Christmas in Shanghai

We really didn't know what to expect for Christmas in Shanghai. We arrived at night and it was nice to see driving thru the complex the lighted trees in the windows or on the terraces. One development has Merry Christmas in lights on its security building. The club is decorated with trees and garland. The stores had decorations and Christmas music could be heard in the stores and on the radio. There was definately a Christmas feeling in the air.

A family that we know here had to go back to the states for the holidays. They offered their tree and whatever else we needed. We took them up on their offer and Jason and the boys looked like the grinch carrying the tree back to our place. We bought a few decorations and gave the apartment some Christmas cheer!
We teased the kids by putting toilet paper, kleenexes, combs under the tree. When they woke up the next morning they had some "toys-r-us" wrapped gifts under the tree. It was nice that they did wrapping. We were amazed at how many people were buying Christmas gifts.

It was nice, everyone was wishing us a Merry Christmas but we didn't know if we should always reply but we did anyway. Tony (the driver whom is on loans from the friends) took us to one of his favorite Chinese restaurants. It was funny because we walked in expecting to be seated in that room but they told us to follow them and they took us out the back door where it was very dark and not the prettiest of sights. We continued to follow with glances at one another and they took us inside another building. It was a nice surprise to see that we got a private room. There was a big round table with a spinning piece that went around the center where there was a hot plate for the big pot of broth. It was Chinese Fondue.

We let Tony order and they brought tons of food. We only had chopsticks, a straw and plastic gloves for utensils.

The gloves were to hold the big bone pieces of hot meat. The straws were to suck the marrow out of the bone. I tried but I couldn't do it. I wonder what Tony was thinking?????? It was a delicious meal.

We wanted to buy a new tv for the living room. So we headed to Best Buy. They were very helpful and we got a good deal. Hee Hee They demonstrated to us how to set up the DVD player. I got out the camera to take some pictures and Jason wanted some of the different screens.

Well they delivered the tv the next day but Jason & I weren't home. So he left the tv on the floor. When we got home we thought we would just hook it up. Well we were wrong. Everything was in Chinese and we couldn't figure it out for anything. We had to get Tony to come by the next day to interpret for us. Even the remote is in Chinese. We finally got it working and we were a happy family again! We are enthralled by all the CSI's. We have at least 10 American channels.

However, Jason still hasn't been able to get this screen when we turn on the DVD player. We do have both items converted to English. The DVD player doesn't seem to be working right so we may need to make another trip to Best Buy to return it. That should be lots of fun!!