Gotta Love Shanghai Living

It's been just over eight months now since me and the kids joined Jarin on this magic ride through Asia. I remember him (six months into his journey at the time) all excited about us coming and bursting about how much we were going to love it. And then we arrived. And I was so annoyed and disgusted by the customs and differences. It wasn't Iowa! But, we have adjusted so well and have really begun to appreciate much about this culture.

It became clear as my girlfriends and I were at the farket (fake-market) with our three 2-year-olds. A few women flight attendants stopped us and asked if we lived here. "Yep!" we all smiled. They were intrigued and perplexed enough to continue the conversation and ask why. And so our explosion of Shanghai-awesomeness came. We raved about the jobs, the travel, the schools, the shopping, the friends and the food. It was an easy list to rattle off, and there was no second-guessing as to why we were here.

 
Made me start thinking about all the craziness that we endure here in Shanghai, and the many attributes that make this journey so adventurous. I'm sure the day will come when all this begins to annoy me again too. It'll be at that point that I'll know I've been here too long! In the meantime, here goes a few from my list:

You know you live in China when....

1. Meat markets with unrefrigerated products hanging in the window is common enough that you begin guessing games with the kids to see who can name the animal.
2. Stray dogs, cats, and turtles replace the typical birds and squirrels in parks and on the streets.
3. Stopping at three stores for one grocery run is the norm.
4. Produce is only purchased from the truck parked on the side of the road because you trust it more than the market.
5. There is confusion as to whether the market is a grocery store or a pet shop.
6. Some of your best friends are the Hummus Lady, Avacado Lady, and Beer Lady.
7. You find beauty in the colors when laundry is hanging out side apartment complexes.
8. The kids' favorite store is a stationary shop the size of a hall closet with more mechanical pencils than you could dream. 
9. Charades is no longer a game you play in your living room with the kids, but a way of life.
10. There is a mutual understanding that the beeping noise on the elevator means the last one who jumped in needs to get out - we've hit the weight limit!
11. You have become very tactful at pushing and shoving. And you've even taught the kids, with no shame.
12. You justify the hacking and farmer blows as a way to clean out passages from the nasty pollution.
13. You plan your day after checking the AQI app along with the Weather app. And then you realize it doesn't matter -- the kids will wear shorts and no mask anyway.
14. It feels like the Chinese paparazzi is constantly after your children because of their pale skin and blonde hair.
15. Your favorite stop for purses is no longer TJMaxx, but the ladder to the secret room at the farket.
16. Before making any purchase, you confirm that you live in Shanghai, want the tai-tai price, the friend price, the first-sale-of-the-morning price, and the no-joking price.
17. You are mesmerized by the skyline, no matter how many times you take it in.
18. A rusted out bicycle carrying loads of styrofoam and cardboard is parked near the Rolls Royce.
19. Naps are acceptable anywhere, including on the back of the bike, sprawled across the park bench, or on the IKEA store room furniture.
20. You start believing that squatting might actually be cleaner than using a Western toilet.

So, Shanghai friends, what am I missing?