I just made up a new word today.  If I use it enough, I hope that other people will start to use it.  Then I hope that within a year, the people at Webster's will add it to their new words of 2009 for their next edition.  It's a really good word.  Please help me in my quest to be the person that coined a new word by using this word and passing it onto your friends.  I combined Chinese and pandemonium, to come up with Chandemonium.  Definition:  When Chinese people are abnormally frenzied, not themselves, and tend to crowd together in an altered state of mind.  It's the only way I can describe what is going on here as we lead up to the Chinese New Year celebrations.  I can hear the distant "pop pop" of the fireworks, and know that they will soon reach a 24 hour crescendo that mimic the sounds of a war zone.  People are running with luggage, boxes, and even TV sets, trying to get on a bus or train to make their annual pilgrimage back to their home towns, so that they can be with their family during their most important holiday.  The stores are packed full.  It's not easy to move a shopping cart around, stand in longer lines to pay for your groceries, or even get to the store by car.  Bank machines are being emptied.  The holiday doesn't officially start until next Tuesday night, but it's now Thursday the week before, and I've hoarded all I can so we don't have to venture back into those crowds.  People are trying to make a quick dollar anyway they can to buy a ticket back home.  I even had my cell phone pickpocketed out of my jacket last week!  Luckily, our area has not been hit by the storms that more than half of China has had and are still expecting during this restless time of "Chandemonium."  (See!  It can be used effectively in a sentence).  I can't imagine how difficult life has gotten in these other areas where the weather has created havoc on top of the yearly Chandemonium.  Desparation and panic must be at an all-time high there.  It must be super-Chandemonium.  I read the news today that some may not make it home.  How very sad for those who toil long hours throughout the year, saving so that they can make this trip back home to their family.  Bless them.  My heart really goes out to them during this difficult time.

 

 

 

   

 

We just got back from Harbin, China and had an amazing time.  I need to catch up on my sleep first, then I'll find some time to jot some memories down here soon.  We had a great time, but are extremely tired.  But here's a map showing where we went for the weekend, in case you were wondering.....

 

Happy 2008!  Sorry I haven't been blogging in awhile.  I guess because we've been here a year now, everything doesn't seem so shockingly different anymore.  We've been busy with re-adjusting to our regular schedules, instead of just lolling away our days on a Thai beach.  And what an adjustment it is!  After 2 weeks of blue skies and sumptuous foods, we're back to horrible pollution (our eyes are all blood-shot!) and searching out 4 stores in a day for imported goods. 

 

We have an upcoming trip planned.  We were lamenting that we had lived in China a year and hadn't explored other cities in China much.  Sure, Doug travels all over the country with his work, but the kids and I have only been to Beijing.  So a plan was formed with another family (Americans) to fly away for a weekend to see the Harbin Ice Festival.  It is a world-renowned event that only runs for the month of January.  Check out some of these pictures from the net:

      

 

We fly out next Friday to Harbin and return to Tianjin on the Sunday, spending only 2 nights there.  It should be a big adventure.  We had to book in a "Chinese Hotel" for various reasons.  But it did boast a "western buffet" (runny eggs, most likely), a swimming pool (probably the temperature will be too cold), and a disco (you know, where those painted ladies looking for LO$VE are?).  I'm guessing that the hotel itself will be an adventure.  We've been told to expect very cold temperatures, so the other mother and I are going shopping tomorrow at some of the local markets to try to find some warm winter gear.  Wish us luck.

 

We had a fun night last Saturday at a friend's house playing BlackJack and breaking in his locally purchased poker table with 3 other families (Yanks, Kiwi', Aussie's, and Canadians....what a mix).  Well, the adults played Blackjack and the kids watched videos and played video games.  We made some small wagers to make the game more interesting.  Doug and I didn't walk away with much money (in fact we lost some), but a fun time was had by all.  Most memorable quote from the evening:  Doug cackling out, "Yessir, yessir, three bags full!" in an Ed McMahon-type voice after a big win, as he raked his money towards himself.  Where did that come from?  He had us all giggling. 

 

I'll be sure to post some pictures when we get back from Harbin.