Liang Dong Hong

After 21 year, I was reunited with my Fudan roommate -- Liang Dong Hong.  Liang, who lives in Hangzhou and is a Deputy Chief for the China Construction Bank (5th largest bank in the world), was in town for a Fudan University reunion.  We met at the Fudan campus, which hasn't changed much.  The entire family spent the day with Liang and her wonderful parents.  We rode the high speed train, had a delicious lunch on the 54th floor of the Jinmao tower, and then spent some time at the Shanghai Science and Technology museum.  

It was a great reunion and I think that now that we have reconnected, Liang and I will be able to stay in close touch.  Her city is only 2 hours away by car, and her parents have invited us to come to their home town of Taiyuan to pick oranges in December!!

Sock Babies

We have revived the art of making dollies from socks!  I have vivid memories of receiving darling sock babies from Mrs. Campbell, and have always wanted to pass on the joy that those little dollies gave me.  Here is the first creation - -it started out as a bear and turned into Ms. Violet, the purple piggy!  It was hard to stop -- we kept accessorizing her.  She is the colloborative effort of Ellen Falck -- our 9 year-old Swedish neighbor, and yours truly.  

We are enjoying  a long three-day weekend here in Shanghai.   We bought a new 4 man tent and the kids and slept out in the backyard on Thursday evening.   Last night we watched the movie BOLT and loved it -- very cute.  

Our Ayi is off visiting her daughter for four days (after holding the fort down for 10 days while I was gone) and so Jeff and I are re-learning housekeeping.  It is over-rated!  

More later.  Hope that you are all doing well.