Really settling in

It's starting to feel like home around here.

The kids have attended two full weeks of school, and seem to be loving their teachers. They are making friends. I am starting to feel more confidant on the visa line, and my husband is getting used to his job as a Management Specialist (basically, assisting the Management Officer with any project or task).

We received our last shipment and even hung some artwork. I will share some more photos of our home soon.

We found a new housekeeper (ayi in Chinese) who is making my life so much easier. She cooks, picks up the kids, and organizes my home. This is such a big perk of life in the FS and I am grateful.

We are all learning Chinese! The kids have an hour of Chinese at school every day, and already learned some songs and skits for the Mid-Autumn Festival on Monday. They also have a tutor coming twice a week, and she seems to be really good at teaching children.

Each officer is allowed 20 hours of Chinese tutoring per month, but I only do about 12 hours. I can't seem to find the right time. Some officers meet their tutor at lunch, but I only do this once/week since I am usually tired and hungry (I try to eat quickly before the tutor comes, but there isn't always time). My tutor also comes 2x/week at 6:30pm, but I am usually exhausted by this time and can't stop yawning. The ideal time for me would be 8am, but that is not an option- I'm already at work. And although some officers find a way to have tutoring during the workday, I feel like my day is just too packed. Still, I am grateful for the resources and hope to find a way to increase my study time.

I am busy planning some vacations! We have trips planned to Beijing, Hainan (China's tropical island), and Thailand coming up. I just have to get cracking on the details. There is a lot to arrange but I am so excited. I love that the kids are big enough to travel easily.

Scooters are the perfect vehicle around here. 

We just love this gorgeous pool

Food is a big preoccupation for us. I have found a great company called Guangzhou Grocery that will go shopping at the warehouse store and deliver it the same day to your home. I am all about home delivery. We also use an Australian butcher and I hope to set up organic vegetable delivery soon.

Here we are at the warehouse store. It's kind of fun, but takes up a lot of time...

The kids are doing great with Chinese food. L, especially, will try anything. Yesterday, she ate onion pancakes! She keeps asking for xiaolongbao, or soup dumplings, which we tried back in Maryland. I've eaten some great dumplings but have not yet taken her for her favorites- shrimp or soup dumplings. Happily, the new ayi makes dumplings.

All in all, things are going great. And I don't take that for granted at all.

Food is so yummy here! Looking forward to colder weather so these handpulled noodles will be even more enjoyable

This kid is really embracing everything Chinese. The clothes, the chopsticks, much of the food. I'm proud of her!
PS She likes having her picture taken much more than her brother...