Back in Business

We've had much to post about but technical (and political) difficulties have stopped us from our blogging work.  Since January, the Great China Firewall has grown in size and strength and made getting on blogspot harder.  We also moved apartments and were temporarily without internet.  We have internet at last, but it is slower and we're only now discovering which parts of the apartment get the fastest connection.  It seems to change throughout the day.  I'm flirting with the idea of switching to tumblr. but I seem to have found a blogspot sweetspot and will try to stay here for now.

We reached a big milestone recently.  March 14th was both Naomi's 12th birthday and our one-year Chinaversary. The year went so fast, but then I look back at pictures like this...





...and I realize how long a year is.  They look so young back in March 2012.  Now they're jaded city kids who can swear in Mandarin.  Well, not that jaded, but definitely older and wiser and smarter and maybe a little more sad or sentimental too.  It's been a hard year for them in many ways, but Matthew and I still strongly believe (or cling/flail/tenuously grip) the idea that this is good for them in ways that will unfold for years to come. 

 

March 2012



March 2013

 

I guess they haven't changed too much...

 

More posts to come on the spectacular Eleanor & Michele visit (and trips to Xian and Suzhou) and our cool new pad with awesome wallpaper and chandeliers.