Listography: Top 5 things I did this summer

Linking up to another one of Kate's Listographies. This week's is about the Top 5 Things I did this Summer. So here it is!

1: Had my one year wedding anniversary 

2. Finally visited the Great Wall

3. Finally visited the Summer Palace 

4. Living room redo!

5. Started accompanying my husband to the gym several times a week. Weight lifting is hard as hell in the beginning, but I love the results after only a few months. Hopefully on my list of things I did this Fall, I can say the same thing for my new cardio goal: Right now its two hours a week, but I want to work up to 1.5-2 hours a day!

Beijing Lifestyle Listography

     Something that won't surprise most expats but that I find funny are the things you get used to in your new country/ state/ city/ wherever. I started thinking about this last week while I was waiting for hubs at the subway station. I looked around and saw all of the things that were mystifying to me at first that are now normal, but still funny. I really like the “Listography” that I see on others blogs, so here is my list for the week.

Things that don't surprise me anymore in Beijing:

1. The Chinese are masters at filling their respective modes of transportation to capacity. I thought I knew what that meant in the States, but since moving here I realized that I really had no idea what the word “capacity” really meant. I've seen four people on a scooter, 8 people in a 4 person car and every day I see buses fit 10 more people on when anywhere else in the world they would have taken 10 people off. I wish I had a good picture, but as of now I don't...that will be on my list of things to capture on film.
   
   
2. Shameless picking and scratching. I am used to “catching” people do this...picking your nose in the corner as if you really just wanted to get a close look at the wall, the glance around before the butt scratch etc. Not in China my friends. If you have business that needs taking care of, do it anywhere and do not be ashamed. If your talking to your best friend, feel free to pick your nose and then inspect the findings. If you are on the packed escalator and your butt itches, feel free to shove your hand down your pants and scratch that itch...don't worry about the poor American guy behind you whose face it right there (hubs)...hilarious incident.
   
   
3. On a similar note, in the subway station this week I saw a man drop his drawers...down to his ankles, so that he could properly tuck his shirt in. No shame, just dropped em right there with hundred of people around.
   
   
4. Totally pant-less children walking around. In the winter it was the split pants and those are still more common than all out nudity, but it no longer surprises me when kid's parents just decide that a shirt will do for today.
   
   
5. Not seeing any blue in the sky. This one makes me sad but it is a fact of life in Beijing, especially in the summer. I wake up some days and I can barely see across the street.

     Other expats, I would love to hear the top 5 things that don't surprise you anymore about your host country. If your not an expat, no problem, tweak the list into the top five things about xyz that no longer surprise you.

What are 5 things I can not live without?

Kate has made another list, so I am linking up again. I love list's being that I am a hardcore somewhat Type A personality. This week's theme...make a list of 5 products you can't live without...

1. My laptop that provides me internet access. Nothing is more relaxing to me than coming home and wasting time on my computer. Facebook stalking, blog stalking, watching TV...all great habits...yeah...don't judge
   
   
2. Skype. I would be lost in Beijing without Skype. Being able to talk to my family and friends back home adds a small degree of normalcy to living in China. Until inevitably they block Skype here...
   
   
3. Lotion. If you had asked me to make this list when I lived in Atlanta, lotion would NOT have been on it...but since moving to the driest place on Earth, its on there.
   
   
4. My hair brush. I loathe having tangled hair.
   
   
5. My iPod. I am imaging myself on a deserted island with only 5 things...and I would definitely need to be able to get away every once in a while with my music in hand.   

A small glance into my psyche...please don't stop reading my blog after you read this  ;) 

Listography

     I get so much great inspiration from reading other people's blogs these days. I just started following a blog called Kate Takes 5 which follows a stay at home, mother of 3, in Ireland. I really enjoy her blog, probably because she is a very good writer...something I myself can not claim. Anyway, this is not a pity party, she wants other bloggers to make a list of their 5 favorite things and link back to her blog...

1. Spending long lazy weekends with my husband/ spending time with my husband anytime
2. Sleeping in on the weekends
3. Iced soy lattes made my mistress Starbucks
4. Going out with friends
5. Writing my blog

Note: Except for #1, my "favorite things" change order depending on when you ask me. The more I write this blog the more I love doing it.

     My list is nothing earth-shatteringly original, but it is what it is. Today I am in bed letting my back heal from my stupidity derived injury. Needless to say after my illness, me staying home to monitor Will one day during the worst of his illness and now this, my boss is not very pleased with me. I enjoy my job, but in the end my health and my husband are the most important things. I apologized and I think I am going to ask if there is anything I could do from home on the weekends. We'll see.

This weekend

     I have mixed reviews about this past weekend. Saturday was great. First we ventured out on a beautiful Spring day to the Paris Baguette across the street and both had a yummy treat (mine I probably should not have eaten because it was most definitely NOT gluten free).

Me at Paris Baguette 

Spring time and pretty flowering trees!

Yang Guang Shang Dong aka Upper East Side...our building

Husband at Paris Baguette

Another view of our complex...it is HUGE!

     Then we headed out to this furniture market called Chaowei that I had found online. Besides the fact that the cab driver said he knew where it was and yet in the end didn't thus meaning we had to finish the journey on the subway/ walking for 20 minutes...it was worth it when he arrived (FINALLY) at the market. Our friend Timo joined us which was great because he is a cool guy, but also because he speaks Mandarin. We ended up wandering around for about 2.5 hours and left having bought a wood/marble coffee table and a black carved entry way table. They are both antique Chinese style, and I will post pictures of them tomorrow when they arrive. 

     Sunday started off great, but ended not so well. First we went to SanYuanLi and got a TON of fruits and veggies, then we headed to the Lido Hotel where I got my hair cut and Will went bowling. That was great. But...then we had terrible Thai food, followed by ice cream that we ate in one of the famous Beijing dust storms outside where no cabs would pick us up. Then we went home and slept for 5 hours...in the middle of the day. Now its Monday night and both of us feel sick AGAIN. We're not. I'm sure its allergies but still...I felt like I needed an espresso IV drip just to stay awake at work today. No worries though...

THIS WILL BE A GREAT WEEK!