Serendipity and Celebration

On Wednesday we had a culminating event for our summer camp. The children performed the Lion King and we had a party with the parents. Afterwards the staff went out to celebrate at what we hoped would be the new Starbucks opening down the street, but were disappointed to see that there had been a delay and it was not ready yet. It was one of those moments where I was hot and tired and thinking "oh why didn't I just go home to rest". As has happened to me so many times since we've gotten here, things seem to go wrong and then actually end up working out great. Our party stumbled down the street a little bit to the grand opening of a new restaurant. There were huge red and gold banners and giant floral displays with the princess style hostesses. They wear the floor length qipaos (tight fitting silk dresses with the sides split all the way up their legs - these were all red with gold dragons) and the sashes that remind me of Miss America. It was Shanghai cuisine and Abbey enjoyed the big pillows in our chairs, her fancy orange juice drink, and the "princess" playing the Chinese harp like instrument. The kids played in the fountains around our tables and the adults relaxed. I am learning just to go with the flow and be ready for surprises around any corner.

Very silly monkey who has escaped the circle of life and is running around eating cake.

This posh new restaurant was absolutely empty when we arrived, and a bee hive of activity when we left. People love to eat out in Sh#nzh*n.

Our friend Steve proposing a toast to Bob Ware, who once told him not to drink beer in Holland.

This was Abbey's favorite spot, playing with the lily pads and asking lots of questions about the instrument. She re-enacted this scene the next morning and was especially taken with the fact that the harpist had little metal picks on her fingertips.