Holiday Time in Asia

November, 2013

I plan to write this once a month, but it never happens.  But actually, it's probably better the entries are further apart... more to update you all on :)

First things first. It's Thanksgiving time and Christmas time - so all of you are starting to get your card list together.  Don't forget us:

C/O Tom and Kathleen Alessi & Family
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Hong Kong
P.O. Box 1707
Bentonville, AR 72716

This address mails us our mail once or twice a month - we'd love to hear from you.  If you have moved, please email me your address and we'll send a holiday greeting to you as well (giel5829@hotmail.com).

This fall has been good - boys are good, I'm good, Tom is good.  We are blessed and have so much to be thankful for.  The holidays are especially hard being so far away from family & friends - but God has been so great... we are happy and healthy and looking forward to 2014. 

Tom and I did some traveling in the last few months.  We went to Singapore for a long weekend and had a fantastic time.  What a great cultural city!  A little bit of everything is there.  Val went with us and we enjoyed spending time in all the different neighborhoods and trying all the different types of food.  We met Norlie's daughter, Kathy, while we were there and she showed us the city's hidden gems and local hang out spots.  We also visited the Garden by the Bay, the Botanical Gardens, and stayed a night in Sentosa which is the beach resort spot of Singapore.  My favorite part of Singapore was all the rules.  Being a rule-follower this place was perfect.  Tom, felt differently - his favorite part was the street food and looking for shadows at noon - there weren't many because we were the closest we'd ever been to the equator.  

Sentosa - Singapore

Botanical Gardens - Val & Kathleen enjoying the outdoors

Garden by the Bay - Tom

Garden by the Bay - Kathleen

Rules!

Food - decisions, decisions, decisions!

Touring the various neighborhoods of Singapore

Meeting Norlie's daughter, Kathy, and her friend Maryland for a night out!

I finally got my multiple entry visa to China!  So I went to Shenzhen, China one weekend to visit Val and do some over the border shopping.  Loved it.  In China, cars are on the right side of the road and drivers sit on the left.  We did a nice hike and also went to a yummy brunch at the Ritz - we were the Americans that took full advantage of the never ending champagne.   We had a pedicure.  I also visited Sams Club.  So in summery - China is just like the USA!  However, there were vast differences as well: like the man walking a live turtle home on a stick for his dinner, or the way drivers drive with cellphones playing games, or the lack of diapers on children, and the lack of toilets - instead there are 'squatters' and you better have your own toilet paper.  Overall, I was very impressed with China and I'm looking forward to visiting Val more often for a night away from Hong Kong :)

Tom and I also went on another little vacation to Chengdu, China.  We knew when we had the opportunity to move to Asia - this would be on our bucket list.  My childhood dream was always to go to the panda breeding research center and see all the little baby pandas... so that came true.  It was awesome.  The panda is truly China's treasure and the world's most adorable animal.  Two friends from Walmart/Sams Club also went with us (Val and Elin) and we had a fabulous weekend in Chengdu visiting the research centers and exploring the Sichuan culture.  We drank lots of green tea (which is grown in this region) and tried lots of spicy food (dan dan noodles being a favorite).

The panda nursery - the cuteness was too much!! Chengdu Research Base, China

Enjoying tea at People's Park - Chengdu, China

Dan Dan Noodles

Tom wants to live in this town - some small town, China

Tasting the culture - some small town, China

Even the taxi cabs were pandas

Tom, Kathleen, 1 year old Panda, Elin, Val - Bifengxia Research Center, China

If you care to read more about adorable pandas - Check out this article online with some cute pictures: Chengdu Pandas - newborns

Other highlights from the last few months:  Patrick turned 3 years old and officially became potty trained (it only took about 8 months!).  Evan started running; he was walking at 9 months, running at 10 months.  He is going to be my little troublemaker.  Evan is approaching his first birthday and I'm  afraid he wants to fly - he is climbing and not afraid to jump off things.  Tom has traveled a bit to China and Toyko and is enjoying work.  Norlie had her first year anniversary with us.  We are so blessed to have her as part of our family. Nothing is really new with me - been busy with the holidays coming and watching the boys grow.  Eli (Tom's cousin) & Zheng (Eli's fiance) are moving to Hong Kong in December and we are thrilled to be walking distance from them.  I am sure this blog will have lots of pictures with them in the future. 

Morning puzzle time

Patrick selfie

Evan

Currently - Tom's mom, Mary / Mo-ma to the kids, is visiting.  We have had a great visit with her this week and we are so thankful to have a family member to share Thanksgiving with.  We have great friends in the building that are hosting Thanksgiving for us tonight and Saturday as well.  The holiday eating has officially begun :)  Pictures and highlights of Mary's visit will be in the next blog.  I haven't uploaded those pics yet. I will sign off with a few more panda pictures.  Have a great holiday season everyone.  We miss you all - sending hugs your way!

Love,
The Alessi Family 

Seriously, too cute!

Posing for the camera

Having a chat