Christmas has come to Shanghai

Hi All, if anyone is still tuning in, I've already had a few Christmas celebrations here, my meager decorations are added to my apartment, I've been to a few bazaars, and last night was the Canadian Christmas Dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel. It was very fancy had loads of prizes, none of which I won and was very festive. This Thurs. I am cooking a turkey dinner, after work, to show our Chinese teacher what Christmas is like at home. Moira and I are doing this, we bought a very small turkey will prepare the trimmings and enjoy Christmas dinner along with Sarah who has the patience of Job trying to teach the two of us how to speak Chinese. I do know, Shengdan quai le, ie Merry Christmas. Tomorrow is our class Christmas Party, next Mon. is an ECE celebration. We are going carolling in the school neighbourhood.

On Sat. I went on a school trip to "leather city" which is actually a four floor shopping mall that sells only leather and furs. I picked up a couple of Christmas presents there for Richard and Doug.

My mind is always on preparing for leaving here which is a very different feeling than last year at this time when I had just gotten over a period of adjusting to being here. In many ways I wish I was staying longer. I feel like I am just now beginning to understand the culture on another level, just beginning to speak the little Chinese I do know, have so much more I want to explore, so many places I want to travel to. That said, I am tired of travelling and tired of the food and definitely tired of working.

I have no pictures to post today because I am at work and all my pictures are on my own computer at home. The few new ones I have are people pictures rather than the scenery I usually post. I'll add them in next time.