Today I taught friends how to make pumpkin pie and muffins.  To begin with, one cannot just go down to your local supermarket and buy Libby’s canned pumpkin.  Instead one must make a trip to the vegetable market to buy a whole pumpkin.  In China I use a a different shaped pumpkin which is oblong.  The meat is very sweet and with this shape it is easier to work with.   I cut in pieces, scrape out the seeds then steam, remove peelings and puree.   A pumpkin this large can easily supply over 10 cups of pureed pumpkin.

On Saturday our company hosted a fall festival for our Chinese National Staff and their families. It was a great way for us to share the day together. Events for the day included a scavenger hunt, kids games, lunch and a Talent Show. One challenge in the scavenger hunt was to take a group photo with at least 10 nationalities. I thought it would be difficult, but we managed. Here we have friends from Korea, China, Malaysia, South Africa, Jamaica, Barbados, Australia, Holland, Finland, and the US! Another challenge was to get at least 20 people on our old school bus for a photo.

Out with Rachel and a friend last week and came across this building under construction. The red, white and blue with big Texas Star was a familiar site to this Texan. We can’t wait until they open!

I recently had a Ladies’ Night Out with the women I work with at Tianjin International School. My Chinese friend chose this Peking Duck restaurant which is famous because Chairman Mao actually visited this place to inspect their duck. My friend (in the middle in pink) has been frequenting this restaurant since she was a little girl and even had her wedding dinner here. We enjoyed the evening, getting to know one another better and our new leader, Vicky, (on the far left) from New Zealand.

The food…

Our appetizer……cooked duck feet in wasabi!