A Year From Now...

May 2013 - Honolulu Triathlon

Due to the generosity of friends from Japan and the support of my family, I was able to join a team for the Honolulu Triathlon last month.  日本人の友人の寛大さと家族の支援があるので、先月ホノルルトライアスロンのためにチームに参加することができました。

Swimming practice at Ala Moana Park was great preparation for race day. アラモアナ公園で水泳の練習は、レース当日のために偉大な準備だった。

The event began before the Waikiki sunrise – 5:45 AM start!  イベントはワイキキ日の出の前を始めた - 5:45のスタート！

Due to an excellent course and ideal conditions, I was able to enjoy a good pace and finish in 2:43.  Very nice!  優れたコースと理想的な天気のために、2時43分には良いペースと仕上がりを楽しむことができました。非常に素晴らしい！

Gaining support and advice from experienced teammates was a unique and rewarding experience.  I am very grateful to everyone for their kind support!  I am looking forward to the next event!  経験豊富なチームメイトからのサポートやアドバイスを得ることは、ユニークでやりがいのある経験だった。皆さん、心から、深く感謝いたします！次のイベントを楽しみにしています！

Have a happy Chinese New Year, but don't breath . . . . . Shanghai

Yesterday morning at 8 AM, this was the view off my balcony here in Jinqiao, Shanghai.  Pretty hazy, don't you think?  I don't wonder why, as we were all listening to firecrackers and fireworks until after 2 AM.   Big change from last year on this day when it went on non-stop for about ten days.  I thought the decrease in NOISE might be because I had moved to a different part of Shanghai, to a foreigner enclave closer to Jonah's school and away from the more highly populated center.  Then I heard that the authorities had asked the residents to moderate their use of fireworks this year due to the air quality issue.  

Here's the graph for air quality taken on the first morning of the lunar year.  You can see that the level of pollutants hanging in the air went up, up and away well after midnight when the peak of the celebrations were heard and seen here.  By the time I finally got up after a good five hours of sleep, the air quality had improved dramatically to just "Unhealthy".  

In my humble opinion, there's nothing wrong with pretty fireworks and fun hand held sparklers to celebrate the hope and joy of a new year, but the incessant LOUD BOOMS that traditionally accompany this celebration add nothing to the quality of life, and certainly don't improve Shanghai's already compromised air quality.  

Here's a sample of what it was like to stand on our balcony at midnight, Chinese New Years Eve.    

Happy Anniversary ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Waikiki, Hawaii

I've always wanted to visit Hawaii, so Martin came up with this plan to use up all of our accumulated airline and hotel points, and meet in Honolulu for our 25th wedding anniversary.  It was only for four days, but we totally made the best of it.  Now that January is here, I am finally able to reflect on some of the lovely experiences from those precious four days.  Here's some of the pix from my camera.  

長い間にハワイに行きたかったが、最近始めて行きました。マーティンの考えは全部の航空会社とかホテルのポイントを使ったら、できます。そして、２５の結婚記念日に、ハワイに会いました。マーティンはアメリカから来たので、私は上海から行きました。４日間はとても良い経験だので、最近忙しいから、ついに写真を見て、鑑賞的に思案した。カメラから写真です。

 

 

 

 

 It's not just about the food. Martin and I enjoyed hiking on Diamondhead, riding a Harley to Pearl Harbor and the other side of the island, swimming, and biking.  And we were lucky to explore the wildlife in a coral reef, including sea turtles, octipus, eel and big colorful fish.  料理は美味しかったが、ハワイはすばらしいです。一緒に時間に、ダイモンドヘドに上って、パールハーバーにハーレーバイクを乗って、泳いで、自転車も乗りました。そして、シュノーケルでザンごしょうを見たので、海カメ、タコ、ウナギとか大きいきれい魚も近い見ました。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Is living in Hawaii so pleasant that it turns everyone nice?  I don't know, but we sure met a lot of nice people there.  

Like Elizabeth, of Waikiki Mint Limeade.  She just opened this business, making delicious and natural fruit drinks.  I wish her all the luck in the world.  

Cultural Cuisine ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ Xi'an

While on our short sightseeing trip to Xi'an, we had time to enjoy a couple of different styles of traditional cultural cuisine, the Chinese dumpling, which is a specialty of Xian, and the streetfood of the Muslim night market.  Added to that is another traditional food group, American Fast Food.  We did not know what to expect from Xian, but found it to be a modern city, and more orderly than Shanghai.  They are doing a lot of things right, except for the terrible air pollution.  We stayed near the Bell Tower, which is the center of the city, and admit to enjoying McDonalds and Haagen Daz while there.

最近家族と四安と言う中国の町に観光旅行に行ったので、二つの種類伝説な料理を食べました。中国の餃子は四安の専門です。そしてモスの夜の市場の料理は道で使ったので、面白いです。初めてに四安の町に行ったので、分からなかったが、モダンです。上海より行儀のよいです。空気汚染以外にいい町です。間の中に、マクドナルドとかハゲンダーズも食べました。

         

These dumplings are all different and interesting shapes, and with different and interesting fillings.  The little pig faces contain pork and cabbage, and the delicious duck shaped ones contain yummy duck.  The green ones were shrimp, and the eyes are some kind of fish egg plus a black sesame seed.  We each got one of each, a couple of dozen in all, and an interesting dumpling soup with very tiny dumplings.  I got two in my bowl, which means double happiness!

餃子はとても面白いです。全部は一つずつ違う形だので、中身とか味も、別々です。面白かったので、美味しかったです。例えば、豚の顔の形餃子は豚肉とキャベジです。着ろ色な鴨の形の餃子の中身は美味しい鴨です。緑は海老だので、目は魚卵だので、ゴマ種子です。ダンプリングスープはちっちゃな餃子があるので、少ない。私は二つを貰ったので、ダーブルハーピーの意味です。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Muslim night market was a nice surprise.  We had been warned to watch for thieves, and don't eat the food.  Instead, we found the people to be hospitable and fair.  The food was delicious.  We ate savory lamb kebabs, spicy fried tofu, cookies and candied crab apples.  モスの夜の市場はよくびっくりしたので、とてもよかったです。中国のガイドは危ないと言ったので、料理と食べないで、すり人も見てくださいと言いました。でも、違います。人人は歓迎的ので、料理は安くておいしかったです。味のよい子羊のカバブを食べたので、辛い焼き豆腐とか、クーキーとか、甘い小さい林檎も楽しかったです。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FYI, I arranged the trip with John McKenna of Travel the Real China.  Always excellent custom arranged travel.  Use the guide and driver when you need, and plenty of chance to explore on your own.  I highly recommend John.  He set up our excellent Yangzte River Cruise last spring as well.  

Christmas Day 2012 - Shanghai

On Christmas Day, we celebrated at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Puxi, Shanghai. Very fun! クリスマスの日に、私たちは上海で聖ペテロカトリック教会で祝いました。楽しかった！

Thanksgiving . . . . . . .Pudong

When we are all together, we make a big meal of all of the traditional favorite foods, the menu varies from year to year depending on who's assembled and what everyone is willing to make.  This year, we are more scattered than ever, with Martin finishing up business in Japan, and Jonah and I here in Shanghai, the boys in Iowa, and Monica going back to Paris to gather with my family at Aunt Nikki and Larry's.  I envy her, as it has been many years since I have enjoyed a Knuth family Thanksgiving with my parents and the clan.  Martin's family is all staying home in Colorado, Texas and Missouri, so though I'm sure they are all having nice Thanksgivings, we will not see them either.  Nice to have FB to keep in touch.

今日はアメリカの感謝祭でした。いつも家族と遊びに、食べに集めたいので、今度私の家族は別々国にいます。マーティンは出張で日本にいるので、明日アメリカに帰ります。ジョナと上海にいる、そのままで。上の息子二人は遠いだので、モニカは一人で私の両親の家に行ってので、兄弟と遊びます。長い時間に行かなかったので、モニカは特別経験をできると思います。

It being Thanksgiving, and no school today, Jonah had an appointment to meet with a specialist about his shoulder downtown this morning.  Afterwards, he noticed this was near a place a friend had taken him last year for dumplings.  After we walked around for awhile, he found it.  Not the sort of place I would go in without knowing any Chinese, but it was no problem.  Delicious and Cheap!　感謝祭から、ジョナは学校がないので、角の問題のために医者に話しに行ったので、後で朝食中国料理朝食を食べに入りました。ちょっと難しいですが、一緒にできました。

Each steamer of 6 dumplings was 6 rmb, the pork cutlet was 15 rmb. This was a filling breakfast for two of us at a total cost of 27 rmb, which is $4.33 USD, and 358 日本円。

Though it may seem like I bombed Thanksgiving by not making Jonah a turkey and the works, this chicken here was pretty tasty, and even though they sent brussell sprouts instead of green beans, and carrots instead of sweet potatoes, the stuffing had some similarities to the crockpot stuffing we usually make, the chicken was tender and tasty, and the cranberries and pumpkin pie were really good.  We are thankful.

毎年アメリカの子供はトルコを食べに欲しいので、二人だけから、無理です。そして、今年に感謝祭の料理を作りません。店から注文をしたので、少しい恥ずかしいが、全部は美味しかったので、満足した。

8, 9, 10 Laps ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Shanghai

Here's a couple of shots of the end of the Mid-Autumn Festival Lanterns.  They remind me of the giant pumpkins grown by my nephew Eric.  二つ秋の中の祭りのランプは下に来ます。甥は巨大パンプキンを栽培するらしいと思います。

While the other ex-pats were away on beach vacations last week, Jonah worked on his college applications and essays, and I tried to go to the pool as often as I could force myself.  This week, I am seeing some progress.  Monday I swam the 8 laps I'd been doing.  Takes me nearly 30 minutes as I have to rest on each end, each time.  I knew I could have done one more, but wanted to save room for growth.  Tuesday, I did 9 laps, and felt pretty good.  Today, I swam 10 laps, and my stroke is definitely improving.　　先週に、皆の他の外国人は浜の休みの旅行しながら、ジョナは大学の願書とかエッセーを努力して、書きました。私は時々プールに入れてので、習慣を作ってにくいです。今週だんだんよくなると思うので、月曜日に８つラップを泳いだ、火曜日に９ラップを泳いだ、今日１０ラップを泳ぎました。それから、進歩をしたと思います。もちろん、小さい成功だけど、満足します。

Interim commences ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ China

At 5 AM this morning, while it was still dark, Toby and I left the apartment with Jonah and his suitcase and backpack.  It usually takes me twenty minutes to walk to the school, but today we were moving quite fast.  Jonah had a plane to catch, and the bus to get him and his group to the airport would leave right on time.  23 groups of high school students, and about 50 adults started their Interim programs today, traveling throughout China to do service, learn, and adventure for a week.  Jonah's group flew to Hainan Island, which is far, far to the south, more than 1000 miles from Shanghai.  There they will do service work at a school and at an orphanage.  They will probably also do some teambuilding and enjoy the beach.  What a great opportunity for all these kids.  今朝５時に、トビとジョナと学校に歩きました。今日は特別日ので、高等学校の学生とか先生皆は中国の中に色々所に、学んで、お世話をして、遊びに行きます。ジョナのグルプは南の島に行って、孤児院で手伝うつもりです。すごい機会と思います。

I am so impressed with how this huge program is organized.  To think of the logistics, of sending all these groups out to have meaningful experiences all over China, plus one of the groups goes to Hiroshima in Japan.  All of the teachers also go, plus many of the other adults connected with the school.  They even have two students from the US, who won a contest to participate.  The students choose their trip, and have many preparation meetings over several weeks.  Three days ago, they collected the passports, two days ago, they issued Interim shirts in different colors, and this morning, when I saw that several buses were leaving at about the same time, I understood the shirt thing.  After it is over, there will be all manner of projects to be done, so that the learning doesn't end with their return.  あのプログラムはとても面白いです。学生の皆は四つトリープを選んだので、好きなことをすると思います。一つグループは広島も行きます。沢山準備をしたので、皆は同じグループの中に、皆は同じ色なＴシャツを着ます。今朝たくさんグループは集めたから、シャツの色の理由を分かりました。

Something smells ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Shanghai

In 2001, with my brand new passport, I took my first international flight, a looksee trip to Tokyo, where we ended up living for over a decade.  During that time, I spent at lease a few weeks in America each year, and had the good fortune to visit several other countries in Europe and Asia.  While in Japan, I worked hard to learn the language, made many local friends, and had come to think of myself as fairly culturally sensitive.  But its true what they say, the more you learn, the more you realize you don't know.  I admit it, I do not understand China.  Not only that, I really have to struggle to be culturally sensitive here.  I observe, I listen, I try to keep an open mind, and I wonder:  How can they stand the smells?!

When you walk into the grocery store the first time, the second time, the third time, etc, etc, the odor nearly knocks you over.  I thought I would get used to it, which hasn't happened yet, but I have hope.  I thought it might be chicken blood, and I didn't want to buy any food there, but, even though there are piles of birds and meat without wrappers, that's not it.  It is the durian.  Now I am very curious.  How can this fruit emit such a putrid stench?  And why do they have it in the store when it is obviously an olfactory troublemaker?  And how can they possibly buy it and take it home, knowing it will stink up not only their own home, but the whole neighborhood.  Nevermind what might happen when they cut it open?  See what I mean about being culturally insensitive.  I need to work on this, I know.

Okay, so at least I have a choice about whether or not to buy the durian and take it to my home.  The deal about odor is that it really hits home when it... hits home.  At my last apartment, there was such a bad issue with the plumbing, mostly in the kitchen, but only some of the time.  I would call the landlord and they would send someone up who would tinker around, sometimes replacing pipes or gaskets.  It didn't seem to make any difference.  And then it would go away for a few days or weeks.  And then come back.  I moved to this apartment, and thought I had escaped it, but no, it happens here sometimes too.  I just need to be LESS sensitive to it, I guess.  

But here, the washing machine has a very strong smell of mildew.  I have tried to clean the parts that I can get at, but to no avail.  So, I asked the landlord office to try to help, the girl was real nice, came up and took a whiff... no, she doesn't smell anything.  I'm thinking, "What?! Impossible."  Yeah, right, she probably thinks durian smells like perfume.   So I tried a sudsy treatment that didn't really help.  Oh, well.  Enough on this topic.  It stinks.

十年間以上前に、最初の国際の飛行機を乗りました。日本に行ったので、長い時間住んでいました。そして、あの時間に、毎年にアメリカに行ってので、色々国も訪問しました。私は色々国に行ったら、違う国の文化を感受をやってみるが、中国のにおいはとても難しいです。そして、この物語は悪臭においについて、特にドリアンとか、白カビとか、鉛管は悪いにおいです。