Olympic Fever

Although I do love the Olympics, admittedly I am super excited about the games in China and seeing some of our stomping grounds from only a couple months ago. Beijing wasn't my favorite city we visited but it was where I saw some of my favorites sites and learned the most about the Chinese ruling body past and present. I remember Beijing as a city with a lot of really crazy new architecture and outlandish design (you'll get a feel just seeing the Olympic structures) but by the government quarters around Tien'anmen square it still feels very strict and no non-sense. A member in our group who was there earlier in the day saw a government vehicle pull up with guards and pull a man off the square and quickly drive away. This is not a place to mess around. I also thought this was the place where you could feel the clash between the old and the new China. Although things are changing, the government is still an all seeing eye.

The Olympics were to start in just over 2 months from when we were there but buildings were still in the process of going up. Our guides told us that they were not worried about things being completed because they have crews that work around the clock and I don't doubt that they will be completed. The man power in that country is still hard for me to comprehend. I also think that the Chinese love to sparkle and they see this a stage to show their country's skill and power on an international stage. The Chinese can put on a good show so I am really excited for the opening and closing ceremonies. I can't wait until tomorrow. Go 'Merica!

Outside of Beijing hiking the great wall.

Members of the high court.

Corey and Grant displaying their athleticism playing Chinese hacky sack with the senior citizens at Jingshan Park.

Flexy man stretching at the pagoda on Prospect Hill.
Everywhere we turned this man was somewhere stretching.

Our posse cruising around the newly restored forbidden city.

Moving On

One of my least favorite things in life is moving. I have always disliked it. I usually don't mind the change to a new location and think it can be exciting but packing and unpacking things is the worst. This time around I was relieved when I found out that a moving company was going to pack and move us. The day came and the packers entered our small apartment and packed up all of our belongings in a matter of hours. The result was shocking. I felt empty as I walked around our vacant apartment. In the past I have packed up all of our things gradually; I now realize that this process is helpful in slowly saying goodbye to another phase in life coming to an end.

As I gave the apartment a look over memories from the last couple of years came peeking through as I noticed the stain a squashed blueberry left on the carpet from a baby shower, I found a long lost binky behind where the armoire once stood and was surprised not to see Corey's shoes spilling out of his tiny closet for once. If the walls of our apartment could talk they may tell you about our baby's exploring hands reaching through crib slats to brush their orange peel texture or warned me about the blue crayon incident that was to happen a year later. They could tell about study groups around the sofa, long discussions on cold winter nights about where we would go next- fueled by peppermint tea with honey and could have probably reprimanded me for declaring the apartment "disgusting" on arrival and correctly predicting that when the time came I would be terribly sad to go. In Howard's End, E.M. Forster shares his sentiments about homes in saying, "....a house in which one has once lived becomes in a sort of way sacred." For good or bad our memories are tied to them and this was a good home. Goodbye Boston.

Happy Flag Day!

Here's to a merry fourth of July and to hoping the cloudy Boston skies clear up so I can see some of this:

Happy Birthday Bug!

Today is my baby's birthday. He is two so isn't considered a baby anymore but he is my baby. He loves bugs so we had a bug themed birthday party. The cupcakes were beetles and butterflies and the ice cream was topped with dirt, grass and worms (crushed oreos, green coconut flakes, and gummy worms). He somehow got that it was his birthday and it made it so much more fun.
Birthdays make you reflect on memories and time. Having a child has altered my concept of time. Not only do I have wrinkles, calendars and outdated fashion to prove that I am aging; now I also have a little human being whose presence accounts for time gone by. Throughout the day I kept thinking how quickly these two years have flown by. Then I would think about the moves, school, work and friendships made during those two years and it seems like very little time for a lot of big changes. When I think of bringing Max home from the hospital to our Austin house it seems like another lifetime. Before I had Max people would comment on how having children changes your life significantly and about how you can't imagine your life without them. This is somewhat true. Although, I can remember my life before my baby and it was a lighter load, less scheduled and more able to leave on a whim. When I truly honestly think of my life before it seems lonely. Max is wonderful company. I adore him. I can remember life before Max and I much prefer life with him. Happy happy Maxy bug!

On a Shang High

Just over two weeks ago we returned from a two and a half week tour of China. Our first stop was in Shanghai. I loved this city. We started our trip by traveling from the airport on the world's fastest train the Maglev which reached a speed of 431 kilometers per hour on our ride into the city. We started our day with a talk through the Yu Yuan Gardens and surrounding shopping district and tea house.
The gardens have been beautifully restored and are a cool escape from the bustling city outside its walls. This next picture although a little dark is a favorite view from the garden because it shows traditional Chinese architecture with views of shiny, metallic skyscrapers whose architectures still echoes its traditional surroundings.
While in Shanghai we also visited a silk workers spinning silk threads, went to the top of the Jingmao Tower, walked down Nan Jing Road, and visited the Bund.
This picture shows some of the architecture around the People's Square. I loved the taller building to the left because it looks like a UFO landed on top. I realized early on that China has become an architect's playground. There is a booming economy, a revere for high design (usually at a foreigner's hand) and the population to throw up skyscrapers like a Lego land. As much as all the new buildings are eye candy I feel like the heart of the country is housed in its traditional structures with their tiled roofs with turned up corners. Although Shanghai is a financial center and houses what are now many of the worlds tallest and most famous structures you still find country women selling fruit on the corners and men carrying heavy loads that are secured to a bamboo pole. They walk down busy streets like this transporting goods. Scenes like these are a juxtaposition of the two Chinas that I visited. The old world and the new China finally spreading her wings. You can't help think of the farmer or humble merchant with his bamboo pole laden with heavy goods and attribute this shiny new metropolis to those, like him, who have built China generation after generation with back breaking labor.

My favorite part of our time in Shanghai was walking from our hotel to the Yu Yuan Gardens. We were out of the touristy part of town and walking down a typical road that thrived with life and commerce. There was a market with vendors selling all sort of goods that although exotic to my senses were ordinary to most of its shoppers. I felt that this was my best window into what the people of Shanghai lived like, among their smells, their modest apartment blocks, and the flurry of people with their language and music surrounding me. I felt much more alive here than I did at the Jinmao Tower or the Oriental Pearl. Although, I really love the Oriental Pearl- what a strange but fitting part of the Shanghai skyline- only in Asia.

Con-GRAD-ulations!

Congrats to my graduate. Who knew two years would go by so quickly?! I never thought I would be sad to say goodbye to student housing but if wishes were kisses I would have another year. All the best to our friends and classmates here- we will miss you all so much.

Man Winter, You are Getting Old

These images did their job; they made me look forward to summer. Having something to look forward to puts a skip in my step. I love that seasons change and especially anticipate spring knowing that it holds the beginnings of regrowth and sunshine that will be fulfilled in the next act, summer. The newest summer catalog from Anthro arrived in my mail box with tons of full color, summer finds. I turned its pages while looking out the window at cold, gray skies and constant drizzle. I have the same detached feeling when I get a swimsuit catalog in January, except it is May. Boston played this same trick last year- it is trying to cut out spring. Mid April is beautiful, just to get your hopes up, and then it turns cold and rainy for May. Then June gets hot and humid right away; conditions meant for summer. Just because spring is delicate doesn't mean she should be skipped over. Please, Mother Nature, don't let Old Man Winter bully our little May; spring still has a chance. I love summer but it is best enjoyed after a beautiful spring.