Happy New Year from Shenzhen

     December has come and gone.  It was actually a relief to be here in China early in the month, where we appreciated the absence of excesses that go with the Christmas season in the U.S.   I didn’t feel particularly excited about going back to Minnesota for a few weeks.  The snowstorm that closed the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport a half-hour before our scheduled arrival on December 11 didn’t do much to build my excitement; the thought of maneuvering snowy roads in post-storm subzero weather was not appealing, especially since I hadn’t driven for 4 months.  But after an unexpected overnight in Detroit, freezing rain there the next morning and further delay, I finally began to feel eager to be home.   A day later than we’d planned, a cab dropped us off a block from our house.  The snowplow had not been through our street yet, but 4 of Leah’s friends had shoveled a path through the 18” on our sidewalks.  They were waiting at our house when we arrived, the Southwest H.S. Sherpas who lugged our luggage that last block.  The Best Sister Ever had hung a pine swag on the front door, had left a beautiful poinsettia on the dining room table, as well as pickled herring and other provisions in the fridge—and had come by the night before the storm to turn up the heat.  What a nice homecoming!  Within an hour I had emptied my meager supply of cinnamon sticks into a pot of fruit soup on the stove and had put a pan of gingerbread in the oven.  Our unlived-in house smelled lived-in again, and the excited girls sitting on the living room floor made it sound lively, too.

     It took a day or two to feel at home in our home.   Old routines soon became familiar:  driving in the snow, dressing for the cold, and getting ready for Christmas.  Returning to familiar faces and places was a comfort.  Despite my earlier lack of enthusiasm about returning to Minnesota, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing family and friends and celebrating Christmas, as well as the everyday miracles of American amenities.  Departure day came too fast, and I didn’t feel ready to leave it all again.

     But here we are, back in our apartment in Shenzhen, having arrived in the wee hours on December 31.   We’re settling back into our second home, getting used to our China routines, and it’s all OK.  Here’s what’s new:

     •  The weather has turned relatively cool in the few weeks while we were gone.  Nearby Hong Kong saw 40º this morning, which is about as cool as it gets here.  2 t-shirts and 2 sweatshirts kept me warm in our apartment, and by midday the sun felt very warm.  Maybe central heating won't be missed much after all…

     •  Terry discovered that most of the Chinese people he works with are taking a long New Year’s weekend, so he’s got a few days to rest up and ease into his work.  Leah doesn’t go back to school until Tuesday, either. 

     •  I was surprised and touched by the big smiles and greetings from some of the young Chinese workers that I talk to on my various daily rounds. “Nice to see you.  You were gone a LONG time!” 

     •  Leah’s friends tell her that the subway to our part of the city is now open.  Yesterday we walked by the stop nearest our apartment and sure enough, there were a few people going up and down the stairs and the lights were on down by the platform.  I had thought about trying it out this afternoon, but instead I ended up taking a long, jetlag-busting New Year’s nap.

     •  The oranges here are fantastic this time of year, very flavorful and sweet.  Yesterday I bought 3 different sizes and they were all tasty.  Our favorite is a tiny walnut-sized mandarin.

     •  We finally have a floor plant for our apartment.  I’ve been admiring various attractive options on sidewalk displays and vendor’s carts for months, but never quite decided how to get one home.  My problem was solved easily and cheaply this morning when I took out a bag of trash.  Sitting on the floor by the garbage bin in the stairwell was a healthy-looking succulent, which I promptly salvaged.  It’s quarantined on the balcony for now, just in case I missed something.

     So begins the first day of 2011 for us.  Best wishes to you for a happy and healthy 2011!