Zhoumo kuaile!

It's cold and rainy here in Shanghai this weekend, and my guess is that a golf outing we had planned with friends will be replaced with a movie (Bourne seems to be the only decent English option; have you seen it?). And no, I don't golf, but I'm told I should learn and I'm game. My first lesson, however, will have to take place another day, it seems. 

On a more exciting note, Mike and I are off to Beijing on Monday. I’m accompanying him on a business trip, something I had told myself I’d do going forward, taking advantage of my current situation (that being unemployed). Although I wish our destination were a new city (I traveled to Beijing back in August), I’ll have more time to explore during this trip, and see the sites I missed last time, like the Summer Palace. 

But who am I kidding? I’m also going to take advantage of his hotel’s high-speed Internet and fancy gym with pool.

Bike Trip Video

Remember our ride to Chongming Island? A fellow cyclist (the talented Derryck Menere) created this awesome video of the trip. Keep an eye out for us! (I'm in the mint green with white polka dots shorts, sporting a pink shell half-way through; Mike has on a basketball jersey. And you know what our bikes look like.)

Obama Re-elected

As planned, Robin and I spent most of today in a hotel ballroom turned red, white and blue with balloons, party hats and flower arrangements. Very patriotic indeed. We were glued to the large screens, watching the numbers change and yellow turn to red or blue on CNN's electoral map. The atmosphere was marked by cautious optimism on all sides. 

When Ohio turned, some applause broke out, but I got the sense that attendees wanted to be respectful of one another's desired outcome. Once CNN projected Obama's win, applause grew louder and you could feel the excitement in the room. At that point, most people chose to leave and get back to their day, but Robin and I closed out the party by staying for the speeches. And though I try to remain mum on politics (lessons learned), tonight I go to sleep a happy and proud American.  

"We remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America." President Barack Obama, November 6, 2012

Treasure Hunting

As planned, Mike and I ventured over to Pudong (across the river) on Saturday morning in search of the antique market we had read about on a fellow Shanghai cyclist's blog. Bike riding in Pudong was lovely: the streets were wide open and empty, rendering the bike lane nice, certainly, but unnecessary.

We rode alongside a number of buildings that had been erected for the 2010 World Expo -- something we had done before, but on the other side of the river (our side, Puxi). Representing different exhibiting countries, each building is unique in its size, shape, color, and design. But with the Expo long over, many of these buildings are now abandoned and lifeless. The scene was eerie at times, especially given it looked like this only a few years ago.  

Credit goes to Mike and his sense of direction; after veering off the empty roads and making a few turns onto more crowded streets, we reached our destination by turning right down a dirt path. Come to find out it wasn't so much a market as it was a large, one-story room.

It didn't look like much from the outside, but once you walked inside, the room quickly turned into a warehouse -- with stuff piled on top of stuff, and more stuff in every direction you'd turn. Narrow pathways led you to the back and to either side of the cold, dark warehouse that held years' worth of junk and treasures. I kept thinking of the field day reality TV characters (on shows like Spike's "Auction Hunters" or The Discovery Channel's "Dirty Money") would have at a place like this.  

We scoped it out and quickly decided to come back the next day with Bob. Treasures we found on this hunt: two bamboo ladders and an old watering jug made of cherry wood. The plan is to restore them (project!) and go huntin' again soon. 

Zhoumo kuaile!

Happy weekend, everyone! 

No big plans for this weekend (after last weekend’s excitement) other than keeping our cycling legs in shape by going on a long (but not that long) bike ride Saturday or Sunday morning -- perhaps to the Shanghai Pudong Antique Market where we’ll hunt for hidden treasures. I’ve been itching to make our apartment look more like us than a generic, oversized hotel room.

On another note, I received confirmation in the mail yesterday that I’m registered to vote from China, and I just faxed my ballot in from the Ritz-Carlton’s business center. How much does it cost to exercise one’s right to vote from China? Approximately $10.50. All in the name of democracy!

Along with most of you on Tuesday night, my lovely friend Robin and I will be catching the election results Wednesday morning at a party jointly hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce, the U.S. Consulate General and the American Women’s Club of Shanghai. 

"OK" -- two letters that tell me
my vote is in.

P.S. Invitations have been sent and the turkey has been ordered for our first Thanksgiving in Shanghai! We’re having friends from my Chinese class over; three Germans, two Brazilians and one Russian will be joining four Americans for a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixins. More to come on the actual execution of this dinner, given our small kitchen, undersized oven, and hard-to-find ingredients. We're up for the challenge!