I am not funny, China is funny.: I have come a long way, baby!

I really like it here. I know! I am just as shocked as you are at that statement! Because of the poverty, I don’t know if I will ever say, “I love it”, but it is a pretty cool place to be at the moment. Before we moved here, Tony was trying to convince me that I would love it by saying, “You will have a gardener, a cook, a maid!” My response was always, “Then what the heck will I do?!” Well, I don’t have a gardener and a cook, but I do have a driver and a maid. What will I do? Whatever I want!

Before I sound TOO spoiled, we aren’t allowed to drive over here, so a driver is necessary. How awesome, though! Cesar (our driver) takes the kids to school each morning. Wherever I need to go, he drops me at the front door. No need to worry about parking! Want a couple of glasses of wine at dinner? Sure, Cesar is driving! Hannah Grace forgot her gym clothes the other day, so Cesar took them to school to her while I had my toes done. He is incredibly awesome, too! He is completely safe (always has those hands at ten and two) and seems to adore the children. Bonus! One more plug for my driver: When I first had to go the store by myself, I guess Cesar could tell I was terrified. Instead of dropping me off, he parked the car and took me around the store. He is the best!

What else do I love here?

*Saturday markets full of fresh fruit/veggies and homemade bread

*Blue skies and warm weather almost every day. Okay, I know I arrived during the best time of year, but I will take it while it lasts!

*The sweetest maid to do all of the things that I hate (and she does it with a smile on her face)! Most of the time, I don’t even realize she is here. One of her first days here, I almost wet my pants when I turned the corner and she was standing right there. Oh, I am still getting used to shutting the door when I am getting dressed.

*FRIENDS. Friends that I swore I wouldn’t meet. I wanted to be a recluse because it was so hard to leave my Australia peeps. Man, I would have missed out on so much, though!

So,just like when I used to sing along to my Annie record, “I think I’m gonna like it here!”