Counting Down

What a crazy whirlwind the past several weeks.  And to think I'll be visiting Iowa in just 8 days.  WOW!  I know there are a few little girls that are excitedly anticipating my visit.  A few family members & friends may be doing the same.  It's been delightful preparing for the holidays, here in Shanghai.  There is a plethora of great decorations, lots of parties, and so much kindness in the area.  Been fun at school, including music office food and fun today.

Six concerts in ten days.
Five weeks of rehearsals for added church choirs and specials.
Four days of work this week.
Three days to relax before flying to the states.
Two suitcases to pack.
And a semester of blessing to reflect on as the hours go by.

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Pop Stars Revealed

Yep, this happened today.  Ms. Hendriks accidentally modeled this "pop star" etiquette one day in rehearsal a few weeks back as what not to do.  It stuck.  And no, we are NOT performing this style on the concert.  Just a teaching strategy to bring absolute joy to their faces when we reach this part of the song!!!

And they want to eventually be featured on a talk show.....

Hope this brought a smile to your face.

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Conferences

Hey, it's conference week (and lots of other fun things) at Concordia.  The middle school teachers have all day Thursday & Friday for meetings with parents/students.  But for us specialists, it's a different ballgame than in the states.

I have two entire days to sit in a location (which isn't my main classroom or office) and "wait" to see if anyone will come meet with me.  One cool thing about this - I am not having conferences during my evening time.  Thanks Concordia!!!!!  Previously, a table in the library/gym, or in my office, served as my spot to "wait" for meetings.  Over the last 15 years it has been fun to have parents/students lined up waiting to chat.  Because they enjoy chatting with their specialists.  Makes the evenings go quickly when that happens.  This has been an interesting two days.

Thursday:  conference at 9am, and conference at 2pm.

Friday:  conference at 8:45am, so far

Today's meeting - I broke into tears after the conference.  When you have a 7th grade boy who (besides being late to choir every day and using sub par effort...) has a voice that sounds like yours, blends with yours, has vibrato like yours, and then agrees to sing by himself in front of the entire select choir, that's pretty special.  It's even more special to hear that he is up, energized, and excited to come to our before-school CCA choir rehearsal each week, but won't wake up the other days.  It's even mostest :) special to see him smile and nod his head in agreement when, in front of both parents, you talk about how it's okay to enjoy singing.  How you don't have to go overboard with excitement or "nerd out" in class.  But how it's okay to enjoy every moment on the inside.  Especially when it's one of the most beautiful gifts you're given.  Tears, tears, tears.

I am so thankful for my job.

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Three months and going

Three months ago on a Sunday like today, I flew into Shanghai, China, and Asia for the first time in my life.  And the purpose was simple:  I was starting a new life!!!  As many of us newbies have reflected recently, it feels as if we've been here, surviving on this soil, for years.  Yet, it has only been three short months.

I don't have any wit or wisdom to share for this posting.  My weekend was filled with shopping, naps, rehearsals, eating with colleagues, chaperoning the Autumn Bash, having some much-needed conversations with close friends, sleeping in, sending a multitude of emails, a Hawkeye football victory, and trying to stay warm.  Right now, I'm ready to hop in bed at 8:30pm.....  So like I said, not much wisdom to be had.  My laundry machine is roaring on the final cycle.  I'm enjoying my Nutella treat.  My feet and legs are basking in the glory of their post foot massage joy.  There is no Daylight Savings Time, so I don't get that extra hour of sleep I lost in the spring.  And tomorrow is musical auditions.

Soli Deo Gloria.  To God alone be the glory.  There are so many things that I've been blessed with and shown during my short stay.  And I have a LONG list of work to be done.  But because it's God's work, that makes it even more glorious.  :)

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I am the minority

Expat life in Shanghai is filled with excitement!  Lots of exploration, fun, new experiences, yummy food, a different vibe, and plenty of great people.  And one thing this Iowa girl understands is.....that I am a small minority in this great city.  It's not just my pinkish, fair skin.  Not my loud laughter.  It's also not my overly boisterous Midwestern twist on the Mandarin language.  I'm just a minority.

I am so intrigued as I observe how others act around me and towards me in this Chinese metropolis.  You can create daily documentaries of the way you are, or are not, treated throughout your journey.  There are very few around Shanghai who will hold open a door for me or give up their seat on the subway.  Most of our housing guards are polite and helpful, but several are not.  I hear passers-by mentioning Meiguoren (American) as I walk on the sidewalk or in a store.  At the jazz festival, a few folks took pictures of me in my I <3 NY t-shirt, and they weren't shy about it.  Pointed the camera right at me and shot a few photos.  Waiters or cashiers will say things in Mandarin that they assume I don't understand.  So far, nothing has been overly frustrating.

There are definitely kind, compassionate people in the majority, and they bring smiles from the heart.  One of the street vendors around the corner told me last month that "they" (him and others) call me the "nice American woman".  This past weekend, one of the guards made a scooter move out of my way so I could walk into our complex.  Probably those who treat me like a queen would include our guards & ayis at school and my wonderful Starbucks baristas.  They are so much fun to interact with.  One of the ayis tries to speak English and teach me Mandarin - every time she is cleaning the bathroom and I happen to walk in!  Ha!!!  And one of my favorite people in JinQiao would be Nancy, my favorite waitress at Pistolera's.  She shows me nothing but love.  And I try to do the same in return.

God blessed me with eyes that see the person, not the specifics.  And it's amazing to see my new life through the same set of eyes.  My individual self, in the country of 1.5 billion strong.....

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Walking

When we are babies, taking our first steps is celebrated to all levels of excitement!  Moving those legs, balancing, being mobile like other grown up humans.....walking is a huge accomplishment.  Walking, for me, is also a huge accomplishment.  Walking in many ways.....

In Shanghai, and other Chinese cities, walking is difficult!  I've been picked on a bit because I like to walk.  But if you look at my history, I haven't been able to walk this much since college.  Backpack hoisted, warm shoes tied, sunglasses and water bottle in hand - and here we go!  So far, I've chosen to not purchase a bike or scooter for quick travel.  Instead, I invested in a wireless FitBit monitor.  It easily tracks all that I do.  I can input weight loss, hydration, sleep patterns, calorie intake, etc.  Otherwise it tracks all the moves I make each day.  Technology is cool!

I commuted by car from Nevada to Maxwell, as well as from Muscatine to Davenport.  I lived on the opposite side of town from MHS, so I had to drive to school.  I worked two buildings last year, so I drove back and forth each day.  That is a lot of time logging miles in a car.

Now I get to walk everywhere.  To work and home, to eat dinner, to attend a concert, to get groceries, to go shopping, to consume Starbucks, to attend church, and to go anywhere.  Yes, I ride the metro (subway), bus, or taxi.  But walking is glorious.  I give thanks that my feet, leg muscles, back, or anything else don't hurt on a daily basis.  At times I average 20,000 steps each day.

The difficulty with walking is simple:  walkers never have the right of way.  Yes, the green pedestrian light signals when it is your "turn" to cross an intersection.  Yes, there are crosswalks.  Yes, there are law officers who help control traffic at busy times or in construction.  But.....that does not make you safe.  Buses, taxis, cars, scooters, bicycles, etc., all feel the need to turn in front of pedestrians.  And almost run you over!  Yield - you guessed it, the pedestrians have to yield or be flattened.
 
Everywhere I go.

Thankfully, I haven't seen any tire tread in the face, yet.
Darcy - 1, Shanghai - 0

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Being Aware of Life

Concordia International School Shanghai is hosting their first ever Pink Out/Wellness Week!!!!!  I'm really excited to be a part of the inaugural celebration.  This is APAC sports weekend in Asia.  Our teams are traveling many places for tournaments, and we are hosting the APAC volleyball tournaments here at Concordia.

We are Pinking Out to boost awareness for breast cancer, and all the mountain tops and valleys that go with it.  Our teams have been wearing pink uniforms throughout October.  All teachers and students have an amazing pink shirt to wear for the opening ceremonies tomorrow.  (And since today is Pink Wednesday, I'm pinked for today, tomorrow, and Friday!)

Also for this week, we are doing a "green" Wellness week.  Each member of the Concordia family is choosing a wellness goal & singing a pledge.  We can even write them on our shirts!  I've got a couple to choose from.  Simply put, I may just say, "Don't buy a bike."  That way I can keep walking EVERYWHERE!!!  I know it may annoy some of my friends who like to bike to our locations, but this walking to work, shopping, church, groceries, restaurants, bank, etc., is awesome.

So the shirts are pink - with one sleeve in lime green.  Logo on the front, and a white slash in order to write in our wellness pledge.

And my favorite colors are pink & green.

Some people would simply say that I can't go wrong with this week :)

Thinking of others, being kind, giving of our time & resources, loving one another - it's all good.

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Iowa Connections

Hey friends -

I have to say how crazy it is to still be making new connections here in China.....with those amazing individuals from Iowa.  And it happened again just earlier at church!

The great state of Iowa has been called many different (and some untrue) things through the years.  But I've found that it's one of the smaller, but greatest, states in the USofA.  What could be wrong with cows, soybeans, corn, pigs, and Hawkeyes?  Okay - none of the sport fans from that one university are actually allowed to answer that!  It exports many needed farm goods all around the globe.  It is an amazing place to raise a family.  It houses great industry.  It makes folks from Idaho jealous when they think we grow lots of potatoes there.  It knows the importance of a well-rounded, arts-filled education for children.  It tricks young geography students when you have learn that the Mississippi River actually runs east to west along one of its borders.

As I ran into church a few minutes late, I was ushered up to the nosebleed section of the balcony.  We only had one combined service this evening - the house was full!!!  I sat down in one of the back rows.  And just for the record, the balcony was rockin' this evening.  Praise God.  A woman rushed in a few seconds after me, sat next to me, and we both joined in worship.  When Pastor Brad asked all the first time visitors to raise their hand so they could get their pen & card to fill out, she raised her hand!  When we did greetings, I introduced myself and she did the same.  A few times during the service, she asked me a question about a person or such.  And through the sermon, worship, prayer, etc., I was growing excited to talk with her after the service.  When the lights came on, I started the conversation.  And God blessed us both tonight - she is new to Shanghai this fall, a teacher, in the same decade of age as myself, single, no family with her in China, and loving worship at AGIF church.  The best part - she is from Pella, Iowa.  Seriously.  She is Dutch.  Like this Hendriks girl.  As I was saying in my last post, I don't believe in coincidence - I believe in God!  How cool.

So my life is now energized by a new sister in Christ.  And if (Heather) reads this, thanks in advance for being a part of my blog subject!  Praise Him who is faithful and just, who forgives, who loves, who gives, who provides, who showers us with blessing and mercy every day of our lives.  And so I look forward to my NEXT Iowa connection...

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Orion's Belt

I try to be as transparent as life will let me be.  And I've kept no secret when it comes to this epic bout of insomnia (six weeks and running).  Tonight, I purposely had to wake up around 3am to make a business transaction with a place in the USA.  One of the cool things about my experience in Shanghai has been the beautiful skies, crisp weather, and the majestic views.  I've seen more fluffy clouds, blue sky, and green plants than I expected to find in an entire year.  And at night, I see stars.  Yes, even as the high rises clash with the night lights, you can still look up and see stars.

After I made my phone call, I decided to make a quick walk (about a block) over to the Family Mart. This is a convenience store that I see EVERYWHERE in Shanghai.  And I've heard they are all over Asia.  Hoping for a stellar night sky, I hurried downstairs to see what I would find.  And there was no disappointment.  The sky is clear.  The stars are twinkling brightly.  And as I look up above my apartment tower, I see the constellation, Orion.  And as clear as a night in the countryside of Muscatine County, I was staring at Orion's Belt.  

I find joy in little moments such as this.  In my lifetime, I've figured out that I don't believe in coincidence.  For me, God gives all kinds of minor blessings, such as those three stars in the belt, on a moment-by-moment schedule.  I'm thankful for this!  After a long, long, long Friday (and week), what a fun time I had, walking without fear of being hit by bikes/scooters/vehicles on the sidewalks and intersections.  I got to make my beverage and ice cream purchase, then walk home staring up at the brilliance in the sky.  Not sure that I've ever had such a big smile as I looked up at Orion's Belt.

Praise goes to the Almighty, our Creator extraordinaire - our Savior.

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In Training

Being at Concordia allows us many benefits, which I basically call blessings.  And some of the things I see as a blessing would probably surprise many of you.  I'm just a small town, Iowa girl, living it up in the largest city in the world (around 24 million, give or take a few thousand...).

One of the great parts about being on staff is being able to work with our athletic trainer.  He is in charge of wellness, and it has been a blast talking to him, getting some therapy for my hand & wrist issues, working out in the gym, and just learning.  Today he gave me props for my pain tolerance.  Ha!  For those who don't know, my right hand has been having the same issues that my left hand dealt with in February, 2014.  The burning, numbed, not-able-to-move issues....  When nothing else helped, our trainer offered to do some p.t. on my arm, wrist, and hand.  And I'm happy to report that within the last two weeks, I've gotten some relief!  We have started doing IASTM treatments twice a week.  In China, this is otherwise known as gua sha.

Another blessing - the Keurig machine in my principal's office.  The caffeine keeps me going!

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Work Stress

One of my favorite parts about my new job is that I hadn't really faced any work stress until last week - the first full week of October.  And I haven't been able to say that in at least 12 years.  One of God's plans for my life was to "healthify" me.  (That word is made up - and totally sounds like it should be straight from the musical, Wicked.)  This includes a lower amount of work stress!  Changing over to middle school helps.  Having no show choir helps.  Walking two blocks to school instead of driving 45 minutes helps.  Only teaching at one school helps.  For this (lack of work stress) alone, I am so thankful.

Would I be fine going back to my former colleagues, students, support staff, custodial and maintenance folks???  Absolutely.  But when you get rid of your entire life and start over - halfway across the world - there is no going back.  No turning back.  No looking back.

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To China And Back

Who knew that moving to China would be this great?

Welcome to my new blog - a real space to share the real moments of thriving and surviving as an expat in Shanghai.

My first blog cred goes out to Dennis Grice, my new favorite technology integration specialist, self-proclaimed "connecter of dots", at Concordia.  My second blog cred goes out to the fabulous 5th grade ladies in my first header image.  My third blog cred goes out to our Creator.  Wow - I'm really here!

Today, October 12th, starts week eleven here in JinQiao, Pudong, Shanghai, China.  The weather is absolutely stunning.  Walking to school this morning, it was a crisp 52 degrees fahrenheit.  The leaves are falling, the air is brisk, and the sunshine is welcomed.  Our high school music department is preparing for their Friday night concert, this week.  Middle school sport teams are preparing for their first competitions of the season.  And we are getting ready to audition for our middle school musical!

Thanks for all your love and support.

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