Christmassssssss!

We went to to contribute to the Yunnan themed candy village at our friend's house.

I made a pagoda, and Timon made the Kunming airport.

To achieve the curved roof the building, Timon went as far as moistening the graham cracker then drying it in a bowl in the oven!





Wishing you a merry christmas!

Culture Matters

One of our friends hosts a TV show on ICS, the English channel in
China (just Shanghai?) And she was kindly invited us to come
experience a taping session and be a part of the audience! We had
never seen the show before, so we imagined it would be something like
Oprah, but more Chinese-y. She'd told us about previous shows,
interesting guests the director had chosen (A personal trainer for the
Mental health episode...) andother current event discussions, some
struggles of tough topics like twitter and social networking sites
(many which are banned in china). The show is called, "Culture Matters".

This episode we sat in was about Art and its accessibility to the
public, in light of the recent decision to move the Shanghai Art
museum (Which is HUGE) from People's square to the China Pavillion on
the expo site (which is basically a ghost town, since they've
demolished the other pavillions....!) <a href="http://www.timeoutshanghai.com/features/Blog/4758/China-Pavilion-to-be-Art-Palace.html
"> see article </a>

My friend May-yi, the host (sitting on the right side) was born
stateside, then raised in Taiwan, and went to Harvard later. She had
mentioned that they would ask the audience a question or two (more
like 10) and was encouraging us to answer, esp since we were some of
the few foreigners- helping diversify the audience of 12.

They began with a quiz- "Name that art museum!" Which I knew all the
Parisien thanks to my trip with Megan. Pompidou! Lourve! But
incidentally couldn't recall the architect for the Lourve. (IM Pei).
They talked about museum behaivor- not running or eating, no cell
phones and where those semi-subjective "acceptable behaviors" were
taught or should be taught.

visitors from above

I work on the 10th floor of a building- I see 60% sky out of my window
and tops of most buildings in the area.

I'm been admiring the view since October; mornings are full of sun
(when there is sun! to be seen!) and I see a giant construction crane
peck back and forth through out the day.

I was startled by two ropes and some knock ing on my window. Two very
tanned hairy men were rappelling down washing the windows. They swung
in like spiderman and drop down in the blink of an eye! I snapped a
quick pick of them. They used a huge suction cup on one hand, and
squeegeed with their other. I tried not to stare, but I kept thinking
they might just crash right on through the window!

christmas time is here...

We hosted a Christmas party/Company party for Timon's company (His
boss mandated that everyone HAD to attend)

There was a crackling fire DVD, mahjong games, and making of sugar
cookies. (Rolling and cutting the cookies was a first for our friends
Melody and Morrin- but they were pros at it! And totally enthralled
with the decorating.)
Also went to a cookie decorating party! sugar sugar sugar! Timon is
working hard- its the end of the Chinese fiscal year, so they are
trying to wrap things up before Chinese new year (when the new year
for work-wise begins) So we celebrate 2 new years here, except one is
about 10 times a bigger deal than the other one.

Merry Christmas!

language snippets

I wanted to wish my sourcing partner and her staff Happy thanksgiving.

Me: Gǎn jué!
Them: [Confused looks on faces.]
Me: Gǎnjué jié! jié!
Them: [even MORE confused] What are you trying to tell us, Kristina?
Me: Jin tian shi Gǎnjué. Mei guo de holiday.
Them: You mean Thanksgiving??

So I got "Thanksgiving" (感恩节 Gǎn'ēn jié) mixed up with "Feeling"(感觉 Gǎnjué) and so When I thought I was saying "happy thanksgiving!" I was just telling everyone "Feelings!" great.