Author: chadwickbaldwin

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About chadwickbaldwin

A Canadian teacher in China

Firework frustrations

Fireworks have always been a symbol of celebration. Found around the world now. Some countries regulate them and others do not. They are fun, but can be dangerous or even deadly.

In China around the Lunar New Year’s people buy them privately and fire them off in the city to celebrate. It is their way to celebrate. I’m normally very open about a culture’s festivals and celebrations. But I have grown to really dislike this holiday.

Here’s what happens every year. A few days before the New Year random people will start lighting noisy fireworks without any flash. They just go “Bang!” Loud enough to set off every car alarm in a block. These are started around noon. When any sane parent is trying to get their infant or toddler to have a nap.

This leads to a cranky child. Who scream at the loud noise. By New Year’s eve they start setting off the night time fire-show. In the street right next to the buildings.

The day before (This year Feb 11th) and the day after (Feb 13th) you might get a couple fire works in the middle of the night. And The New year’s night it is all night.

So to iterate, over the week, we have a toddler who didn’t nap and is cranky all week who passes out at night, then the light show (right outside our window) keeps us awake all night. Keep this up for about half a week.

This year, my youngest got to see the light show on New year’s and liked it (it is beautiful) but since, when people put on the noise makers at night then stop for an hour we have a cranky, tired child screaming that her fireworks have disappeared.

Repeat every hour.

This has happened with all of our kids when they were young….

Some years the fireworks go for 2weeks. This year, it just started.

You can’t sleep because of the noise, you can’t watch TV because of the noise, you can’t read because of the tired child. So the only option is to go to the mall, during a 3rd wave of a global pandemic…

Just some thoughts…

Remembering Japan

Yesterday my family had our monthly “Eat at a nice Restaurant” meal, and it so happens that it was a Japanese Restaurant downtown. We chose it specifically because the restaurant was empty and there was lots of space (no worry about social distancing).

During dinner something happened that reminded me of my second trip to Japan (Fukuoka for the curious). Now at the time of this story I had been living in Korea. In Korean corner stores you can buy boiled eggs, and I used to love just ducking into Family Mart for an egg as a snack.

So here I was wandering around Fukuoka, and I found a Family Mart. So I went inside and saw individually packaged eggs. So I grab one, and using my broken Japanese, I confirmed that the egg was read to eat. (To me this meant cooked)

I go outside the store and, being me, cracked the egg open on my forehead.

It was a raw egg.

I had egg on my face, literally.

During lunch yesterday, at the restaurant I ordered an egg to go with my meal, and the waiter gladly brought it over. Happily grabbed the egg and cracked it open with my hand.

It too, was raw. So I am guessing that Japanese eat raw eggs at restaurants…

Joyous Holiday Seasons

Every year this time of year I reminisce about the year. And while 2020 has, for some, been a very trying year, for us it has strengthened our family unity.

2020 helped me regain perspective of what was truly important to me. My family. I was given an opportunity to shift focus back to my family, when I had unintentionally been focusing on my work more than my family.

During lockdown we got to spend a lot more time together. I was able to work from home and help my children with their learning. We were able to set up some of the family traditions that I had always wanted but we had been too busy to set up.

My family now has a family board game night every Saturday. And Anime afternoon on Sundays. My children spend time playing together, and helping each other with homework.

When I get home from work, I try to play with my toddler and give my wife the break she needs. I help my son and daughter with their homework after dinner. My wife and I watch our shows after the kids go to bed. And, I noticed, my hair has been returning from grey to brown slowly.

We just put the Christmas tree up and the joy I saw in my family’s eyes was amazing. Tonight we decorate.

And while I know 2020 has been harsh on a lot of people. I know a lot of people lost loved ones or have had difficulty. We have too. But I choose to remember the benefits this year has brought to my family.

Happy holidays everyone.

From the Baldwins Abroad.