Shunyi District, Beijing, China

We have been very lucky with weather so far this fall.  Many days start cool and brisk, but warm up with some sun by the afternoon.  Today, Saturday October 27th, I sit outside with a flannel and a big sweater watching numerous teams of 4thand 5thgrade girls play soccer.  The sky is blue, the sun is shining, and I cannot imagine being any more content.  Nola is playing soccer surrounded by friends, and it all feels so similar to what we would be doing at home in MN.  Tonight, we will go to a Halloween party and the girls will go through a non-scary haunted house.  There are so many things we are experiencing that are different and hard to adjust to. But days like this remind me of how many things are not so different.  We are making this place our home and I am enjoying these moments.