A Guest Post

Written April 14, 2009

Greetings to those who follow The Shanghai Chronicle. Today I picked up the mantle of its first guest blogger. I am G's mother, and have been in China for two weeks and will leave tomorrow. We have had quite a time. I've decided to give a list of thoughts I've collected over the trip:

1. It's a very long flight when you add a five hour delay in Chicago. (From home to Shanghai took approximately 24 hours.)

2. Thrilled to see my daughter alive and well. (Deep down I knew she would be, but it's so good to touch!)

3. I met Ade, one of G's good friends. She's a lovely, happy person with a beautiful smile and sparkly eyes.

4. We had a wonderful Beijing hotpot dinner with Curt and Sara. I've decided Curt's a foodie. If you need a great place to eat in Shanghai, ask Curt.

5. I had my first pedicure and manicure at the same time... I felt like a kept woman with all that pampering. :)

6. Part of the program was a four night stay in Sanya, which is an island in the South China Sea. The resort and spa were wonderful. Thoughts about the stay:

- WILDLIFE - lots of dragonflies, butterflies, feral cats singing at 5am, the best was a Wall Tiger (壁虎 - a gecko) sitting next to G; she was not amused

- SPA - four hours of bliss, I know I'm a kept woman (thank you David)

- THE VIEW - a private coral bay, lovely mountains and a restful horizon line

- FOOD - simple and of course we ate too much

- PROBLEMS - Although covered and sunsprayed, I got sunburned. G on the other hand picked up some sort of "flu bug" (very nasty!)

We left Sanya whipped and spent the next few days recuperating. The apartment is great so we read lots, laid around and watched TV - she has English cable! There also were these wonderful peanuts with salt and sugar on them. I'll miss those (and my daughter) when I come home.

Today she went back to work [BOO HISS, but one must pay the bills]. My final test here in China is to walk by myself to her office. Map and cell phone in hand, I'm up for the adventure!

Signing off-

Mom