Shanghai Aquarium & Science Museum

During the Chinese New Year Holiday we were able to make visits to the Shanghai Aquarium and Science Museum. We were suprised to find the Aquarium empty and we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Alex and Elizabeth were both excited to see the Sharks, StingRays and Jellyfish.

We weren't so lucky at the Science Museum where there were a lot of people. Alex got to play in the construction area where he wouldn't share his wheelbarrow with any of the other children. We also saw a 3D IMAX movie about Dinosaurs. It was in Chinese, but the kids still loved it.

Xin Nian Kuai Le! 新年快樂! Happy Year of the Ox

Happy Chinese New Year! Xin (Sheen) Nian (Nee ann) Kuai (Kwhy) Le (la). 新年快樂!

Kirk needs to post the videos and pictures of the fireworks.

It is the year of the Ox.

The Ox is thought to be the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. The Ox is a power sign, like the Rat, Snake, Dragon, Tiger, and Monkey. They're quite dependable and possess an innate ability to achieve great things. As one might guess, such people are dependable, calm, and modest. Like their animal namesake, the Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.

Ox people, according to tradition, need peace and quiet to work through their ideas, and when they have set their mind on something it is hard for them to be convinced otherwise. An Ox person has a very logical mind and is extremely systematic in whatever they do, though they have a tremendous imagination and an unparalleled appreciation for beauty. These people speak little but are extremely intelligent. When necessary, they are articulate and eloquent.

Traditionally, people born under the influence of the Ox are thought to be kind, caring souls, logical, positive, filled with common sense and with their feet firmly planted on the ground. Security is their main preoccupation in life, and they are prepared to toil long and hard in order to provide a warm, comfortable and stable nest for themselves and their families. Strong-minded, stubborn, individualistic, the majority are highly intelligent individuals who don't take kindly to being told what to do.

The Ox, it is thought, works hard, patiently, and methodically, with original intelligence and reflective thought. These people enjoy helping others. Behind this tenacious, laboring, and self-sacrificing exterior lies an active mind.

The Ox, according to tradition, is not extravagant, and a modern interpretation of this is that the thought of living off credit cards or being in debt makes them nervous. The possibility of taking a serious risk could cause the Ox sleepless nights.

Ox people are truthful and sincere, and the idea of wheeling and dealing in a competitive world is distasteful to them. They are rarely driven by the prospect of financial gain. These people are always welcome in small gatherings because of their humble composure and reverent nature towards the host. They are reputed to be the most beautiful of face in the zodiac. They have many friends, who appreciate the fact that the Ox people are wary of new trends, although every now and then they can be encouraged to try something new. People born in the year of the Ox make wonderful parents and teachers of children.

It is important to remember that the Ox people are sociable and relaxed when they feel secure, but occasionally a dark cloud looms over such people and they engage all the trials of the whole world and seek solutions for them.

President Obama is an Ox. I also think Bumpa is an Ox.

Lunch at the Liu's home

Normally we are traveling during holidays and out of Shanghai. This year, because of the uncertainty with the economy, we decided to not travel during this vacation period to save money. Our driver, Mr. Liu asked us over to his house for dinner on Chinese New Year day.

He lives in Puxi, near the Yangpu Bridge. He shares a penthouse apartment with his wife, his daughter Candy, and his wife's parents. They were very gracious hosts and had all of Kirk's and the kid's favorites to drink - diet coke and soy milk boxes.

Liu and his mother in law are the chef's in the house. I think they must have spent most of the morning cooking because when we arrived, there was already a ton of food on the table.

Sharing a meal together is very important in the Chinese culture. This was our first time at a local Chinese person's house for a meal. For Liu to invite us, was a big deal for all of us collectively. Our children didn't surprise us, they barely ate anything. I wish I knew what genes they inherited as both Kirk and I truly enjoy food and the act of eating it. I really hope that Liu's family didn't think too poorly of us because our children didn't eat well.

Kirk and I did a pretty good job chipping away at the food. There were at least 20 different dishes on the table. Maybe 6 cold meat dishes, 2 soups, 3 vegetables, 2 different types of Jiaozi (dumplings), and 7 different meat dishes - pork and beef.

Liu's wife is expecting a baby in March. I'm sure they are hoping it is a boy since they already have a daughter. We will go back to his house then to take presents and meet the new baby.

Fireworks with the Young's and our buildings lit up and the fireworks

We got a call from Kim Young on Chinese New Year's Eve. The girls and she pestered Jeff enough to go to Metro and buy some fireworks. Since it was late, he was only able to purchase big ones. We went down to their building and watched him light them off. Orla and Elizabeth played with sparklers that a local family gave them. A lot of families were lighting off fireworks around 8pm so that the little kids could see them.

After the fireworks were done, Alex, Elizabeth, Kirk and I went for a walk. It was a little chilly, but there was no wind so it wasn't bad. We walked across the street to the entrance of Century Park and took pictures of our buildings with the blue lights up top. They look really cool all lit up.

It was eerily quiet on the street. We saw maybe 3 cars go by and no pedestrians at all. It was a great calmness that allowed us to just take in the sights with no distractions. It actually would have been a good night for a run around the park.

We got home and had dinner. The fireworks continued all through the night. The kids went to sleep, they couldn't make it until midnight. When midnight came, the city lit up. There were truly spectacular fireworks being shot off. It's nothing coordinated like the October holiday fireworks. But to see all the different shows all across the city is magnificent. I think we have one of the best viewing sites in the city and am glad that we live where we do in Shanghai.

This night of the year I will always miss once we move on. I can't imagine there is anything else like it anywhere else.

Pictures & Video from Visit Home

Video of Trip Home

Roessler Christmas Pictures


Dufon Christmas Pictures


Florida Pictures


These go along with earlier posting on Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all following our Blog. Timing didn't work out so well for me to send out Christmas cards, I apologize to all for that. This year, Christmas creeped up on me pretty fast.

After we returned home from summer in the US in September, I really didn't want to deal with the 14 hour flight and jetlag again at Christmas, so I initially told Kirk that we should holiday somewhere and not go to US. However, I think many of our family would have a broken heart, including me, if we weren't together during the holidays.

So we traveled back to Michigan on Dec 19. We spent time with Kirk's family at his brother's house first. Alex was so excited to go to "Ethan's" house. He was really excited to go play with all of Ethan's toys mostly. Elizabeth, Alex, Ethan, and Nolan all play together really well.

Kirk and I were able to catch up with our college friends on my birthday. It was great to see all of them, but sad because we didn't see the kids. The weather that day/night was horrible. The weather in general while we were in Michigan was crazy. Tons of snow, then it would melt, then snow all over again in a matter of days.

The kids got nice presents from Santa and were really excited to play with them. Kevin and Chrystal got Guitar Hero for Wii and Kirk and Kevin had fun playing with that.

After Christmas, we drove upnorth to the farm. That is where we got the unexpected happy news that Steve and Kim would be driving over from Minnesota. This was a week of lots of snow, rain, fog, more snow....again crazy weather. Elizabeth got to build a snowman the day we got there, but then he melted the next day. The new snow was too dry to build a snowman with.

The kids had fun snowmobiling and playing with all of their cousins. We went bowling one day. Everyone bowled and Bumpa and Gigi turned it on and both broke 200. By the end, the kids, especially Olivia and Natalie were exhausted. Alex even began throwing the ball by himself.

Another day we went ice skating. Elizabeth took off by herself pretty quickly and enjoyed it. Alex and Olivia both tried out skating, but didn't really like it. Ali, Sarah, and Anna are all really good skaters.

There were many poker games, including an only Dufon game one night as the in laws stayed at Sue and Collin's house.

On New Year's Day, we traveled to Florida for a visit with Kirk's parents. It is sunny and warm here right now. This is the place to be when Michigan is frigid.

We'll head back to Shanghai on the 8th and arrive on the 9th. Back home with added lbs from all the great food we've eaten.

Kirk will post pictures later.

Hope you all had great holidays and are healthy and safe in the new year!