tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78359432242214349062024-03-13T18:20:14.873+08:00Farleys Far Awayjimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-85309715995905133042020-05-05T09:50:00.000+08:002020-05-05T10:19:17.256+08:00Our Week 2020<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Every year we like to put together a video of what a typical week looks like. Every year it feels boring and a little tedious, just like the year before-to the point where it never feels important. But the truth is, we love going back and watching all of them (links for: <a href="http://farleysfaraway.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-video-week-in-review.html" target="_blank">2015</a>, <a href="http://farleysfaraway.blogspot.com/2016/02/video-of-our-week-january-24-30-2016.html" target="_blank">2016</a>, <a href="http://farleysfaraway.blogspot.com/2017/02/2017-week-in-review-video.html" target="_blank">2017</a>, <a href="http://farleysfaraway.blogspot.com/2018/02/for-last-four-years-weve-done-snapshot.html" target="_blank">2018</a>, <a href="https://farleysfaraway.blogspot.com/2019/" target="_blank">2019</a>), so we continue to persevere with this project.<br />
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We have always made the videos at the end of January/beginning of February, right after Lunar New Year. Usually nothing special is going on, so it really captures <i>typical</i>. This was the plan for 2020 too. Then you know what happened. There was no "after Lunar New Year" there was just "lockdown".<br />
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After waiting and waiting for things to return to normal, we decided to just make the video anyway. There have been some changes over the past few weeks and some of that shows up in the video. School opened but just for grade 9. Jim has been going into work in a very strange, largely empty building. Some restaurants are open and skateboarding class has started again.<br />
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A lot is still very abnormal. The walls are still up and there is a constant sense that we may go back to lockdown at any time. There is still a lot of repetitive working at the dining room table, watching Price is Right, and playing video games. But for now this video is a glimpse of what things are like at the moment.<br />
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Grace and Ruby are in 7th grade, August in 4th. Jim is teaching History and Economics and Irish is doing the same job, and is also back in school starting work toward a doctorate at the University of Illinois. And this is what late April 2020 in Tianjin was like for the most part for the Farleys:<br />
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jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-60996370094335471012020-04-06T23:56:00.000+08:002020-04-07T08:16:59.048+08:00Waiting patiently<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Like everyone we are paying close attention to what is happening in the United States and other parts of the world. We see the
efforts at social distancing and shelter in place orders ramping up toward
something like we have had here in China and we continue to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hear a lot from friends and family who are
getting started with this. People understandably want to get a sense of what to expect and maybe
now a sense of optimism about there being some end in sight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Back in January and February as China was first locking down we
were unprepared for the scale of the response and we were adapting to unexpected changes every day. The required masks and
temperature checks everywhere were pretty easy to go along with. Then the roadblocks
and walls went up around our neighborhood. Everything
closed up, deliveries were stopped. The expectation, and really the only option, was to stay indoors. It all
felt oppressive, and then gradually became just the day to day
reality. Each additional restriction was a source of concern, but then
just something we had to get used to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">We held on to the idea
that it was all a response to an immediate crisis and that things would return
to normal before too long, we just needed to be patient. The initial school
closure of two weeks had been a surprise. When that stretched on for two more
weeks, and then to an open ended closure we still thought that at least by Spring things
should be returning to normal. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">When we decided not to leave
China at the start of all this we thought we could use the money we would save
for a trip somewhere nice during Spring break, it seemed long off, a time we could
look forward to. We found ways to adapt and cope. And a second anonymous essay was <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-china-social-distancing-how-to-prepare_n_5e70c7c9c5b60fb69dde3aa1?fbclid=IwAR069Fd9TtKRN5e24pLApGzgqgSgap8MMu7mPOBrQfkt9213ZCT4S4NmrzU" target="_blank">published in the Huff Post</a> talking about this sort of thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">So now it is April. Our Spring break just ended and it was a week not very different from the ones before it, spent almost entirely at home. The roadblocks are still up in our
neighborhood, the walls are still in place. School is still closed. More
significantly all travel into China is stopped which means we can not leave if
we plan on returning. Even if we wanted to leave the flights out are increasingly
limited and it is not clear where in the world we would go. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Before China stopped all foreigners from coming into the country
they had shifted from in-home quarantine to a mandatory two week quarantine in
government hotels. We have some friends who waited too long, missed the in-home
option, and now they are finishing up their hotel stays. Their experience
sounds somewhere between minimally tolerable and really unpleasant. Bad food,
not enough water, broken refrigerator and TVs. Not stepping one foot outside
the room for the whole two weeks. And as a family we would be confined to our
room with our kids. It sounds like something to be avoided if at all possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">We have been hearing about
China easing up some of the restrictions over the past few weeks, but that has not been
consistent throughout the country. The government in our city seems to be very
cautious, and the local government in our part of the city even more so. We
have heard that this is in part because we are close to the capital. It also
seems likely that there are risks for them associated with easing restrictions
compared to just keeping them in place. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">However, over the past few days there have been some small but promising changes.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">A section of one of the blue walls was opened this week to allow pedestrian
traffic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">There are still guards there checking IDs but they seem more
casual than the ones at the roadblocks, just waving us through when we held up
the ID. Significantly this allows us access to the market across the street from
our school. It was incredibly nice to see the vendors doing a thriving
business. We went around and bought fruits and vegetables along with some
snacks. Then we got takeout dinner to bring home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U3-4Aw7tqhY/XonOW2kYqkI/AAAAAAAAQMg/EHutXZ3k1WsYgU9IyOSWLvm_xorkCRH6QCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoDfU0rcTIC8liZh3cOE9xaT6E-9lSD96CcxwYdF_CirDcw3Z8lEmXbllsQQF6JF_FQ7EA7rVeP0eqa2BVfdV-86OKPZ1zF9LguZyYp3ALCeEEj65k611lnZlNia-MKk3bilFH6WTBadXtGS-EUK9z14kuqYpdwNxuTXHd7TaZOyQI6dMhgfyDMs9qC2tfNTCKhJrxNbfXLzVIsge4w3xrc0zY0Bo9OSiuSlQMs2okWxduoHHqUMfnBq1iHxpPmq8WUPkgQjrL1r-qRIBheDhN5pNRbJLmo4jvLXbZeNLMLOvHOPXln6VEr7Kc8sawZOqHLQxftQR1X7OK8w1sh69WF-j2fTdu-tSgdfqGL21dj9kz7yrbS2QXXH58Pfw13mNjm0ItAOKaSjs97X-XU6bdnX0zrj-BEG0AyhkqvJOKyERV635xwJvhP9hbDvBh4RVN3swzgno6uADlzXUlrNVpeiHn_k_2-oIJcyQIbBASIO_myIg8eFegI9fG1GBKSXrlM2rRQpQgm0Smprv4ZV9-5RKuPgWUSWP5x9b1fy7HRxJsgbarRbB-aMvG0Tb_66tOL80hyY0ZkN3k4pLLGpsU43P_yjjkfa3O8wk6Wn9AU/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U3-4Aw7tqhY/XonOW2kYqkI/AAAAAAAAQMg/EHutXZ3k1WsYgU9IyOSWLvm_xorkCRH6QCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoDfU0rcTIC8liZh3cOE9xaT6E-9lSD96CcxwYdF_CirDcw3Z8lEmXbllsQQF6JF_FQ7EA7rVeP0eqa2BVfdV-86OKPZ1zF9LguZyYp3ALCeEEj65k611lnZlNia-MKk3bilFH6WTBadXtGS-EUK9z14kuqYpdwNxuTXHd7TaZOyQI6dMhgfyDMs9qC2tfNTCKhJrxNbfXLzVIsge4w3xrc0zY0Bo9OSiuSlQMs2okWxduoHHqUMfnBq1iHxpPmq8WUPkgQjrL1r-qRIBheDhN5pNRbJLmo4jvLXbZeNLMLOvHOPXln6VEr7Kc8sawZOqHLQxftQR1X7OK8w1sh69WF-j2fTdu-tSgdfqGL21dj9kz7yrbS2QXXH58Pfw13mNjm0ItAOKaSjs97X-XU6bdnX0zrj-BEG0AyhkqvJOKyERV635xwJvhP9hbDvBh4RVN3swzgno6uADlzXUlrNVpeiHn_k_2-oIJcyQIbBASIO_myIg8eFegI9fG1GBKSXrlM2rRQpQgm0Smprv4ZV9-5RKuPgWUSWP5x9b1fy7HRxJsgbarRbB-aMvG0Tb_66tOL80hyY0ZkN3k4pLLGpsU43P_yjjkfa3O8wk6Wn9AU/s400/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202124.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the gap in the wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8IcOYpeDtw/XonOTy9Jy_I/AAAAAAAAQM0/C4QAMVxJXeoCpL2MzEsb4q6Nx5B44BtuACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoDfU0rcTIC8liZh3cOE9xaT6E-9lSD96CcxwYdF_CirDcw3Z8lEmXbllsQQF6JF_FQ7EA7rVeP0eqa2BVfdV-86OKPZ1zF9LguZyYp3ALCeEEj65k611lnZlNia-MKk3bilFH6WTBadXtGS-EUK9z14kuqYpdwNxuTXHd7TaZOyQI6dMhgfyDMs9qC2tfNTCKhJrxNbfXLzVIsge4w3xrc0zY0Bo9OSiuSlQMs2okWxduoHHqUMfnBq1iHxpPmq8WUPkgQjrL1r-qRIBheDhN5pNRbJLmo4jvLXbZeNLMLOvHOPXln6VEr7Kc8sawZOqHLQxftQR1X7OK8w1sh69WF-j2fTdu-tSgdfqGL21dj9kz7yrbS2QXXH58Pfw13mNjm0ItAOKaSjs97X-XU6bdnX0zrj-BEG0AyhkqvJOKyERV635xwJvhP9hbDvBh4RVN3swzgno6uADlzXUlrNVpeiHn_k_2-oIJcyQIbBASIO_myIg8eFegI9fG1GBKSXrlM2rRQpQgm0Smprv4ZV9-5RKuPgWUSWP5x9b1fy7HRxJsgbarRbB-aMvG0Tb_66tOL80hyY0ZkN3k4pLLGpsU43P_yjjkfa3O8wk6Wn9AU/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200405201958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8IcOYpeDtw/XonOTy9Jy_I/AAAAAAAAQM0/C4QAMVxJXeoCpL2MzEsb4q6Nx5B44BtuACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoDfU0rcTIC8liZh3cOE9xaT6E-9lSD96CcxwYdF_CirDcw3Z8lEmXbllsQQF6JF_FQ7EA7rVeP0eqa2BVfdV-86OKPZ1zF9LguZyYp3ALCeEEj65k611lnZlNia-MKk3bilFH6WTBadXtGS-EUK9z14kuqYpdwNxuTXHd7TaZOyQI6dMhgfyDMs9qC2tfNTCKhJrxNbfXLzVIsge4w3xrc0zY0Bo9OSiuSlQMs2okWxduoHHqUMfnBq1iHxpPmq8WUPkgQjrL1r-qRIBheDhN5pNRbJLmo4jvLXbZeNLMLOvHOPXln6VEr7Kc8sawZOqHLQxftQR1X7OK8w1sh69WF-j2fTdu-tSgdfqGL21dj9kz7yrbS2QXXH58Pfw13mNjm0ItAOKaSjs97X-XU6bdnX0zrj-BEG0AyhkqvJOKyERV635xwJvhP9hbDvBh4RVN3swzgno6uADlzXUlrNVpeiHn_k_2-oIJcyQIbBASIO_myIg8eFegI9fG1GBKSXrlM2rRQpQgm0Smprv4ZV9-5RKuPgWUSWP5x9b1fy7HRxJsgbarRbB-aMvG0Tb_66tOL80hyY0ZkN3k4pLLGpsU43P_yjjkfa3O8wk6Wn9AU/s320/WeChat%2BImage_20200405201958.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting for our dinner</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0vT6PJHbOtg/XonOTPsg_gI/AAAAAAAAQMo/zedtZ1Q_zLkSnaenBDQJlf-gB5cdJgx3gCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoDfU0rcTIC8liZh3cOE9xaT6E-9lSD96CcxwYdF_CirDcw3Z8lEmXbllsQQF6JF_FQ7EA7rVeP0eqa2BVfdV-86OKPZ1zF9LguZyYp3ALCeEEj65k611lnZlNia-MKk3bilFH6WTBadXtGS-EUK9z14kuqYpdwNxuTXHd7TaZOyQI6dMhgfyDMs9qC2tfNTCKhJrxNbfXLzVIsge4w3xrc0zY0Bo9OSiuSlQMs2okWxduoHHqUMfnBq1iHxpPmq8WUPkgQjrL1r-qRIBheDhN5pNRbJLmo4jvLXbZeNLMLOvHOPXln6VEr7Kc8sawZOqHLQxftQR1X7OK8w1sh69WF-j2fTdu-tSgdfqGL21dj9kz7yrbS2QXXH58Pfw13mNjm0ItAOKaSjs97X-XU6bdnX0zrj-BEG0AyhkqvJOKyERV635xwJvhP9hbDvBh4RVN3swzgno6uADlzXUlrNVpeiHn_k_2-oIJcyQIbBASIO_myIg8eFegI9fG1GBKSXrlM2rRQpQgm0Smprv4ZV9-5RKuPgWUSWP5x9b1fy7HRxJsgbarRbB-aMvG0Tb_66tOL80hyY0ZkN3k4pLLGpsU43P_yjjkfa3O8wk6Wn9AU/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200405201942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0vT6PJHbOtg/XonOTPsg_gI/AAAAAAAAQMo/zedtZ1Q_zLkSnaenBDQJlf-gB5cdJgx3gCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoDfU0rcTIC8liZh3cOE9xaT6E-9lSD96CcxwYdF_CirDcw3Z8lEmXbllsQQF6JF_FQ7EA7rVeP0eqa2BVfdV-86OKPZ1zF9LguZyYp3ALCeEEj65k611lnZlNia-MKk3bilFH6WTBadXtGS-EUK9z14kuqYpdwNxuTXHd7TaZOyQI6dMhgfyDMs9qC2tfNTCKhJrxNbfXLzVIsge4w3xrc0zY0Bo9OSiuSlQMs2okWxduoHHqUMfnBq1iHxpPmq8WUPkgQjrL1r-qRIBheDhN5pNRbJLmo4jvLXbZeNLMLOvHOPXln6VEr7Kc8sawZOqHLQxftQR1X7OK8w1sh69WF-j2fTdu-tSgdfqGL21dj9kz7yrbS2QXXH58Pfw13mNjm0ItAOKaSjs97X-XU6bdnX0zrj-BEG0AyhkqvJOKyERV635xwJvhP9hbDvBh4RVN3swzgno6uADlzXUlrNVpeiHn_k_2-oIJcyQIbBASIO_myIg8eFegI9fG1GBKSXrlM2rRQpQgm0Smprv4ZV9-5RKuPgWUSWP5x9b1fy7HRxJsgbarRbB-aMvG0Tb_66tOL80hyY0ZkN3k4pLLGpsU43P_yjjkfa3O8wk6Wn9AU/s320/WeChat%2BImage_20200405201942.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--oWVDtQAQXs/XonOXC0eHgI/AAAAAAAAQMs/1POna-tcOIsC6w4yiE5EkRE6vUh-wwAOgCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoDfU0rcTIC8liZh3cOE9xaT6E-9lSD96CcxwYdF_CirDcw3Z8lEmXbllsQQF6JF_FQ7EA7rVeP0eqa2BVfdV-86OKPZ1zF9LguZyYp3ALCeEEj65k611lnZlNia-MKk3bilFH6WTBadXtGS-EUK9z14kuqYpdwNxuTXHd7TaZOyQI6dMhgfyDMs9qC2tfNTCKhJrxNbfXLzVIsge4w3xrc0zY0Bo9OSiuSlQMs2okWxduoHHqUMfnBq1iHxpPmq8WUPkgQjrL1r-qRIBheDhN5pNRbJLmo4jvLXbZeNLMLOvHOPXln6VEr7Kc8sawZOqHLQxftQR1X7OK8w1sh69WF-j2fTdu-tSgdfqGL21dj9kz7yrbS2QXXH58Pfw13mNjm0ItAOKaSjs97X-XU6bdnX0zrj-BEG0AyhkqvJOKyERV635xwJvhP9hbDvBh4RVN3swzgno6uADlzXUlrNVpeiHn_k_2-oIJcyQIbBASIO_myIg8eFegI9fG1GBKSXrlM2rRQpQgm0Smprv4ZV9-5RKuPgWUSWP5x9b1fy7HRxJsgbarRbB-aMvG0Tb_66tOL80hyY0ZkN3k4pLLGpsU43P_yjjkfa3O8wk6Wn9AU/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--oWVDtQAQXs/XonOXC0eHgI/AAAAAAAAQMs/1POna-tcOIsC6w4yiE5EkRE6vUh-wwAOgCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoDfU0rcTIC8liZh3cOE9xaT6E-9lSD96CcxwYdF_CirDcw3Z8lEmXbllsQQF6JF_FQ7EA7rVeP0eqa2BVfdV-86OKPZ1zF9LguZyYp3ALCeEEj65k611lnZlNia-MKk3bilFH6WTBadXtGS-EUK9z14kuqYpdwNxuTXHd7TaZOyQI6dMhgfyDMs9qC2tfNTCKhJrxNbfXLzVIsge4w3xrc0zY0Bo9OSiuSlQMs2okWxduoHHqUMfnBq1iHxpPmq8WUPkgQjrL1r-qRIBheDhN5pNRbJLmo4jvLXbZeNLMLOvHOPXln6VEr7Kc8sawZOqHLQxftQR1X7OK8w1sh69WF-j2fTdu-tSgdfqGL21dj9kz7yrbS2QXXH58Pfw13mNjm0ItAOKaSjs97X-XU6bdnX0zrj-BEG0AyhkqvJOKyERV635xwJvhP9hbDvBh4RVN3swzgno6uADlzXUlrNVpeiHn_k_2-oIJcyQIbBASIO_myIg8eFegI9fG1GBKSXrlM2rRQpQgm0Smprv4ZV9-5RKuPgWUSWP5x9b1fy7HRxJsgbarRbB-aMvG0Tb_66tOL80hyY0ZkN3k4pLLGpsU43P_yjjkfa3O8wk6Wn9AU/s320/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202133.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irish thinks its funny that I take my scooter driving very seriously</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">There is another new app for our phones that creates a green QR
code if you report that you are healthy and have not </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">traveled</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> anywhere. It
seems like this system relies on people being honest as they fill it out. But with
this app Didi drivers are now able to come in to our neighborhood. This is a
huge shift for us. We are able to get around the city again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qmX5p6aNSPk/XonOXsDeYjI/AAAAAAAAQMs/FhRJccnBitkU0cpx75wQZ1jUwhEI_2GVwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoBw3RaZCHme_L_9u4Zj0p9o9P4CG-4lKEsWlylxrvtqB_64XAdvetQ4bU4C0P810KguuocazHQoHEN-Ye4mP4DWse86HWhWg3TUWLZhV_cx_aaIR8_nX0y29cWFtU_s5kmiDRkHN_Mib_Lo263T2KL5_Qb5kyPxPHgCLub50TadH6c807YVX7baALB7NfY9iDYKTVQ5DASZKujV6NVrSUBVRbrdwalCCgfhuuerk5p-Fpt8Bj4sBrRKiCSRr-_c86eU1v838MTv-vszr9Xzl_Rw9DWoATap5uCWXRs6UBUqaqGq8nM4Fec18qcZo_kuhbR0fwtsWaD7mZdFG2qkTrsXxTRjBJ_cp7t57Y4zq8ULloSdHJKXaWGuieg_aTIsu3Z0MFGI3N_VwwmMKwhJZHXiu8KQMRdrN0BUPqb9MN96p6KCbzyX9niWpAUhUZbmQyoPk20tJp8A-nd0Ji6tPYxW-1bt9X_-PKLkvcUmtlKrcN0JmlC-CntHvoDnmMsWhohkD3Zu9GTinEG9fFF_oKwbYWcvfAj7PvIKgRv6Zs59Q0xRps-7MHHRcRxmvct7BbxKmDzFZdZqvGgade0SQ5dht1E0Ftg9bJAwnqan9AU/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qmX5p6aNSPk/XonOXsDeYjI/AAAAAAAAQMs/FhRJccnBitkU0cpx75wQZ1jUwhEI_2GVwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoBw3RaZCHme_L_9u4Zj0p9o9P4CG-4lKEsWlylxrvtqB_64XAdvetQ4bU4C0P810KguuocazHQoHEN-Ye4mP4DWse86HWhWg3TUWLZhV_cx_aaIR8_nX0y29cWFtU_s5kmiDRkHN_Mib_Lo263T2KL5_Qb5kyPxPHgCLub50TadH6c807YVX7baALB7NfY9iDYKTVQ5DASZKujV6NVrSUBVRbrdwalCCgfhuuerk5p-Fpt8Bj4sBrRKiCSRr-_c86eU1v838MTv-vszr9Xzl_Rw9DWoATap5uCWXRs6UBUqaqGq8nM4Fec18qcZo_kuhbR0fwtsWaD7mZdFG2qkTrsXxTRjBJ_cp7t57Y4zq8ULloSdHJKXaWGuieg_aTIsu3Z0MFGI3N_VwwmMKwhJZHXiu8KQMRdrN0BUPqb9MN96p6KCbzyX9niWpAUhUZbmQyoPk20tJp8A-nd0Ji6tPYxW-1bt9X_-PKLkvcUmtlKrcN0JmlC-CntHvoDnmMsWhohkD3Zu9GTinEG9fFF_oKwbYWcvfAj7PvIKgRv6Zs59Q0xRps-7MHHRcRxmvct7BbxKmDzFZdZqvGgade0SQ5dht1E0Ftg9bJAwnqan9AU/s320/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202259.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irish riding in the front seat, kind of defeating the purpose of the plastic barrier</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Ikea has opened, with </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">employees</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> strangely covered from head to toe. We are still watching the Price is Right in the middle of the day with our dog who is thrilled we are around so much more. We are getting some more exercise with a new pull up bar as we wait for the gym to reopen. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F4h44dcMU44/XonOYDqBgfI/AAAAAAAAQMw/e8gtb2i-8hcqCzF4ZPEmO4-Lp7m14E32ACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoCKUpbgT0EF1Sc3MmZLIvDKn-Qv8Xz3iCaoeLH6_0RgJ6gptdSQqKmcZlHagHa3caJjm4IOcBthkzQjstjkcEcrhnXdvjC2UR5YdviTnNfPvdTFbmJ8-oai8vDrmlzS7rGWlWXj4A3ELw508vilAX3OS9SzI7Y3cmGTkGjfgJNrdGlOfkqas5FZ9HZ1AMRH9YK5s4VV7sgL-_11yPBCpE4lpEQ1W7yuPajB206uLv_1mVFAqNb3PkPl9VCAQQNPM2rSRsh9gWUk_dL8NMOftnc-lPx9wIdVEMb8gidToMRaOFlROG4zGs8PBbVhE5wmmAKUyaOG2241eBrhcEQZPVu4ph8im_Zp6Lprpu8kkX9M26_gAe8Bvy7X05conOnTcWy0U3ZR2QRc8fbM3M5olDZh8d29inB0WEoYWk62aEE-ZuMV8EEMiYEKuIvw22qldEprcZTmmWHZO7jx3hFm_ojGUw5r_nrVsmvQOFE_gz9gqX2hJC1yKvayKEQ3biaMH1xEYr0-40QfGNW5BKCRsDGSG8ChhIK-zTV2AuxoMc3bftHl47XvkOgDsEf0g8PYC70-4a1EuZ8OYK4MwS6cM-b3WEXwvS6kmc8w3qyn9AU/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F4h44dcMU44/XonOYDqBgfI/AAAAAAAAQMw/e8gtb2i-8hcqCzF4ZPEmO4-Lp7m14E32ACEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoCKUpbgT0EF1Sc3MmZLIvDKn-Qv8Xz3iCaoeLH6_0RgJ6gptdSQqKmcZlHagHa3caJjm4IOcBthkzQjstjkcEcrhnXdvjC2UR5YdviTnNfPvdTFbmJ8-oai8vDrmlzS7rGWlWXj4A3ELw508vilAX3OS9SzI7Y3cmGTkGjfgJNrdGlOfkqas5FZ9HZ1AMRH9YK5s4VV7sgL-_11yPBCpE4lpEQ1W7yuPajB206uLv_1mVFAqNb3PkPl9VCAQQNPM2rSRsh9gWUk_dL8NMOftnc-lPx9wIdVEMb8gidToMRaOFlROG4zGs8PBbVhE5wmmAKUyaOG2241eBrhcEQZPVu4ph8im_Zp6Lprpu8kkX9M26_gAe8Bvy7X05conOnTcWy0U3ZR2QRc8fbM3M5olDZh8d29inB0WEoYWk62aEE-ZuMV8EEMiYEKuIvw22qldEprcZTmmWHZO7jx3hFm_ojGUw5r_nrVsmvQOFE_gz9gqX2hJC1yKvayKEQ3biaMH1xEYr0-40QfGNW5BKCRsDGSG8ChhIK-zTV2AuxoMc3bftHl47XvkOgDsEf0g8PYC70-4a1EuZ8OYK4MwS6cM-b3WEXwvS6kmc8w3qyn9AU/s320/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202308.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ikea workers being extra cautious</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-33Nq3YwyqNM/XonOWHahsVI/AAAAAAAAQMY/j9vsmk7Y_qs_7FL2EpK75ARWhjSAZO8ZwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoCKUpbgT0EF1Sc3MmZLIvDKn-Qv8Xz3iCaoeLH6_0RgJ6gptdSQqKmcZlHagHa3caJjm4IOcBthkzQjstjkcEcrhnXdvjC2UR5YdviTnNfPvdTFbmJ8-oai8vDrmlzS7rGWlWXj4A3ELw508vilAX3OS9SzI7Y3cmGTkGjfgJNrdGlOfkqas5FZ9HZ1AMRH9YK5s4VV7sgL-_11yPBCpE4lpEQ1W7yuPajB206uLv_1mVFAqNb3PkPl9VCAQQNPM2rSRsh9gWUk_dL8NMOftnc-lPx9wIdVEMb8gidToMRaOFlROG4zGs8PBbVhE5wmmAKUyaOG2241eBrhcEQZPVu4ph8im_Zp6Lprpu8kkX9M26_gAe8Bvy7X05conOnTcWy0U3ZR2QRc8fbM3M5olDZh8d29inB0WEoYWk62aEE-ZuMV8EEMiYEKuIvw22qldEprcZTmmWHZO7jx3hFm_ojGUw5r_nrVsmvQOFE_gz9gqX2hJC1yKvayKEQ3biaMH1xEYr0-40QfGNW5BKCRsDGSG8ChhIK-zTV2AuxoMc3bftHl47XvkOgDsEf0g8PYC70-4a1EuZ8OYK4MwS6cM-b3WEXwvS6kmc8w3qyn9AU/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-33Nq3YwyqNM/XonOWHahsVI/AAAAAAAAQMY/j9vsmk7Y_qs_7FL2EpK75ARWhjSAZO8ZwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoCKUpbgT0EF1Sc3MmZLIvDKn-Qv8Xz3iCaoeLH6_0RgJ6gptdSQqKmcZlHagHa3caJjm4IOcBthkzQjstjkcEcrhnXdvjC2UR5YdviTnNfPvdTFbmJ8-oai8vDrmlzS7rGWlWXj4A3ELw508vilAX3OS9SzI7Y3cmGTkGjfgJNrdGlOfkqas5FZ9HZ1AMRH9YK5s4VV7sgL-_11yPBCpE4lpEQ1W7yuPajB206uLv_1mVFAqNb3PkPl9VCAQQNPM2rSRsh9gWUk_dL8NMOftnc-lPx9wIdVEMb8gidToMRaOFlROG4zGs8PBbVhE5wmmAKUyaOG2241eBrhcEQZPVu4ph8im_Zp6Lprpu8kkX9M26_gAe8Bvy7X05conOnTcWy0U3ZR2QRc8fbM3M5olDZh8d29inB0WEoYWk62aEE-ZuMV8EEMiYEKuIvw22qldEprcZTmmWHZO7jx3hFm_ojGUw5r_nrVsmvQOFE_gz9gqX2hJC1yKvayKEQ3biaMH1xEYr0-40QfGNW5BKCRsDGSG8ChhIK-zTV2AuxoMc3bftHl47XvkOgDsEf0g8PYC70-4a1EuZ8OYK4MwS6cM-b3WEXwvS6kmc8w3qyn9AU/s320/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202054.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lunch with the Price is Right</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3JUd2kNonI/XonOWOUI3YI/AAAAAAAAQMk/omUXxf6D63YjZxEr_HBi0oxb-taJ5iFNwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoCKUpbgT0EF1Sc3MmZLIvDKn-Qv8Xz3iCaoeLH6_0RgJ6gptdSQqKmcZlHagHa3caJjm4IOcBthkzQjstjkcEcrhnXdvjC2UR5YdviTnNfPvdTFbmJ8-oai8vDrmlzS7rGWlWXj4A3ELw508vilAX3OS9SzI7Y3cmGTkGjfgJNrdGlOfkqas5FZ9HZ1AMRH9YK5s4VV7sgL-_11yPBCpE4lpEQ1W7yuPajB206uLv_1mVFAqNb3PkPl9VCAQQNPM2rSRsh9gWUk_dL8NMOftnc-lPx9wIdVEMb8gidToMRaOFlROG4zGs8PBbVhE5wmmAKUyaOG2241eBrhcEQZPVu4ph8im_Zp6Lprpu8kkX9M26_gAe8Bvy7X05conOnTcWy0U3ZR2QRc8fbM3M5olDZh8d29inB0WEoYWk62aEE-ZuMV8EEMiYEKuIvw22qldEprcZTmmWHZO7jx3hFm_ojGUw5r_nrVsmvQOFE_gz9gqX2hJC1yKvayKEQ3biaMH1xEYr0-40QfGNW5BKCRsDGSG8ChhIK-zTV2AuxoMc3bftHl47XvkOgDsEf0g8PYC70-4a1EuZ8OYK4MwS6cM-b3WEXwvS6kmc8w3qyn9AU/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p3JUd2kNonI/XonOWOUI3YI/AAAAAAAAQMk/omUXxf6D63YjZxEr_HBi0oxb-taJ5iFNwCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoCKUpbgT0EF1Sc3MmZLIvDKn-Qv8Xz3iCaoeLH6_0RgJ6gptdSQqKmcZlHagHa3caJjm4IOcBthkzQjstjkcEcrhnXdvjC2UR5YdviTnNfPvdTFbmJ8-oai8vDrmlzS7rGWlWXj4A3ELw508vilAX3OS9SzI7Y3cmGTkGjfgJNrdGlOfkqas5FZ9HZ1AMRH9YK5s4VV7sgL-_11yPBCpE4lpEQ1W7yuPajB206uLv_1mVFAqNb3PkPl9VCAQQNPM2rSRsh9gWUk_dL8NMOftnc-lPx9wIdVEMb8gidToMRaOFlROG4zGs8PBbVhE5wmmAKUyaOG2241eBrhcEQZPVu4ph8im_Zp6Lprpu8kkX9M26_gAe8Bvy7X05conOnTcWy0U3ZR2QRc8fbM3M5olDZh8d29inB0WEoYWk62aEE-ZuMV8EEMiYEKuIvw22qldEprcZTmmWHZO7jx3hFm_ojGUw5r_nrVsmvQOFE_gz9gqX2hJC1yKvayKEQ3biaMH1xEYr0-40QfGNW5BKCRsDGSG8ChhIK-zTV2AuxoMc3bftHl47XvkOgDsEf0g8PYC70-4a1EuZ8OYK4MwS6cM-b3WEXwvS6kmc8w3qyn9AU/s320/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202045.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1bPZedBhvIg/XonOYQfh98I/AAAAAAAAQM0/x18UXFVUYrcYjtUCPxWtN9Rxd1ECac8PgCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoCKUpbgT0EF1Sc3MmZLIvDKn-Qv8Xz3iCaoeLH6_0RgJ6gptdSQqKmcZlHagHa3caJjm4IOcBthkzQjstjkcEcrhnXdvjC2UR5YdviTnNfPvdTFbmJ8-oai8vDrmlzS7rGWlWXj4A3ELw508vilAX3OS9SzI7Y3cmGTkGjfgJNrdGlOfkqas5FZ9HZ1AMRH9YK5s4VV7sgL-_11yPBCpE4lpEQ1W7yuPajB206uLv_1mVFAqNb3PkPl9VCAQQNPM2rSRsh9gWUk_dL8NMOftnc-lPx9wIdVEMb8gidToMRaOFlROG4zGs8PBbVhE5wmmAKUyaOG2241eBrhcEQZPVu4ph8im_Zp6Lprpu8kkX9M26_gAe8Bvy7X05conOnTcWy0U3ZR2QRc8fbM3M5olDZh8d29inB0WEoYWk62aEE-ZuMV8EEMiYEKuIvw22qldEprcZTmmWHZO7jx3hFm_ojGUw5r_nrVsmvQOFE_gz9gqX2hJC1yKvayKEQ3biaMH1xEYr0-40QfGNW5BKCRsDGSG8ChhIK-zTV2AuxoMc3bftHl47XvkOgDsEf0g8PYC70-4a1EuZ8OYK4MwS6cM-b3WEXwvS6kmc8w3qyn9AU/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1bPZedBhvIg/XonOYQfh98I/AAAAAAAAQM0/x18UXFVUYrcYjtUCPxWtN9Rxd1ECac8PgCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoCKUpbgT0EF1Sc3MmZLIvDKn-Qv8Xz3iCaoeLH6_0RgJ6gptdSQqKmcZlHagHa3caJjm4IOcBthkzQjstjkcEcrhnXdvjC2UR5YdviTnNfPvdTFbmJ8-oai8vDrmlzS7rGWlWXj4A3ELw508vilAX3OS9SzI7Y3cmGTkGjfgJNrdGlOfkqas5FZ9HZ1AMRH9YK5s4VV7sgL-_11yPBCpE4lpEQ1W7yuPajB206uLv_1mVFAqNb3PkPl9VCAQQNPM2rSRsh9gWUk_dL8NMOftnc-lPx9wIdVEMb8gidToMRaOFlROG4zGs8PBbVhE5wmmAKUyaOG2241eBrhcEQZPVu4ph8im_Zp6Lprpu8kkX9M26_gAe8Bvy7X05conOnTcWy0U3ZR2QRc8fbM3M5olDZh8d29inB0WEoYWk62aEE-ZuMV8EEMiYEKuIvw22qldEprcZTmmWHZO7jx3hFm_ojGUw5r_nrVsmvQOFE_gz9gqX2hJC1yKvayKEQ3biaMH1xEYr0-40QfGNW5BKCRsDGSG8ChhIK-zTV2AuxoMc3bftHl47XvkOgDsEf0g8PYC70-4a1EuZ8OYK4MwS6cM-b3WEXwvS6kmc8w3qyn9AU/s640/WeChat%2BImage_20200405202318.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irish waiting outside a grocery</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Some restaurants are opening up in a limited way. On Friday we met
friends at a mall. This place has outrageously expensive retailers, Gucci,
Prada, we have never been able to understand how they do enough business to
stay open. But the mall also has a great pizza place. There is a rule that there
can only be two people per table, so we took up five tables and had a great
time. We have been spending very little money recently so we were feeling rich
and over ordered by a little. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bI27WF_AAqw/XonOSq0dvFI/AAAAAAAAQMY/JkUusEnj-r8Z8D9a0Kkklr1BjaG1w7p2gCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoCllLR27U4VGBPIOl218vvny7MctqvQ3Bfiz3lfLh_6Cy43dK_YyjcZM0peMwVyAMbTi8_uP4HaRvRmUk5-9ryc7qEszWp-xvJ1mLAgpp2xoYVSG7Q9Qm1Ecwr6dEF2JwI-q-U1boewvC6_qRxrp9-FL0VvPViSCN3a5wSV9zjnfsFtcRYUeAL1CIPxwXZRrBHVqrHlz5JZNwPDCsacx0X9P-DFuoFvh-nht1_WWZPBNZdyzkY5fevoTrKAlwn3j12d9GeLcX1DrUT7uYXWynswX5RqDXJ3fuNeB2A4NgfMgIfmfkGEkzoLR0eXH_1gVtF0cbJ41EMJMmIlf9m1nwxKcg8GVx27y9ooh2JFzalkbK2T3FrN5t_VtSeF-mQOhkmwbe-8c4aWYlFBj7TBweuVbejl-AK1zCBF2dB00Kp6L0dpA8C7HeuqrXieb2p-QNqCOgBJ2ij1gScrKwIcT1EtMsiGprXQRa-0okfhQXlFLBWK9jCQnSiDbxqI5Y8Ay-Rg6tx5UfqV_ODtilCIl1oOk_LV2CacE61wyDad5hBpzeTK547rdGc6frGzC8JXRFfDsxun-_qO_c9hK8eaxZwrKdkjc9XwrWgwoqqn9AU/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200405201930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bI27WF_AAqw/XonOSq0dvFI/AAAAAAAAQMY/JkUusEnj-r8Z8D9a0Kkklr1BjaG1w7p2gCEwYBhgLKs0DAMBZVoCllLR27U4VGBPIOl218vvny7MctqvQ3Bfiz3lfLh_6Cy43dK_YyjcZM0peMwVyAMbTi8_uP4HaRvRmUk5-9ryc7qEszWp-xvJ1mLAgpp2xoYVSG7Q9Qm1Ecwr6dEF2JwI-q-U1boewvC6_qRxrp9-FL0VvPViSCN3a5wSV9zjnfsFtcRYUeAL1CIPxwXZRrBHVqrHlz5JZNwPDCsacx0X9P-DFuoFvh-nht1_WWZPBNZdyzkY5fevoTrKAlwn3j12d9GeLcX1DrUT7uYXWynswX5RqDXJ3fuNeB2A4NgfMgIfmfkGEkzoLR0eXH_1gVtF0cbJ41EMJMmIlf9m1nwxKcg8GVx27y9ooh2JFzalkbK2T3FrN5t_VtSeF-mQOhkmwbe-8c4aWYlFBj7TBweuVbejl-AK1zCBF2dB00Kp6L0dpA8C7HeuqrXieb2p-QNqCOgBJ2ij1gScrKwIcT1EtMsiGprXQRa-0okfhQXlFLBWK9jCQnSiDbxqI5Y8Ay-Rg6tx5UfqV_ODtilCIl1oOk_LV2CacE61wyDad5hBpzeTK547rdGc6frGzC8JXRFfDsxun-_qO_c9hK8eaxZwrKdkjc9XwrWgwoqqn9AU/s640/WeChat%2BImage_20200405201930.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a pretty night outside the mall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Throughout this there have been a number of small losses and
disappointments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Nothing on the scale of the medical crisis that is happening or
the economic catastrophe that seems to be taking shape. But these small things
are still real. It stung as we watched planned events get cancelled. The girls
had a model UN trip to Beijing they had been looking forward to. There was going to be a teacher workshop in Bangkok. Augustine had grown remarkably interested in baseball watching spring training on the MLB network until all sports were suddenly cancelled. The kids experience of 7<sup>th</sup> and 4<sup>th</sup>
grade as a whole will have been an unusual one. As teachers we feel for all our students as many of them struggle, in particular grade 12 students who will not be able to take the IB exams that they have prepared two years for, or have any of the
concluding experiences a normal school year provides. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Looking ahead we are increasingly aware that for the first time in
8 years abroad it is likely we can not come back to America in the summer. This will be sharply
disappointing. There is a lot that we like about living in China, but there has
always been comfort in returning, seeing family and friends. And for now and the foreseeable future that may be out of reach. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Over the past 10 weeks it feels like we have gone through several waves of changes in
our lives. We went from this being a distant news story to something that affected
us in a very immediate day to day fashion. And now, we are increasingly aware
that it is not going away any time soon. Our jobs appear to be secure for next
year, though the school will have to make adjustments to changing circumstances. We are cautiously optimistic that in small ways our lives will be less </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">constrained</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> over the coming weeks, and we are also aware that things could turn for the worse at any time. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Beyond that we are waiting patiently again. </span></div>
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jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-75658762299667003212020-03-10T19:56:00.001+08:002020-03-10T20:30:10.434+08:00Update: Same Same<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Over the past few weeks we have been reading the news a lot, we see the number of new cases in China appear to be dropping significantly. So far that has not translated into any big changes in our day to day lives though. Depending on our mood it can be unbearably frustrating or boring occasionally a little frightening. And then often it is just the routine we are getting used to.<br />
<br />
The walls are still up in our neighborhood and the roadblocks at the entrances are still there. The New York Times had an article featuring our city and the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/business/coronavirus-china-tianjin-response.html" target="_blank">Great Blue Walls</a> (Tianjin does not get represented very well in the article, it really is a nicer city than they suggest).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zm6siL3YzM4/XmeCc-LZE-I/AAAAAAAAQJ4/WL95Ns2Kc6Y_ECyLZcOP5DlSEzwkomayQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WechatIMG22.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zm6siL3YzM4/XmeCc-LZE-I/AAAAAAAAQJ4/WL95Ns2Kc6Y_ECyLZcOP5DlSEzwkomayQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/WechatIMG22.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still checking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There continue to be no visitors and no didi (like Lyft) or taxis allowed in to our neighborhood. In fact, other neighborhoods have followed and many are now just as restrictive as the OC. Soon after our last post there was a new rule issued saying we had to use an app on our phone to scan a QR code every time we went into a public building. It seemed like big imposition when we were told about it, very Orwellian. But in practice the only places for us to go is a grocery store up the road and one convenience store. So we just scan and tell the government where we are every time we buy food.<br />
<br />
As the cases in Korea and other countries have increased there seems to be a lot of fear of it coming back and starting again here. Restrictions for people who have been travelling are getting more rigid. Formal two week quarantine in home for everyone returning. And people living in apartments or residential hotels appear to have particularly close attention with sensors put on people's doors making sure they don't leave.<br />
<br />
As a part of this new concern we were told the local government would be coming door to door checking on every foreigner in the neighborhood and checking our passports. In that context we were warned that the trip to the embassy in Beijing might lead to quarantine. This was frustrating, but then it took days and no one came to the house and eventually we were told we could just send in our information and they would come to us if they had any questions.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the middle of all of this an article was <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-covid19-life-china-precautions_n_5e4eaa73c5b6df1e8be3d4d7?fbclid=IwAR0W_4UXSy4tjr959TkylmIAKegIyxoy4swneqtiC_hARayNRIOoOLUJz0M" target="_blank">published on the Huffington Post</a>
written by an anonymous couple. If you look closely at the blurred out picture
it is not too hard to sort out one of the two authors. And if you follow us on
Facebook or Instagram it is not much of a mystery at all. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was meant to be a simple account of what it has been like
living in this strange set of circumstances, similar to what we have been
posting here. It was in no way a political commentary, and in writing it a
lot of effort was made to not identify a city or a particular workplace. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was sent off just to see if there was interest and it was flattering and exciting when they bought it. Then when it was posted it moved up from their personal stories section to the featured section and that was exciting too. The response from friends was great. It seemed to have been read and shared with others in the way we intended. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However it is the internet, filled with lots and lots of strangers and it turns out the internet is not always a place for thoughtful nuanced discussion. We had been divided on whether to even read the online comments. Among the themes repeated were the following:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Living in China and not hating China means the
authors are shills for the Chinese government, or hopelessly naïve about the
country they live in.</span></li>
<li>Conversely the authors should be listening <u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">more</u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
closely to the government and they are not following the rules closely
enough.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Going for a walk or a run in the neighborhood
despite there being no rules or suggestions against it is dangerous and means
you want to get the virus.</span></li>
<li>If you mention getting coffee at Starbucks you
are shallow and dumb, not worth listening to.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So that part was depressing. But on the whole still good for those anonymous people to be published authors. Writing it was a fun and remarkably collaborative process and a good way to pass some time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The quarantine has also spread over our annual birthday season. On February 15th, 25th and March 1st we have three of our family's five birthdays (Grace and Ruby are in July). It was all pretty low key. Breakfast in bed, lots of TV, cakes made with varying degrees of success by the girls. And then right before other neighborhoods got locked down friends took our kids for a sleepover and we were able to get away for one night at Four Seasons hotel. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sv8k1FUfLss/Xmd1MR4nRRI/AAAAAAAAQJY/DDDuwsBMfBUEg3eb6LWQI1RTNW8839A5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG-0903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sv8k1FUfLss/Xmd1MR4nRRI/AAAAAAAAQJY/DDDuwsBMfBUEg3eb6LWQI1RTNW8839A5QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG-0903.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great room, nice view at the Four Seasons</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EUH3gssL6Kc/Xmd1E-eTbaI/AAAAAAAAQJQ/kmoIZQb6WQY3_XGi5TabmeoBLr5K7LqrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG-0921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EUH3gssL6Kc/Xmd1E-eTbaI/AAAAAAAAQJQ/kmoIZQb6WQY3_XGi5TabmeoBLr5K7LqrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/IMG-0921.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a very nice breakfast with very few people</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YsW30feT5Pw/Xmd0ydj-iRI/AAAAAAAAQI8/ETGOX4pyQfAOE-GLDaT1847BBn0eBBVvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG-0789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YsW30feT5Pw/Xmd0ydj-iRI/AAAAAAAAQI8/ETGOX4pyQfAOE-GLDaT1847BBn0eBBVvwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG-0789.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irish's birthday </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4Am-ORd-WU/XmeHm94uJ2I/AAAAAAAAQKE/DnsARq6W7l4ZzrGyhrIVOzOS0zw0VqOKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WechatIMG23.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4Am-ORd-WU/XmeHm94uJ2I/AAAAAAAAQKE/DnsARq6W7l4ZzrGyhrIVOzOS0zw0VqOKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/WechatIMG23.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim's birthday</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
For Augustine's birthday we ran out of cake mix so he had birthday brownies and put together a virtual party of sorts. One friend from the neighborhood came over and then they played the video game Fortnite online with seven friends from all around the world. August was remarkably understanding about the limitations of what is possible. And honestly he loves that game enough that he might have wanted to do it that way even if we were not under these restrictions. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMNPNknllcY/XmXIfhQNovI/AAAAAAAAQHw/UzMiglZvefo9p1jfanHxq3atWQfDt4m1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-03-09%2Bat%2B12.36.59%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tMNPNknllcY/XmXIfhQNovI/AAAAAAAAQHw/UzMiglZvefo9p1jfanHxq3atWQfDt4m1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-03-09%2Bat%2B12.36.59%2BPM.png" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we also ran out of birthday candles so we just lit 10 candles from around the house</td></tr>
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<br />
Over the past few days there have been the slightest changes which we hope are like the first little buds that appear in spring time.<br />
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There was a negotiation to allow the import store DMart deliver to homes in the OC. We can order some food from them that isn't available at the local grocery (cheese!). They have also started delivering packages to a central parking lot where you can pick up your package in the afternoon between 2:00-6:00.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qo9_T0kR8GE/XmXIhO8MiyI/AAAAAAAAQH0/A_8hShkXJooqeme6svMLEHtA1k0wFfRHACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-03-09%2Bat%2B12.37.19%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="532" height="307" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qo9_T0kR8GE/XmXIhO8MiyI/AAAAAAAAQH0/A_8hShkXJooqeme6svMLEHtA1k0wFfRHACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-03-09%2Bat%2B12.37.19%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Elizabeth Porkchop checks out the package center</td></tr>
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Sam's Club is open and part of the mall closest to us opened too. Not Starbucks, but a few other stores including H&M. So now we can get $15 sweatshirts with sequined pictures of Garfield to wear to the grocery or around our house or back to H&M. But still. Is this something? Is this a hint? We hope.<br />
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There are also rumors of school opening for the upper grades as soon as next week... or maybe the following week...or possibly in April.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8OUaR58vw9w/Xmd1OE1CU-I/AAAAAAAAQJc/_dJken5Gi7AZyDBOrPZmvt6LiH5CMjw_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/IMG-0983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1198" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8OUaR58vw9w/Xmd1OE1CU-I/AAAAAAAAQJc/_dJken5Gi7AZyDBOrPZmvt6LiH5CMjw_wCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG-0983.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Safety first at Sams Club,</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WYMReotfjWw/XmXIk2k3EoI/AAAAAAAAQIM/L1-mk0_TxzAvRo-dLLtA7teWa0C7L9RGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-03-09%2Bat%2B12.38.10%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="480" height="335" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WYMReotfjWw/XmXIk2k3EoI/AAAAAAAAQIM/L1-mk0_TxzAvRo-dLLtA7teWa0C7L9RGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-03-09%2Bat%2B12.38.10%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and at the mall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KwuBWAh6_QI/XmXIjSAZ08I/AAAAAAAAQII/dNm99T921JIBUFQS-o8CsvkUwZe657aTACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-03-09%2Bat%2B12.38.04%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="534" height="297" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KwuBWAh6_QI/XmXIjSAZ08I/AAAAAAAAQII/dNm99T921JIBUFQS-o8CsvkUwZe657aTACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-03-09%2Bat%2B12.38.04%2BPM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and in the didi</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">For now we continue with our routine. We are still working in the office upstairs while the kids are at school downstairs in the dining room. We go for a run almost daily. We have been watching movies and are fully up to date on TV shows and podcasts. We have been playing a lot of games as a family, both board games and on the PS4. We continue to work through this monster of a paint-by-numbers portrait. All told w</span><span style="text-align: left;">e are holding up as well as can be expected. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9KDFqjvo4U/XmXIhRyK_TI/AAAAAAAAQH8/J9z1E0GTXZ48SFJgua_TJiX3rZpwJWLlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-03-09%2Bat%2B12.37.11%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="626" height="241" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e9KDFqjvo4U/XmXIhRyK_TI/AAAAAAAAQH8/J9z1E0GTXZ48SFJgua_TJiX3rZpwJWLlQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-03-09%2Bat%2B12.37.11%2BPM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hard at work?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">staying pretty</td></tr>
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We keep following the news, watching this start to play out around the world, hoping for the best. Just a few months until summer break, and maybe a new quarantine when we come to visit the United States?<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">加油!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giddy Up.</td></tr>
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jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-44898949841759265332020-02-13T23:29:00.003+08:002020-02-20T15:54:45.829+08:00Things are getting stranger<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The responses to our last post suggested we had conveyed a sense of optimism and a positive attitude in the face of trying circumstances. It is possible that was overstated by a little bit, but it was nice to be seen that way. So we have been on the fence about following up with a slightly gloomier post. It has been both interesting, and incredibly boring here over the past week and some things are getting strange.<br />
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School had initially been closed until February 17th, and we were expecting that to extend until March 2nd. On Sunday Irish and I went in to a meeting at school and learned the closure would be extended to March 9th. With a full month away from school this would allow some people who wanted to get out of China the opportunity to travel.<br />
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We talked about it and there are a few things that make getting away complicated for our family. One issue is that my passport has less than six months left before it expires. I kept making appointments at the embassy over the past few weeks and then they would be cancelled because the embassy was closed. A lot of countries, most notably Thailand, will not let me enter with less than six months on the passport. We considered the Philippines but found out people we knew from Korea had been turned back at the airport in Manila because they had been in China. Vietnam has similar passport issues and is similarly unhappy with people from China arriving now. We thought about flying to the US but realized a lot of people might not want to see us for fear of contagion, and that we might have a hard time renting anywhere to stay, and that we would likely be expected to self quarantine for two weeks, and that it would cost a lot of money. So we decided (/it was decided for us) that we would stick it out in China.<br />
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I did eventually get an appointment at the embassy for early Monday morning. After the meeting at school on Sunday I took the train up to Beijing. I had my temperature taken at least five times on my way there. In a 7-11 before I could buy my Diet Coke and peanuts the clerk had to take my temperature and write it down on a clipboard where she asked me to write my name and passport number. On the train I had to fill out paper work saying where I was staying in Beijing, and again my passport number, and again a temperature check<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w5BKr2ORBKI/XkVV_hzQu3I/AAAAAAAAQCg/r-3vXUYE05onMQMBM9p6nNmRseSeKL0lQCEwYBhgL/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200213214715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w5BKr2ORBKI/XkVV_hzQu3I/AAAAAAAAQCg/r-3vXUYE05onMQMBM9p6nNmRseSeKL0lQCEwYBhgL/s200/WeChat%2BImage_20200213214715.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nl2-BHCXLeY/XkVV_gvKhoI/AAAAAAAAQCk/3krn2Gglbjs4zPdBQFWFekej0khoCNdGgCEwYBhgL/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200213214721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nl2-BHCXLeY/XkVV_gvKhoI/AAAAAAAAQCk/3krn2Gglbjs4zPdBQFWFekej0khoCNdGgCEwYBhgL/s320/WeChat%2BImage_20200213214721.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">arriving in Beijing the station was nearly empty</td></tr>
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I was staying at a Holiday Inn not far from the embassy and Beijing felt even more shut down than Tianjin. I think in part because it was an area that was normally very busy but getting out of the taxi it was deserted. Checking into the hotel was eerie. I asked if any restaurants were open. The clerk said I could get dinner inside the hotel but nothing outside was open. So I went to the second floor and had the saddest meal as I sat completely by myself in a silent dining room while the waitress stood nearby with her mask on. After eating I went outside briefly and looked up at my room and realized I might have been the only person checked into the hotel.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UGrrS9y3n-U/XkVWAiVm6PI/AAAAAAAAQDA/lc8w055ArWglYxhNy0mIuVbqGCq14o8DgCEwYBhgL/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200213214732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UGrrS9y3n-U/XkVWAiVm6PI/AAAAAAAAQDA/lc8w055ArWglYxhNy0mIuVbqGCq14o8DgCEwYBhgL/s320/WeChat%2BImage_20200213214732.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beijing streets outside the hotel</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tzayzYxY9YI/XkVWB1Cbe3I/AAAAAAAAQDM/xa3MzWuLJIUHNiRsJ1KB_nllivnuQwNyACEwYBhgL/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200213214751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tzayzYxY9YI/XkVWB1Cbe3I/AAAAAAAAQDM/xa3MzWuLJIUHNiRsJ1KB_nllivnuQwNyACEwYBhgL/s320/WeChat%2BImage_20200213214751.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sad dinner</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncwpY_QdQxg/XkVWAy9WqdI/AAAAAAAAQDI/47kGMPFDxoEkQa0YMClQzVihwlYkDQLfwCEwYBhgL/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200213214738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncwpY_QdQxg/XkVWAy9WqdI/AAAAAAAAQDI/47kGMPFDxoEkQa0YMClQzVihwlYkDQLfwCEwYBhgL/s400/WeChat%2BImage_20200213214738.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My room is the one with a light on</td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5sxtn2_Xuk/XkVWBLX4XWI/AAAAAAAAQDE/k0AlmM9knTA9iCRxzt6CppMjAhFQ8VoxQCEwYBhgL/s1600/WeChat%2BImage_20200213214746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5sxtn2_Xuk/XkVWBLX4XWI/AAAAAAAAQDE/k0AlmM9knTA9iCRxzt6CppMjAhFQ8VoxQCEwYBhgL/s320/WeChat%2BImage_20200213214746.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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When I woke up Monday morning I had a slight headache and realized that if I had any fever at all, even for a reason unrelated to this virus I would have a fairly big problem on my hands in terms of getting back home. The trip to the embassy went fine. I got my application in and they let me keep my current passport. I can still use it to travel if there is an emergency. After the embassy I got my stuff together and arranged a car back to the train station with some sense of urgency about getting home.<br />
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Back in Tianjin things have definitely not loosened up or moved towards more normal. There had been rumors of Didi (the Chinese version of Uber/Lyft) and delivery drivers being banned from our neighborhood. Driving back from the train station we came to a road block. Initially they were not going to let the driver through but after some yelling and negotiating they let him pass. That was Monday afternoon, since then it has grown more strict.<br />
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On Tuesday the most notable change was the walls being put up all around the neighborhood. Every road and sidewalk out was blocked with blue metal walls by Tuesday night. At this point the only way in or out of our neighborhood is through two road blocks, each around a half mile from our house in opposite directions. We were also told that no one at all could leave or enter the neighborhood between midnight and 6 am.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">walls going up</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of the road blocks with walls being added</td></tr>
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From what we understand one case of the virus was reported in our neighborhood. The area we live in, called Original County or OC, is pretty big and broken up into a number of sections. The rumored case is not in our section. But this was still enough to shut down everything. There was also an outbreak in a section of Tianjin far to the north of us where a lot of people who had been to the same mall got it.<br />
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Yesterday the restrictions grew a little tighter as we were told they were issuing ID cards and only people who lived here could come in. So no visitors. And they were only giving our family of five 2 id cards. All of this is particularly frustrating because our Chinese neighbors all own cars. Stopping Didi and delivery drivers does not affect them much. And one of these ID cards can be used for an entire car. So while the rules limit us pretty dramatically it is not the same for everyone.<br />
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We received a copy of a message titled "A Letter to all Foreign Friends" explaining some of the decision making process. It included this passage which is meant to be reassuring but somehow isn't.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "helvetica neue" , "pingfang sc" , "hiragino sans gb" , "microsoft yahei ui" , "microsoft yahei" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.544px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 32px; vertical-align: inherit;">We would like to reassure foreign friends in Tianjin that the municipal government will fulfill its international obligations and respond to concerns by foreign citizens in Tianjin in a timely manner, and also safeguard the security of all foreign friends in Tianjin with a responsible attitude. </span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "helvetica neue" , "pingfang sc" , "hiragino sans gb" , "microsoft yahei ui" , "microsoft yahei" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.544px; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 32px; vertical-align: inherit;">We have full confidence and good capability to win the battle against the pneumonia outbreak by relying on concerted efforts,</span></span></b></blockquote>
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I think it is the reference to safeguarding our security? I just had not thought about that being necessary, and I'm not certain what it entails.<br />
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Over the past few days Irish and I have both swung between being calm and relatively accepting of our circumstances towards an occasional sense of frustration or slight panic. The new rules are a little frightening because they do not make much sense. Like the masks everyone is wearing, it feels like a big effort at enforcing compliance just to show something is being done. Again, understanding that I know nothing about public health or disease prevention, but this seems like it is either an overreaction, or things are much worse than we are being told.<br />
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Still, trying to keep a sense of perspective the reported numbers relative to the population of our city, or China as a whole, remain very very small. And absolutely everything we are reading says for most people catching the virus is basically like having a cold. For the small number of people who are gravely affected, most of them were already sick with other things. But then we walk outside and see the blue walls and that sense of perspective gets shaky.<br />
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We are keeping our days fairly structured and full. It turns out trying to teach online takes a lot of effort. We are sleeping a little later but then working a full day and often into the evening. The kids keep busy with their classes through the morning. They have been reading, playing too much PlayStation, watching a little too much TV, and to their credit really not complaining or fighting with each other. Yet.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the girls hard at work</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">teaching from home in our office</td></tr>
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Over the past year I had become very good about going to the gym 4 times a week and lifting heavy weights. It has been good for my sanity and made me stronger. With that unavailable Irish and I have tried to exercise in the house with limited success, and now we have taken to going for runs around the neighborhood every afternoon. I am not really built like a runner but it has been good. Old ladies think it is funny to see my bare legs in shorts on a cold day. We stop by the grocery at the end of each run. I keep buying more canned goods and rice. I honestly do not think it will be necessary but I feel better having them in the house.<br />
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Where things stand now- There had been a slowing of new cases over the past few days and that seemed promising, but this morning there was a spike as they changed how new cases were identified. This afternoon we read that Hong Kong schools have extended their closure until March 16th. (though it sounds like the city has not shut down like things have here.) Our school's director wrote this evening warning it may mean our closure will go on longer- to the 16th or beyond. So it is not clear whether the end is even in sight. There has to be some limit to how long they try to keep us in our houses though?<br />
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For right now we are fine. Nothing to worry about. It is an adventure. And we will keep track of things as they progress, hopefully to a calm and peaceful resolution.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">outside for a breath of fresh air through the masks. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grocery clerk in goggles gloves and mask</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">that last measurement isn't great</td></tr>
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<br />jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-17889337028545655802020-02-07T08:41:00.001+08:002020-02-20T15:53:18.792+08:00The Shining 2: Tianjin2020 started out well, better than most years, even. We had the laziest Thai beach vacation ever and second semester started off with both of us chaperoning a model UN trip to Shanghai.<br />
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But right around the Chinese New Year holiday we started to hear about the new virus in Wuhan (Wuhan is pretty far from us- if Tianjin is roughly parallel to where New York City is Wuhan is roughly around eastern Tennessee). By the time we heard about it, we were nearing another week-long vacation for CNY. The New Year break started off just as every other year-not much going on, but some talk of the new virus.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sb4h0QTGOvw/Xjoh7aIpvpI/AAAAAAAAP_o/0olllAiwJVIB7KadtzW2r0hEfv8qhejpACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-02-05%2Bat%2B9.59.40%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="636" height="188" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sb4h0QTGOvw/Xjoh7aIpvpI/AAAAAAAAP_o/0olllAiwJVIB7KadtzW2r0hEfv8qhejpACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2020-02-05%2Bat%2B9.59.40%2BAM.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year celebration at school</td></tr>
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We went to Beijing to meet up with our good friends for a fancy New Year dinner. (Peking duck and a show with traditional dances and such.) There had been talk of the virus but nothing like what it has become. On the way to the train station we noticed the lack of traffic, the lack of people in the station and that everyone we did see was wearing a mask. We thought maybe things were quiet because of the holiday-we couldn't quite remember-are things usually busier at the train station or quieter on the actual day of the holiday? Still, it all felt strange and on the train was the first time a stranger approached us to suggest we put on masks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year!</td></tr>
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After a great night out with our friends we returned to Tianjin on New Year's Day (Jan. 24), with plans to go back to Beijing midweek. Within a day of returning to Tianjin, we knew we probably wouldn't be going back to Beijing, at least not all 5 of us together. There was a rising sense of concern about the virus. On Sunday the 26th we learned that school would be closed through at least the second week of February. We went to Sam's Club to get supplies in case we got stuck.<br />
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The New Year break is usually quiet for us anyway. It's very expensive to travel that week, so we usually just stay home and even in a normal year all small businesses are closed that week. For the rest of the break we watched lots of TV. We ate snacks all day. We got together with some friends (don't tell anyone). We were a little nervous about what was going to happen next but not panicked.<br />
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Before going on about our experience, you should know that at this point, we have been getting our information primarily from American news-so basically we have the same information as you. We are in no way experts in epidemiology or the prevention of pandemic. That having been said, as far as we can tell there is very little risk for us related to the virus. In a country of 1.4 billion people the number of people who are sick is incredibly small. In our city of 14 million people there are less than 100 cases, and it seems to be life threatening to a much smaller percentage of that already small group.<br />
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To the extent that we are worried it is related to the response. We understand that a lot of this is an excess of caution. It is a response to a disease that is not fully understood and probably best to overreact a little. However, some of it is challenging.<br />
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Everything we have read says that masks are important for doctors and nurses dealing directly with people who are sick, but will not do much if anything for everyone else. Still we can not go outside without a mask. Some of this is formal, stores will not let us in without a mask, drivers are not allowed to pick us up if we aren't wearing one. Some of it is informal- strangers will stop you and insist you put one on. It is an argument we don't need to win so we wear the masks now.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">double mask!</td></tr>
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While the city of Wuhan and the surrounding area are on a formal quarantine with everything locked down, the rules for our city are not as clear and seem to be enforced largely by peer pressure.<br />
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We are not legally required to stay indoors, but when other foreign teachers have been outside neighbors have taken pictures and complained to the school. While the insistence on masks seems excessive it is understandable, but there are other rumors about the virus spreading in the wind or in the snow that seem absurd but they are getting repeated.<br />
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Going to stores, or leaving or entering our neighborhood there are people taking everyone's temperature. We have been stopped by the police more than once to have our temperature checked and they are writing down information on everyone they stop. It is not entirely clear what would happen if we happened to have a fever. Increasingly we are aware that we just can not go outside much at all. </div>
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We're stuck here at home until the 17th at least. At the time of writing this it looks like we will probably be at home until March 2. We've started online school which is a totally new experience as both teachers and parents. It's interesting and difficult and boring and fun.<br />
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Two weeks of increasingly being stuck indoors has been challenging already. Another three weeks of this is a daunting prospect. We are trying to stay busy and not kill each other. We send the kids on errands to the grocery every day though, just to get them out. We bought a badminton set to knock around indoors with our high ceilings. We have seen all of the Oscar nominated movies and have opinions on them all.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">paint by numbers project</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We watch "the People's Court" for our lunch break every day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">recess: Just Dance</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team meeting</td></tr>
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Going forward there are a few things we are watching for. So far finding food has generally been fine except for bread; we may have to live on chips and cookies, but it's food. Groceries and gas stations are operating as usual. If getting food or water is at all difficult that would be a source of concern. If hospitals become difficult to access that would also be a something we would pay attention to.<br />
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It seemed strange that the US consulate left Wuhan right at the time citizens would likely need help. The US embassy in Beijing has been closed over the past several weeks with a phone number available for emergencies. In nine years of living overseas we have only been to the embassy to renew passports, but right now we are paying a lot of attention to them. If things get worse we have options. There are commercial flights available, and in the worst case we can get on an expensive charter flight. But none of that seems likely in the short term.<br />
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For now we will keep on doing our thing. Teaching in sweats. Connecting with friends when we can. Wearing our masks and quietly staying calm and sane.<br />
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(If you would like to make yourself a little crazy watching a running total of how many people are sick <a href="https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6" target="_blank">Johns Hopkins has this site</a> that you can keep refreshing over and over again.)<br />
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jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-7185252327132579772019-04-15T21:59:00.002+08:002019-04-15T21:59:35.804+08:00Video of the typical week 2019 editionFor the last 4 years we've taken a video of what life is basically like in our daily lives (see what I mean here <a href="http://farleysfaraway.blogspot.com/2018/02/for-last-four-years-weve-done-snapshot.html" target="_blank">2018</a>, <a href="http://farleysfaraway.blogspot.com/2017/02/2017-week-in-review-video.html" target="_blank">2017</a>, <a href="http://farleysfaraway.blogspot.com/2016/02/video-of-our-week-january-24-30-2016.html" target="_blank">2016</a>, <a href="http://farleysfaraway.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-video-week-in-review.html" target="_blank">2015</a>).<br />
Here is this year's. It's long overdue, it was filmed in the middle of February! I've finally got it all put together. For your reference, Grace and Ruby are in 6th grade, August in 3rd and me and Jim still teaching. We're still living in Tianjin, China and we make this video in Januray or February because there's usually nothing going on. It does, however, make Tianjin look bleak! I promise the sun is out now.<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OPhxENgEyX4" width="560"></iframe>jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-60979947752482137112017-02-12T07:18:00.001+08:002017-02-12T07:18:42.511+08:002017 Week in Review VideoIt's time for my favorite post of the year! You may have seen <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/cesar_kuriyama_one_second_every_day">this</a> TedTalk about the guy who compiled a 1 second video from every day of a year and made a video. We took that idea and made it our own. Using 2 second clips throughout each day of one "typical" week. This is our 3rd year doing this and it's not the exact same dates as the videos we did in <a href="http://farleysfaraway.blogspot.com/2016/02/video-of-our-week-january-24-30-2016.html">2016</a> and <a href="http://farleysfaraway.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-video-week-in-review.html">2015</a>. For those years, we used the 3rd week of January because there was nothing really going on and it seemed very "usual". In China, the 3rd week of January is kind of like the week leading up to Christmas-very festive in anticipation of the biggest holiday of the year. Then the following week was Lunar New Year. So we decided to push the project back to the first full week of February. You'll see that Lunar New Year goes on much longer than I was aware of. So when you see fireworks in the video, it's not <i>that</i> typical.<br />
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Here's what a typical week in Tianjin, China is like for us:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Cg31-GS6fh4" width="560"></iframe>jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-34291494217790113332017-01-01T10:00:00.001+08:002017-01-01T10:19:10.525+08:00Then we went to the beach: Tangalle, Sri Lanka<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4E_5McWuFPY" width="560"></iframe><br />
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For the last part of our trip, we drove from Yala to Tangalle. Tangalle is in the south of Sri Lanka and is so beautiful. We checked into <a href="http://solelunaresortandspa.com/">our hotel</a> and went for a swim in the pool before going in to town for dinner. We went to a local restaurant and got spicy curries with rice and some roti (a bread with filling-they made us one with spice and one without).<br />
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The morning of our second day, we took a quick tuk tuk ride to the most beautiful beach. We swam in the waves, relaxed and ran into Grace's classmate and her family. The next few days were spent beaching, eating and napping-just as a beach vacation should be.<br />
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The hotel hosted a nice dinner on Christmas Eve and on Christmas morning met up with Grace's classmate's family for whale watching. This was our first time whale watching. We took a boat off the coast for about 30 minutes and joined about 20 other boats waiting to see a whale. We saw our first whale off in the distance-so exciting. The boats all raced towards it. We saw 4 whales (or 1 whale 4 times?) and each time it would come up to the surface about 3 times and then we'd see it's tail and it would go back under. The boat operators said that they come up to breathe about every 15 minutes. After seeing three whales, the guide asked if we were happy and wanted to go back. Everyone said yes except for one guy. At his request, we stayed out to see one more. I'm glad we stayed because this last time the whale came up for air right next to our boat. It was really amazing to see.<br />
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For the last night we went back to the city of Colombo so we could make it out for our dreaded red eye flight Tuesday night. It turns out that Colombo is a really interesting city. We went out to the shore Monday night and it was crowded with families picnicking and flying kites. The staff at the hotel said it was so busy because it was the recognized holiday for Christmas and there was some kind of carnival there. We had some potato snacks and saw a snake charmer. What?! I was definitely the most excited of the family. We got home Wednesday and celebrated Christmas now we have a few days before heading back to school. Now smooth sailing until summer break!jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-52599426956226816132016-12-30T17:33:00.002+08:002016-12-30T17:52:41.304+08:00Yala National Park safariWe took a van from Ella to Yala. It was an easy drive with a short detour to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buduruvagala">Buduruvagala</a>, a giant Buddhist rock sculpture more than 1000 years old. We settled into our <a href="http://gagabeesyala.com/">new hotel</a>, hung out at the pool and went to bed early.<br />
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The next morning, we were out the door at 5am. There are 3 types of safaris options: early morning, afternoon or full day. The all day trip wasn't too much more than the others, so we went with that option. The schedule was loosely that we would look for animals early morning, then eat, rest and swim mid day followed by more looking.<br />
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Our tour included a driver and an animal tracker from the National Park Service. These two were a pretty amazing team. The animal tracker could spot things from the truck that I couldn't see when the truck was parked and he was giving me explicit instructions on where to look. Animals are so sneaky with their camouflage. In the morning we saw a lot of animals, water buffaloes, crocodiles, elephants, various birds (including an eagle and lots of peacocks), mongooses (or is it mongeese? mongi?) and iguanas.<br />
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We stopped for the morning break by the beach. We ate our snacks and got back out. We passed another safari group who had seen a leopard. By lunch, we had seen many more of the same animals, and they continued to be amazing, but some people in our family <u>really</u> wanted to see a leopard (it was Jim). Going in to this it is understood that this is not a zoo, and that there is no guarantee that you will see a leopard in the wild. No one was allowed out of the jeeps, the jeeps stayed on the roads, no one is riding or feeding or interacting with the animals at all. (We have done all of those things with elephants over the past few years and each time left feeling a little ethically compromised.) This setting was more natural, which is good, but it also means the animals have lots of room to hide if they want to.<br />
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For lunch we stopped by the beach and we ate at a place that looked like it used to be a house. All that was left was the tile floor. I pointed out that you could see where the toilet, shower and sink had been. The guide told me that it used to be a bungalow but that it was destroyed by the 2004 tsunami. Just off to the side of it was a memorial that the people of Japan had built for them (you can see it in the video).<br />
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Instead of resting and swimming after lunch, the guide and the driver were anxious to see a leopard, so they got us back in the jeep. We drove around for hours. At some point each of us fell asleep. We saw fewer animals, mid day is the time when all the animals are resting in the shade. We were wondering why we'd booked the full day at all. Then there was a large line of jeeps and using binoculars we did see a leopard up in a tree a few hundred meters away. This is how it goes: one jeep sees a leopard and radios to their friends and everyone races to the location to see it. We were one of the last ones to get there. So technically we saw one, but it was not entirely satisfying.<br />
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August had to go to the bathroom by then and we were almost out of time, just 90 minutes left and we said we should probably just head to the exit. The tracker, though said that we were near a watering hole and that a leopard might be coming out soon. So we kept driving around slowly. AND THEN! They spotted one, and we were driving by ourselves, the first ones to see it. He was around 100 feet off the road. At first we could just see his silhouette, and then his tail sticking out of the grass. Still, it was incredibly exciting.<br />
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As the leopard kept moving our driver raced about a quarter mile down the road to a clearing. We waited there as a few other jeeps arrived. We spoke with some of the other people there and then quickly we turned around and drove back toward where we had originally seen him. The jeep was turned off and we waited silently. Five minutes passed as we were staring into the brush desperately looking for any movement, then ten minutes, and we knew there was a chance he had gone in a different direction. Afraid to blink we just kept scanning back and forth. Then we saw him again, less than twenty feet from the jeep, walking parallel to the road, and then he turned and crossed the road directly in front of us. We have seen animals like this in the zoo, bigger animals, lions and tigers, but it was not at all the same, absolutely extraordinary, after a long day it was all worth it for this one minute. From there the leopard went back into the bushes and then came out climbing up steep rocks to a ridge line where we saw his silhouette again as the sun was going down.<br />
<br />jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-45346249454828918542016-12-27T00:22:00.001+08:002016-12-27T11:37:51.057+08:00Farleys FARTHEST away-Sri Lanka! (Part 1)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><b><u>Sri Lanka part one: Colombo-Kandy-Amba Estate</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">For the past several years we
have spent Christmas in Thailand but at the start of the school year Irish and
I decided it was time to make a change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New
school, new country, new Christmas destination. We had thought about Sri Lanka
before, just about the farthest place on earth from Denver, and we had heard
good things from friends who had gone, so when we found a reasonable flight we
booked it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">We flew from Beijing to
Chengdu in Sichuan province and from there 6 hours to Colombo. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all of our traveling we have become
spoiled by seat back entertainment and Air China really let us down on both
legs of the flight. Whole cabin shared movies in Chinese are not good enough to
entertain our children.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">getting on the plane using the stairs always feels more adventurous</td></tr>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">In Colombo we were met by
Amal, a driver recommended by friends, who took us to the first place we
rented. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We planned an itinerary based
on things we had read and recommendations, it turns out a lot of people follow
roughly the same route. On our first day we would drive to the city
of Kandy, the next day take the train from Kandy south toward the town of Ella
where we would spend a few days at a tea plantation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there further south to Yala National Park
where would go on a safari, and then finally to the beach in Tangalle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">The ride from Colombo to
Kandy was slow, a lot of traffic going through a series of towns before opening
up into prettier scenery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
probably disproportionately excited to see monkeys running around on power lines
and on guard rails. We stopped at a spice garden along the way, a tourist trap
but still fun. The guide demonstrated the hair removing properties of some herb
by rubbing it on my leg, it worked and there is still a big bald patch on my
shin. They rubbed our heads and Irish bought some of their products before we
moved on.</span><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">When we got to Kandy we went
to the Temple of the Tooth where one of the Buddha’s teeth is kept as a
relic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a pretty place, peaceful in
the middle of a loud city. We bought some flowers and placed them on different
altars while I kept reminding the kids that they were still Catholic, there is
no getting out of that.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">After checking into our rooms
we went out to another tourist trap, a dancing performance that also turned out
to be fun. At the start of it some of the dancers seemed to be winging it,
bumping into each other and laughing, I was a little worried it was going to be
a disaster, but then they successfully did some hand springs and spun some
dishes and things got better. It ended with fire eating and them walking on hot
coals which made a big impression on August. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: white; mso-no-proof: yes;">The next morning on our way to the train station we stopped at the Royal Botanical Gardens which had been highly recommended. This was the first of several places that exceeded our expectations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parts of it were sculptured hedges and flowers, and then as we walked further in there towering trees, more monkeys, and then hundreds and hundreds of huge bats. The bats were amazing, at first we could not figure out what we were seeing in the trees, then they started flying in big circles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Xir7TkAnhM/WGEEzmrHrTI/AAAAAAAANj4/8EPvcrvW4dktJCC7akKNIZeBqL2y4MucQCLcB/s1600/20161216_210237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Xir7TkAnhM/WGEEzmrHrTI/AAAAAAAANj4/8EPvcrvW4dktJCC7akKNIZeBqL2y4MucQCLcB/s400/20161216_210237.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bats flying in the day, surprisingly not creepy just awe inspiring.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">From the Gardens we went to a
small train station south of Kandy where we had booked tickets in advance. I
had heard a lot about this train ride, somewhere it was called one of the
prettiest train routes in the world- which seems like a lot to live up to. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The train car we were in had an open outdoor
area on either end and we spent a large part of the 6 hour trip out there
watching the scenery. The ride absolutely lived up to the high expectations,
the views were overwhelming at times, I found myself standing by myself smiling
like an idiot just stunned by how beautiful it all was. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often we were looking at terraced tea fields,
then wide open valleys with water falls. As we passed through small farming
villages children would smile and wave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">As we got close to our
destination near Ella it had gotten dark and started to rain. We were staying
at a tea plantation called Amba Estates and we had made arrangements with them
to send a driver to the small local train station. The train only stopped for a
minute and we were the only ones to get off, but the driver was there and he
quickly got us to his van. The drive was a little unnerving, we drove quickly
through the rain up into the hills on a small one lane road, then turned onto
an even smaller road, and then eventually turned onto something that seemed
more like a trail than a road.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iFnrHavcAPE/WGE1ZiPeQ-I/AAAAAAAANlY/SE2gNGvJmMEKtH19a8NZ-Q5co_3ovTZwACLcB/s1600/20161217_190458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iFnrHavcAPE/WGE1ZiPeQ-I/AAAAAAAANlY/SE2gNGvJmMEKtH19a8NZ-Q5co_3ovTZwACLcB/s320/20161217_190458.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the driver laughed at me when I tried to get the broken seatbelt to work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Finally we pulled up to the
farmhouse we had rented and it was fantastic. Getting out of the van we were
met by several people who worked there. We were shown to our rooms, the kids
would have the upstairs to themselves and Irish and I had a big room
downstairs. In the kitchen dinner was waiting for us. We all went to bed
comfortable and well fed.</div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">I don’t think I can overstate
how happy we were with our stay at Amba Estates. In the morning we woke up to a
stunning view from our balcony across a valley with tea bushes and cows
walking through. The cook and her helper were back and breakfast was
extraordinary. Every morning we had a fresh loaf of bread, jams and raw honey
that had been made there, coffee and tea that had been grown there, and then a
variety of other things. We ate until it hurt. For the next several days every
meal was an absolute pleasure. Curries and soups and vegetables, all grown
there. By the third day Irish mentioned that it had been almost entirely
vegetarian, just one dish with fish, but I had not noticed. Each meal felt like
Thanksgiving.</span><br />
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Between great meals we kept moderately busy, hiking up a nearby hill, swimming at the river at the bottom of the valley. We went on a short trip by tuk tuk to a popular set of waterfalls and went swimming there. On the way back an overloaded dump truck full of bricks got stuck completely blocking the road in front of us. We waited until a group came in a smaller pickup and unloaded a lot of the bricks allowing the big truck to move again. The whole thing seemed like a bad plan, and a bit risky, like there was a reasonable chance the truck comes barreling down the hill , but in the end they got it sorted out and moved the truck without killing anyone.<br />
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<br />
On our last day there we took
a tour of the plantation, learned a lot about tea, very interesting for Irish
and I, less so for the kids. While we walked through the fields there were
mounds that looked like the things termites build. One of the workers had said
they were snake holes, but I thought maybe it was a misunderstanding. I asked
the tour guide about them, he said I was right, that they were termite mounds,
and then after a pause said “but snakes like to live in them”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told us the difference between cobra bites
and viper bites. If you are lucky a cobra might just bite but not release its
venom. If it does release the venom though you are in a lot of danger. With a
viper bite if you can stay calm then you might have time to get to a hospital,
but with a cobra it affects your nervous system and it hurts a lot more so it
is much harder to stay calm and then you are more likely to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we took from it was that we should avoid
getting bit by snakes at all costs because there is no chance we would remain
calm.</div>
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<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">Finally after three great
nights it was time to go. Sad to leave Amba Estate, but excited for the other
things still to come.</span></div>
jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-11830144458655045012016-12-14T17:07:00.000+08:002016-12-14T17:20:06.595+08:00Surprise! Irish goes to San Francisco for the weekendvideo first! Story second!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zQJDI7YEcXk" width="560"></iframe>
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As someone who lives far away from almost everyone I love, whenever there's a long weekend or scheduled holiday, I'm always checking prices of flights. Each time I do this, I have a number in my head and if I find a ticket for under that price I will seriously consider going. For our winter holiday, we have 3 weeks off. We are scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka right in the middle of the break, which gave me a few days at the very beginning. Coincidentally, my friend Bonny had emailed me about throwing a baby shower for Katie. Also coincidentally, when I contacted one of Katie's friends in San Francisco, Naomi, she mentioned that she wanted to do a baby shower <u>this</u> weekend.<br />
<br />
Initially I was going to skype in for the baby shower but then I found a flight under that number in my head. It landed at 10:00am Saturday and left at noon Monday. First I checked with Jim. He's the real hero of this story. If it were just me to consider, I'd be in the USA all the time, but I had to clear it with the one who will be in charge of the children.<br />
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Jim was onboard from the start! Hooray for Jim!<br />
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My flight was scheduled to leave Beijing on Saturday at 7:15am so I took the train up Friday night and stayed at a hotel with an extreme mosquito infestation. After telling the front desk staff at 1:00am, they sent an old woman to my room to spray the bugs. I showed her my bites and she came back a few minutes later with some medicine and put it on my bites as I laid in bed. She basically tucked me in. I slept with the sheets pulled all the way up and a pillow over my head until the wake up call at 3:30. In the morning I had a quick flight to Qingdau followed by the long flight to San Francisco. The flight was somewhat empty and I was able to move to two empty seats together and I slept 5 hours! When I landed (an hour early!) at 9:00am Saturday in California, I put on my makeup, took a sink shower, put on clean clothes and I was fresh as a daisy! It was a Christmas miracle!<br />
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My good friend from Seoul, Chrisitan, recently moved back to San Jose and he picked me up at the airport. It was a delightful reunion. We drove straight to <a href="http://www.muttville.org/?gclid=Cj0KEQiA-MPCBRCZ0q23tPGm6_8BEiQAgw_bArM4fM8FthzZc7plQ8hWfKtl67K5vLlZ6fC9F3R_St4aAgfX8P8HAQ">Muttville</a> where Katie was leading orientation for volunteers. Surprise! It was perfect. She was completely surprised! What fun. Katie finished leading orientation, Christian and I mingled with the dogs and then we were off to just hang out for the rest of the day before getting her to her surprise baby shower. We had lunch, took her dog to the park, chatted, got quick bang trims and walked to Naomi's apartment.<br />
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Naomi was a key player in the surprise. She set up the video messages for Katie and the hangouts call. There were friends from all over the world on the call. (How can we set that up where we can do that while watching the <i>Bachelor</i>? Let's work on that). Not to overshadow the baby shower, but after that we went to Target!<br />
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On Sunday, after taking Katie's dog to the park, we went to the <a href="http://www.taichijianbing.com/">ONE place</a> that has my favorite Chinese breakfast, jianbing guo zi. They really nailed it. We paid $10 for one! (Here the going rate is about 75 cents. But let's not talk about the exchange rate right now, ok?) They also had some gourmet varieties and we had the pulled pork with red cabbage. It was <i>very</i> good.<br />
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When we finished we drove to Palo Alto for shopping and pizza with Christian. After dinner, we said goodbye to Christian and headed back to the city to wrap the Christmas gifts I bought at Target and pack for the flight the next day. I flew out of SFO at noon Monday. The flight was very long and my connection was delayed but I had arranged for Mr. Lee to pick me up from the Beijing airport. I arrived home around 3:30am. I was very, very tired but very very happy.<br />
<br />
You know how when you plan things and you plan it with a best case scenario in mind? That's exactly how this weekend went. I can't believe it was completely perfect, but it was.jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-21377300798209717602015-10-16T13:23:00.001+08:002015-11-16T19:11:55.909+08:00Perhentian Islands, MalaysiaA few weeks ago was Cheusok. Cheusok is very similar to Thanksgiving, but no turkey or pie. And as you know, we don't participate in holidays if there's no pie.<br />
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We traveled to Malaysia! After talking with Jeff about Cheusok during the first month of school, we decided we'd all go somewhere together. Jim and I wanted to go to Bali, Jeff and Anna wanted to go someplace they hadn't been before. The problems we have! Jeff found cheap flights, and that was enough to persuade us.<br />
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As we were leaving for the airport, Jeff casually said, "nothing could possibly go wrong on this trip". Jim and I scolded him for jinxing/ruining everything. (Spoiler alert-the trip was great anyway). To get to our resort we needed to take a 6 hour flight from Seoul to Kualal Lumpur, Malaysia, then a short 45 minute flight to a coastal town, then take the ferry to the island the following morning. I hate trips like this, but this one was surprisingly painless.<br />
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As we ate dinner in the airport (at Wendy's!), Jeff was walking around with his baby and said he ran into the Jenkins, a family who worked at KIS last year who now live in China and that they were on their way to the same island. We all told Jeff he was full of it (he is almost always full of it).<br />
<br />
We spent our <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/my/the-room-zishi.html?aid=800210;label=gog144sb-hotel-XX-my-theNroomNzishi-unspec-kr-com-L%3Axu-O%3Aunk-B%3Aunk-N%3AXX-S%3Abo-U%3Asalo;sid=3a18431c0180f16297cd2519ed9c19ec;dcid=4;dist=0;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;srfid=e12e8f29685db72d685489b4b2d4554f615e233aX13;type=total;ucfs=1&">first night</a> in Kota Bharu. It's a small coastal town. We got food at a market in the morning. Breakfast was chicken and rice with coffee and then we found the good stuff: donuts. I can't remember the name but $1 worth was a huge bag with fried dough with a peach jam in it. The vacation eating had begun!<br />
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We took a taxi to the pier and got on our boat-and among the 10 people on the boat other than us, there were the Jenkins. It was crazy and so perfect. They have 3 kids and our kids already all know each other and played together the whole week. It couldn't have been better.<br />
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When we got to the resort, we took off our shoes and didn't put them on again until we left. We stayed at the <a href="http://www.tunabay.com.my/">Tuna Bay resort</a> and the coral in front of the resort was amazing. We got snorkel masks and spent the rest of the week exploring the ocean. We saw parrot fish, eels (yikes!), and octopus (it inked when Jim swam closer to it, how embarrassing), and we swam with turtles. We relaxed, we napped, we swam, we ate. Every day. It was actually the perfect vacation. Here's a video summary:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7G8yuKWndpE" width="560"></iframe>jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-42680632709419907272015-01-31T22:39:00.001+08:002015-01-31T22:46:21.824+08:00A video week in reviewWe've been working on a video project all week. Many people have asked me if it was inspired by <a href="http://adamhobbs.tv/">Adam Hobbs</a>; it was not. I wouldn't dream of pretending that this is a documentary, because it's not. It's a video mashup. I took the idea from a teacher at KIS who took the idea from <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/cesar_kuriyama_one_second_every_day?language=en">this TED talk</a>. All great things start with a TED talk, isn't that what they say? The TED talk was from a guy who put together a video made up of 1 second video clips of every day for a year. We can't make that kind of commitment to anything without a hefty signing bonus, so we did 2 second clips throughout each day for one week.<br />
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As I was doing this, I have to admit, it felt very narcissistic. So let me tell you this-it <i>is</i> a little narcissistic on the surface. And I am posting it to the blog which makes me feel even more narcissistic, but in a way, it's more for me than for you. Our blog serves a few purposes: it started out as a way for friends and family to keep up with us and see what we're doing while living far away (finally-the name of the blog has been revealed to you!) but it has really become a kind of modern day scrapbook for me.<br />
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With all this in mind, I have a few disclaimers about the video:<br />
1. Your life looks AWESOME when you set it to music<br />
2. These are not necessarily highlights, they are just things that happened during the week, but don't think everything is perfect-believe me the kids complain and cry as much (more than?) kids in any other family; but I don't need to watch that any more than I already do in real life.<br />
3. I love this video. I want to do one for every week for the rest of my life.<br />
4. You should do this in your own life.<br />
5. Jim chose the music (the perfect music)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5WCroztTdVg" width="560"></iframe>jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-11773839664709857712012-07-19T04:39:00.005+08:002012-07-19T05:18:46.312+08:00our first trip out: Emart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a day of unpacking, we needed to go to Emart. Emart is described as a Wal-Mart-like store. But I found it a little pricier than WalMart. For example, we bought the cheapest fan they had for $40. That's not really important. Let me tell you about the store. It's about a 15-20 minute drive from Good Morning Hill, and our staff support from KIS came and picked us up this morning. We went with a group of families from KIS.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5v2jzp2lrQ/UAcYR3TF6NI/AAAAAAAAAfI/INWPSjyA61c/s1600/2012-07-17+19.19.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I5v2jzp2lrQ/UAcYR3TF6NI/AAAAAAAAAfI/INWPSjyA61c/s200/2012-07-17+19.19.42.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The carts are locked! Put in a coin (the korean dime, if you will) and the carts unlock. You get your money back when you return the cart </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AQDrhQM9-vM/UAcYdQRkjHI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/JH54hAo2UMk/s1600/2012-07-17+19.21.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AQDrhQM9-vM/UAcYdQRkjHI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/JH54hAo2UMk/s200/2012-07-17+19.21.44.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The store is 4 stories and we started at the bottom and worked our way up.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXuJgi26Tqg/UAcYkFK4nQI/AAAAAAAAAfY/6kPn5NHCN_A/s1600/2012-07-17+19.21.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXuJgi26Tqg/UAcYkFK4nQI/AAAAAAAAAfY/6kPn5NHCN_A/s200/2012-07-17+19.21.49.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look what else Emart has</td></tr>
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We started at the play area. For $7 you can leave your child at the playland for 2 hours. We decided it was worth it, so all the kids with us who were over 4 (Gruby, Connor & Sean) stayed at playland.<br />
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Jim and I started on the bottom floor-the grocery. We found dishwashing soap (I LOVE having a dishwasher again!), and these Ramen noodle type things. We had some samples and headed upstairs to home things and appliances. This is where we found our $40 fan, a coffee maker, trash can and cleaned them out of hangers (unfortunately, still not enough hangers).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">exercise while killing flies? Sign me up!</td></tr>
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We only had 2 hours in the store and you know how quickly 2 hours can go in a store like that. We all started to get hungry so we headed back to the first floor to the food court.<br />
We picked up the kids and they were all a totally sweaty mess. Play land appears to be <i>un-air conditioned</i>. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">get that kid a gatorade and a shower. Now.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby explaining that play land had a<i> sweatin' to the oldies</i> VHS with Richard Simmons </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We ordered food, ate (spaghetti for the kids and me, bipimbop for Jim), got ice cream at the Baskin Robins in the food court and headed home.<br />
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Good Morning Hill Fun Facts </div>
TRASH<br />
Let me tell you about the trash situation here. It's advanced. Bridget Farley, you would love the trash situation. At our apartment complex there is a covered area with different colored bins. Everyone separates their trash. There are containers for plastic, cardboard & paper, Styrofoam, food, and trash trash (i.e. diapers). On Tuesday there were some men working in the trash area and they showed me where everything went. After the trip to Emart I went with boxes and such and was told (I think) that I couldn't take the cardboard trash out at that time. All of it was gone and a woman told me "Wednesday 9:00". I'm guessing that means they collect it at 9 on Wednesdays, but it leaves me wondering when I'm allowed to leave it out. I brought the boxes back up with me and put them back in our storage area.<br />
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PLAYGROUNDS<br />
At Good Morning Hill there are 4 playgrounds and the kids are in love!<br />
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<br />jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-7541602569509165842012-07-17T22:04:00.001+08:002012-07-17T23:20:19.688+08:00First day in KoreaEvery time we have moved Irish has been great about getting us unpacked and settled in quickly. If it was up to me I would only unpack things as I needed them and take months before I was out of boxes. So while she is continuing to get us settled in here in Korea I thought I would jump in with my first effort on this blog. <br />
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The trip here was incredibly long as expected.. There was one hang up with our luggage, we got overcharged for the extra bags, and then Asiana wouldn't give us our boarding passes in Los Angeles until I got them a "luggage coupon" from Frontier. There was a stressful hour of me running to the Frontier desk two terminals away while Irish waited with the kids as time to boarding ticked down. Frontier did not know what Asiana meant, but gave me a number they could call. Eventually it was sorted out, at least they gave us our boarding passes- I don't think they ever got the coupon they were asking for. <br />
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Aside from that travel went better than we could have hoped for. People were repeatedly friendly and helpful. At the start Sunday morning the people at Frontier let us bring all our luggage straight to to a desk rather than shuffle through the line with more than 20 bags. On the first leg I was sitting next to a woman who was a therapist for Autistic children, which meant she had a bag full of coloring books and was happy to read to Ruby for half the flight. After the mess at LAX the person at the start of the security line could see we were struggling a little and waved us over to use the first class line. And then on the flight from LA to Seoul August slept for almost the entire flight, the girls slept for a good portion of the flight as well. So Irish and I just watched movies. The meals were better than I was expecting. When I had the Korean option for dinner I got bibimpap, which is basically rice with meat and vegetables. I asked the flight attendant if I was supposed to pour the rice over the other stuff or the other way around, and she handed me a pamphlet titled "How to enjoy bibimbap" which I thought was helpful. And the answer was rice into the bowl that had the other stuff, not vice versa.<br />
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Landing in Seoul we had lost one of Irish's shoes, one of Grace's shoes and my hat. We never found Grace's missing shoe so she walked through the airport half barefoot. Immigration went smoothly, then at the baggage carousel two people from the airline helped us with our bags,and as soon as we passed though customs two people from KIS were waiting for us and they had a bus to take us to our new home.<br />
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We are actually in a city called Yongin, a few stops from the end of the Seoul subway line. We are living in a neighborhood called "Good Morning Hill" It is a huge collection of buildings, each over 20 stories. We are on the 15th floor of our building. Getting off the elevator the first impression is underwhelming, this is what you see, it looks a little like the door to a safe. <br />
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Opening the door though, it turns out we have a really nice place to live. Below are a few pictures:<br />
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This is the entryway, with a closet for us to keep our shoes.<br />
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Past the entry is the living room. <span id="goog_774402249"></span><span id="goog_774402250"></span></div>
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Kitchen and dining area. Washing machine is through the sliding doors behind August. </div>
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Master Bedroom</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mUmibku1k7w/UAVtEHeDBJI/AAAAAAAAAeM/joCFMQ5Rhog/s1600/2012-07-17+03.11.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mUmibku1k7w/UAVtEHeDBJI/AAAAAAAAAeM/joCFMQ5Rhog/s320/2012-07-17+03.11.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0EmhbPPs-5c/UAVtHGSKE3I/AAAAAAAAAeU/kyzFTdyqX6c/s1600/2012-07-17+03.12.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0EmhbPPs-5c/UAVtHGSKE3I/AAAAAAAAAeU/kyzFTdyqX6c/s320/2012-07-17+03.12.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We are going to try to have all three kids sleep in one room so the third room can be used as a playroom, try to isolate the mess a little. August is a little too excited about this change, bouncing around at bedtime instead of sleeping, so we will see how this arrangement works out.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ioXZ08RzCu4/UAVtKyfAgOI/AAAAAAAAAec/vhVGkNjIqJw/s1600/2012-07-17+03.23.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ioXZ08RzCu4/UAVtKyfAgOI/AAAAAAAAAec/vhVGkNjIqJw/s320/2012-07-17+03.23.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The room that will be a playroom:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8bZ8kNJSOvc/UAVtSQoI_XI/AAAAAAAAAeo/O_qtwrCRLhM/s1600/2012-07-17+03.10.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8bZ8kNJSOvc/UAVtSQoI_XI/AAAAAAAAAeo/O_qtwrCRLhM/s320/2012-07-17+03.10.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The view from the windows by the washer:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-phpQhO4or8U/UAVtWa3-x6I/AAAAAAAAAew/kuhNsZfIams/s1600/2012-07-17+03.25.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-phpQhO4or8U/UAVtWa3-x6I/AAAAAAAAAew/kuhNsZfIams/s320/2012-07-17+03.25.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The view from the desk where I am sitting right now:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tuuxIy50rUU/UAVtcMYwHTI/AAAAAAAAAe4/D92gr39i6ko/s1600/2012-07-17+03.25.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tuuxIy50rUU/UAVtcMYwHTI/AAAAAAAAAe4/D92gr39i6ko/s320/2012-07-17+03.25.42.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And now, everyone has fallen asleep here, and jet lag is catching up with me, I am falling asleep in my seat. So more tomorrow. </div>
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<br />jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-52481063561073102132012-07-11T23:43:00.000+08:002012-07-11T23:43:09.042+08:00Getting closer to the big move<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RwecJDW1Tqo/T_2cB2OyHwI/AAAAAAAAAcw/ARUxfp_wtHQ/s1600/pinery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Today is not the big move, it's the small move-to Parker, Colorado! <span id="goog_1272847212"></span><span id="goog_1272847213"></span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gweDw9ZSKqo/T_2bX5TZI7I/AAAAAAAAAco/2HMIdepkk5k/s1600/tornado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gweDw9ZSKqo/T_2bX5TZI7I/AAAAAAAAAco/2HMIdepkk5k/s1600/tornado.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look up "Parker, Co" in google images, and this picture shows up a lot. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RwecJDW1Tqo/T_2cB2OyHwI/AAAAAAAAAcw/ARUxfp_wtHQ/s1600/pinery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RwecJDW1Tqo/T_2cB2OyHwI/AAAAAAAAAcw/ARUxfp_wtHQ/s1600/pinery.jpg" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's better.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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After a brief birthday celebration (Grace and Ruby are FIVE!), we had several friends come by to relieve us of more stuff-furniture, kid toys, you know, <i>stuff</i>.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-03FoMCgHTZM/T_2em-5v5MI/AAAAAAAAAdA/O8NG-NZlj-w/s1600/august+packs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-03FoMCgHTZM/T_2em-5v5MI/AAAAAAAAAdA/O8NG-NZlj-w/s200/august+packs.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZS2VuUs5_Q/T_2ep3ouTxI/AAAAAAAAAdI/knu8xvWcWJM/s1600/jim+packs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hZS2VuUs5_Q/T_2ep3ouTxI/AAAAAAAAAdI/knu8xvWcWJM/s1600/jim+packs.jpg" /></a></div>
We've been packing and packing and packing. And we're out of here. Not to get nostalgic or anything, but this has been the home we've been in for almost 5 years-it's the only home our children have known. All of them learned to walk here, every Christmas has been here, this is home. However, as Sharolyn Wilkin pointed out, I know how to make a home where ever I am.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AIAtIb72yPA/T_2dc_v8AmI/AAAAAAAAAc4/F_05ukYLkEQ/s1600/home+mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AIAtIb72yPA/T_2dc_v8AmI/AAAAAAAAAc4/F_05ukYLkEQ/s1600/home+mom.jpg" /></a></div>
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Hey, and for a quick tutorial on mismatch chairs around your dining room table, head over to my other blog www.greenhousereddoor.blogspot.comjimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-21570319349574224932012-07-09T04:00:00.000+08:002012-07-09T04:00:25.730+08:00How did this happen?I realized recently, that not all of you know how we ended up going from our little HUD house off Federal to glamorous Seoul, South Korea.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ku5Y4yPVQ0/T_ng1o8Y8dI/AAAAAAAAAcU/NDWS12x4cIk/s1600/seoul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4ku5Y4yPVQ0/T_ng1o8Y8dI/AAAAAAAAAcU/NDWS12x4cIk/s1600/seoul.jpg" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fvvVbUCbi0c/T_ng99QyMsI/AAAAAAAAAcc/hNi7slLyEiQ/s1600/232323232%7Ffp63=ot-233-=-63=4-6=XROQDF-2323938424-92ot1lsi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fvvVbUCbi0c/T_ng99QyMsI/AAAAAAAAAcc/hNi7slLyEiQ/s200/232323232%7Ffp63=ot-233-=-63=4-6=XROQDF-2323938424-92ot1lsi.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim: "Hey, let's move to Asia" Irish: </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"you're insane"</td></tr>
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A very, very long time ago, Jim decided to teach in Taipei, Taiwan. He lived there for 2 years and met me when he got back. That was 12 <strike>long</strike> awesome years ago. This entire time he's told me how he would like to move back to East Asia. For 11 years I said, "No. Way. Jose."<br />
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Then, at the beginning of this school year, there were rumblings of change at my school. Our state assessment scores left something to be desired (something being, native English speakers from the middle or upper class) and there are a couple of ways the district "fixes" this problem. One of those ways is by letting all the teachers go. If you have tenure, like me, they'll place you for one year, then after that year, you're on your own. It's pretty bleak and I was sad to leave a staff of extremely talented, caring teachers, but what can you do? I know what you can do-you can leave the country!<br />
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We signed up for the <a href="http://www.uni.edu/placement/overseas/osfair.html" target="_blank">Overseas Recruitment Fair at the University of Northern Iowa</a>. That was an intense weekend. On the flight to Cedar Rapids we were sitting next to the middle school principal at <a href="http://www.kis.or.kr/index.asp">Korea International School</a>. Korea hadn't really been on the radar, but after a brief interview on Sunday, and then several Skype interviews, and a little bit of research into life in Korea we were on our way.<br />
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That's how it happened. 11 years of convincing and one quick weekend of deciding!jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-69165337766527049732012-07-08T10:37:00.002+08:002012-07-08T12:03:09.281+08:00See you soon<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3tpi_gncczw/T_ju2BScebI/AAAAAAAAAcI/xdi-wimxCPU/s1600/232323232%257Ffp5-nu%253D3249-%253B72-3%253B5-WSNRCG%253D3232-347-3445nu0mrj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3tpi_gncczw/T_ju2BScebI/AAAAAAAAAcI/xdi-wimxCPU/s320/232323232%257Ffp5-nu%253D3249-%253B72-3%253B5-WSNRCG%253D3232-347-3445nu0mrj.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture was taken 5 years ago. Grace on the left, Ruby on the right</td></tr>
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Today was our going away party. Since Gruby's turning 5 (FIVE!) on Wednesday, we did a combination going away/birthday party. So many great, dear, loved friends came and we will miss seeing you often (in person).<br />
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I don't know if you've heard, but Colorado has been in a drought this summer. Just 2 days ago it was like 103 degrees. We need rain-but seriously, we didn't need a torrential downpour 20 minutes into the party. Our house is tiny, our yard is huge-you do the math. Cozy was fine though, we were shoulder to shoulder with people we love-and missed some of you who we love who couldn't make it (couldn't find a boat in time, probably).<br />
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The girls asked for a pinata for their party, of course. On a hot tip from Julia on where to get an affordable pinata, I went to Save-a-Lot. Check out the selection:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_YZBrtp2L8/T_juhPrzJrI/AAAAAAAAAbo/R6KonAYcDto/s1600/pinatas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_YZBrtp2L8/T_juhPrzJrI/AAAAAAAAAbo/R6KonAYcDto/s1600/pinatas.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">which one of these needs to be beaten to shreds by children?</td></tr>
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I chose the pony because, well, the girls love ponys. But it does seem weird to really beat something with a bat that is so adorable... but the kids were up for the challenge!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LCiymJOgAXE/T_jufR-aT8I/AAAAAAAAAbg/nwnP8Aysk_I/s1600/pinata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LCiymJOgAXE/T_jufR-aT8I/AAAAAAAAAbg/nwnP8Aysk_I/s1600/pinata.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pony, frozen with fear. Hiding on top of the washing machine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G-1TQJI_Iu8/T_juK4pLiWI/AAAAAAAAAa4/ZXaFz6qBauE/s1600/%2524s+on+Ruby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G-1TQJI_Iu8/T_juK4pLiWI/AAAAAAAAAa4/ZXaFz6qBauE/s1600/%2524s+on+Ruby.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">party-goers negotiating side bets. Most had money on Ruby-she's <i>scrappy</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7RGyKLtxTtI/T_juOh99AOI/AAAAAAAAAbA/h-LxLxVjz4M/s1600/august+v+pinata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7RGyKLtxTtI/T_juOh99AOI/AAAAAAAAAbA/h-LxLxVjz4M/s200/august+v+pinata.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">August v. Pinata (August 0, Pinata 1)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7oGPAQMkbXA/T_juaFhE1FI/AAAAAAAAAbY/WzwEu9Q5Sew/s1600/grace+v+pinata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7oGPAQMkbXA/T_juaFhE1FI/AAAAAAAAAbY/WzwEu9Q5Sew/s200/grace+v+pinata.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grace v. Pinata (Grace 0, Pinata 2)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Dnqf745b_0/T_jujlVsJ7I/AAAAAAAAAbw/G4vcQFIXwPw/s1600/ruby+v+pinata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Dnqf745b_0/T_jujlVsJ7I/AAAAAAAAAbw/G4vcQFIXwPw/s200/ruby+v+pinata.jpg" width="200" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby v. Pinata (Ruby 0, Pinata 3)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FY9samQfjXA/T_jt1k0nX5I/AAAAAAAAAaw/1C-2FlyLAiA/s1600/brayan+v+pinata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FY9samQfjXA/T_jt1k0nX5I/AAAAAAAAAaw/1C-2FlyLAiA/s200/brayan+v+pinata.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Brayan couldn't bust this open.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Finally Uncle Mike stepped in with a baseball bat and candy spilled out
onto the muddy ground. The kids loved it and ate candy all night.<br />
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Then we had cake. Dora Princess for Grace and Tinkerbell for Ruby. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9LgQd1VZdA/T_juVEdYlyI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/PL62ExBvjdI/s1600/dora+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f9LgQd1VZdA/T_juVEdYlyI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/PL62ExBvjdI/s200/dora+cake.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhM2P9QaB6E/T_jumOenI0I/AAAAAAAAAcA/RRrPQZ66CHA/s1600/tinkerbell+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhM2P9QaB6E/T_jumOenI0I/AAAAAAAAAcA/RRrPQZ66CHA/s200/tinkerbell+cake.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rj5boHIv92U/T_juSMOMIMI/AAAAAAAAAbI/aRVNllq3Mow/s1600/blowing+out+candles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rj5boHIv92U/T_juSMOMIMI/AAAAAAAAAbI/aRVNllq3Mow/s1600/blowing+out+candles.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at our 5 year olds.</td></tr>
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There's not much more to say. We will miss you. We will see you on the internet.jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7835943224221434906.post-81245900420315223702012-07-03T07:27:00.001+08:002012-07-03T07:29:39.139+08:00Hold your breath, plug your nose and get ready to fly to Korea!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lfc-zBKnTT0/T_ItciDLcyI/AAAAAAAAAY4/dqWCMOrrSoo/s1600/boy-on-high-dive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lfc-zBKnTT0/T_ItciDLcyI/AAAAAAAAAY4/dqWCMOrrSoo/s320/boy-on-high-dive.jpg" width="244" /></a></div>
When I (Irish) was young, my parents wanted me to dive from the diving board. It wasn't a high dive, just a regular diving board. I was terrified. They even bribed me with a <i>anything from the snack bar</i> at the pool. My parents had <i>never </i>made such an offer. I knew they were serious. From what I remember after going to the edge of the diving board and retreating to the safe, warm concrete about 25 times I finally jumped off the diving board. I don't remember what I got from the "snack shack", but I do remember enjoying the diving board after that.<br />
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We leave for Seoul, South Korea in 13 days. I feel like I'm standing at the edge of that board again.jimandirishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05969670287219951706noreply@blogger.com5