Shenzhen Scenes
Over the past few days, we took a quick trip to Shenzhen as Randy was on October holiday. Shenzhen might not be the first place that comes to one's mind when planning the October holiday getaway (many of the kids in Myles' soccer league were in places like Thailand or even Hainan), but for our family it was a completely welcome trip.
Shenzhen is a city in China that everyone, Chinese and expat, wants to leave for those long holidays (October holiday and Spring Festival), so during the vacation, the flights and the hotels are greatly reduced. Many of our friends remained throughout the holiday so we had a wonderful time.
We arrived Saturday evening. As we checked into our hotel, Myles asked about the hotel decor. "Why is it decorated with tongues of fire? Will we start speaking different languages?" One could only hope.
Sunday morning, we were at our old Mass at St. Paul in Nantou. The renovation project continues and the difference, even mid-way through, is amazing. The front gate, for instance, used to be weathered and grey. It is just glorious in yellow and white right now.
The last time I was here, these steps were broken and falling down. And with the Bible verse above the door is completely legible now.
Myles, so shy at our current parish that he barely speaks when spoken to, jumped right back into the swing of things Sunday. He joined up with the other children for the procession.
Monday morning found us watching Sunday Night Football, live on Chinese tv at our friends' new bar. We were the only Steelers fans in attendance, so frequently on the receiving end of much gentle harassment. We turned off the Chinese language play-by-play and listened over the bar's speakers to the Pittsburgh radio feed online. I knew Game Pass would come in handy.
Other than this we had too much to eat with wonderful friends, everything from Southern Chinese home-cooking on Sunday to fancy Spanish food for one American friend's birthday to a few orders from NYPD Pizza, to, of course, visits to Starbucks every day. It was such a great "vacation" that we are talking about maybe doing it again for Spring Festival or just a long weekend.
Shenzhen is a city in China that everyone, Chinese and expat, wants to leave for those long holidays (October holiday and Spring Festival), so during the vacation, the flights and the hotels are greatly reduced. Many of our friends remained throughout the holiday so we had a wonderful time.
We arrived Saturday evening. As we checked into our hotel, Myles asked about the hotel decor. "Why is it decorated with tongues of fire? Will we start speaking different languages?" One could only hope.
Sunday morning, we were at our old Mass at St. Paul in Nantou. The renovation project continues and the difference, even mid-way through, is amazing. The front gate, for instance, used to be weathered and grey. It is just glorious in yellow and white right now.
The last time I was here, these steps were broken and falling down. And with the Bible verse above the door is completely legible now.
Myles, so shy at our current parish that he barely speaks when spoken to, jumped right back into the swing of things Sunday. He joined up with the other children for the procession.
Monday morning found us watching Sunday Night Football, live on Chinese tv at our friends' new bar. We were the only Steelers fans in attendance, so frequently on the receiving end of much gentle harassment. We turned off the Chinese language play-by-play and listened over the bar's speakers to the Pittsburgh radio feed online. I knew Game Pass would come in handy.
Other than this we had too much to eat with wonderful friends, everything from Southern Chinese home-cooking on Sunday to fancy Spanish food for one American friend's birthday to a few orders from NYPD Pizza, to, of course, visits to Starbucks every day. It was such a great "vacation" that we are talking about maybe doing it again for Spring Festival or just a long weekend.
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