Watch, Read, Listen

In our "compound", or subdivision as we'd call it back home, we have a rather unique complex.  Can you tell me what is interesting about all these shops?   (No fair giving the answer away if you live here!)   Dozens and dozens of shops! And check out that "Burger King"… Ooooo!!!  And I *heart*…

Soooo….. What did you see out your windows on Sunday afternoon????   Well, we got a very brief glance at a Chinese wedding!  With dragons.  And drums.  And rose petals.  And lots of colorful confetti bombs and loud firecrackers!!!  How's that for a fun thing to see out your window on a lazy Sunday afternoon?????…

Remember a few weeks back where Ava participated in a Kindergarten presentation (she was a super cute animal expert)???   Well, now it's Annika's turn!   The third grade classes at IST put on a show for the primary school students and parents!  And WOW! It truly was a FUN show to watch!!!! The two…

Are you interested in seeing some random photos of some shopping trips I've been on since we moved to China???? Surely your answer must be YES!   🙂 I won't take no for an answer. 😉 You know…the best way to start a shopping trip is to start with a full tummy.  So, how about…

Hi there folks.  Mark here again.  I don't do much of the blogging around here because all I do is work, work work.  Ok that's perhaps an exaggeration.  But I do work a lot.  Or at least it feels like a lot.  Ok I'm sure I work at least the average amount.  I work enough…

Want to go on a fun, kind-of-quick outing?  Come along with me and my friends as we check out this very Chinese flea/ "antique" market in the center of Tianjin.   The place is called Shen Yang Dao Antique Market, but I have absolutely no idea where it is or how to get there.  Fortunately,…

Check out the unusual feature on this particular microwave (it's for sale at E-Mart): (click on the photo to view it larger) Did you find the ODOR button???? I can't even imagine what it does.  Does it make rotten food smell good?!?

Last Friday, much to my surprise and delight, Ava received a medal from her teacher at the Friday Morning Assembly.  Watch the little video clip to hear what her teacher has to say about Ava.  :-)     Ava gets a medal! from Astrid Breutzman on Vimeo.  Congratulations Ava!  I always knew you were a…

*FYI- this is a photo heavy post* Are your bags packed?  Are you ready for another quick but amazing adventure? You won't want to miss this one.  Seriously.  You HAVE to come with us!!!   Why????   We're going to cross off something off our Life-time Bucket List- we're heading to The Great Wall of…

  Have you ever heard of an ayi??????   I had never heard of the term until we started preparing for our expat assignment seven months ago.  What the heck is an ayi??? This is what I can tell you thus far: they're kind of like a maid but they can also cook, watch your…