Photo Post

Hey it's Steph's birthday. We had a big party last and actually drank four (half-sized because that's all you can get in China) kegs. I wrote down everyone's name who came in the door and we had 55 people! It got kind of crowded in the apartment for a little, but in general I think everyone had a pretty good time. Success! Let's look at some photos of the past week.

Steph with the cricket that the guy who delivered and set up the kegs had in his pocket (for good fortune). It was massive. Speaking of good fortune, my left eye has been twitching for the past two weeks and apparently in Chinese folklore that means a handsome man is in love with me.


These two dolls in a random hotel lobby wish guests "gong xi fa chai," or Happy New Year, with clasped hands and zombie glares. Literally translated, the Chinese phrase above is "wishing you to enlarge your wealth."

These are the firecrackers we lit to get the attention of the god of fortune on New Year's eve. So long!


This is an example of how adorable Chinese 3 year olds are. This girl is busy making a cookie in the shape of a letter F at my old job.


For a Hanukkah present, I got wood block letters spelling out the holiday. I spent some time trying to make a good anagram, and this one made me laugh. Kunk haha.

The photo for the facebook invitation to our party. This empty frame was in our house when we moved in along with our other Chinese-style furniture. Our Chinese guests loved the apartment and its mix of Western decorations with the more familiar (to them) Chinese style. Apparently, our apartment is more old-style (1920's) Shanghai. Once we stumbled upon a restaurant called 1921 a few blocks from our apartment and it was just so beautiful inside. I wonder what this city was like back then. When the French were here and there were still opium dens.

My beautiful, wonderful, and adorably drunk co-workers from the job I hated along with a new coworker from my new job (white guy on the left), Steph, and Pete (Steph's British boyfriend).

Here is Pete wearing Special Occasion Pants that he changed into at midnight and wore while bringing out the surprisingly-delicious-especially-because-Chinese-people-can't-bake cake (pictured in bottom right corner). You can also see Steph and I's matching sequined dresses. My face is so contorted in this picture from laughter.

Mm just got back from all-you-can-eat buffet brunch and I'm so pleasantly full and happy I don't have to go back to that horrible job. And I think I'm going to keep hanging out with my co-workers I love. I'm cooking them an American feast on Tuesday. Though I'm not sure what to make them. Suggestions? And Steph's super-fun friend who is teaching in Japan is visiting on Wednesday and LAURA (my sister) IS COMING for her spring break. If only she could hide Maggie (other sister) in her suitcase, then supreme happiness would be achieved.

This week's goal: buy a bike.

Rachel