The Epic Dinner

So I would have to say if we have no more great nights in China this night will be the most epic!! Extremely hilarious and fun! It all began with wine glasses sitting on our table. We all got excited to see it becuz personally we were all tired of the beer or sprite they offered. The wine list unfortunately was all in Chinese so we asked our tour guide to interpret. I do not know why he had such a hard time, it was almost like he WOULDN'T read us what was on the wine list because it wasn't included in the cost of the meal, but we constantly stated that we WOULD pay for it if necessary. They brought us instead this sherry and told one of our companions it would turn her into “dragon lady” and it makes noodles stand up! “OHHHH nooo” she said, “My husband isn't here” We all laughed and began to drink the sprite and beer that was the “norm”. While we were being served our food we noticed everything was pretty much the same that we have for lunch and dinner here and recalled the tour guide saying “Not all food the same. But you foreigner not tell sometime cuz it slight difference” Slight is an understatement... there is NO difference all you do is add a different sauce!! So to say the least we were all very much tired of just eating white rice for lack of a better choice of food. I didnt take well to pork belly and discretely spit it out into my napkin and after seeing a full fledge FISH eyeballs and all I pretty much lost my appetite. When all hope was lost I decided to wait for the chicken that usually fills in the loose ends of dinner and leaves me if not full a tad bit satisfied and I wasn’t the only one waiting. One couple didnt eat fish at all so they kept asking about the chicken, next thing u know they had closed the door we had in a private dining quarters and we heard arguing in chinese. Next thing we know he comes in with a sad face stating “uhhh no chicken tonight ok?” This didnt sit well with Cindy and she was asking why and that she hadnt eaten much because she didnt eat fish and he said “you wait till tomorrow lunch, okay?” to this we all LAUGHED because how would lunch satisfy the hunger that existed right then and there he continued to say, “We have to kill chicken” then did a face as if he was wringing his neck “it would take long prepare it, pluck feathers, cut off head” at this point Cindy LOST it and started to laugh hysterically. She had to leave the table and go for a walk. “By all means,” she said “Dont kill the chicken on my behalf”. The tour guide kept stating that these recipes have existed over 1000 years in China which makes them special for us and to sum up all our thoughts perfectly Collin a male in our group said, “Our ancestors have had recipes 1000 years ago... we dont still cook them”

To top the night off, three last things were said by our female tour guide Laura. One was they dont eat many desserts here in China. Not much sugar at all. When she came to the states she met a man who said he made desserts in his shop and told her he would be her “sugar daddy” she of course took this literally, but we ALL know he was WRONG for that one. She still has no idea... someone tell her PLEASE.

Second night topper was while on the bus she said they were not allowed to hunt because the want to protect their world, their “environment” and Cindy speaks out and says... “THE CHICKEN” 

Third night topper is when Laura was comparing Shanghai to Hangzhou where we are now and said Hangzhou was like little girl compared to Shanghai but she loved her lil town. John an older gentleman speaks out and says “Its okay... you have a sugar daddy”... *laughter follows*....

EPIC NIGHT

First Days in China

Flight from Tokyo to Shanghai

     After a very long trip, we finally arrived in Shanghai, China. The hotel is gorgeous and extremely comfortable and after a nice long shower I went to bed, but not before skyping my baby boy Lucas which I plan to do every night if possible. Seeing all the cute asian babies on the streets of the market places we visited made me miss my baby even more! I want to hold him right now cuddled up giving him all my kisses, but seeing him happy and well taken care of has put my mind at ease.

Skyping my baby

    On today's tour 3 things caught my attention: the "high-style man", is the first. A professional man who comes home from work, cooks and clean while the wife sits back and does whatever she wants! Now if that aint the life!! Im going to try my best to bring one of these "high-style men" home to the U.S. with me ;-).

Breakfast

     Another thing I noticed is that some people still live in very old housing that hasn't been replaced like the other buildings with high rise apartment buildings. They have no bathrooms so during the day time they go to public places and at night they use a chamber pot. I couldn't imagine. Also NO where in Shanghai do people own dryers. Not even the wealthy they just hang up there clothes! Come to think of it that probably saves a TON of money economically. As a family we just went almost 6 months without a dryer and even though it was inconvenient I am sure it cut our electric bill. Something to indeed think about in the summer.

Last but not least... the CELEBRITY status... if u want to feel famous come to China. I have to of had my picture taken 50+ times and stared at continuously throughout the entire day. At one point their was a line of about 20 people trying to take me and my sisters picture!! At first it felt good then it started to become overwhelming.... just to think we still have 11 days to go. I guess its not easy living on the top ^_^

“Happy Baby 6 days VS. Sad Baby 7 days"

        My sister is a traveler. She has been to a lot of places. So after her return from her last trip out of the country I told her I wanted to be apart of the next. So I saved my money to go. Finally last year we decided 2012 would be our time, but also last year I found out I was pregnant....

I think all mothers when their baby is first born struggle with the feeling of guilt when first leaving them with a friend or family member to go out. Especially if the activity you are participating in isn’t recreational and not something you necessarily HAVE to do! The first time I went to a doctor’s appointment I felt guilty! I was rushing back home to see if my baby was alright. The first time I went OUT and stayed gone the whole night for my birthday I woke up at 7 a.m. to pump my breast-milk, sitting on the floor, head down near tears because I missed my baby so much and felt so bad for leaving him.

I am sure that you after having a baby have also had your moments of  guilt and maybe still do! There is nothing wrong with wanting to be there for your baby, but as mothers I think we forget to be there for ourselves! How can we make our baby happy if we are unhappy? I never want to look at my son and feel like he is the reason why I never get to go out when truthfully I am the one who won’t leave him even though he would be in perfectly good hands. So let me ask you, would you rather your baby be happy six days out of the week or an unhappy baby 7 days a week? Now in all honestly that baby is going to be happy without you anyway, but what you don’t want is for your child to enjoy being away from you more than being with you because you are always in a sour mood, tired, stressed and whatever it is you need a break to help clear your mind from. 

So my request to all you mommies is to give yourself some ME time. It isn’t a crime. You are NOT being selfish. In fact, you are taking care of yourself for your little one. When you come back from your little get away with your girls or a social gathering believe me you will give your baby enough love to make up for the small amount of time you were gone! 

     

        Now my trip isn't a small getaway. Its actually a 14 day tour in CHINA. So imagine the guilt I am feeling!! I am just SO glad I prepared myself little by little for this vacation. Even though the closer I get the more I hold tight to my little boy knowing I will miss him DREADFULLY, but this opportunity is vital for me. I'm not rolling in money and this trip was only possible through a great GROUPON deal that me and my sister were more than ecstatic to find. Once in a lifetime occasion, I may never get to go back! When I come home my little boy won't even realized how long I had been gone and he will greet me with that amazing toothless grin. As for me, I will be ten times happier making my baby just as happy!

So.... I can’t stress enough how important it is to LOVE ourselves.  Don’t mistake that for selfishness, because although I may go out and take time off from motherhood for a few hours, in THIS case days, I don’t ever take time off from loving my son. His NEEDS will forever come before my WANTS. That is just apart of being a mom.