New Friends

So, it is really tough to make new friends. Especially in a foreign country. Shanghai is a big of a "boys club." Lots of businessmen around, some with expat wives, some just single. Most at least 30 years of age. There is nothing wrong with having friends who are older than me...and the few that I do have are actually really sweet and helpful and great women to know anywhere in the world.
But then there are those women who just know everything in the world, and love telling you "what's what"
Some common phrases I hear living in Shanghai from these type of women:
Oh my! You are so young!
You're the same age as my daughter!!
How did your mom feel about letting you come over here?
How did your family and friends feel about you moving?
You actually moved here for your boyfriend?
What do I REALLY want to say to these ladies?
Oh My! You are so old!
Yes, Mrs Obvious, I'm 22!
My mom didn't "let" me come over here...she doesn't run my life!
They LOOOVED the fact that I'd be living 1/2 across the world...how'd your family take the news?
Yes, I ACTUALLY moved here for a guy. Call me stupid...
What do I say to them instead? (To be polite, of course)
Yes, I am young, but this is the experience of a life time...better now than when I have kiddos.
Yeah, I graduated from college early, and left the US pretty young.
My mom supports me 110%. (She really does, of course.)
They weren't crazy about me leaving, but they, too, support me 110%...They are all THAT awesome.
Yes, I move here for my boyfriend. I wanted to be with him, and wanted to teach abroad...two birds, one stone.

Then of course, all of these mini-conversations lead to no where...and I'm still stuck with Tommy and his group of guy shipping friends. Who all talk about shipping. All. The. Time. They are fun to hang out with, but I need female friends.
I lucked out and Tommy met a great girl, Gracie at an American Chamber of Commerce event...
She is 22(!) and just graduated from college (!) and is awesome! She is my first friend that is truly "mine". It is great. She leaves in May to begin a training program at Cornell, but has plans to return to Shanghai after that. I reallly hope she does.
I also have a really cool Australian friend, Lucy, who is 23 and did the exact same thing as me...but even more on a whim. She decided to follow her fiance out here two days before he left. Quit her job and everything. She is a lot of fun too...
I've even got tons of female (American!) colleagues. We had plans to hang out last night...but due to a lack of communication and a lack of cell phone numbers...I was accidentally stood up at a bar. I was actually a lot more upset than I should have been. (I cried on the 10 minute walk home.) *That is one nice thing about our apartment location...it is so close to almost everything we want...so it wasn't a huge inconvenience for me. Granted, we were meeting at 9...and I'm in bed by 9 most nights...but oh well...better luck next time.
I do have to say that I really miss the easy making friends thing. You know one girl, she knows some girls, and you all get along and form unending friendships so easily. However, here, you have to luck out and really go out on a limb.
Also...one sad fact...every girl I meet, I then think of how much I miss my best friends back home. Never satisfied...so just homesick?

So, now that I'm done rambling...enjoy your friends, and cherish them so much. It sucks when they're thousands of miles away and you just want a hug. :-)

Home Sick

Did you know that Shanghai is really far from Texas? Did you also know that Shanghai is 13 hours ahead? That makes for very shorts bursts of chat time with loved ones. That sucks. I have been quite busy and stressed at work...but on the weekends, I don't have anything to do, so I get to sit and think about how much I miss everyone. Especially when Tommy is out of town. Like now. For two weeks. March 29th can't come soon enough. I get to see Tommy and my Mommy. What a great day! Now if only my mom's trip could drag out slowly and then the next 3 months pass by quickly, I'll be set.
I know I can't complain about being here...after all, it was my choice to move here, and to stay...so I should quit whining. But it's hard. I didn't think it would be easy...but sometimes it seems like it is harder than it has to be. I know this isn't permanent and the time over here will fly by, and then I'll be complaining about how it is time to move to the next place, but still...

So, for those of you that actually read this, I miss you and love you all very much. Unless you are a random stranger, and then you, not so much. sorry. ;o)