Last May I participated in Ali's Week in the Life. My album isn't complete, but it will be someday. Perhaps it will be one of the 24 projects I complete this year.Anyway, I was looking through the files on my desktop from that week and it's amazing to see how much has changed in such a short period of time. Of course it helps that we moved clear across the Pacific ocean and are now living in a developed nation that is not Communist. But admist all the contrasts, there are a remarkable number of similarities!
I still wake up to my smart phone. It is just a different smart phone with no Chinese characters on the display.
This was the view out the window of my gym. I still buy fruit but not from people with large carts on the backs of three-wheeled motor trikes who must flee every time the police are near.
I no longer live in a high rise in the Central Business District of a capital city. Quite the opposite. I live in a single family home in a quiet suburb near the sea - though quite close to a major metropolitan city.
I no longer ride home in ugly elevators ensconsed in fake etched mirrors.
Spring in Beijing is beautiful though very short.
The kids still buy lunch at school every so often but the food now is NOT freshly prepared nor is it healthy. Especially at the middle school. It is atrocious! So they buy most days. No more bilingual menus with typos.
And luckily, no more signs in Chinese warning of the dangers of lighting off dangerous fireworks & crackers.
I must admit there is not much I miss about my life in China. Don't get me wrong, it was an amazing adventure, but unlike other countries I've been (or lived in), there seems to be something missing there. At least for me.
I do miss the friendships. There are amazing people living there. People from all over the world. I do miss being around them. But it is a very different lifestyle. Slower in ways and much faster paced in others.
But all in all, it is good to be home.
I've been working hard making my 10 stamps this week. And I cannot wait to share. I am having SO. MUCH. FUN. Watch for a little tutorial in photos soon.
I also plan to tell you all about the party I'm planning for my son's 8th birthday. Homemade invitations (totally original) and other fun details.
Can you guess the theme? There's been a hint in a recent past blog post.
ROAR!!! I sense an awesome monster themed party on the horizon! :) And I'm thankful your back in the USA! I don't really know why...have never met you, but you just feel closer now! :)
Posted by: Rebekah | January 17, 2013 at 08:03
Good guess! But not a monster party even though I tried to talk him into that theme. You are sweet Rebekah! Maybe we'll cross paths someday.
Posted by: Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie | January 17, 2013 at 22:25