3 months

We have officially been in China for 3 months! In some ways, it seems like we have been here even longer, but in others we are still very much newcomers. It is funny, but it no longer feels like an adventure biking to the grocery store, just part of the rhythm of life. As I got to thinking, I realized there are many things I miss and have not done . . .

Things I miss

Here are the THINGS (not people) I am missing. I cannot even begin to describe how much we miss family and friends. These are in no particular order just stream of consciousness.

1. Coffee - yes, there is coffee in China, but to get GOOD coffee you must pay exorbitant prices. There are even Starbucks (Suzhou has several and one I can walk/bike to), but they are even more expensive than back home (more than $5 for the smallest of coffee drinks)!

2. Whole wheat ANYTHING. The whole wheat bread here leaves much to be desired. I found whole wheat flour (just once) and have not seen it since. Our whole grain intake has plummeted, but the flip side of that is we eat so many more veggies (even the kids). Both the girls now even like tofu.

3. Ice cream. The bing qi ling (ice cream) we like so much is usually ice cream bars. While these are yummy, I do miss a nice big dip of mocha chip ice cream. The pints of ice cream (or whatever size it is) often taste kind of strange to us - don't get me wrong, we still buy and eat them. They just aren't the same. We like the fruit flavors but have just stopped buying the chocolate - it was just too weird!

4. Convenience items (canned tomatoes or beans, tortillas, enchilada sauce). The other day Andy was watching me make dinner and was baffled as to why I was peeling tomatoes (because when you buy canned tomatoes, they are already peeled). I have found ways around these things, but usually it just takes a lot more time. ;-)

5. Jazzercise. I really enjoyed the group of women that I worked out with. I miss the accountability and fun of working out in a group. Now it is just me, the treadmill, and my ipod. Although, I am thinking about training for a mini-marathon or at least a 5K.

In the last 3 months, I have not . . .

1. Driven a car. Though so far I don't miss this one! I think eventually I will, but right now I am good with my bike, the drivers, or taxis. I really don't think I will miss driving enough to actually drive here!

2. Seen any political ads. Granted, living in the great red state of Indiana, we didn't see many. But I haven't seen even one! I do look forward to figuring out how to vote from here. :-)

3. Experienced temperatures below 75. Okay, so that might be a slight exaggeration. Yes, it was a bit cooler when we got here and during the rainy season, but it seems like we have lived in a sauna for a while. Thankfully, the temperature has dipped down into the 80s, which is welcome relief. You know it is hot when even the pool doesn't cool you off (often the pool temperature was in the upper 80s/lower 90s)!

4. Watched any NFL. Now I know that the season hasn't started, but I am anticipating that even in a few months, I will say "I have not seen my Colts play" [sigh]. I know this is something we will miss a lot. Andy and I were flipping through the channels and chatting the other night when we stumbled across an ad (not an actual broadcast, just an ad for the NFL) and we sat there mesmerized. 

5. REALLY been outdoors in nature. No hiking or camping for us this summer. There are some hills that we have heard are nice to hike up nearby, but it has been so darn hot! We are waiting until September or October to tackle those. Right now, we are just trekking through the city streets.

6. Laundry or clean a bathroom. Thank you, XaLiu! Now, I did do laundry the first month we were here, but since then I'll just say that I am extremely grateful to have the added help. Andy is excited because she irons many of our clothes. I fear that he will get too used to having pressed clothes and then someday we'll move away from China, and you know what? This girl is NOT a fan of ironing.