Not So International Anymore!

So I'm back in America, and pretty settled. Long story why I'm back, but basically it came down to a family thing. What an adjustment it has been. I had to get a car, insurance, kids are in new schools, I have a new job, I have to pay US taxes, etc. We spent about $10,000 moving back and getting settled in a new home, so I was looking for ways to bring in extra income. My husband was Ubering, but that puts so many miles on the car. That's where Airbnb comes in.

We have this extra room downstairs, that was supposed to be my office, but I never even made it around to buying a desk. I was thinking about downsizing to a smaller place, but then I thought we should just try to generate some income with what we already have. We really had nothing to lose. I thought we could list the room and just play it by ear.

Since the day I listed, we have been booked back to back, and I've found myself doing lots of cleaning. But you don't think I got to $2600 a month with my 1 room and bathroom, do you? Things were going so well, but my kids are just so loud. I really wanted to experience and become a "super host" without worrying that I'd get low scores because of complaints directed at my kids.

How do  I become a host? Well you first have to have a space to rent. I couldn't afford to buy an apartment so I just rented one. I don't ask permission, I just found something so nice and cheap. So far my profit is beyond expectations. There is a whole lot of money to be made. I think the next step is to keep blog and see how things go. Stay tuned and look for my next addition to the two listings I currently manage.

Stress! I Have To Beat It

So, just a few days ago I was walking down the street with my family. My husband said something that  pissed me off. Bang! Just like that my heart started fluttering. It wasn't even something that I would have noticed, but because of my bodies reaction I got even more angry. I had to slowly walk and consciously try to bring down the stress level. By the time we got to METRO I thought I was going to drop dead. And maybe I was, but somehow, I was at the store I saw a juicer. I didn't really plan on buying one right there, but maybe it was meant to be. My mom says there are angels watching over me.

This is what I know. At 37 ( almost 38), I'm not done impacting this world or my children. I'm not going to go without a fight. So I'm done with Starbucks, I'm juicing everyday, and I need to get off my but and exercise. I will do some yoga before I go to bed. So my stress levels are high, its due to work, kids, diet, and my relationship with my husband. My goal is to reduce all unnecessary stress in my life and then clearly reevaluate what I value and what is important to me. Work was great today. It's finals week, and I had no final exam, so I got some necessary planning done.

If I can change my diet, my exercise habits I should be fine. But otherwise I'm on track for high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks. I can see now how over the years these problems can sneak up on you. And I'm hear to talk about it. I wonder how many people feel like me and just keep pushing forward.

If you have ever felt like me with that fluttering in your chest, let me know. I'll tell you how much the juicing is impacting how I feel.

Animoto is Still a Favorite of Mine

This is a quick and easy way to make videos of the family.

Feeling a Little Lazy

My sister has done a much better job of exploring and blogging about her experiences here in China.  Check out her blog at the following link:  http://williin.tumblr.com

Somehow being a teacher, a mom, a wife, and a sister has taken up too much of my time.  As a result of  always running around like a chicken with its head cut off, I'm constantly feeling like I'm being pulled in multiple directions, so I've come to the decision that it's best if I actually have a relaxing summer this year.  So instead of flying back to America and trying to keep up with friends, family, conferences, shopping, etc., I'm going to spend and entire month on the beach in Thailand.  My mother is even going to fly out to join us for a bit.  I hope to get in some much needed rest, oil massages, reading, better eating, and a little shopping.  But I'll be on my on time.  No events that I have to run to, or people that I have to visit.  Just whatever I want is what will happen.  I can totally see myself being lazy on the beach while the boys make sand castles.

So one interesting thing happened last month.  My sister was stopped by a lady who wanted to know if my kids could model.  Anyways, we got a free photo shoot of the boys because the photographer was looking for a black kid.  So there are some perks to being black in China after all.

My next adventure will be looking for a daycare for my younger son.  He is up and walking and likes to get out the house.  If we don't keep him engaged and moving around he will drive the ayi crazy and our house will never get cleaned up.  So next week I start my daycare shopping in hopes that we can get added to a wait-list for the fall.  I'm looking for somewhere where they will offer a Chinese or Bilingual curriculum, but I can't afford a typical "expat price."  We'll see what happens.

The Dangers of Shanghi

So life here is pretty uneventful, until I decide to go to IKEA.  My husband and I got into a taxi on Monday evening.  We decided to get a few more items for our apartment.  You know how you look at your closet sometimes, and just think I gotta do something.  Well, that is how we were feeling.  We weren't even 3 blocks from our house when the unimaginable happened.  Taxi drivers can drive crazy out here, but our driver wasn't.  He simply stopped behind traffic at the stop light.  The baby was in my arms sleeping, and my husband and I were talking about vacations, money, and life in general.  Life was good.  Then all of a sudden my body jerked forward, and I realized that we had been rear-ended.  I  was shocked, pissed, and worried about my baby.  After a few seconds I tried to gain my composure and stepped out the car, yelling of course.  My husband took a photo of the car that hit us.  Clearly the guy was talking on the phone, sleeping, or just being the typical idiot driver that you encounter in China.  Seriously, the driving out here is scary.  We were advised to just leave the scene of the crimes.  I guess expats get cheated out of there money in these types of situations.  My neck was hurting, and I really didn't wan't to just walk off, but into another taxi we went.  I had just told my husband that I need to buy life insurance, and here he is already trying to kill me.  Thank God for the IKEA food court.  I got a slice of apple pie, water, and hot tea.  I really had to compose myself because I wasn't feeling myself and not really in the mood to pick out stuff for the house.  So I've survived my first taxi accident in China.  Its really sad that foreigners don't trust the Chinese to handle that type of incident fairly, but I guess their government doesn't worry about impressions of the average expat.  If you happen to see the driver above watch out!!

I thought I'd been through enough for the week, and then on Tuesday night came the typhoon warning.    My gosh!  I just can't get a break!  Lots of rain, really a wasted work day.  The country totally over reacted to the typhoon threat by shutting down schools, but can't seem to get people to obey traffic laws to save their lives.  Oh well, I'm still here, and that's all that matters.  I'm back to work tomorrow, my neck isn't hurting nearly as much, and I'm thankful to be alive.

Believe it or not I moved to China pregnant.  So not only was I moving to a new country, going to a new job, experiencing a new culture, but I had to find a doctor, and deliver my baby here too.  As you can imagine, I have an adventurous spirit, and everything worked out just as I imagined.  My doula helped me to be at peace as well.  Not to mention my sister came out here and was a major source of moral support.  So now 1 year has passed and I feel like there are so many stories I should have shared with the world.  Yes, there have been ups and downs, but I'm still here, and I think I'll be here for quite a while.  So I've decided to blog.  Will I inspire someone?  Will I connect and meet new people?  Who knows, but I need an outlet to share some of what I go through.  Enjoy and come back for more.

Here are some of my other videos I made before moving to China: