It’s been my dream to work internationally for years.  Finally, after much hard work, I have achieved my dream!  How does that saying go–be careful what you wish for, you might just get it???  I’ve always chased the challenge and embraced the dream because, after all, life is short and I want to die tired with no regrets.  Believe me, after working in China for the next three years, I expect Thom and I will have enough stories to last a lifetime.

Certainly moving to China was not initially on my radar-London was the focus but the path to Europe definitely lies through Asia so I have embraced this challenge and so has Thom.  Travelling this week with my one way ticket though was stark reality that for the next three years, I will live and work in China.  Yes, there will be a few trips home but certainly we will need to find our new reality here.  I definitely could not do this alone, which is true about life in general.  Having Thom here soon to share in the craziness that is Shanghai will make it all seem right.

Yesterday walking for hours on the streets of Shanghai, I saw the tourist side but then wandered into the “local” area where the cooking and shopping and socializing is all done on the sidewalks.  I never felt unsafe but more out of place-people looked at this crazy American lady walking in their neighborhood and probably had a good laugh wandering if I would ever find my way home.  I did eventually but along the way I got a glimpse of how the average Chinese citizen lives and it was just fascinating to see how much more social this culture is than the US where you work all day and then pull into your garage and never see your neighbors, let alone eat with them on the street together.  This seems a happy way to live, surrounded by friends and family.  Would you be happier spending more time like this than inside watching TV or surfing the net?  I hope to find out as Thom & I will connect with his “Guy Tai” group of ex-pats soon and make new friends from around the world.  We also hope many of our friends and family will visit us in Shanghai–we have lots of room and want to share this great experience. 

As I watch Monday Night Football, I’m reflecting on the changes that lay ahead with my move on Friday to China.  I’m wondering what I’ll miss the most besides the obvious-family & puppy.  I’ve been really appreciating tap water and milk since both are questionable in China.  Limited TV choices may not be a bad thing since Thom feels I rot my brain with some of my reality TV choices or my guilty pleasures as I call them.   

I originally thought great coffee would be hard to find but there are coffee shops on every corner-Starbucks, Costa, Gloria Jean’s, Coffee Bean, etc.  Very happy that the coffee bean reigns supreme even in China! 

Food is going to be an issue even though everyone thinks the food in China is delicious but after two bouts of sickness last trip, one ending with an unfortunate episode into a potted plant at Shanghai airport (yes, right out of a movie), I think I’ll be losing weight and eating lots of Cliff bars.  Everyone reassures me that my body will adjust and nothing will bother me soon.  Here’s hoping but I’m now packing a bag with me at all times so no more potted plants have to suffer because I ate a slider.

This past weekend we went to a family wedding in Michigan so Hannah and I had a short road trip.  As I got lost driving through Chicago, which always happens to me there,  it struck me that this would be the last time I would drive for the foreseeable future, not that I would want to drive in Shanghai where there are no rules of the road, just guidelines to be ignored  and absolute chaos is the norm.  I don’t think I’ll miss driving all that much as I’ve had some stress disorder since the Subaru was totaled.  

So, I’ll circle back on this topic after I’m there for awhile and weigh in on what I’m homesick for the most.  My boss says he brings back ribs and cheese in his luggage and has never has an issue with customs.  Who knows what I’ll be bringing back from my first trip home but I’m betting it’s Trophy Cupcakes!

 

Rush, rush, rush–rush home from China to get the passports to the Consulate in San Fran for Work Visa processing, rush to Fed Ex to overnight them and then rush back to Fed Ex because, by the way, they need our official marriage certificate…. then, oh  forgot to tell you that China has decided that they can’t be “rushed” any more so you’ll have to wait four business days now for your passport to return.  But wait, there’s the Moon Holiday so the Consulate is closed for two days to eat Mooncakes.  Get used to it, I tell myself.  Enjoy the journey that my passport is having while I wait for it to return because this is life in China…hurry up and wait.

So, on the one hand, as a retailer I can admire the government mandate that they won’t be rushed and that they enforce taking off work so they can shop on the many holidays (Singles Day-TY on 11/11-drove $4 billion last year in online sales-wow!) but as a Type A 24/7 worker, I’m not sure I’ll have an easy time adjusting to all this time off but I’ll give it a go. 

Everyone comes back to work for a week and then it’s off again for another week to celebrate National Holiday (or Golden Week) from Oct. 1-7, at which time my passport will have been surrendered for more Work Visa processing but this time in China, where I will be sequestered for up to a month.  

I have a feeling I will be nervous until I get the official “blessing” on the Work Visa and get my passport back.  When you travel abroad, your passport becomes your identity and your most valued possession.  Without it, I feel a little lost. 

So, Good Night my dear passport, hope you’re having fun in San Fran and enjoying some delicious Mooncakes while you’re at the Consulate for the holidays!  Hurry home.