Update

*This is an exceptionally long post as I have 2 months of updating to do...I've tried to make it brief!
Hello All!
I really would have been much better at updating this had I been able to. I don't have complete access to blogspot in Shanghai. I don't have complete access to facebook or youtube either. I say complete access because it is just that...I have to go to a proxy site, type in the url and then I can see it. I can log in to facebook and look at everybody's profiles, but I can't search for people (very recently this happened....that's truly how that was formed in my head...China does these things to you!...I suppose it should be "this happened only very recently"), write on walls, view the home page, view my message inbox, send a message, update friend requests and other various requests...so, basically, I can look at your page, see that you wrote to me, and either email you or wait until I leave the country (like now) to respond. As for youtube, I can get to the site but I can't watch anything. Blogspot, I can read other people's blogs, but I can't comment and it won't allow me to log in...STUPID!
So, here I am now, waiting for Tommy in Singapore...with free OPEN internet access. An update is in order.

Ok, so September til now...wow.
Shanghai celebrates Golden Week during the month of October. It is a national holiday that I believe originated to give the working class a few days off. So, for the holiday, Tommy and I went to Italy to ride motorcycles with his parents. It was a great trip, and there where only a few snafoos (sp?) along the way. I was stranded at the airport with no phone, then Tommy and I were driven off the road by an old Italian guy. Yes, we were pushed off the rode ON A MOTORCYCLE in a foreign country! It was a bit scary, but now it just makes for a good story...I also became an expert in landing on my feet when a bike is laid down...don't worry, it was stationary both times...neither time was Tommy's fault...We rode from Milan to Pisa, Pisa to Rome, Rome to Salerno or Sorento, down the Amalfi Coast (beautiful) to Cosino, and back to Rome. We took the train back to Milan where I got on the wrong train to the airport, Tommy lost his parents, and we all made it back to our respective countries without any major damage. :o) There WILL be another trip to Italy in the future. *ahem* Mom and Pete *ahem*

Since then, I have begun the all too familiar job search; which still isn't easy in the middle of a school year, no matter what country you live in...I started taking Chinese lessons, and I can now somewhat successfully take a taxi, order food in a restaurant, make a reservation, call for take-out, have very simple conversations (more easily with a child as they talk slower), go for a haircut, make plans with someone, count, and talk to my Ayi (housekeeper)...You'd think that would all be great, but it isn't so awesome when I freeze up and suddenly forget all that I've learned. But in all seriousness, I have enjoyed learning the language, even if I'm at the level of a 7 year old...which should be perfect for me if I do get a job sometime in the near future. (Which I will, I'm determined to stay positive!)
My lessons run for three hours 3-5 days a week. I just started a new course and it meets 3 times and the 1st one met 5 times a week. During the afternoon, I usually wander around the city and take it all in. I get on the subway, and get off a random stop and get out and explore.
I have way too much free time on my hands; and unfortunately, none of it has been spent on decorating our apartment...I will get around to it eventually...Chinese people have such different taste in home decor, so that is one of my current excuses for having an apartment that is less decorated than a hospital room...yes, I'm serious.
Although I am on the other side of the world from all but one of my loved ones, I am still really enjoying it. I get frustrated daily by the Chinese, mainly because their culture is so different and what is acceptable to them is not the same to me; but I suppose it is all part of the experience.
For Thanksgiving, Tommy and I are planning to have some of our friends over and make a Thanksgiving dinner...only the turkey will be prepared and cooked by one of the local restaurants and then have a potluck kind of thing for the rest of the stuff. I'm really looking forward to it!
I can't wait to come home in December. I will be in Odessa on December 5th. I hope to make it up to Lubbock for a few days and then back to Odessa. I will then fly to Houston on December 18th to see Tommy's family on his mom's side, then back to Odessa on the 20th with Tommy, then BACK to Houston on the 23rd to stay with Tommy's parents and have Christmas in Crockett. Then I will be back to Shanghai on December 29th...so a very short trip, but it will be so good to be in TEXAS!!!
So, all in all, I am doing great. Tommy is doing great, and we are still getting along swimmingly (I love that phrase!) I'm sure relationships aren't always this easy, but so far we only mildly annoy eachother from time to time, which is fine by me...
Miss everyone and hopefully I will get to see some of you in December. Maybe I'll even be able to update one more time before I get back to Texas...