lots of pictures …. happy holidays yall!!
Thanksgiving 2018
In November I was still working for Disney English and since Thanksgiving is not a Chinese holiday – clearly – I did not have this day off. A lot of friends /expat groups plan weekend events or events on their week day -off days! A friend of mine and her roommate planned a Thanksgiving dinner full of expats and locals and it was quite the international – Western meal! Here are a few pictures from our holiday! I didn’t take any food pictures … and it will take me awhile to find them (the pictures that friends took), but we had lots of good food!
Most of it I liked – some not so much. But day by day I am becoming more and more brave trying more foods … its tough but I am doing it.
Christmas Eve/Christmas 2018
Y’all! It’s been rainy and cold this December. Ugh! It snowed for like two days earlier this month. It was pretty and just a frosting of snow … snow doesn’t last too long here in Shanghai. People always ask me about Christmas in Shanghai and if it is celebrated here. It is celebrated in the sense that – it is a reason for people to shop and spend money and if there is one thing that you do in China it is shop and spend money!
China is all about that kuai (or dolla!!!)
Christmas Eve: I am actually off for one week for winter break which is really nice. Christmas Eve I spent ½ the day relaxing at home and the evening at a work holiday party with a friend. The restaurant where dinner was – was beautiful and the food was delicious. I meant to take more pictures of the food and the restaurant and I didn’t as I was just enjoying the event! I event won the #LuckyDraw (prize) at the party. That was super cool! … and everyone left with a gift! Her job knows how to have a good time.
#LuckyDraw – this is a thing in China! It’s like a raffle – but there is almost always a #LuckyDraw at any event and this is taken very seriously! They believe in gifts and fun.
…..hope your holiday was wonderful!
Christmas Day: My 12.25.18 was FULL! The first part of the morning I visited a friend in the hospital. She is doing very well. Praise God! I had lunch with a friend … and later met up with my girl Brooke for a Christmas Tree photo hunt. We went on a hunt in the Jing’an/West Nanjing Road area looking for as many unique and different Christmas trees we could find. After our photo fun started I decided I wanted to see how many times I could find “Merry Christmas” written out in a country that wants to ban Christmas and the celebration of it. … here are some of the trees I took pictures of! Ended the day with Christen having dinner at a Malaysian restaurant. It was a cold and rainy day, but it was also full of love, laughs, smiles, and good food! I am thankful!!!
Now I look to the new year which is less than a week away! I pray 2019 is all that I want and more. That God blows my mind in unimaginable ways – and that my kiddos amaze me with their use of English through speaking, reading, and writing!
Are you happy with your 2018? Your 2017? What are you looking forward to in 2019?
I am excited about life! I am filled with Hope. I am overwhelmed with JOY! I am going to do my best to live by the ‘Glad Texts’
#FearlessinShanghai #Thankful #joychangeslives #KMarieTakesChina #BlackGirlMagic #KarlaGirlLivingLife #BlackGirlJoy #LivingMyLifeLikeItsGolden #ChinaorBust #ChinaAintReady #BlackInShanghai #BlackInChina #BlackAmericanInChina #LookOutWorldHereComesKarla #KarlaGirlJoy #BlackGirlInShanghai #eatsleeppartyrepeat #givingisgood #givingisfun #WakandaForever #ShuriAndNakiaAndOkoye #MelaninMagic #Blessed #FaithfulIsMyGod
“life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all” – Hellen Keller
*I choose ADVENTURE
…as always thanks for following my adventures abroad ….
FEARLESS in SHANGHAI 