Yesterday was a little crazy, so I decided to order dinner. I used a new place and ordered something that I haven't had before. Here is a picture from the website:
And here is a picture of our dinner:
Monday, October 22, 2012
Lemon Chicken
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Small Victories
Here in Shanghai there can be a lot of Shanglows. At first it seemed like they happened every day, many times twice a day. Six months out, it felt like once or twice a week. A year out, I'm happy to say things have mellowed even more.
(Side bar: M and I had a discussion about this recently and decided that we can let more things roll off our backs than we used to because we have finally realized that there is virtually no accountability here. Most everything we can write off as TIC - This is China.)
Even better, every so often something happens that makes us feel like it's actually GOOD to be living in China. I had one of those moments yesterday.
I need some bubble wrap for a certain 5-year-old's birthday party this weekend. (What kid doesn't like to jump on bubble wrap?!?) There is no Office Depot here, so I did a quick search online and found a few expat forums with suggestions for where to purchase said bubble wrap.
(Another side bar: I did a rather extensive search online a couple of months ago trying to glean similar information about locking washers with NO LUCK. Our version of The Home Depot only has 3 (tiny) sizes of locking washers (too small for training wheels) and an Internet search only provided me with TONS of companies that manufacture locking washers here in Shanghai. I contacted one, but they couldn't sell me 2 washers. Too bad for me. I finally decided to check the Trek store. Here the employee tells me that you can only buy these at a "small store". Sadly, I do not have a picture of a "small store". Think strip mall of storage closets. There have to be millions of "small stores" in Shanghai and there is no "small store" registry to learn where to find what you're looking for! I must have looked defeated with the "small store" news, so the guy rummaged through his junk parts drawer and found me a few washers. Woohoo! I guess that makes this side bar more of a main point - one small victory!)
Back to the bubble wrap.
So, Mr. Mao and I set off across town in search of the suggested locations. 1st place we came up dry. I wasn't surprised. This is an area I visit often and I've never seen bubble wrap there. 2nd place takes us through a fascinating tool street with many "small stores" selling tools. (There are street blocks throughout Shanghai selling a specific type of merchandise - Paper street, Painter's street, Tool street, etc. - it's just a matter of finding them!) After crossing a major highway I see it - a "small store" with rolls of bubble wrap! I tell Mr. Mao to STOP! I run back to the store and it's true! It's a whole store (storage closet?) filled with rolls of bubble wrap! I know the suspense must be killing you, so I'll cut to the chase. I bought a 50 meter roll of bubble wrap (about 24 inches wide) for 25 RMB! According to the currency exchange calculator that's $3.99! YES! Not only did I find what I was looking for, it was INCREDIBLY INEXPENSIVE!!!!! Finally, China comes through! I was euphoric for hours! Ahhhhhh... so thankful for that small victory!
(Side bar: M and I had a discussion about this recently and decided that we can let more things roll off our backs than we used to because we have finally realized that there is virtually no accountability here. Most everything we can write off as TIC - This is China.)
Even better, every so often something happens that makes us feel like it's actually GOOD to be living in China. I had one of those moments yesterday.
I need some bubble wrap for a certain 5-year-old's birthday party this weekend. (What kid doesn't like to jump on bubble wrap?!?) There is no Office Depot here, so I did a quick search online and found a few expat forums with suggestions for where to purchase said bubble wrap.
(Another side bar: I did a rather extensive search online a couple of months ago trying to glean similar information about locking washers with NO LUCK. Our version of The Home Depot only has 3 (tiny) sizes of locking washers (too small for training wheels) and an Internet search only provided me with TONS of companies that manufacture locking washers here in Shanghai. I contacted one, but they couldn't sell me 2 washers. Too bad for me. I finally decided to check the Trek store. Here the employee tells me that you can only buy these at a "small store". Sadly, I do not have a picture of a "small store". Think strip mall of storage closets. There have to be millions of "small stores" in Shanghai and there is no "small store" registry to learn where to find what you're looking for! I must have looked defeated with the "small store" news, so the guy rummaged through his junk parts drawer and found me a few washers. Woohoo! I guess that makes this side bar more of a main point - one small victory!)
Back to the bubble wrap.
So, Mr. Mao and I set off across town in search of the suggested locations. 1st place we came up dry. I wasn't surprised. This is an area I visit often and I've never seen bubble wrap there. 2nd place takes us through a fascinating tool street with many "small stores" selling tools. (There are street blocks throughout Shanghai selling a specific type of merchandise - Paper street, Painter's street, Tool street, etc. - it's just a matter of finding them!) After crossing a major highway I see it - a "small store" with rolls of bubble wrap! I tell Mr. Mao to STOP! I run back to the store and it's true! It's a whole store (storage closet?) filled with rolls of bubble wrap! I know the suspense must be killing you, so I'll cut to the chase. I bought a 50 meter roll of bubble wrap (about 24 inches wide) for 25 RMB! According to the currency exchange calculator that's $3.99! YES! Not only did I find what I was looking for, it was INCREDIBLY INEXPENSIVE!!!!! Finally, China comes through! I was euphoric for hours! Ahhhhhh... so thankful for that small victory!
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