Journey to Oahu

We started our journey to Oahu by taking a train from Nanjing to Shanghai, then flying from Shanghai to Tokyo, then just 6 hours to Honolulu. Rachel kept herself and her new little friend busy on the train ride to Shanghai.

We had a 6 1/2 hours layover in Tokyo/Narita, so we ventured out of the airport into Narita town. We are so glad we did, because it was our first experience in Japan, outside of the airport.

We made our way through Narita to a Buddhist temple, where a ceremony was taking place. We didn't go in, but I got a shot of a priest ringing the bell at the end of the ceremony.

We had a genuine Japanese dinner, complete with removing our shoes, sitting on the floor, and sipping green tea.

Nothing like a romantic dinner with 4 of our favorite people...can you see the look of relaxation taking over Jim's face as we get farther from Nanjing and work?

As fresh as it gets! This restaurant displays their fresh eels in front of the restaurant. You can thank me for not posting the video.

Jim had a moment of fantasy, as he saw a Harley on the street in Narita. So when are you too old for a mid-life crisis?!

Hawaii! We arrived one hour and 45 minutes BEFORE we left Shanghai on Dec. 18th. We lived the day twice, but then lost Dec. 26 on our way home. Rachel, our girl who is full of surprises, packed her own leis so we could be welcomed to the island appropriately!

Nothing like having a bunch of parrots dropped on you the first step you take in Waikiki!

We met our Minnesotan friends, the Thompsons, in Oahu. It was a happy reunion for everyone and what a perfect place to hangout with friends.

Jesse and Weston were inseparable during our time on Oahu. In fact, Weston left a few days before us and Jesse lost all interest in going to the beach at Waikiki..."It won't be any fun without Weston." Sniff, sniff.

Grace and Grace gave surfing a shot, as well as Jim, Judy, Becca, and Levi. The consensus is it's alot harder than it looks!

Some people head to a luau when they get to Hawaii, but the Arnebergs head to Taco Bell! We had to remind ourselves how to go through a drive-thru...and Jim had to remember how to drive.

We ate a pineapple a day. Yum.

And, of course, shave ice was a staple in our diets!

We took in the typical tourist sites, climbing Diamond Head on a nice overcast day.

We had perfect weather during the time we were there. We were thinking about all of our friends and family having a white Christmas on the mainland...

We had 2 occasions to see sea turtles, sunbathing on the beach on the North Shore...and had some educational conversations with the volunteers who help protect the turtles when they come ashore.

Snorkeling! We had a great day at Hanauma Bay, a sunken volcano crater with the coral reef right at the shoreline. I (Joann) didn't expect to snorkel due to my poor vision and inability to wear contacts, but they rented Rx snorkeling masks for nearsighted people like me. It was a gift to be able to snorkel and take in the beauty under the water.

The boys tried staying up on a boogey board. Jesse gave it a shot.

Levi started asking early on how he could live in Hawaii someday...

Becca, Grace, and Grace. I became convinced that it is good to have other teenage girls with you on vacation! They smiled alot and were fun to be around.

We took a whale cruise for an afternoon and saw 2 Humpback whales (from a distance) and group of spinner dolphins. We also got to make fresh flower leis. Some of our kids took part in the ukelele lessons and then performed for everyone on the boat. Grace came home with her own ukelele, a Christmas gift from Rachel.

Ahhhhhh.

We spent 2 days at the North Shore of Oahu, where the waves are BIG in winter.

We hiked the Manoa Valley to a waterfall.

Jesse was insistent on going to Pearl Harbor. It is a very moving memorial that made a deep impression on Jesse.

No comment.

Back in Shanghai. Jesse was given this bird carved from a large vegetable by a chef at our hotel. He carried it to the train station then decided he didn't want to hold it anymore, so he gave it to an employee at a shop. She was delighted with the gift and Jesse's generousity. It is good to be "home."

Happy New Year!

Warmest (really) wishes for a happy new year...whether you follow the lunar or the Gregorian calendar! We are very aware of the coming Chinese New Year, celebrating the Year of the Ox, as the stores are filled with CNY merchandise--lanterns, door decorations with oxen on them, specially-packaged foods, beautiful cards, etc. It's like Christmas-time in the US for the retail world.

Socially, families are planning get-togethers and, for folks like us, work groups are gathering to remember the previous year and toast to the coming year. We've been told CNY is very similar to Thanksgiving in the US--but it goes on much longer! The whole country can get gridlocked from all of the travelling.

The kids will get one week off from school--which seems crazy to us since they just had 3 weeks off for Christmas. But, alas, that is part of bridging two cultures. Jim plans to skip town during CNY, heading to Chihuahua, Mexico, to visit the Emerson plant there and assist in the training of two new Chinese engineers.

Weatherwise, we keep hearing the reports of a very snowy, cold Midwest...and I can't say I miss that part of American life! Here in Nanjing, it is getting colder each day, it seems, and there are rumors of snow, but I have yet to see any. We are wearing our layers and slippers and wrapping up in fleece blankets. We have heaters in each room (except the bathrooms!) and we are BLESSED to have in-floor heat in the main level of the house. Very nice on the toes.

Many of you have asked how we spent our first Christmas in China...well, we didn't! We got out of town, like most of the ex-pat community. It has been like a ghost town around here. Most of the ex-pats leave the day school lets out and return to their home country, returning the day before school begins. For the Arnebergs, we didn't see the need to return to Minnesota when we are gone for only one year total. While jet-lag and below zero temps and living with relatives sounds inviting, we made the decision to go to a warmer climate for part of our holiday time.

We spent Christmas 2008 in Oahu with Barack. We didn't actually see him, but we knew he was around...and wasn't he in Kenya a while back when we were there (2006)? Very interesting...I wonder how long it will take for him to visit China?

Hawaii was WONDERFUL. It was the right balance of relaxation, activity, sunshine, English, shave ice, and socializing. Our friends, the Thompsons, from Maplewood, joined us for part of our time there and it was a sweet reunion, esp. for Jesse and Weston and Grace and Grace. See the photos!

A Tale of Two Road Trips

A couple of weeks ago, I had, not one, but two, chances to go to Suzhou, a city between Nanjing and Shanghai that is known for its beautiful gardens, silk factories, and pearl markets. As Christmas is approaching, the attraction of Suzhou is strong because of so many options for great gifts and authentic items.

My German classmates, Rita and Michela, and I planned a trip with our teenage daughters and one of their friends. After we had all our details in place, I was invited to go to Suzhou earlier in the week with the wives of some of the Emerson employees--3 American and 2 Chinese women, one who had lived in Suzhou and knew how to navigate in the city...not to mention who would be very helpful when bargaining in the markets. Plus, we had been trying to get together for lunch, so why not extend our time to a whole day together, lunch included...eventually! :-)

So, same place, pretty much the same goal, but 2 very different experiences! I think the differences come down to different cultural perspectives on time and food. With the Chinese-led group, we left with only water as our reinforcements and we hit the road and kept going until we reached the Pearl Market. After getting our fill of pearls around 2:30 pm, we went out for a sit-down lunch, then we continued on to a silk shop and other Chinese gift shops. We decided we'd better head home once it started to get dark and rode home tired from a full day.

The second trip was influenced by the German approach: start out the day at the bakery and drink coffee and eat bread, pack food for the time in the car, stop along the way at a roadside stop and stretch, and eat a snack in the car before going into the Pearl Market. Once done shopping, eat again in the car: meatballs, potato salad, spring rolls, fruit and veggies and dip. Since it was about 3 pm, it was decided we should get home to check on our families, so we skipped any further stops and hit the road. Along the way we ate chocolate (German, of course). About 30 minutes outside of Nanjng, my friend Michela turns to me and says, "we would like to invite you to have some champagne with us!" Now?! China has no "open bottle" policy, and we had a designated driver (Li Min, our Emerson driver), so POP! We toasted our successful road trip and our friendship that began just 3 months ago.

I love being part of the international community and sharing experiences with my new diverse group of friends. I am continuing to learn how to be flexible!

The Emerson Wives' Club: Monica, Peggy, Jennifer, and Susan. Our motto that day: shop 'til you drop!

One of many shops in the Pearl Market. Case upon case, row upon row of pearls, beads, and gems-ready assembled or assembled while you wait or supplies for DIY.

Pearls. Each pearl is sorted by size, shape, quality, and color.

Grace (center), Chelsea (left) and Tess (right). These three girls joined the moms for the trip to Suzhou. We treated them to coffee and croissants before we hit the road.

The bargaining can be intense! This shopkeeper stood her ground, but so did Chelsea. The shopping experience can be a big game some days. I have learned that if you ask how much something costs, it pretty much means you want it. Ask only if you are prepared for the negotiations to begin!

Grace in the Pearl Market with her new necklace.

A toast on the road. Only in China with German travel partners!

Levi Can Cook!

By Joann

Levi has culinary tendencies and decided to put his skills to use by baking me a cake for my birthday. I just couldn't resist recording him at work in the kitchen. (The cake was delicious!)

Signs That it is Winter in Nanjing

The banana trees have been trimmed back and wrapped in preparation for the colder temps. I was wondering what would happen to the banana trees since they are a tropical plant and Nanjing can get very cold and snowy. They wrap the palm trees, too. Everybody has found their winter coats and hats!

Jesse turned 9 on Dec. 14th! Woooohooo! He requested breakfast in bed--he was lucky it was a Sunday! He celebrated by having a friend stay overnight. The kids' Christmas break started Dec. 12th, so most of the ex-pat kids have left China for home or other locations. Jesse will have a party in January when the rest of his friends return.

Christmas party and Emerson "team builder." Jim and I hosted a gathering for his staff of engineers at our house. First they went bowling then they came to our home for dinner. We had about 18 people for dinner and were very thankful for our extra large table!

The Christmas decorations are displayed in force throughout the shopping areas of Nanjing. Most Chinese don't celebrate Christmas, but they certainly go all out with the decorations. (Actually, we've been told the younger generations are starting to celebrate Christmas, but most have no long-standing traditions.)

Joann begrudgingly marked another year. Christmas is just around the corner!

Autumn Colors

While it may be snowing where you are (or not!), we are enjoying beautiful fall days: crisp cold air, sunny skies (really!), and the slow changing color of the leaves. I have been taking long walks on Purple Mountain and have to pinch myself most days that I live in this beautiful place where the Chinese of past dynasties have walked for centuries and enjoyed the same views that I enjoy--just minutes from my house. I'd like to share some of the views with you.

I never get tired of seeing the Chinese landscaping and architecture. The attention to detail is inspiring.

Stone animal sculptures along a tree-lined path, just down the road from our house.

Jesse joined me for a bike ride. Now that the weather is cooler, they will allow bikes through the gates. During the warmer months, bikes are restricted.

A nearby pagoda on plum blossom hill. The plum blossoms will flower in the spring and supposedly the path becomes packed with people eager to get a glimpse of the blossoms. I'm going to enjoy the open spaces now.

No, the leaves don't turn purple and white in Nanjing, but aren't they pretty?! These trees aren't on Purple Mountain, but near the Confucious Temple in town.

Thanksgiving, Chinese-style

The formula for a good ol' American Thanksgiving: Boys! Jesse missed being with his cousins, but Jay and Eli were pretty good companions for Thanksgiving dinner.

Lots of people. Our Thanksgiving dinner consisted of 7 adults and 12 kids and we had enough food for 100 people!

A great meal! Grace with Laurel and Nicki, fellow teenagers. Everyone was eager to eat a real American meal; the Chinese don't eat much gravy!

The PIES! Apple, pumpkin, and pecan. I think we met everyone's criteria for Thanksgiving dinner. We took the opportunity to give thanks for all we have learned and experienced this past year.