Last blog: week 49

 Two pictures of big friends

This is my last blog. My last 49 weken in Shanghai blog. Six weeks ago we returned to Hengelo and life is just like it always has been. Did we ever go to China?

Yes, we sure did, it is still in our system. We do miss a lot of things, but homesick is the wrong word. We just look back with pleasure! And living your life in your old town, there is no reason any more to write funny stories and observations. Not on Shanghai anyway.

There is another reason why tonight I am writing for the last time: tomorrow they will cut of our broadband connection. I received a letter last Tuesday (Feb 6th) telling me they would terminate my ADSL connection by Feb 9th if I hadn't answered by Feb 2nd. ?? After calling several numbers, each time waiting at least 20 minutes, I learned this had to do with my request dated Feb 22nd 2006!!! It still makes me laugh.

'Can you cancel this order?' I asked. No, the computer is blocking the order....
Missing Shanghai is no longer necessary! Stupid rules and strange things happen everywhere. Getting our boxes back home also remembers me of the seventh week in Shanghai: having a Bad China Day because of customs, rules and people who didn't understand me. We have been here as long now as we were in Shanghai then and again dealing with customs, rules etc. etc.it really felt the same!. There was just no one around to pour me a wodka.

So, remembering Susan (the wodka supplier) and all our other friends, I will now finish this (for us) incredible story with some last pictures. I poured myself a stiff drink, put on music by The Dijk, I have tissues within reach....

goodbye all friends of Joep and Esther

goodbye Montessori School of Shanghai