Kid says the darnest thing…again
Ann spilled her orange juice.
Me : Told you never to play while eating or drinking
Ann : Sor…ry
Me : Go get yourself another cup
Ann : (Brought out a new cup, about to pour out her juice)
Me : Why do you need a clean cup, you can use the same one.
Ann : But you say get another cup mah!
Me : Duh….
Zumba
My indoor cycling has ended and I was reluctant to sign up again. You see, I have to sign up for a one year membership which will cost RMB7,700. I will soon be heading home in less than a year's time. Minus the Christmas break and Chinese New Year break and the many holidays in between, I will most likely be doing my cycling programme for just a few months.
A friend recommended Zumba and I decided to check it out. Oh, I love it. It is a holistic exercise. Not just great for the legs but the whole body. Zumba is dance cum aerobic. Movements include hip-hop, samba, salsa, mambo, martial arts, (phew, quite a mouthful) and some belly dance moves. Squats and lunges are also included. No need special attire, no need prior knowledge, no need to be shy. The best part…all for RMB50 / one hour session. Pay only if I attend the class. It is conducted by a non-local. How else to get such good rates. *wink*
So let me….Zumba!
My indoor cycling has ended and I was reluctant to sign up again. You see, I have to sign up for a one year membership which will cost RMB7,700. I will soon be heading home in less than a year's time. Minus the Christmas break and Chinese New Year break and the many holidays in between, I will most likely be doing my cycling programme for just a few months.
A friend recommended Zumba and I decided to check it out. Oh, I love it. It is a holistic exercise. Not just great for the legs but the whole body. Zumba is dance cum aerobic. Movements include hip-hop, samba, salsa, mambo, martial arts, (phew, quite a mouthful) and some belly dance moves. Squats and lunges are also included. No need special attire, no need prior knowledge, no need to be shy. The best part…all for RMB50 / one hour session. Pay only if I attend the class. It is conducted by a non-local. How else to get such good rates. *wink*
So let me….Zumba!
Bad air
The weekends that just passed witnessed one of the worse if not the worst day in Shanghai. The air was so bad that the sun turned red. This was posted on the Shanghai Mama website….
Hi folks,
If you know me, you know that I'm not a doom and gloom sort. I don't like scare tactics.
But, the air quality right now is (or should be) headline news and tomorrow would be a day to keep the kids (and yourselves) from exercising outside. And a good day to break out those particulate masks if you have any (not the useless cotton types that the ayis have but the N95 ones made by 3M and that contractors tend to have). Particulate matter are tiny, hardly visible particulates in air that lodge in our airways, and cause respiratory distress, asthma attacks, high blood pressure, and strokes. More on PM here.
I'm measuring the level of particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller (PM2.5) right now on my porch in Changning District at over 600 micrograms/m3, and the less damaging PM10 at over 800 micrograms/m3. The international standards (24-hr period) are 35 micrograms/m3 for PM2.5 and 50 for PM10 (US EPA and WHO, respectively) . That means that right now, the air is approximately 17x worse than the standard.
Mind-boggling, isn't it? My wife's response was unprintable.
Even according to China's own China's National Environmental Monitoring Center website PM10 right now is around 550 micrograms per cubic meter (PM2.5 is not reported in China). China itself sets 150 as its national standard. So, by whatever standard, the air is quite unhealthy now. As a reference point, Shanghai air is usually around 80-150 micrograms. This is Beijing-bad.
Bizarrely, Shanghai's Environmental Monitoring Center site is currently listing today's overall average air quality as "Minor Contamination" . I don't play politics, but this is frankly misleading, since this is the source data that feeds a lot of websites with these air quality indicators applets that expats check out daily.
The way I found out about this is that one of my consultants called me this morning, while doing a testing and said the instrument we use to measure particulates was giving abnormally high readings. I troubleshot things with her over the phone, but couldn't really figure out what was wrong. Later today, back at the office, I checked it against a reference machine (a HEPA filtered air purifier) and got regular numbers (around 3 micrograms). Still, the indoor levels were extremely high. I checked the various reference sites and found that sure enough, levels have been between 300-550 ug/m3 (PM10) today.
More interestingly, I personally have been having some breathing issues -- shortness of breath, coughing, and today, a splitting headache. I really did not associate these with the air until today's events. So, I'm just like the rest of you -- even though I should know better, I don't always make the connection between health symptoms and ambient air quality. I smell smoke, so believe that soot is a large part of this. With the colder weather, coal-fired power plants are likely on overdrive.
The weekends that just passed witnessed one of the worse if not the worst day in Shanghai. The air was so bad that the sun turned red. This was posted on the Shanghai Mama website….
Hi folks,
If you know me, you know that I'm not a doom and gloom sort. I don't like scare tactics.
But, the air quality right now is (or should be) headline news and tomorrow would be a day to keep the kids (and yourselves) from exercising outside. And a good day to break out those particulate masks if you have any (not the useless cotton types that the ayis have but the N95 ones made by 3M and that contractors tend to have). Particulate matter are tiny, hardly visible particulates in air that lodge in our airways, and cause respiratory distress, asthma attacks, high blood pressure, and strokes. More on PM here.
I'm measuring the level of particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller (PM2.5) right now on my porch in Changning District at over 600 micrograms/m3, and the less damaging PM10 at over 800 micrograms/m3. The international standards (24-hr period) are 35 micrograms/m3 for PM2.5 and 50 for PM10 (US EPA and WHO, respectively) . That means that right now, the air is approximately 17x worse than the standard.
Mind-boggling, isn't it? My wife's response was unprintable.
Even according to China's own China's National Environmental Monitoring Center website PM10 right now is around 550 micrograms per cubic meter (PM2.5 is not reported in China). China itself sets 150 as its national standard. So, by whatever standard, the air is quite unhealthy now. As a reference point, Shanghai air is usually around 80-150 micrograms. This is Beijing-bad.
Bizarrely, Shanghai's Environmental Monitoring Center site is currently listing today's overall average air quality as "Minor Contamination" . I don't play politics, but this is frankly misleading, since this is the source data that feeds a lot of websites with these air quality indicators applets that expats check out daily.
The way I found out about this is that one of my consultants called me this morning, while doing a testing and said the instrument we use to measure particulates was giving abnormally high readings. I troubleshot things with her over the phone, but couldn't really figure out what was wrong. Later today, back at the office, I checked it against a reference machine (a HEPA filtered air purifier) and got regular numbers (around 3 micrograms). Still, the indoor levels were extremely high. I checked the various reference sites and found that sure enough, levels have been between 300-550 ug/m3 (PM10) today.
More interestingly, I personally have been having some breathing issues -- shortness of breath, coughing, and today, a splitting headache. I really did not associate these with the air until today's events. So, I'm just like the rest of you -- even though I should know better, I don't always make the connection between health symptoms and ambient air quality. I smell smoke, so believe that soot is a large part of this. With the colder weather, coal-fired power plants are likely on overdrive.
Thoughts…
As you know, the great firewall blocks off many sites and one of them is the Facebook. To get into it, I will need a virtual private network (VPN). So, I don't really go in often. Only when time permits, I will have a look and it is important to check in once a while cos' there are many friends in there who post very essential things and not just small talks.
I saw one of my many old friends in there. She posted her children's achievements and I was very touched. You see, they are not the ordinary parents who sent their kids to numerous classes to excel. Her husband is a preacher and she is his assistant. They have three kids. The eldest just ORD (term used to mean, one has finished his National Service) as a commando. Imagine, I carried this boy when he was only a baby. All three of them are very accomplished young adults. Their daughter made good short films of which, one was selected to be featured overseas. Husband and wife travelled extensively for speaking engagements yet three kids grew up to be fine young people.
Even among my friends, some of the most educated, most well-off, their kids received the most elaborate education, didn't even come close to any of these three kids.
What I am trying to say is that…sometimes, the best we can give to our kids is really to leave them to bloom under the guidance of God. Something, I am learning to do each day.
http://revgeorgeong.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=57
As you know, the great firewall blocks off many sites and one of them is the Facebook. To get into it, I will need a virtual private network (VPN). So, I don't really go in often. Only when time permits, I will have a look and it is important to check in once a while cos' there are many friends in there who post very essential things and not just small talks.
I saw one of my many old friends in there. She posted her children's achievements and I was very touched. You see, they are not the ordinary parents who sent their kids to numerous classes to excel. Her husband is a preacher and she is his assistant. They have three kids. The eldest just ORD (term used to mean, one has finished his National Service) as a commando. Imagine, I carried this boy when he was only a baby. All three of them are very accomplished young adults. Their daughter made good short films of which, one was selected to be featured overseas. Husband and wife travelled extensively for speaking engagements yet three kids grew up to be fine young people.
Even among my friends, some of the most educated, most well-off, their kids received the most elaborate education, didn't even come close to any of these three kids.
What I am trying to say is that…sometimes, the best we can give to our kids is really to leave them to bloom under the guidance of God. Something, I am learning to do each day.
http://revgeorgeong.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=57
Make it special
When you think of pasta, the usual ones will be Spaghetti and Lasagna. Once a while, I like to make them interesting and the kids and spouse really love them.
These are Mezze Maniche (Man-e-kay) means short sleeves as in short sleeves of a shirt. (http://www.pasta-recipes-by-italians.com/pasta-shapes.html)
Very easy, just stuff your favourite meat sauce into them. If you like, sprinkle some shredded mozzarella and bake for five minutes.
"each dish becomes a creative expression of the heart, filled with kindness, compassion and love" no matter how elaborate or simple it may be. "Cooking a meal is a gift you give to someone including yourself." (Untangling My Chopsticks - Victoria Abbott Riccardi)
When you think of pasta, the usual ones will be Spaghetti and Lasagna. Once a while, I like to make them interesting and the kids and spouse really love them.
These are Mezze Maniche (Man-e-kay) means short sleeves as in short sleeves of a shirt. (http://www.pasta-recipes-by-italians.com/pasta-shapes.html)
Very easy, just stuff your favourite meat sauce into them. If you like, sprinkle some shredded mozzarella and bake for five minutes.
"each dish becomes a creative expression of the heart, filled with kindness, compassion and love" no matter how elaborate or simple it may be. "Cooking a meal is a gift you give to someone including yourself." (Untangling My Chopsticks - Victoria Abbott Riccardi)
Boys at work
The kids love the Ghibli Studio animations. They now have the full collection of all the movies except for a couple of them. When Kai saw a shop selling their jigsaw puzzle, he wanted to buy one to try doing it. Together with his papa, they started to work on it.
I must say that the spouse has a very efficient way of solving puzzles. He first helped Kai to gather all the pieces of the same colour and started working on them by colours. It was an excellent way of doing it. They had it done up in a few days.
The boys' finished work. They really felt very good about it.
The kids love the Ghibli Studio animations. They now have the full collection of all the movies except for a couple of them. When Kai saw a shop selling their jigsaw puzzle, he wanted to buy one to try doing it. Together with his papa, they started to work on it.
I must say that the spouse has a very efficient way of solving puzzles. He first helped Kai to gather all the pieces of the same colour and started working on them by colours. It was an excellent way of doing it. They had it done up in a few days.
The boys' finished work. They really felt very good about it.
Always be vigilant
Received this in my email today…when the great divide is getting greater, anything can happen.
Security Alert Top
There has been another security alert issued this time by Concordia School which, again, is in Jinqiao, Pudong. It also concerns the apparent attempted abduction of students in the street. The police have already been contacted and it is unlikely that this was a misunderstanding. Please read the following email sent out to parents. It is recommended that parents remind children of safety practices when outside the home. And also that Ayis and Drivers are informed so that they too can help keep our neighbourhoods safer.
Dear Parents,
We wanted to make you aware of a report received by the school today involving students in our neighborhood and the response from Concordia.
Incident:
Sunday evening two students were walking on Mingyue Road near the Royal Garden complex. A white, 4-door vehicle pulled up and a man jumped out and tried to grab two high school aged students. Fortunately, the students were able to get away and with their parent’s assistance have been working with the Public Security Bureau (PSB).
I will of course update you if I receive any further information and again remind you and your families to remain vigilant.
Regards
Mr. Paul Friend
Headmaster
亲爱的家长，
我们希望知会大家我们知晓的另外一个发生在我们社区的学生事件，并且让你们知道我校将采取应对措施。
事件：
周日晚上两名学生在靠近浦东花园别墅的明月路上行走。一辆白色、四门的车子开过来，一名男子从车里下来试图抓住两个高中生。幸运地是，两名学生顺利地逃脱并且在家长的帮助下与已经警方沟通中。
准备
看起来充满自信
避免风险
决不假设事情不会发生在自己身上
Each time when such news are released to the foreigners, you usually have two very instinct group of people talking. One group, I call them the 'act-tough-hero' who will say things like, "nothing to worry about, everywhere you go, everywhere you live, there are sure to have cases like this". Another group will be the 'super-extreme-paranoids' who will worry and fear for every movement they take.
I wouldn't take it lightly. In fact, I never did. Every piece of news I received, I take it seriously but I will not allow it to mess up my life. Life still has to go on, kids still need to go to school, the spouse still needs to work and I still need to cook but I stay vigilant at all times. Although I have a helper and company's transport, I still make sure I fetch and pick the kids up myself. There is no proxy when it comes to the welfare of my children especially in a foreign land.
Received this in my email today…when the great divide is getting greater, anything can happen.
Security Alert Top
There has been another security alert issued this time by Concordia School which, again, is in Jinqiao, Pudong. It also concerns the apparent attempted abduction of students in the street. The police have already been contacted and it is unlikely that this was a misunderstanding. Please read the following email sent out to parents. It is recommended that parents remind children of safety practices when outside the home. And also that Ayis and Drivers are informed so that they too can help keep our neighbourhoods safer.
Dear Parents,
We wanted to make you aware of a report received by the school today involving students in our neighborhood and the response from Concordia.
Incident:
Sunday evening two students were walking on Mingyue Road near the Royal Garden complex. A white, 4-door vehicle pulled up and a man jumped out and tried to grab two high school aged students. Fortunately, the students were able to get away and with their parent’s assistance have been working with the Public Security Bureau (PSB).
I will of course update you if I receive any further information and again remind you and your families to remain vigilant.
Regards
Mr. Paul Friend
Headmaster
亲爱的家长，
我们希望知会大家我们知晓的另外一个发生在我们社区的学生事件，并且让你们知道我校将采取应对措施。
事件：
周日晚上两名学生在靠近浦东花园别墅的明月路上行走。一辆白色、四门的车子开过来，一名男子从车里下来试图抓住两个高中生。幸运地是，两名学生顺利地逃脱并且在家长的帮助下与已经警方沟通中。
准备
看起来充满自信
避免风险
决不假设事情不会发生在自己身上
Each time when such news are released to the foreigners, you usually have two very instinct group of people talking. One group, I call them the 'act-tough-hero' who will say things like, "nothing to worry about, everywhere you go, everywhere you live, there are sure to have cases like this". Another group will be the 'super-extreme-paranoids' who will worry and fear for every movement they take.
I wouldn't take it lightly. In fact, I never did. Every piece of news I received, I take it seriously but I will not allow it to mess up my life. Life still has to go on, kids still need to go to school, the spouse still needs to work and I still need to cook but I stay vigilant at all times. Although I have a helper and company's transport, I still make sure I fetch and pick the kids up myself. There is no proxy when it comes to the welfare of my children especially in a foreign land.
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