Wow. So much has changed and happened in those two years. It feels like ages ago that we first arrived. I remember the day we left the states. I remember sitting on the plane and thinking "I can't believe I'm going to China" I was unable to imagine what it would be like.
Back then we thought we'd be back in the states in a year. wow. how things have changed.
Our VERY first day in China was August 1st. We arrived in a small town (of only 4 million people) where we planned to spend the next year. We spoke NO Chinese and knew nothing about what was around us. When it came time to eat Lunch we realized that we also had no food in the house so we ventured out side to see what we could find. We came upon THIS sign!
That's right. Our first meal in China was a Papa John's Pizza! We still laugh about it. At first we though "OH something familiar. They probably speak English here."
But when we first walked in we were shocked find out that Papa John's in China is a very nice "sit down" restaurant (as apposed to the shady run-in-and-order-a-pizza-and-some-chicken-wings-to-go hole in the wall that it is in states)
The second thing we realized is that no... they do not, in fact, speak English at Papa John's. Luckily they do have pictures on the menu though and oh what a menu it is. An actual Menu at Papa Johns!
So that was two years ago. We spent 6 months in our little town of Wuxi before moving to the modern and busy city of Shanghai and we've been here ever since(with one visit "home" this past march). Two thanksgivings, two Christmases, and two Chinese new years.And one baby on the way.
Wow. What an adventure it has been. People ask us all the time how long we plan on staying and when and where we think we will go next. We just don't know. We thought we had everything planned out about 2 years ago. But now I guess we are just playing it by ear. :o)
For our 2 year Anniversary date we went back to Papa John's to remember our first meal in China. And laughed about how frightened we were on that first day.
By the way. If you do happen to eat at Papa John's in China I suggest the Snow Kiss drink on the back page of the menu. It's sprite and Strawberry Ice cream and very good.
Awwwwwwww. Happy anniversary! It's so funny to me that Papa John's is a sit-down place there. I remember more than a few sloppy meals in college out of Papa John's boxes. I miss real pizza... But that Snow Kiss thing sounds great! Maybe I'll try making one here. Is it blended like a milkshake? Or separate like a root beer float?
ReplyDeleteIt's not blended. It's more like a root beer float. the Strawberry Ice cream floats on top of the sprite. It's quite good!
ReplyDeleteby the way.. Pizza hut and Hagandaz Ice cream are both sit down places too. and very popular date places.
At Papa johns I order the Chicken wings and the potato skins and dip them in the butter sause. Totally not healthy but totally yummy!
I just decided to send a post. It is so hard to think you have everything over there. Your Uncle Pat & Aunt Sherry would love to have a Dairy Queen, betcha. Sherry makes her own Pizza every Sat. Papa John would be nice.
ReplyDeleteDid you get a new toaster oven?
You know I think maybe I will try strawberry ice cream w/Sprite what about chocolate?