Random observations

First off, the term "expats" is short for expatriates. We are the people considered "stupid tourists" by the locals until they realise after a month we are apparently here to stay. Then, we just become "stupid, annoying people that happen to support the economy". Dictionary.com defines an expatriate as:

1. one who has taken up residence in a foreign country.
2. to withdraw (oneself) from residence in one's native country.
3. to banish (a person) from his or her native country.

You get to choose which definition you would like to apply to us.

Things I got to see this week:

• My life flash before my eyes. Whoever said you wanted to see your death coming was lying! Hang Lei was driving down the highway (I was listening to the Britney Spears he had playing over the radio), and had a semi-truck begin to turn into us. Hang Lei slammed on the brakes and all we lost was the passenger side mirror on the van (I didn't need new underwear, but I am beginning to see why it is common sense to keep a clean pair in the glovebox!). Hang Lei said a bunch of words to me that I am probably glad I didn't understand, and then quickly chased down the other driver and pulled in front of him so he had to stop. After about 5 minutes worth of arguing in the left lane of a two-lane highway, Hang Lei hops back in the van with 350 kuai, says more words I can't understand (but did comprehend the meaning behind them), and we were on our way again. The next day the mirror was fixed and everything was back to normal (okay, Karen, as normal as things can be for me!)
• 3 generations of Chinese women walking hand-in-hand down the street.
• How my washer, dryer, dishwasher, iron, and ironing board work. It helps me to see just how spoiled I have been all these years.
• The movie "1408". If you are a thriller movie or John Cusack fan, it is for you. If you like to sleep at night, maybe it's not so much for you.
• Fireworks being lit off during a thunderstorm in the middle of the day.
• Joy in my haircut dude Jeffrey's eyes when he was finally able to tell me that his wife and 3-month old son are finally living here in Shanghai with him. He has had pictures, but had only seen the baby less than a hand-full of times.

Okay, random book review for those of you looking for a book on China to read. It is, "China Road", by Rob Gifford. Check out the review on Amazon.com. It is a fairly quick read about a journalist who journeys across Route 312 in China. It starts on the eastern border in Shanghai, and ends 3000 miles away at the western border of China. It does a good job of describing the people, places, and culture of China, and also provides thoughtful commentary on where China is heading as a nation and a people.

Anyway, I'll blog more next week after my family comes back to me (the 7th!)!