Sojourner June 201 2

Sojourner June 201 2
www.suzhoueas.org
DATES FOR
YOUR DIARY
EA S MEET & GREET
TUESDA Y, J U N E 5
1 0:00 A . M. -NOON
Want to meet other expats with similar interests while sharing
a cup of coffee/tea and snacks? Come join us at this month’s
Meet & Greet on Tuesday June 5th from 1 0:00 to 1 2:00 at the
Renaissance Hotel, 229 Suhua Lu.
This event will give you the chance to talk to other members
and non-members about the community and shared
experiences concerning adjusting to life in Suzhou.
Price for EAS members with membership card is 50
RMB, 70 RMB for non-members. For an accurate
head count, please RSVP to
[email protected] before noon on Monday
June 4th. We look forward to you joining us.
I n th i s I s s u e :
E AS B oa rd M e m b e rs
An n ou n ce m e n ts
Am b a ssa d or l u n ch e on
Wh a t´ s for d i n n e r?
D ra g on b oa t ra ce
N e xt ye a rs E AS ca l e n d a r
E AS Li b ra ry
N e w M e m b e rs
2
5
6
6
7
8
9
9
Tu es d ay, J u n e 5
M eet & G reet, 1 0 : 0 0 -1 2 : 0 0
Re n a i s s a n c e H o t e l , S I P
eas m em bers h i p@g m ai l . com
Wed n es d ay, J u n e 6
B u s Tri p to H on g q i ao
0 8 : 3 0 -1 7 : 0 0
e a s a c t i v i t i e s @g m a i l . c o m
Wed n es d ay J u n e 2 0
E AS B oard M eeti n g , 1 0 : 0 0
eas copres i d en t@g m ai l . com
Regular Events
Monday morning coffee
Monday mornings
New location:
Starbucks XingHai square metro
station
Tai Ji Beginners' Class
Tuesday and Thursday mornings
Mahjong (any level)
Tuesday afternoons
Not Mommies Yet
Wednesday mornings
Bumps and Babes
Thursday mornings
Crafting
Friday mornings
S ee E AS webs i te for d etai l s on
th e s e a n d o th e r a c ti vi ti e s
E AS M e m b e rs ca n n ow l og i n to th e
F oru m on th e n e w we b si te
www. su zh ou e a s. org
Pag e 2
J u n e 201 2
E AS B OARD M E M BE RS
F O R 2 0 1 2 /1 3
I N TRO D U CE TH E M S E LVE S !
M a rtyn a S te p i e n
M i ch e l l e S wi ck
B a rb a ra B e n tz
H el l o.
I ' m M a rtyn a from P ol a n d . I m ove d to S u zh ou i n J u l y 2 0 1 0 a n d
h a ve a fe w m ore ye a rs to g o. I l i ve h e re wi th m y h u sb a n d
M i ch a l a n d m y l ove l y d og M ol l y. We ca m e to Ch i n a from
G e rm a n y wh e re we u se d to l i ve for 2 ye a rs.
I ' m ve ry e xcti e d a b ou t m y work for E AS a s a co-h i stori a n . I
th i n k i t' s a g ood op p ortu n i ty to m e e t n e w p e op l e i n S u zh ou
a n d ke e p b u sy. I ' m g oi n g to e n j oy m y work, tog e th e r wi th G a i l ,
a n d I ' l l try m y b e st to d o i t we l l . H op e , you wi l l l i ke th e n e xt
Ye a rb ook a n d th e n e xt E AS Ca l e n d a r a s I ' m a l so re sp on si b l e
for i t.
Wh a t ca n I sa y. . . Wh e n you se e m e wi th m y ca m e ra - sm i l e
pl ease!
M y n a m e i s M i c h e l l e S w i c k.
M y h u sb a n d , D a vi d a n d I a rri ve d i n S u zh ou i n J a n u a ry of th i s
ye a r. We h a i l from N orth Ca rol i n a i n th e U S A.
P ri or to m ovi n g h e re we we re a ssi g n e d to Tokyo for th e l a st
ye a r a n d a h a l f.
We a re e xci te d to se e a n d d o m a n y th i n g s i n th i s fa sci n a ti n g
cou n try. We h a ve two g rown ch i l d re n wh o re m a i n i n N orth
Ca rol i n a wi th ou r b i g fu rry b l a ck g ol d e n -d ood l e d og .
C o m e v i s i t u s a t B a ys i d e ! !
H i , I a m B a rb a ra B e n tz a n d e n j oy l i vi n g i n S u zh ou for 4 ye a rs
a l re a d y. Cu rre n tl y th e E AS l i b ra ry i s l oca te d a t m y p l a ce (b u t
a s I a m tra ve l l i n g fre q u e n tl y si n ce m y you n g e st son m ove d
b a ck to G e rm a n y th e l i b ra ry u rg e n tl y n e e d s a n e w h om e L . ! )
B e si d e s E AS I a m i n vol ve d i n S I F (th e I n te rn a ti on a l Ch u rch )
i n S u zh ou . Wh a t I m i ss m ost h e re i n S u zh ou a re m y 3 son s
(a tte n d i n g U n i ve rsi ti e s i n G e rm a n y) .
J u n e 201 2
Lyn n e M i l e y
Ce ci l i a Ch a m b e rs
Lyn n M a rti n
Pag e 3
I j u st com p l e te d m y fi rst ye a r i n Ch i n a a n d sti l l fe e l l i ke I j u st
a rri ve d . I t i s so ve ry d i ffe re n t from th e U S A or ou r p ri or
a ssi g n m e n t i n G e rm a n y. La st N ove m b e r I vol u n te e re d to h e l p
on M e m b e rsh i p a n d i t' s ke p t m e b u sy e ve r si n ce . I t' s a g re a t
op p ortu n i ty to l e a rn m ore a b ou t th e E xp a t com m u n i ty a n d
wh a t' s h a p p e n i n g i n S u z h o u , e s p e c i a l l y wh e n i t' s ti m e to
u p d a te Ta xi Ca rd s. You wi l l fi n d m e a t th e M on d a y Coffe e s
a n d th e m on th l y M e e t & G re e ts.
M y n a m e i s Ce ce l i a Ch a m b e rs a n d m y h u sb a n d a n d I a re
from th e l ove l y sta te of G e org i a . We h a ve b e e n i n S u zh ou for
3 ye a rs n ow. We h a ve th orou g h l y e n j oye d ou r sta y h e re i n
Ch i n a . We h a ve b e e n fortu n a te e n ou g h to m e e t so m a n y
p e op l e from so m a n y d i ffe re n t cou n tri e s a n d h a ve a l so ta ke n
a d va n ta g e of th e fa ct we a re cl ose r to d i ffe re n t cou n tri e s on
th i s si d e of th e worl d th a t we p rob a b l y wou l d n ' t h a ve b e e n
a b l e to vi si t oth e rwi se . I h a ve b e e n a m e m b e r of th e E AS a n d
on th e b oa rd for a 2 n d te rm . I e n j oy a l l th e a cti vi ti e s
a n d op p ortu n i ti e s th a t th i s org a n i za ti on p rovi d e s.
M y n a m e i s Lyn n M a rti n a n d I l i ve d i n H ou ston , TX, U S A
b e fore com i n g to S u zh ou , b u t I wa s b orn i n Ch i ca g o, I L, U S A.
I h a ve b e e n h e re for th re e ye a rs a n d a n E AS m e m b e r th e
wh ol e ti m e . I h a ve se rve d on th e b oa rd a s Co-se cre ta ry,
Co-p re si d e n t a n d con ti n u e to se rve on Acti vi ti e s Com m i tte e .
I h a ve worke d i n m ortg a g e b a n ki n g a n d th e re sta u ra n t
b u si n e ss, a n d a l so a t N AS A, J oh n son S p a ce Ce n te r H ou ston . N ow I work i n th e d e si g n fi e l d , so I d on ' t re a l l y kn ow
wh a t I wa n t to b e wh e n I g row u p !
Pag e 4
J u n e 201 2
H i I ’ m S yl vi a F orm e n ti a n d I ’ ve l i ve d i n S u zh ou for fi ve ye a rs.
I ’ ve b e e n a n E AS m e m b e r si n ce M a rch of 2 0 0 7 a n d on th e
E AS Acti vi ty Com m i tte e si n ce M a y 2 0 0 8 . I ’ m from th e Ch i ca g o
l a n d a re a i n th e U S A. I t’ s b e e n a p l e a su re to b e a n E AS b oa rd
m e m b e r a n d I ’ m so th a n kfu l to h a ve fou n d su ch a g re a t
org a n i za ti on .
S yl vi a F orm e n ti
M y n a m e i s La u ri e Rol l i n - I a m a cose cre ta ry. I l i ve i n
B a ysi d e G a rd e n s a n d a rri ve d i n m i d F e b ru a ry. M y h u sb a n d
a n d I h a ve a h om e i n Ri ch m on d , VA. E AS h a s b e e n a
fa n ta sti c wa y to g e t to kn ow p e op l e a n d a l l of th e won d e rfu l
th i n g s S u zh ou h a s to offe r!
La u ri e Rol l i n
Tra cy G re e n e
H el l o.
I a m Tra cy G re e n e from Au b u rn , Al a b a m a . Wa r E a g l e for a l l
you footb a l l fa n s.
S u zh ou i s a g re a t p l a ce to l i ve a n d we h a ve b e e n h e re for 7
ye a rs. I h a ve th re e b oys a g e s 2 2 , 1 4 , a n d 1 2 . I h a ve b e e n on
th e E AS Ch a ri ty Com m i tte e for th e p a st 5 ye a rs.
Th i s i s sta rti n g m y se con d ye a r a s E AS Ch a ri ty Ch a i rp e rson . I
l ove d oi n g ch a ri ty work a n d h a ve b e e n i n vol ve d wi th Ti g e r H i l l
O rp h a n a g e for ove r 5 ye a rs. S u zh ou i s a n i ce p l a ce to l i ve a n d
fu l l of g re a t p e op l e .
I t i s a g ood fe e l i n g to b e p a rt of E AS a n d th e E AS Ch a ri ty
c o m m i tte e .
J u n e 201 2
Pag e 5
A N N O U N CE M E N T S
O ri e n ta ti on
Excited about the new Metro but don't know how to use it?
Join us at the coffee on Monday, June 4, 1 0am at the Xing
Hai Metro Station (Xing Hai Jie & Su Hua Lu). We'll learn
how to use the Metro and buy a Suzhou Tong card.
After the sommer break we´ll offer more orientation trips.
Every other Monday, jump on a bus or the Metro and find a new place in Suzhou. Check
the EAS calendar for dates. [email protected]
E AS M on d a y coffe e i s m ovi n g ! !
Every Monday in June from 1 0:00 to noon casual Expat get-together for coffee and a
chat. Starting on June 4th we will change our location to Starbucks at Xinghai Plaza SIP.
This is the Metro station at the corner of Xinghai Jie and Suhua Lu close to the 1 88
towers. Please note: no Monday coffee will be held on June 25th during the Dragon boat
holiday. E-mail [email protected] for more details
Ta xi ca rd s u p d a te
Did you notice? Euro food moved to a new location!
And Rendezvous restaurant is closed and L andL
Things are changing so fast in Suzhou! We want to keep our digital
Taxi cards up to date. For that we need your help!
Please email if you notice any changes on the current taxi cards to
Maggie: [email protected] or bring new business cards to
the casual Monday morning coffee at Starbucks (new location
starting in June: XingHai Plaza) or the monthly Meet & Greet at the Renaissance hotel.
PS If you haven´t picked up your 201 2 version of the printed taxi cards yet, please
contact Lynne: [email protected]
DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT THE NEW
EAS WEBSITE:
WWW. S U ZH O U E AS . O RG !
Pag e 6
J u n e 201 2
A m b a s s a d o r L u n c he o n
Our May 3rd Ambassador Appreciation Luncheon gave the Membership Committee
an opportunity to thank Ambassadors for their time and willingness to help others.
We all shared ideas and information for going forward as a Membership Team and
then took time to get to know each other better over a tasty lunch at Case Zoe.
Attendees on that meeting:
Andrea, Cathy, Dawn, Erica,
Gail, Ines, Marion, Shannan,
Susanna, Sylvia, Val, Zeinab,
Regina, Lynne
NEW
COLUMN
Tasty and
easy recipies
every month!
WHAT'S FOR DINNER??!!
You ask yourself that question? Try this
easy and delicious recipe - we are sure
you will love it!
Summer Chicken Kebap - perfect for the
grill season!
serves 4
4 chicken breasts (1 per person)
juice of half lemon
juice and zest of one orange
2 green bell peppers
2 tbsp of honey
2 tbsp of olive oil
2 tbsp of fresh mint (finely chopped)
salt, pepper
chili flakes (optional)
Cut the chicken into large cubes. Do the same with the
bell pepper. Transfer chicken to the bowl, add lemon juice,
zest and juice of orange, honey, minth, olive oil, season
with salt, pepper and chili. Marinate in the fridge for
minimum 1 hour. If you use bamboo skewer soak them in
the water before use. Thread chicken meat and the bell
pepper into skewer. Sprinke with olive oil and grill the
chicken until cooked.
Enjoy!
Recipe by Martyna Stepien
Pag e 7
D r ag o n B o at R ac e
J u n e 201 2
D ra g on b oa t ra ce s a re tra d i ti on a l l y h e l d a s p a rt of th e a n n u a l D u a n wu F e sti va l .
1 9 th ce n tu ry E u rop e a n ob se rve rs of th e ra ci n g ri tu a l , n ot u n d e rsta n d i n g th e si g n i fi ca n ce
of D u a n wu , re fe rre d to th e sp e cta cl e a s a " d ra g on b oa t fe sti va l " . Th i s i s th e te rm th a t
h a s b e com e kn own i n th e We st.
I n D e ce m b e r 2 0 0 7 , th e ce n tra l g ove rn m e n t of th e P e op l e ' s Re p u b l i c of Ch i n a a d d e d
D u a n wu to th e sch e d u l e of n a ti on a l h ol i d a ys ob se rve d i n th e P e op l e ' s Re p u b l i c of
Ch i n a , su ch i s th e i m p orta n ce of d ra g on b oa ti n g i n Ch i n a tod a y.
S i n ce 2 0 1 0 S u zh ou h osts i t’ s ve ry own a n n u a l D ra g on B oa t Ra ce on J i n j i l a ke .
B e si d e s th e ra ce th e re a re a l wa ys a l ot of a cti vi ti e s for sp e cta tors th a t d a y a s we l l .
S u ch a s food fe sti va l , p h otog ra p h y con te st a n d cre a ti ve m a rke t.
Th i s ye a rs J i n j i La ke D ra g on B oa t Ra ce wi l l ta ke p l a ce on S a tu rd a y, J u n e 2 3 . Th a t
d a y 5 6 d ra g on b oa t te a m s wi l l com p e te e a ch oth e r for th e 3 rd J i n j i La ke D ra g on B oa t
Cu p . Am on g on e of th e se te a m s i s ou r ve ry own ta i ta i te a m ca l l e d th e B l a ck Wa te r
D ra g on s, con si sti n g of 1 2 e xp a t wi ve s. Th e E AS m e m b e rs i n vol ve d i n th e D ra g on B oa t Ra ce
a re : Li l y B u rton (te a m ca p ta i n ), J u l i e Ku ch , P ol on a B re zi g a r, Th e re sa D u va l , Cori n n e S m i th ,
S ta ce y Ve e n e m a n , G a i l M a su ko, B re n d a S ch a e fe r, J e n n i fe r Wyn i e m ko, M i a S h u l e r, Au tu m n
M a xh e i m e r (d ru m m e r) a n d S on j a Loh e r (ste e re r)
Th e ra ce cou rse wi l l b e 3 0 0 m e te rs l on g , sta rti n g from M oon H a rb or. A cou p l e d a ys
b e fore th e a ctu a l ra ce , th e sta rti n g p osi ti on s of th e b oa ts wi l l b e d e ci d e d b y l ots.
Afte r th a t, th e te a m s wi l l g e t a n oth e r d a y for wa rm u p e xe rci se s, b u t u n ti l J u n e 2 3
you wi l l fi n d th e B l a ck Wa te r D ra g on s twi ce a we e k tra i n i n g on D u sh u l a ke to g e t
th e i r b oa t to th e n u m b e r 1 sp ot a n d wi n th i s ye a rs cu p .
Au th or: B re n d a S ch a e fe r
Au th or: B re n d a S ch a e fe r
J u n e 201 2
Pag e 8
EAS CALENDAR
PREPARATIONS HAVE BEGUN FOR NEXT YEARS EAS CALENDAR AND BELOW ARE THE
PROPOSED MONTHLY THEMES FOR THE 201 3 CHINESE EAS CALENDAR, ALONG WITH
SOME EXAMPLES TO GET YOUR MINDS THINKING:
January ­ Harbin e.g. ice sculptures, architecture etc
February ­ Chinglish e.g. funny streetsigns etc
March ­ Suzhou
April ­ Activities e.g. Chinese people playing games, cards, mahjong, tai chi etc
May ­ Religion e.g. buddhas, pagodas, religious architecture, monks etc
June ­ Shanghai
July ­ Children e.g. Chinese children playing games, split trousers etc
August ­ Chinese
lifestyle e.g. Chinesepeople doing their laundry or sleeping anywhere, clothes
out drying, Chinese homes etc
September ­ Transport e.g. bicycles/ebikesexcessively loaded up with people, goods or animals,
traditional chinese transport, buses filled to bursting point with people
October ­ food e.g. including cooking and eating, street food
November ­ Older generation e.g. elderly Chinese people
December ­ Beijing
General China scenery photos for front and back cover i.e. photos of Huangshan Mountain,
Guillin,Tibet etc
Please bear the themes above in mind whilst out and about in China, if you spot anything that
may be appropriate please take a picture and help make our calendar amazing. As you know
profits from the calendar go towards various charitable needs in and around Suzhou.
The formal collection of the photographs will be in September. Please keep in mind the theme
you would like your photo to be included in, along with name of place and name of
photographer for example: Religion theme - Lingshan Grand Buddha, Wuxi - Martyna Stepien
We may need to crop some photos, so any sent may be altered slightly for the calendar.
We will be in contact with the deadline for submitting photographs in a few months, please keep
an eye on the EAS website and newsletter for up to date information.
D i d you kn ow th at you can S AVE M O N E Y
wi th you r E AS M em bers h i p C ard ?
S i m pl y pres en t you r card at
P arti ci pati n g B u s i n es s es i n S u zh ou
for d i s cou n ts an d d eal s !
See the complete and up-to-date list of Participating Businesses
on the EA S website at
www. s u zh ou e as . org
Click on EA S Member Discounts
Pag e 9
J u n e 201 2
E A S L IB R A R Y
P LE AS E N OTE : Th e E AS l i brary h as fou n d a n ew h om e
at D eborah ' s h ou s e. M ore i n form ati on wi l l com e i n th e
n ext n ews l etter.
WELCOME N EW M EMBERS!
Landmark skylight
Ruth Waldron (Ireland)
Bayside
Regine Warring (Germany)
Flavia Schuster (Brazil)
Lakeview
Coral Stiglianese (USA)
Horizon II
Pascale and Philippe Goutagneux (France)
Kolyn Garden
Deborah Teichler (Switzerland)
There is one new address for the garden pass instead of the one in Zhuhui Road
No. 2 exit in XinghaiPlaza of the Subway(at the cross of Xinghai Street and
Suhua Lu, A206 in B2 floor in the south area of the service center for the Suzhou
Cityzen Card in XinghaiPlaza)
Tel 6521 2623
hotline: 65240701 68296688 6521 2623
J u n e 201 2
Pag e 1 0
E xp a tri a te Associ a ti on of S u zh ou (E . A. S )
E . A. S i s a n org a n i za ti on for th e e xp a tri a te com m u n i ty i n S u zh ou . Th e ob j e cti ve i s to
p rovi d e op p ortu n i ti e s for m e m b e rs to p a rti ci p a te i n soci a l , cu l tu ra l , sp orti n g , ch a ri ty
a n d e d u c a ti o n a l a c ti v i ti e s .
I t a l so g i ve s m e m b e rs th e op p ortu n i ty to l e a rn m ore a b ou t S u zh ou , th e su rrou n d i n g
a re a , Ch i n a a n d Ch i n e se cu l tu re .
I f you a re i n te re ste d i n j oi n i n g u s p l e a se con ta ct e a sm e m b e rsh i p @g m a i l . com or g o
to ou r we b si te for m ore i n form a ti on .
DON’T MISS AN ISSUE!
SUBSCRIBE TO THE
EAS NEWSLETTER
send your request to:
e a sn e wsl e tte r@g m a i l . com
If you have items you would
like to see in this newsletter or would
like to send us your write up or
photos please contact:
[email protected]
We wish all old and new E. A . S members a
nice and relaxing summer!