It was an absurdly hot day (in late October!) that made me glad to be inside.

Speaking of massage, it is my goal to get a traditional Chinese foot massage before I head home for the holidays. My question is… why am I not getting these every day???? Foot massages are the best. Especially cheap ones in China where the ladies literally pound your feet with their hands. Does that not sound heavenly?

I’ll let you know how it goes :-) .

 

Day 289: Bring It Back

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Tuesday, October 16th

China has some interesting architecture. Of course Shanghai has its share of ritzy modern architecture with plenty of bright lights. But then there are the older concrete buildings that can be either depressing or surprisingly beautiful. This my favorite stretch of apartment buildings in Shanghai. They are old, pink, and textured.

Love it and the metal clotheslines. I passed this on my walk to meet the editor of the AWCS magazine for coffee. And guess what! I am going to start writing for the magazine!!! This is totally awesome. It is a little scary to actually publish my writing beyond this blog and in an actual magazine but why not!

I will be writing a fitness column and a Shanghai experience column starting with the December/January issue. Both articles have been written already so I’ll make sure to post them on the blog at some point. Woohoo!

After coffee I headed to my first netball practice of the year. My friend Lisa started a netball team with the other teachers at her international school and she invited me to join. We practice once a week and have a game coming up. If you don’t know, netball is like basketball for girls. But don’t let that fool you. It’s hard! And a lot of fun.

This was the week when things started to get crazy and exhausting.

Time to bring back that intensity.

Day 287: These Toms were made for walking

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Sunday, October 14th

Dear Toms, you have carried me across this city to places now explored. From the Yuyuan Commodity Markets, to daily walks down Yishan Lu, to coffee dates at Bastiaans, to dinner dates just around the corner, you my dear Toms have kept my feet sheltered and warm.

We have covered many miles together, at least 3 a day, and you have served me well. You even make me look somewhat fashionable! And that is quite a feat.

But to be honest dear Toms, I am EXHAUSTED. My head is fuzzy, my muscles ache, even my afternoon cup of coffee won’t snap me out of this reverie. After weeks of Crossfit, netball, and endless walking, my body is breaking down and my patience is wearing thin. My feet are tired and broken, and you are tattered and torn.

My dear Toms, if only you showed me a little more support I would be happier and my feet less sore. But soon I will buy you in pairs of black, tribal, cable, and knit. Why? Because I still adore you.

Even if you smell like feet.

Day 281: Life in China Update and Catching Up

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I’m back! Finally!

Sorry for the crazy long hiatus. Exactly one week ago our VPN crapped out. This meant no Youtube, no Google, no Twitter, no Hulu, no Facebook (not that I am on FB anyways), and no WordPress! Gasp! China blocks such essential websites.

It took a week to get the VPN back online and during that week we were surprisingly productive. We finally set up our DVD player and speakers and bought some movies at a local store. Less than $3 for one movie! I love China.

Life in China Update 

So I have been working my butt off these 3 weeks since the cruise networking like a mad woman while setting up the groundwork for my Health and Fitness Coaching practice. I am getting involved with the American Women’s Club of Shanghai and will be writing two columns for their monthly magazine. One is a fitness column featuring a different fitness class each month and the other is a chronicle of my expat experiences in China. I am also in the process of developing a fitness program for international schools and additionally considering coaching gymnastics .

OH I also joined a netball team AND a Crossfit gym.

I am so BUSY but so DRIVEN and most importantly, I am HAPPY. This is the life I have always envisioned for myself.

Plus Peter and I have booked two amazing trips! After Christmas we are spending a week in northern Italy to ski/snowboard at Val Gardena. Then for Chinese New Year we are going to Hawaii!!

I cannot believe this is my life right now. I am living my passion (well, working hard at it!), living in a foreign country, and saving my money to travel to amazing places. For now, I am absorbing as much as I can and going with the flow. But I am also pushing myself way out of my comfort zone, facing my fears, and working my butt off! It has certainly been paying off.

Now it’s time for some major Photo of the Day catch up. So please bear with me and enjoy the view :-)

Monday, October 8th

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

This is certainly true in China. A day after returning from a week of awesomeness in Japan, I was quickly reintroduced to the many quirks of China. For one, the insane recycling/trash hoarding behavior that goes on, usually while stacked on extremely small bicycles.

It makes me happy in a “this is so ridiculous it makes me laugh” kind of way. This is the way I approach my life in China… with a big smile and laugh at all the insanity. It makes for a better day.

Since it was Monday and all I met Peter for lunch then plopped myself down at my favorite Starbucks. Ugh, the post-vacation email inbox is just horrible. Good thing I have fantastic coworkers back in the States that help pick up the slack. They rock.

It was great to get my mind back on work and get set up for the weeks to come.

Things really took off from here! Stay tuned :-)

 

Day 274: Traversing the East China Sea

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Traversing the East China Sea is probably not on everybody’s to-do list.

Although it is probably on the list of the Chinese and Japanese so they can park themselves on the Senkaku or Diaoyu Islands with signs of protest. Uninhabited islands are perfect for a good fight.

But for us Americans on an Italian cruise ship, this trip was merely a way to escape China and explore a new place during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

However, we failed to consider that 90% of our fellow passengers would in fact be Chinese.

And so our cruise was a little out of the ordinary.

Congee and stinky tofu for a midnight snack. Rows of empty pool chairs on a sunny deck. Jostling for access to the open buffet. Land excursions dedicated exclusively to shopping malls. A Michael Jackson impersonator show packed with camera-wielding admirers. Smoking everywhere, especially in non-smoking areas.

The list goes on.

But we didn’t care. We were out at sea, out of the city, loving life (and cocktails). And finally, we were in groups and tours exclusively for Westerners.

Bliss.

Day 265: Karaoke Superstar

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I found my voice.

The voice of a Karaoke Superstar. 

At least in my mind I am a karaoke superstar. That’s all that matters right?

What brought on this realization? A KTV birthday party Saturday night and lots of liquid courage.

Now I’ve sang in public before. But usually I end up trying REALLY HARD. Yes there have been a few times where I’ve let go of all inhibitions and let it rip on stage (like this performance), but usually there is a measure of control in place. I mean, what if I mess up?? So embarrassing.

Not so with karaoke.

The music is ridiculously loud, everybody is drunk, and NOBODY CARES IF YOU SUCK. It’s so invigorating.

Now in the beginning I was definitely trying pretty hard. Then the liquid courage started kicking in. Eventually I didn’t care! I grabbed the mike and would not let it go. I sang every song loud and proud.

Like this:

Now that’s enthusiasm (Peter is amused).

Maybe I sucked. Maybe I was great. However I was most definitely a karaoke superstar in my mind and in my heart (and lungs).

I guess what I’m trying to say is that anything is possible if you believe in yourself and own it. Live with intention!

Want to be a great writer but are worried that you are just not good enough? Try this: Believe that you are already the great writer you imagined yourself to be. Every day say to yourself, I am a great writer. I am talented. I am enough. 

And you know what? You will start to work harder. You will start to write more, write better, and write with more purpose and intent. Because of this, you will become a great writer.

Believing in yourself and your abilities will not make you great. However, believing in yourself allows you to be great. It opens you up to working towards possibilities instead of pondering the outcome.

While singing karaoke I stopped wondering if I was good enough and began to know that I was great. By the end of the night I was acting like a rockstar because I knew I was one.

And that made all the difference.

Just to make things clear, I am not by any means suggesting that alcohol is the mode to try new things and achieve yours dreams! While it certainly helps release your inhibitions, there are other ways!! It is all mental and living with intention is a great way to start.

If anything, drink more water ;-)

Day 263: Just Some Observations

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So normally I like to do recap posts of my day. Mostly because my memory sucks and I like to be able to look back and remember what the heck I did.

But it gets boring after awhile.

Let’s see… Wednesday night we had dinner at Hong Mei Lu with some of Peter’s coworkers, ate spicy Indian food, and stayed up way too late. Thursday night we hung out with Nester and watched Public Enemies which was a great movie. And yeah that’s all I want to remember about those two days.

So now I want to talk about some of my recent observations. I have been in Shanghai for about a week and a half now and have noticed a few things.

Here we go:

1. Our curtains don’t block much light. It’s always a good morning over here. Except when I grab the eye mask and snooze a little longer. Then it’s a great morning.

2. I kind of want a motorbike. One with an extra obnoxious horn that I blare the entire time. People will know I’m coming.

3. I love Starbucks. Sometimes all it takes is an iced coffee to make my day. Now order me a latte and I feel right at home. So at home that I will park myself in one of those straight backed wooden chairs for 3 hours. Thank you free wifi.

4. English signs in China are pretty hilarious. The one below is pretty normal. You know, please throw your trash in the wastebasket and you will be a strong man in civilization. Cool. What’s even better is the clothing with English words. Yesterday we saw a nice young man wearing sweatpants with “Her face” written on the butt. Get me a pair of those.

5. Walking down the sidewalks of Shanghai is physically demanding. You must always be ready for any upcoming street vendors or packs of people walking 5 abreast. Oh and definitely look out for the bicycles and motorbikes that sneak up on you from behind. Also be wary of the men with motorbikes trying to pick you up at the metro stop. Thanks but no thanks.

6. I love the cityscape. The size, symmetry, and implied conformity is totally fascinating. Cities are much more visually appealing to me photographically because there is more to capture. There is also a sense of organized space. “Space” is one of my favorite concepts in anthropology and is scarce in big cities. Something to think about.

7. This look really safe. That’s all I have to say about that.

Oh and if you were wondering, my pictures have been taken exclusively with the Iphone. While I adore my Nikon 3100, I feel awkward whipping it out everywhere, especially in China. People already stare at me enough and I hate to be the dumb tourist. Shooting from a phone is less obtrusive and allows me to capture moments more organically.

Just an observation.

Day 252: Blurbs and Mannequins

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It’s official.

I’m freaking out.

It’s real now.

I’m moving to China.

My last day will be filled with tears of sadness and anxiety.

No doubt about that.

But it will also be full of excitement and appreciation for what I am leaving behind.

Since my brain is unable to focus on much of anything here is Sunday’s photo of the day:

Some lovely mannequins from Forever 21′s closing sale. So sad. Hopefully these mannequins can find some clothes soon. They look cold.

There’s nothing to report about Sunday because I did absolutely nothing. Except watch a bazillion movies and TV shows while eating bland foods for my upset stomach. I swear I will never drink again.

We’ve heard that one before right?

Ok time to focus again on my dwindling brain capacity.

Or maybe I should pack?

But that’d be too practical.

I’ll go watch some ghost stories on television instead.

So productive.

Peace.