"So, like...what do you eat in China?"

So the question I probably get the most is, "What do you eat in China?" This was my number one concern when moving here because... Peyton and I don't like Chinese food. 

When we came on our first trip to Shanghai, I had our relocation lady take us to see where I would be doing my grocery shopping. She took me to a store, and I can still remember it quite vividly. There were these huge tanks of live fish, frogs, shrimp, and oysters that I could smell 2 blocks away. Big barrels filled with dried fish jerky, chicken legs, and dehydrated herbs littered the aisles. They also had imported food where canned mushroom soup cost about $8 each. Mac & cheese $6 a box. Breakfast Cereal almost $10. I remember getting back into the car and crying my eyes out. You know by now I am a little dramatic, right? 

Living in the states I had become so comfortable with my little Ralphs, Trader Joes and Costco circuit that the thought of going to anywhere else threw me for a loop. (p.s. my mouth is salivating right now thinking about Costco Pizza.) 

The first time I went grocery shopping alone I was so confused by everything, because...it was all in Chinese. Duh. Why would it be written in English? The packaging, the price, the description, the nutritional facts...all in characters. I literally picked up a bag of something and could not for the life of me tell what was inside. I shook it, I smelled it, I crunched it...and I put it back on the shelf. 

This was going to be a lot harder than I expected. This is also where I really came to appreciate the beauty of pictures. Hey, look! There's a picture of a chicken on this bag. This is also where I really came to question everything. Does that mean there is chicken feet in this bag? Is it chicken flavored? Are there eggs inside? Maybe that is not a chicken at all. I really need to have a talk to these packaging people. 

Sooner or later I discussed grocery stores with my new expat friends and they told me where I could go to get my beloved imported (and expensive!) food. They also were able to give me advice on the stores that had English in teeny tiny print on the bottom of the tag. This became like a scavenger hunt to find the right ingredients that would work with my recipes. 

(Side note: I have been really amazing at revising my cookbook. Don't have that...Where would I get that? That is too expensive here...Okay! Thats it. We are having rice for dinner. Again. ) 

Aisles and aisles of soy sauce! 

Now, I am really not giving China enough credit. They do have something amazing here that the United States doesn't. I'm a little tempted not to share it with you, because I like the sympathy I have been receiving, but I am here to just lay it out in the open. China has grocery stores that deliver for free. There. I said it. Every other week I order my imported (and safe!) poultry, my boxed milk (a rant post for another day), my canned goods, and my beloved $9 boxed breakfast cereal. Peyton has been known to ask me what I am doing only to be told, "grocery shopping," while I am indeed sitting on the couch breastfeeding, while on the computer. I am an awesome multitasker. 

Pretty packaged MSG. Yummy! 

There are certain things I cannot get online and that takes me to my next topic of...wet markets. A wet market is a place where you go to buy mainly fruits and vegetables. My friend described it as a "less fuzzy feeling farmers market." That pretty much sums it up. I have my fruit lady, and I have the lady I go to for all my vegetables. They know that on Mondays I usually get apples and bananas, on Friday I get my lettuce, and they always throw in some extra free garlic bulbs. They are like my little Chinese fairies. The produce is so fresh here that it usually goes bad within a few days. It is normal here to visit the wet market daily to buy your produce only for the day. That's right. I have to go to the store almost every day. (More sympathy, please.) 

They also have fresh (like, we just killed it outside 10 minutes ago) meat and seafood at the wet market. I do not buy it here. I am not interested in sitting on the toilet for a week.

The good thing is, produce at the wet market is super cheap. One day I got a head of romaine lettuce for 6 cents. I am not even joking. I believe that this wet market outing I paid $5 U.S. for the following. Pretty good, eh? 

China has its positives and disadvantages when it comes to grocery shopping (and everything else.) But through all this experience, it has made me become a more laid back and 'roll with the punches' kind of person. 

And you know that store we went to the first time we visited China that horrified me? I recently went back since moving here and thought to myself, "This place is awesome! Why don't I shop here?!" 

Bare baby bums everywhere!

One of the very first things that I noticed when we moved to China was the vast majority of children that were walking around with their bare bums visible. I didn't understand it at first, but after much research, I have decided to share this cultural phenomenon with you. 

Split pants are called "kaindangku." in Chinese, it literally means "open-crotch pants". In China you will see many babies, toddlers and young children wearing them everywhere. They relieve themselves on streets and every place imaginable. Let me explain... 

Toilet training in China usually takes place very early on. A parent sits on a chair with their legs spread apart. The child is then held between their legs (their hands under the child's knees- the child above the ground in a type of squat position but with their legs apart). The parents makes a "ssss" sound to try to encourage the child to go. I have heard they also use whistles. (Like Lassie!)  This is a type of training that when he hears the sound and squats, its time to go! The two of them sit there and wait until the child does their business. Sounds genius right? 

Heres the problem...they decide to do this potty training out and about, anywhere and everywhere. It is not uncommon to walk down the street and see a parent holding a child over a trash can to encourage the bowel movement. That is actually pretty considerate. I have seen some parents initiate this event on sidewalks, so many times! I still remember nudging my friend, "Don't look now but that little girl is peeing on that dog." 

This is just an accident waiting to happen. 

Lets be honest. At first I was horrified. "Use the bathroom!" "I don't want to see your childs bum galloping down the street!" "That kid is way too comfortable being naked." 

After awhile, I found myself getting used to seeing this activity. The day I felt like I was a true expat was the day I thought to myself, "You go girlfriend! You just pooped in the gutter without help!" 

Although I think its a little weird to whistle at your child to tell them to poop, I hear my American friends talk about their potty training horror stories and split pants don't seem so bad. 

Except, I still have this reoccurring nightmare that the potty training child wearing split pants will have a diarrhea episode while being held by mama dearest. I think split pants will be one China tradition that I do not embrace. Little Samantha will wear her imported, and expensive Huggies. But, I will still laugh and shake my head while little Ting Ting craps in the rosebushes. I really love living in Shanghai. Truly. 

Shenanigans in Shanghai with Samantha

This little lady is officially 2 months old. Depending on the day, it either feels like she has been a part of of our Family forever, or feels like just yesterday we were at the hospital. About 2 weeks ago we woke up and noticed an incredible change in her. It was like she grew overnight! I have a baby app, and it said she was going through a predicted growth spurt, and that was so true! (Bless you, Apple!) 

Having a baby in Shanghai has been harder yet more enjoyable than I thought it would be. First of all, I am convinced that the Chinese do not believe in handicap accessibility. There is probably one ramp in this whole city. This means taking a stroller anywhere is comparable to mission impossible. If I do take the stroller anywhere, I have to make sure there is an escalator in sight or its not happening. Pretty sure theres a sign on the escalators stating to not take strollers up them, but its my only option! Sometimes I have to flag down an innocent bystander to help me drag my stroller up stairs. Side note: you should see me try and pantomime "help me with my stroller" to someone who doesn't speak a lick of English. Its pretty comical. 

 Samantha is sad there aren't any ramps for her stroller, too! 

I have really relied on the baby carrier. They are genius and I would not be able to do anything without them. Another positive of wearing the baby is that she LOVES it and almost immediately falls asleep when she is in them. Peyton does his share of wearing her, as well. Theres nothing more cute than a baby strapped to a mans chest. I am convinced! Samantha loves hanging out with her parents. (Pun intended.) Thank you thank you, i'm here all day. 

Which brings me to my next topic. Subways! The metro (anytime) is an adventure. Some sightings have included naked baby bums, bags of raw meat, baskets of fruit, sleeping citizens, and lots of selfies! I love people watching on the metro. Unfortunately, they love watching me. Especially with Samantha strapped to me. They love to stare! 

One thing that has surprised me about having a baby in China is that people LOVE white babies. For numerous reasons. The Chinese traditionally do not take their babies out and about until they are about 3 months old. These people don't usually see small babies. They also don't see a ton of white babies. (Samantha even has HUGE blue eyes. This practically pushes them over the edge on giggles and excitement!) They also usually only have one child (by law) so the small babies that they DO see, are usually just their own. I can't walk down the street with her without someone stopping to either want to touch her, look at her, or steal her. At first it kind of bothered me, just being a protective first parent, but I find it flattering that they love her so much. It really makes their day to see Samantha, and I am happy to provide them with such happiness. Plus, it doesn't ever get old to hear people talk about how beautiful your baby is! 

We recently went to Southern China where it is way more remote than Shanghai. These people do not see a lot of expat white people. These people were so intrigued by her. At one point they had Peyton sit on a stool so that they could take pictures of her. Many people stopped to stare and smile. At one point we had to change her diaper (in public, oh gosh!) and we had about 50 people standing around us looking at her. I was so paranoid. "They are looking at her vagina, Peyton! Change her faster!" It really always is an experience. 

The best advice we got from a couple of friends is to just go out and still be social while she is still young. We didn't want to be one of those people who just sit at home for 3 months while their baby is small. We took her to church a week after she was born, mainly because we were getting stir crazy just being home. (And we wanted the blessings). We have also gone to get foot massages, gone out to dinner, went to a botanical garden, went on vacation and gone shopping. She loves being out and about so we take full advantage of her sleeping while we are out doing things. It's also the best advice because all you really need with a newborn is a boob, (maybe two) a pacifier, and if you are really fancy, maybe a blanket. 

We have really loved having Samantha in our lives. She has recently started to smile at us. It is the best thing, ever! We are obsessed.

These two months have been so much fun! I have rocked living in Shanghai with a newborn...and you can tell I have totally kept my humbleness, too!