Long time, no blog!

I know what you’re all saying, “About time!” And it’s true. I’ve lots to catch up on. But one post at time!

So turns out we didn’t end up going to Hong Kong this weekend. Not that we didn’t try! And oh, how we tried! Think to the movies with people running through airports; full out sprint with people jumping out of the way…Now imagine it as a family of white Americans tearing through Shanghai as the Chinese vacate the path seconds before being trampled, as they are busy staring and pointing at the 8 fair skinned brunettes. Yeah, that pretty much sums it up.

The thing is we get enough attention as it is without creating a scene. The culture bounds here are extremely different…as in there really aren’t any. People will walk right up and watch, staring like we’re in a zoo. A zoo would probably be better; at least there would be bars and glass to keep them from touching the girls’ and baby’s skin and hair. I’ve already had a picture taken of me, Denise, and Haley while we were out shopping. It’s crazy. I talked to the family about it. They said it bothered them at first, but they got used to it. It just depends on their mood and the kind of day their having. I just don’t know what to do. Do I look at and acknowledge the people who come to watch, or pretend I don’t see them standing there, their awkward toothy grins that kind of just stick as they stare. I wonder what would happen if mouth slightly open, eyebrows ever so slightly furrowed in confusion and head cocked to the side, I stopped dead in my tracks and stared back. I digress. More stories to come about that. Back to our airport brigade.

We’d just driven 3 hours to Shanghai in a car with no shocks that sounds like it’s literally about to fall apart under us. I did, however, explain to the girls what shocks were and how they worked in under a minute! (Sorry everyone, only my immediate family will get that one). We’d then waited two hours for Troy, who was delayed because of swine flu mania. So there we were, running through to a whole other terminal with all our carry-ons, a luggage pusher cart, a double stroller, and girls in tow, to check into our flight scheduled to leave in 45 min. We made it to the counter (completely deserted of customers) and after some frantic calls and printed passes we were once again running, this time after the attendant taking us to the gate. Unfortunately security is as far as we got. After handing over 8 passports and them comparing our sweaty faces to our pictures, they wouldn’t let us through because 4-month old Maddie didn’t have a visa.

We ended up staying at the airport hotel, going to the consulate in the morning, then driving back to Ningbo. Despite it being a crazy 28 hours, it was actually a lot of fun! Hectic maybe, but now that everything is worked out, it was a crazy, fun experience! We were straight out of a movie running through the airport. And the three older girls stayed in my room and we had a fun little slumber party at the hotel! We may have not made it to Hong Kong, but it was fun to even change the scenery for the weekend! I’m glad I was there to help out with the girls, and now I know the airport really well for when I come home! Turns out only Troy has to go to Hong Kong now, but me and Denise are seeing what we can work out for as part of our business trip we’re attempting to organize!

And you never know, sister, maybe this was all so we wouldn’t end up acidified! It’s all about counting our blessings!