This time of year is quite busy in Shanghai. The kids are restless with the prospect of the school year ending and getting to go back home for the summer, new friends that we seem to just have met are moving back to the states or on to their next international assignment. There are moving sales taking place (and Cynthia is taking full advantage of the plant sales) scouting is coming to a close and flag football is underway. Last weekend was a very full one - we had the Scouts final pack meeting and family picnic, a Cinco de Mayo family party, flag football and speaking at church about our trip to Boracay! The pace of life here in Shanghai is really accelerated - the weeks seem to fly by and the weekends are but a blink of the eye. Our new ayi, Mei, is wonderful. I came home the other day and she was in my room and had all my dresser drawers pulled out and was organizing my clothes. She did this for each of the boys as well. Now if we can just get her to know whose clothes are whose. Looking for a shirt or pair of pants is kind of like going on a treasure hunt - they might be in anyone's room. Oh well, it is a small price to pay for having to not wash and fold clothes. As I mentioned above, Cynthia is stocking up on plants from fellow expats who are either repatriating or moving to the next assignment. Our house is beginning to look like a jungle but is does add a very homey and relaxed feel. Cynthia has done a great job decorating our house and people always comment that it is very comfortable and reminds them of home.
I am travelling this week to Thailand for a conference being sponsored by one of our major customers. I'm staying at the Shangri-La hotel in Bangkok. (rough duty, I know) I return on Saturday and will be whisked off to a dinner with some friends to say goodbye to one of the families in our small group who will be relocating to Paris. Sunday will have us back on the flag football field and Monday night is Landon's Spring concert then I am back on the road to Qingdao for the first week of our new APAC leader - Robert Chen. Robert is my new boss and seems like a very good guy. He is a Chinese national and I am the only American on the APAC leadership team. His English is quite good so hopefully there won't be too many communication challenges.
Landon's birthday is coming up on the 31st and we are planning a Mexican themed party and calling it "Stinko de Mayo" or all the refried beans you can eat! We have moustaches for all the boys and Cynthia will be buying material at the fabric market to make ponchos for each of them. There will be a big pinata, water balloons (a Smith family birthday tradition) and nerf guns. should be quite the bash. I will be sure to post lots of photos.
I am travelling this week to Thailand for a conference being sponsored by one of our major customers. I'm staying at the Shangri-La hotel in Bangkok. (rough duty, I know) I return on Saturday and will be whisked off to a dinner with some friends to say goodbye to one of the families in our small group who will be relocating to Paris. Sunday will have us back on the flag football field and Monday night is Landon's Spring concert then I am back on the road to Qingdao for the first week of our new APAC leader - Robert Chen. Robert is my new boss and seems like a very good guy. He is a Chinese national and I am the only American on the APAC leadership team. His English is quite good so hopefully there won't be too many communication challenges.
Landon's birthday is coming up on the 31st and we are planning a Mexican themed party and calling it "Stinko de Mayo" or all the refried beans you can eat! We have moustaches for all the boys and Cynthia will be buying material at the fabric market to make ponchos for each of them. There will be a big pinata, water balloons (a Smith family birthday tradition) and nerf guns. should be quite the bash. I will be sure to post lots of photos.
