My Gratitude List

As I ate this weekend at a table surrounded by good friends this Thanksgiving, I felt so grateful for this uniquely American tradition.  We count our blessings, we gather as families, we share what we have with others.  Here with our China family, our battle buddies who have helped our family and welcomed us, we could feel this gratitude and just be together. We could eat turkey, homemade rolls and pies, and a mountain of mashed potatoes.  All feels right in the world.  

There is plenty of hard in China, but there is also a lot to love. At a time when we all speak of gratitude, this is my thankful list this Thanksgiving.  

On a good China day, I find all kinds of things to be excited about.  Beijing is a really rich and diverse international community and it has been fun to get to know new friends from all over the world.  We have wonderful friends who befriended us within the first week of school.  The wife grew up in Beijing and married a NY American artist, and they have a beautiful daughter who is my Hallie’s friend.  

We also met a new family a few months ago who just moved to Beijing from Barcelona, Spain.  We have been able to get our families together several times, and they are wonderful.  Another family we love is from the UK and both her and her husband work for the BBC.  Their girls are great friends of my twins, and it has been a riot to hear Danielle break into a British accent now and then and tell me all about her schemes and plans to get Rosalyn to our house as much as possible.  I love that we have friends from all over the world and we can see all the things that unite us.  

Beijing has beautiful culture and architecture.  When we have free days and are exploring a park, walking around the Forbidden City, or weaving through Hutongs, the scale and thoughtfulness of the design is incredible.  I love the ponds, walkways through trees, large weeping willows, and ornate stone carvings.  

Some of my China favorite things:

The amazing masks you get to wear on bad air pollution days.  Really, they haven’t been too frequent thus far.  And the novelty of wearing these is still pretty fun at this point.

Round dining tables with lazy susans.  Everything is served family style and even at a western style restaurant, everyone is sharing dishes and trying lots of menu options.  I tracked down a wholesale table maker and got one for our dining room.  I love it.  There is a bit of lazy susan spinning etiquette we are working at, but it is super convenient.  

Small dinner bowls and chopsticks.  You don’t heap a plate full of what you will eat, but take a helping in your small bowl and then add more once you’re done.  I love eating this way.

Hutongs: Beijing architecture at it’s finest.  They are essentially squared off compounds that used to be nobility housing areas.  There are outer buildings built in a square around a central courtyard.  There are restaurants inside some, shops in others, people still live in many, and there are so so many to explore.  We haven’t even scratched the surface yet.  

Water writing scrolls.  I saw these at a furniture store and knew I have to find some for my kids.  You use a fancy paintbrush to dip in water and write characters, or smiley faces.  It dries and then you do it again.  Great fun.

The meaning behind the Chinese characters.  Stuart and I have a Chinese teacher that comes to our house for two hours every day.  We are getting our tails kicked, and for all practical signs, we are taking very intense college courses.  I am learning some many amazing stories behind the characters and they are really starting to come alive.  

The largest ball pits I’ve ever seen.  The kids really like these play places and no playground is complete without a ball pit.  

Chinese people love little children.  Everyone thinks it’s awesome that we have a bunch of kids.  I often get asked if all these kids are mine, I say yes, and they tell me that’s awesome.  Many people also emphasize that because of the law they can only have one or two but they think it is really neat that we have so many.  I see it in the way children are treated here.  Children are a prize possession, and parents go to great sacrifices to send them to the best schools, and help them succeed. I never feel looked down on for having a large family, but more of an awed amazement.  

The food!  Amazing dumplings, hot chili oil, and some of the tastiest vegetables I have ever put in my mouth.

Learning more about world religions. I have met several mothers here who use the principles of Buddhism to help them practice stillness and clearing the mind of unhealthy thoughts.  The focus and discipline they put into their practice is inspiring.  I have a sweet friend who is Catholic and we always have really wonderful conversations about religion.  Stuart has a friend who is a Sikh from India who is very devout and loves to find similarities between our faiths.  

I like this list.  It helps me put everything in the right perspective.

I am grateful for my husband and for how hard he works to accomplish any goal.  I love that all of the stretching we are doing brings us closer together as a family.  I am grateful for good kids who could complain a whole lot more than they do, but instead choose to play with everyone and make friends.  They are so resilient and it helps me feel more thankful.

I am grateful for Beijing.  It is a big city where everyday feels like a treasure hunt and I can go explore and find something new.  We have had so much fun checking out restaurants, finding museums, art spaces, and kid play areas.  I am really beginning to love this place.