I don't read Chinese

So if you are wondering why there are no pictures up and not very many new entries, here is why. I don't read Chinese. And when I open up the website for blogger it comes up in Chinese. So, it was a miracle I even figured out how to post anything. I have looked at Apple's website (since my computer is a Mac Book) but I can't seem to find the answer to my question there. Anyone have any pointers? I'm also having trouble finding a phone number for Apple support or I would just ask them. I would really like to be able to show y'all some of the AMAZING stuff we have seen and experienced. I just can't figure it out. HELP!

We have been spending our days wondering around some of the better-known areas. This week is a major Chinese holiday (their Labor Day) so everything has been even more crowded than usual. And with 20 million or so people living in such a small area you might be able to picture just how crazy it is around here right now. Gabe and Maddox always attract a TON of attention. I know you might think the Mom in me is bragging but I'm truly not! Every time we stop pushing the stroller around within 20 seconds there are no less than 15 locals around jabbering away at us. Yesterday my Mom counted almost 50 people crowding around. Pointing, laughing, touching (Gabe HATES that), and wanting to take our picture. We try to be polite as they are just curious. But these people have no sense of personal space. Those of you who know Gabe well know how he is about being touched sometimes. He seems to be dealing with it as well as he can though. Maddox just smiles at everyone. I think he kind of likes all of the attention. Yesterday while we were eating lunch at McDonalds (yes McD's. It's about the only thing Gabe will eat so far. Except the $8 box of Pop Tarts we found) two little boys came up to us and were wanting to talk to Gabe. It was so funny watching them with Gabe. No one knew what the other was saying but they were all smiling and laughing. Each of the boys had a whistle made out of a seashell around their necks that they took off and wanted to give to Gabe and Maddox. So we gave them two "matchbox" trucks that we had. The little Chinese boys could not have been more excited!!! And so were Gabe and Maddox. They have been blowing, as Gabe says "the Chinese shell whistle the Chinese boy gave me" nonstop since then.

Michael left for 4 1/2 days in Italy this morning. So it's just mom, the boys, and me. I think we will all do fine though. It's really not that hard to get around right now. When we want to go somewhere we just get a hotel employee, who speaks some English, to tell the taxi driver where we want to go. When we are ready to come back to the hotel we show a taxi driver the hotel business card. That works ok until you get a taxi driver who can't read. Then things get a little complicated. But thank goodness that's only happened once so far!

Tomorrow we will be going to meet up with Amy (and her husband & son) whose parents we went to church with in Montgomery. It will be great to see some "normal" people. They have already been so helpful with the move via e-mail. So it will be great to finally meet them in person. They will also be able to show us around the Ex-Pat area near with they live. Ex-Pat (I'm not sure if that's the correct spelling) refers to someone who lives in country that's not their home country. There are two major areas in Shanghai where Ex-Pats live. We will be living in one of them. In those areas are community centers, other Ex-Pats, and English speaking people. The community centers organize activities like basketball leagues, cooking lessons, play groups, etc. It will be great to have those connections to help us feel more at home and make friends.

Well, enough rambling on for now. Hopefully I can figure this blog site out soon and give y'all a visual on the things here. If you have any suggestions on how to get English on the blogging site let me know! Love y'all!