Foreigners

I live in Shanghai with 24 million other people. I don't speak the language or share many cultural traits with the vast majority of them. It's amazing how "alone" one can feel adrift in a sea of people. I walk almost everywhere, and usually I am pretty tuned out, just focusing on getting to my destination, on managing the kids in the stroller that is too big for the sidewalks here, avoiding the gawks and stares and even photos at such a tall woman and her two (TWO!) blonde blue-eyed babies. But lately I've been trying to find the beauty in my surroundings and feel a sense of delight, perhaps even serenity, in this buzzing urban jungle. To this end, today I admired this little Russian church that I pass almost daily. I think it's beautiful, and standing in such sharp contrast to the buildings surrounding it, it reminds me that I'm not the only foreign one in this place.

Russian Orthodox Mission Church, with our apartment building peeking through behind

fundazzle

The girls and I have been frequenting Fundazzle, a fantastic indoor playroom, since it opened last summer. Because the outdoors is so often undesirable or downright dangerous for us to play -- due to heat, rain, wind, or (most often) pollution -- I am really thankful for this big, clean, safe, semi-convenient, and relatively cheap place for TJ to get some energy out and Avery to smile at strangers.

It's here that I really see my two children's unique personalities shine. I've posted a couple of videos that capture their typical Fundazzle activities pretty well:

And here are some photos from the day as well.

exploring a bit

making new friends

eating, always eating

smiling

relaxing

running

zooming

only time she stops moving is for a water break