Well it’s been a busy week and we’re all looking forward to this weekend because Halloween is HUGE in China! There are lots of parties on, I’ve purchased some devil horns and that’s the extent my dressing up is going to be.

I had a great weekend with a day trip to Shenzhen (90 mins away) and shopping heaven! We left Dongguan at 8am (on time!) and were let loose on Shenzhen for 3 hours of shopping!

In the first two hours I did 90% of my Christmas shopping; I’ve never ever been this organised before! Obviously I won’t be putting pictures of those up on Flickr :) There wasn’t a lot for babies or toddlers so I couldn’t buy anything for Will, I’ll have to hit the shops in Dongguan.

After lunch (yummy Dim Sum) we had another hour to shop, this time for me! LOL. I need to buy a pair of shoes for school and another for casual… tick. Need to buy a watch so I don’t have to keep using my Palm Pilot to check what time it is in class….tick. Need to buy something frivolous for me…tick :) I love my jade (I think) bangle. Pictures of my purchases are on Flickr.

Now for all those who have never been shopping where being ‘a foreigner’ means you have loads of money (which we know is not quite true) there is an interesting…annoying habit by the shopkeepers. They see you coming and all you hear is ‘missy missy missy you buy watch, clothes, handbags, jade, crystal, wigs, shoes shoes shoes!!!!!!’. Some actually try to physically drag you into their shops! It’s constant and they’ll even follow you on the escalators and down other corridors! We had one of the lovely Chinese staffers from school, Zoe, come with us and she’d never seen anything like it! She found it annoying and they weren’t even talking to her. LOL.

The sad thing is though; I find this less annoying than the staring back in Dongguan. We got back to the bus station in Dongguan and as soon as we got off the bus, it started AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! People actually stop talking and stare as you walk past…I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.

Messages for people at home:

Happy birthday to my brother Ben and friend Michelle! I hope you both have a fantastic day and I’ll be thinking of you.

Gill, hope you feel better soon and I’d love to catch up with you and Gary in Honkers if you fly through!

written by  KatrinaB on October 24, 2006 from Shenzhen, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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Can't wait to get at Shenzhen myself!!! Your green shoes look great and so does your bangle, but I absolutely ADORE your watch, with the numbers different sizes and the colour and everything. Speaking of shoes, Dad let me buy him a pair of Crocs, which, to the initiated, look a bit like your green shoes but are made of plastic, very expensive and meant to be the most comfortable shoes you can get. He wanted to buy lime green (!!!) but i put my foot down (pun?) so he got some blue ones and he's breaking them in. I've also been shoe shopping (not that he knows about it yet.... and I needed two pairs and absolutely had to have the third pair.

written by  Mum on October 24, 2006

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Hey Katrina,

Looking forward to catching up in Hong Kong - it's always good to have a 'local' around to help out!!!

Will definitely feel better soon - I'm going into hospital on Monday for surgery so will actually be able to eat again - yippee!!!!

Don't work too hard and remember to save your voice - it's the first thing that teachers lose!

gill :)

written by  Gill Light on October 27, 2006

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Hey Sparks,

Thanks for the Birthday Wishes - Even though I am still in deinal about turning 28 - between you and me I would be happy to stay 27! Hope that things are travelling well and that the kidlets are behaving for their teacher!

Talk soon

Love Me

written by  Michelle Milikins on October 29, 2006

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