Our Adventures in Asia: Giving Thanks

I have so much to give thanks for this Thanksgiving season. Actually, those reasons have always been there. But living in Shanghai has made me see those reasons more clearly. And it's all the small things --- how clean the air smells in Dallas, the convenience of washing all your dirty laundry in one wash, the ease of driving when everyone is going the same way and abiding by the same rules, getting anything you need 24/7. I've learned to take pleasure in the small things. There are many reasons why I'm glad that I took this assignment in Shanghai, but the best one is that it made me realize how amazingly wonderful my life in the US was and will be.

It was so nice to be back in Dallas with family and friends. I hated that I couldn't see everyone on this trip but I will be back in Dallas the first week in April so I hope to see everyone that I missed this time. It was so fun seeing all of our friends' kids now, being so much older and full of fun and mischief. Sydney will have a great time being friends with them.

I spent my week in Dallas eating all things meat and Tex Mex. And of course, I made it to Chipotle 4 times during my visit. My brother's deep fried turkey and my sister-in-law's oyster stuffing was worth the 16-17 hour travel time to Dallas and back. Needless to say, I hit the gym today. And yes, it was painful. Sydney did great on the flights to and from Shanghai, thanks to a backpack full of new books, snacks and Sesame Street stickers (thanks to Aunt Tyra). For that, I am profoundly grateful. Sydney never ceases to amaze me as to how resilient and flexible she can be.

I was disappointed that Sydney didn't take to our family at first. But she was only 12 months old when we left Dallas for Shanghai so it was understandable that it would take a bit of time to warm up to everyone. If only she knew how much she has been missed and loved by her grandparents, aunts and uncle. I LOVED seeing her with my family, and am so grateful to have siblings and parents who love and cherish her as much as I do.

Sydney suffered jet lag for most of our visit, which meant that I also suffered jet lag. And of course, she fully adjusted to Dallas time 3 days before we left to come back to Shanghai. We are now dealing with jet lag as I'm trying to get her on Shanghai time. I had intended to keep her at home today but she woke up at 4am (and 1am and 3am) and dragged her backpack to the front door, saying "school, school, school." So I let her go to school today and her teachers said that she was tired but was a trooper and participated in all of the lessons, except for recess. She stayed indoors with Miss Marie and laid down for some quiet time.

Being the absentminded parent that I've become, I forgot to bring my camera with me to Dallas. But thanks to my sister-and-law, Amy, and her best friend, Kathy, I have several hundred pictures to remember our Thanksgiving holiday by. Here are just some of the pictures.