Elf on a Shelf

Since we were going to be around during the Christmas holiday this year, I decided to bring a little Elf on the Shelf fun to China.  Usually, this story and toy is used to promote good behavior in children around Christmas but I decided to take on some more adult themes and surprise B!
B named our elf Jellybean.  Enjoy his antics!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas 2015 from Shanghai!

We headed to the roof to watch the lights being programmed off the new Shanghai Tower.
Programmers are preparing for New Years Eve with a countdown at the top of the tower!

Shanghai Tower Light Testing

As New Years draws closer, light testing on the Shanghai Testing has been in full swing.  Every 15 minutes our apartment would turn into a disco ball!  When it started tonight, we hurried to the roof to see the lights up close!  Pretty neat!

Westin BDay Brunch

For my 31st this year, we celebrated with a group of friends at the Westin Hotel's famous brunch.  Being so close to Christmas, the brunch theme was of course Christmas but having so little of the holiday here, I didn't mind.

There are two levels to the brunch so any food you can pretty much think of is somewhere in some form.  We had lobster, ham, cheese, cold cuts, tacos, gyros, salad, nachos, pumpkin tortellini, waffles, chocolate, mojitos, and mango daquiris!  And anything and everything else :)

Unfortunately I was feeling under the weather but B cheered me up with having the staff surprise me with a birthday song and cake.  Ask him and he'll tell you he forgot to mention it was my birthday to them....good save, B!

IFC Christmas Dinner

Our apartment sponsored a Christmas dinner last night.  We sat with several of our Disney neighbors for good fun and laughs.  The staff passed out Santa hats and reindeer headbands to get people in the spirit.  Dinner was a buffet of ham, turkey, chow mein, veggies, soups, the 'normal' western Asian cuisine... ha ha

"Especially for you

Please know that I love you more

than anything else in the world"

Nice sentiment giving a gift at dinner (chocolates) but strange wording.....oh, China....

Beijing Air Quality

Apparently the air has gotten so bad in Beijing, the government deleted data from the app!

German Christmas Market

We ventured out with Todd, Rebecca, and Josh to a German Christmas Market. 

When will I learn to leave high hopes behind for any type of event that is seemingly normal in China....

There was only one booth selling anything remotely Christmas-like with the merchandise being nutcrackers.  Most vendors were selling food and others were just random products.  It had also recently rained so the grounds were a muddy mess.  At least there was German beer and Gluhwein!

 From THE America....

This gingerbread man was just as disappointed as we were!

Thank goodness for good friends to share disappointments with!
Me, Rebecca, and the back of Todd ;)

Peas and Anchovies

This snack was handed out during Thanksgiving lunch at work.  Yep.  Peas and anchovies.

Oh, China...