Jorge & Diane come to Shanghai!

Our friends from home Jorge and Diane booked a tour trip to China and they told us they would be stopping in Shanghai for a few days. We were so excited that we would see someone from home so shortly after moving. That week I was having a pretty hard time with just feeling the stress of being in a new place. I was missing my family and friends and their visit couldn't have come at a better time. 

They got to Shanghai with their tour group and they had a free night in the city so they came and visited our new home. I was so excited to see them and have them in China with me! It was so surreal that about 2 weeks before we were saying goodbye to them in Los Angeles and then we were hanging out in Shanghai. They even brought us parmesan cheese! (Parm cheese is so expensive here. They brought us two big shakers of it and we were so grateful!) 

We decided we wanted to go to a "fake market" where they have knock offs, souvenirs, and electronics.

After Peyton got off work he met up with us at the market and then we went and got something to eat at one of our favorite places for food called "Wagas". It has western food and within walking distance of our house. 

 Diane and Jorge brought with them two couples from their tour group that they had bonded with. They were from Canada and San Francisco. They were so fun to be with, and we had a good time getting to know other people, as well. 

The next day I met up with them again and I took them to Yu Gardens, which is a tourist spot for shopping and tea ceremonies. Its a really quaint little area with lots of places to get souvenirs and people watch. I love the architecture here. It feels very cultural and old school China to me. We live on the "newer" side of Shanghai next to the Huangpu River called Pudong and whenever we "cross" the river and go to the Puxi side of Shanghai, its always a treat because that is where the original Shanghai developed and started. 

To get to Yu Garden you have to go through an underground tunnel to cross the river, but it is very close to our house. (probably 10 minutes). We live very close to the River and it is fun to be so close to the Puxi side, even when we live in Pudong. Best of both worlds! 

We went upstairs to a tea ceremony place building to get a good shot of the skyline. It was a pretty cloudy and cold day, but Shanghai still looks good!

Of course we had taxi adventures together. The taxi system is abundant and pretty cheap. (Nothing like New York.) If we don't have enough time to take the subway, we usually take a taxi. Since the taxi drivers do not ever speak or read English you have to do some research on  your location beforehand and give them the address of where you are going in Chinese characters. They also do not understand maps and cannot read one. I have taken a survival mandarin class and they covered the basics of talking to your taxi driver. I know how to say "turn left" "turn right" "straight" and "stop". Going in a taxi is ALWAYS an adventure.

That night we went together to a acrobatic circus show in Shanghai that was really remarkable. It was like Cirque du Soleil except they did not have any harness's or ropes supporting them. 

We  had such a great time with the Riveros. Their visit lifted my spirits incredibly and it was so nice to see someone from home. I loved showing them where our house was and the little bits of the city. I was actually a pretty crappy tour guide considering that I had only been here 2 weeks when they came! Thanks Jorge and Diane for coming to visit us in China! 

Pizza > Duck

Our date nights have consisted of a few different things since being in Shanghai. First of all, they usually consist of us trying new restaurants that feature foods that we recognize and crave from home. We recently discovered a Papa Johns close to our house, and that has brought some very happy times for us. There is also a Pizza Hut, but it isn't as good as in the States. Also, they both have different things on the menu. Anything from fish, chicken, and pasta dishes. They are both sit down restaurants. I think we may have been the only people who actually order the pizza. 

It is a little funny to plan our dates because about a week before we say, "Do you wanna get some Papa Johns on Friday for our date?" That whole day we keep talking about how excited we are for a meat lovers pizza.  It is a little pathetic. You really don't know what you crave until you are only given chicken feet, fish head soup, and eel stew options. For the record, we still have not tried attempted those delicacies yet. 

Last week we found out that PEYTON PASSED HIS PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING EXAM!  (It is a test that is like the bar test for engineers). He took it right before we left and it was very stressful and difficult. He studied hard, and many nights he stayed up late reading and working on problems that looked similar to a foreign language. Eventually I stopped bothering him during his studying when he wanted to explain the anatomy and scientific function of our refrigerator to me. I love being married to a mechanical engineer, it requires a certain brain. 

We were so excited and pumped that he passed his big exam so we decided to celebrate. I thought Peyton was going to suggest we go to a fancy expensive steakhouse or something but, he told me he really wanted Mexican food. We went to a place called The Maya. We got tacos, a quesadilla and chips and guacamole. We were in heaven and it was the perfect place to celebrate. I almost forgot for a second that we were in China...almost. 

 So proud of this smart stud! 

We also are big fans of the Chinese massage establishments. They are definitely in abundance here in Shanghai. We have found one that is really nice and clean (a definite plus in China!) about a block from our house that we really like. For both of us to get 90 minute massages, its about $40 US. We may or may not have gone two weekends in a row. After I am done being pregnant I fully intend to go have the homeopathic "cupping" procedure done. I have always wanted to try it. Its about $5 US here. I also want to try acupuncture. Theres so many things I want to do after the baby comes. Like...take an Excedrin, and eat deli meat! Wild things are coming my way. 

We enjoy double date nights with new friends at new restaurants and enjoying the scenery that is so new to us. I love living in a city. It has been so great to experience something new and exciting. Shanghai always has something going on!  

All in all, our date nights have been different, simple and fun. We have enjoyed spending time together and seeing what Shanghai has to offer. Pollution, and all. 

Custom clothes- A Shanghai must

We are very fortunate to live in a place where getting custom clothes made is very common and inexpensive. We wanted to get Peyton some church shirts made, so we went to check out a fabric market that we had heard about that has stall after stall of custom tailors and seamstress's. It took about 25 minutes on the subway from our home. It was a really fun experience to walk in and see mannequins filled with mens suits and women's coats. The ideas and possibilities are endless! Each stall has a particular person who sews and they have pallets of fabric and samples, ideas and books of ideas and pictures to choose from. Since there are so many stalls, we got some references and recommendations of some of the ones that people we know have gone to and trusted. You can also bring in a picture or a sample of your "favorite" clothing and they can remake it for you. Pretty crazy. 

Peyton picked out the fabric and style that he wanted and there are always custom details you can add on. He only got one made because he wanted to see if he liked the fit and style of the person that we were using before getting more than one made. We bargained with the person and then they wrote down his order and measured him. The longest part of the process is just picking out a style and make that he wanted. There are so many options. We both decided that next time we would go with pictures and a definite idea of what we wanted beforehand. We got one church shirt custom made and paid about $20 US for it. They will deliver it to our home. We'll see how it turns out! Peyton hopes to get some church suits made in the future and I definitely want a peacoat made. 

 We really liked this one little stall. Clearly this is where the Relief Society General Board gets all their stuff made...

Outside the market it was like a street fair of jewelry and scarves. I kept thinking how much my Sister would have loved this whole experience. I even saw a cheetah print coat she most definitely would have had replicated. 

A bedtime story about pollution.

I have a new weather forecast to get used to. Its called pollution showers. Lately we have had a very bad case of pollution here in Shanghai. Its nasty, its gross, and it will suck your soul. I knew that the air quality would not be the best when we moved, but I didn't think it would be this bad. We have apps on our phones that alert us of the AQI everyday. (That stands for Air Quality Index). Lately it has been in the 200's and this week a few days were above 300. To give you a comparison, Los Angeles usually has an an AQI of 50. When it is above 200 the US Consulate sends us a little text that says something like, "Hey, its bad out there, folks! Take cover!" Usually it just means, stay inside and limit your outdoor experience. 

I am so glad that we have air purifiers in all of the rooms in our house. It gives me a peace of mind. Usually these days I just stay at home and do homework. If I do go outside, I limit my activity and try and keep it to a minimum. (Its hard to stay inside when you rely on public transportation and walking to get anywhere.)

Heres some pictures from our house on "bad days." I think I will probably freak my dear Mother out.

 I recently just went and bought a mask to keep me and the peanut a little more healthy. Studies have always argued if the masks even do anything to help the situation or keep you safe at all. I'd rather just wear it and look silly, than risk it. The good thing is, seeing people wearing masks around town is nothing out of the ordinary here, its a common accessory! I actually feel more normal wearing one than I did before.

My first day here was the worst pollution day (Above 350 AQI). The schools had indoor activities and we were in "emergency status". Which means...kind of nothing. People still have to go outside to function, and theres not a whole lot besides that that you can do. That first day I was also not very aware of the severity of the pollution and went out on my merry way. The next day I woke up very phlegmy and congested. My chest hurt and it was a bit hard to breathe. That was a good wake up call. I am smarter now, and I realize I am not superwoman with lungs of steel. Although i have the "luxury" of staying indoors on "bad days" I worry about my sweet Husband who has to go to work and even stay outdoors on site during his work day. I am a little annoying with all of my, "Are you wearing your mask, babe?" text messages.

So there you have it...you live and you learn. You stay indoors when you can't see the buildings, and you try and avoid all rush hour transportation. We should just invent body bubbles...at least then i'd be able to visit the mall.

And lets look on the bright side, at least we don't live in Beijing! Heres a picture of their pollution that I found online. (a good day on the left. a very bad day on the right.) 

Merry X-Max!

Tis the season! We shipped over our Christmas decorations from home, but they probably will not get here until right before Christmas, so we wanted to get a few things for our house in the meantime. I have been feeling sad about not feeling the Christmas Spirit and so this was becoming very important to me. Although, China celebrates more of Christmas than I originally thought. This was a pleasant surprise! Of course, they celebrate Santa and not Jesus. Heres a few snapshots around town. 

We heard about a market by Yu Gardens that sells Christmas decorations for fairly cheap so we went on a Saturday to see what we could find. I am glad Peyton went with me because he forced me to go to ALL the stores to see what prices and selections were so we could compare. I tend to be an impulse buyer, and so I am glad that I have a shopping buddy that balances that out. 

This place was crazy! The stores literally looked as if Santa threw up on them. The Chinese really love their sparkle and glitz so a lot of the decorations had lots of glitter and sparkles. I couldn't tell if it was supposed to be Santas workshop, or a 9 year old girls. 

You never know what you'll find at these places! 

Of course, the LAST shop we went into was a goldmine. The lady gave us very reasonable prices and even customized a few pieces for us by adding some bows and including a tree stand. And she spoke some English!!! It was a Christmas miracle! 

We ended up getting a small fake tree for about 35 yuan. (That's less than $6 in American money). Best money I have ever spent in my life. We also got some ornaments and a small wreath as well as some garland and a few decorative presents. The whole thing cost us about $30 US. Not too shabby. It has definitely helped us feel more in the holiday spirit.

We saw these little gems that made us laugh. I love that about China. Bless their heart, they sure do try. 

As we were leaving the store with our purchases Peyton said to the guy, "Okay thank you. Merry Christmas." The mans reply was just a super simple scream..."CHRISTMAS!" 

Merry X-Max to you as well. 

Dongtai Lu Antique Market

My friend Kirsten and I are trying to do one Shanghai adventure day every week where we find something we want to check out and then go and make it happen. Today Kirsten wanted to get some Christmas presents for people back home and we thought Dongtai Lu outdoor antique market was the perfect place. From my house it took about 25 minutes on the subway.


 It was the coldest day in Shanghai for me so far. (45 degrees) I wore a long sleeve shirt, sweatshirt and peacoat and I am so glad I layered up. I have been so spoiled with the So Cal warmth that I am not prepared for a winter. The other day while out grabbing some fruit I threw on my flip flops and I think the lady thought I was bananas. I may need to buy some more jackets while we are here.


This place was so fun and had such a great original Shanghai feel. The other markets I have been to were selling knock offs and new electronics, so it was nice to see things that claim to be "antique." Of course, you never can be too sure of what really is an antique or not.

They had a lot of dragon statues, terra cotta warriors, mahjongg sets, calligraphy paintings, clocks, vases, Jewelry, furniture, and so many knick knacks. They also had lots of Chairman Mao memorabilia. My favorite was a watch that was him literally waving to you as the time ticked. I could almost hear him saying, "China conquers all."

This one man had stacks and stacks and walls full of old vintage trunks. I have never seen anything like it. I wanted to ask him where he was going! It would be really cool to decorate with some of these.

One thing that is very normal to see in China is old men playing Mahjongg in the streets. Especially at lunch time, they always take a break from whatever they are doing to play. They even carry to work little bags of tiles. I love it.

I loved this place and I will definitely be back. I am trying to get in most of my sightseeing now before the baby comes. Wish me luck!