17 random things

Some little known things about me:

1. My favorite flowers are gerbera daisies - but I love any daisy. They just make me smile.

2. I LOVE peanut butter. In fact, I craved it when I was pregnant with Becca and would eat it straight from the jar! Thankfully, PB is readily available in China.

3. I can count to ten in 5 languages other than English (Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, German and Arabic). Though other than Chinese I can't really say anything else in those languages.

4. I don't like to wear high heels because I feel like a giant. I like the way they look, just not the feeling of towering over people. Imagine if I wore them here....

5. I was voted "Most Shy" by my high school class.

6. I am horrible with numbers -- especially phone numbers. I am forever switching the order in my head. At our house in Indy, Andy even choose a telephone number that he thought would be easier for me. :-)

7. I really, really like fall in the U.S. The weather, the leaves, the smell, pumpkins and picking apples. I don't think I realized how much until this year. Unfortunately, very few leaves change color here (but on the plus side, the weather can be really enjoyable through December - today was 65!) 

8. I was on my high school dance team/flag corp.

9. I like socks -- stripes and argyle are my faves.

10. I really like Christmas music and could listen to it year-round.

11. I love coke (please not pepsi). Did you know that it tastes different in other countries? In China, it is not as sweet.

12. After moving to China (land of cheap knock-off purses), I found I really like purses. Andy is threatening to cut me off. 

13. I am an avid reader. My favorites are biographies and mysteries. Though I can't read mysteries while Andy is traveling.

14. I cannot go through a day without listening to music. The type can vary but I need to have something on in the background.

15. I can be a control freak when it comes to certain things with my kids. Though I have learned to let go quite a bit. ;-)

16. I don't feel right leaving the house without earrings.

17. I am a terrible speller. 

Now it is your turn. List 17 random things about you on your blog, facebook or send me an email. 

Interview Me!

My friend Jenn had been "interviewed" on her blog.  She then asked if others wanted her to interview them. Here are the questions she asked of me:

1. What do you enjoy most about living in China, compared with life in the States?

I really like the adventure of figuring out a new culture. Granted there are some days it truly drives me crazy. However, most of the time it is fascinating to see how people are different and yet the same.

2. What surprised you most as you got settled into life in China?

It continues to surprise me how our kids have just slipped into life here. With really very little problems. And they are not just okay, but they each really do like it here. I know that I have said this a lot, but it still continues to amaze us (and we are SO GRATEFUL!).

3. What is the most challenging thing about living in China?

How hard it is to buy certain things here. Just your basic things.... Becca needs (note this is still in the present tense) black tights for school. Stores that have things for middle-sized kids are harder to find, but baby clothes are EVERYWHERE. Anyway, I have been to several stores only to be told "no, we don't have that size" or "that color" or "don't have tights period." Shopping can take so much longer. Even for a basic grocery trip one store doesn't have everything I buy (I rotate between 3 different ones plus trips to the produce market). At times like that, I seriously miss the walmarts and meijiers of the States.

4. If someone wanted to send you a care package, what would you most appreciate receiving?

coffee, chocolate, recee's peanut butter cups

5. How can people specifically lift you up?

Our health. All of us have been really healthy so far, and even if we do get sick there are very good options. But like so much else in China, navigating through healthcare can be: hen mafan (very bothersome). And as any mom will tell you life is just better when the kids (and parents) are healthy!

Now it is your turn! You can either choose to interview me by leaving questions as a comment. OR I will interview you - just leave a comment saying "Interview Me!" I will pick 5 questions for you to answer. You post the questions and answers on your blog....

Friday 5

It has been a busy week, so I have been neglecting you out in blogger-land. Be prepared for an onslaught of posts, because I have lots to update. Now, onto the weekly questions:

1. When did you last use the edge of a coin (or a knife blade) as a screwdriver?

On our flight from the U.S. to Shanghai, something one of the kids was playing with had the batteries die. Since you can bring nothing even close to resembling a screwdriver on a plane, I used a coin. Though it took a LONG TIME it did work.

2. When did you last use a wire coat-hanger to break into a car?

Never have. I have called the police or my wonderful husband to come and help.

3. When did you last use food or drink as medication?

A coke/cup of coffee a day keeps the headache away, right? Well, I don't usually have them daily -- I have been cutting back more lately, but I do reach for a coke before tylenol if my head hurts.

4. When did you last use your cellular phone as a flashlight?

I think that I do this at least a couple times a week. There is a street near our neighborhood that can be really dark. Not at all unsafe (as far as people go), you are more in danger of falling on the uneven sidewalk. :-)

5. When did you last use a paper clip for any purpose other than to clip paper?

I haven't actually used a paperclip since moving to China. 

As before, if you want to play along either leave a comment, post on your blog or email me.

The Friday 5 - Middles

Okay, I liked this one all about middles. 

1. What usually marks the middle of your day?

Lunch. Though that is not the exact middle of my day, I think that is what I think of as the middle of my "Andy-gone-from-the-house-time."

2. From whom (or to whom) was your most recent middle-of-the-night phone call? 

Being that we are literally on the other side of the world from our friends and family, we get our fair share of middle of the night calls. I think that our last one was from Andy's boss. Nothing was wrong, he had just forgotten that we don't do daylight savings here (which meant that he had figured the time wrong). Thankfully, we hadn't been asleep long and were able to get back to sleep! :-)

3. On what social, political, economic, or moral issue are you in the middle of the road?

I often feel in the middle on many political issues/candidates - more conservative on moral issues (abortion) and more liberal on social ones (education and health care).

4. How likely are you to give someone the middle finger? 

Hmm, I don't know if I have EVER given someone the finger. At least, I don't remember doing so.

5. When were you last caught in the middle of a disagreement that really had nothing to do with you? 

As a mother of 3 munchikins, I am constantly in the middle of an argument that not only has nothing to do with me, often it doesn't even seem to have a point. Anyone relate?

If you want to play along, either email me your answers, answer them on your blog, or leave a comment.

The Friday 5

Okay, so I wasn't the biggest fan of this week's questions. Instead I am answering the list from a couple weeks ago (I really like to march to my own beat!)..... 

1. Who frightens you? This a tricky one.... maybe it would be better to say "who intimidates you?" because I can't think of anyone who frightens me. I think that when I let old insecurities creep in, new people can intimidate me. Not usually, but this is probably what can intimidate me the most.

2. Who regularly surprises you? All 3 of my children. They are a constant delight and surprise (well, at least most of the time!). Recently, I have been surprised and impressed with how well they have done with our big move.

3. Who calms you down? Andy. He is definitely my voice of reason when I become emotional and worried. I am so thankful for his level head!

4. Who inspires you? I think again Andy. He is man who lives all-out and thus inspires me to do likewise.

5. Who admires you more than he/she should? I am not sure that anyone should admire me.... I am just someone trying to love and serve others (and not always successful at doing so).

If you want to play along, just leave a message here, on your own blog, or email me. ;-D

The Friday 5

I read this on a friend's blog (which I enjoyed Missi),  but I thought I would change it a bit by posting a before and after.... Answer how I might have answered before China and then now that we are here.

First, before China:

1. Where's your favorite beach? Ocean City, NJ I just love exploring the boardwalk with our kiddos.

2. Where's your favorite place to spend money? Kroger or Meijer. I know that I am weird, but I really like to grocery shop.

3. Where's your favorite place to watch people? Any airport.... maybe its the traveler in me, but I love to think of where people are going and what they might be doing.

4. Where's a good place to be totally alone? The bathroom, though any Mom will tell you even that is not sacred.

5. Where's a place outside of work/school where you are likely to run into people from work/school? Either Kroger or the library.

Now that we are in China:

1. We haven't been to a beach since our arrival, but are planning to travel over Chinese New Year so I think I might have a new favorite.

2. My new favorite place to spend money is the Pearl market. Imagine a mall where all they sell are gems and the prices are amazing.... I have yet to leave without buying something. I definitely can have too much fun there!

3. For people watching, airports are still a favorite but I also like this park near our neighborhood. Lots of people gather there in the evenings.... there are couples dancing in one section, others doing tai-chi in another part, kids rollerblading. During the summer, we'd walk up get ice cream and just enjoy.

4. A good place to be totally alone.... hmm that's a hard one. I think that is one thing that is even harder to find here - a place to be totally alone. Though if I want a quiet moment in the midst of a crowd and a special treat then I love to go have a coffee at Starbucks.

5. I think that our city is too big to really run into people that I know. Once I did run into someone I knew at Metro (a grocery store). 

Now it is your turn. Either leave your answers in a comment, post them on your blog, or email me. ;-)