Harbin China, home to beautiful ice and snow carvings

We no sooner returned from the states after a great Christmas break and we left for Harbin China. Home to The Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival, it is one of the four largest such festivals in the world. These ice and snow artists are the same that visit Grapevine Texas each year to exhibit their talents in "ICE!" at the Gaylord.
Once Mark found out we were moving to China and saw that these were that same sculpture's we enjoyed in Texas, he was determined to go see them at their best while we were living in China. The average temperature in January is about -1 degrees Fahrenheit. It really was cold but very beautiful. I made it!

Huge displays that can't fully be seems in one picture.

At night they are all internally illuminated

These are life size ice buildings 

A little sledding and sliding for the kids.

You just won't see this in Dallas

This next one just annoyed me a lot for some reason. The kids walk to school each morning and then home again in the afternoon.  The walk is shorter than the walk would be if you parked in the farthest corner of the POPCS parking lot and had to walk to class from there. We literally live across the street from the school. Anyway, many children walk and bike to school but on rainy days, the dynamic changes and space near the entrances to the school becomes limited to say the least. This picture is taken from across the street from Concordia as I was walking to pick up Collin one rainy afternoon.

Can you see the white stripes in the road designating the cross walk?

This car is not only parked ON the sidewalk but basically in the cross walk where all the students and parents walk to get across the street to the school. The car is so far up the curb that there is basically no room to get by as there is a fence about 16 inches from the bumper.  Everyone had to walk around this car to get to and from the school.  This does happen often here, but annoying and so inconsiderate. Also, there is no such thing as a "school zone" in Shanghai. Cars speed past this area and drivers really don't care about pedestrians at all. Walker beware and there is no right of way for someone in the street. CRAZY. Luckily, there are crossing guards.

All in a day's scooter

A while back on the weekend, Mark and I decided to scooter to the grocery store for a couple of items for dinner. I found it interesting that we could get so many things right in front of the grocery store at one time.

We saw flowers, not so remarkable as they are present most weekends. Nice to have the option for the house. The flower ladies are near the school entrance many days and on the sidewalk when we exit soccer practice most days as well.

The music/DVD selection was pretty extensive.

A few books to choose from. Not bad considering this is on the back of someones three wheeled vehicle.

Bag anyone? I have to admit, I took a peek and bought a small one for when I am on the bicycle or scooter and can't carry much.

My favorite..... chestnuts roasting on an open fire. I tried to get a picture of the lady who was preparing them but she quickly got out of the frame when I started taking pictures.
Mark comments every time we smell these while out and about  If I would let him, he'd eat them. I am sure any day now he will try them. I'm leery of food vendors on the road.

You can pretty much get what you need.

Merry Christmas Shanghai Style

November came and I did not feel like Christmas at all. You would be amazed what decorations and songs in the mall will do for your holiday spirit. But I waited and soon enough our little mini mall near the house was decorated for the expat community that does celebrate Christmas. I was so appreciative.  As much as we all grump about how the machine of capitalism pushes us each year to shop earlier and decorate before Thanksgiving, I missed it. We don't get the bombardment of ads like in the states that drive you nuts. I too used to complain when I was there but when we didn't have the ads, I kind of felt I had to remind myself that Christmas was coming. When I saw that decorations were going up in the city, I smiled and was pretty happy. Yes, they are not high end, classy decorations but the Chinese are kind to do this when a huge majority of them are not Christian and do not celebrate Christmas. The gold and black gift wrapped gifts going up the side of the building did make me laugh but I can't say enough how much I appreciate  the effort made. The Santa inside the mall is made of sculpted styrofoam but we all get the idea, don't we? I did hear Christmas songs in the stores too from time to time. Christmas in Dallas was wonderful! We celebrated with friends and family and having this new perspective made me that much more grateful. Happy New Year to you all.