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.

 

Just got back from China and will be moving there on 9/23 with Thom to follow on 10/1.  Our original apartment in Lakeville Regency in Xintiendi on the Puxi side of the Hung Pu (river) fell out because the landlord didn’t like our lease terms.  So, this past week, I raced around with Isabella to find another home, this time looking at Pudong, which is on the other side of the Hung Pu. I found a great 3 br/3ba modern apartment in the Shimao Riviera Garden complex, which has an awesome gym with new machines, pools (including indoor and another outdoor wave pool), café, bowling alley, tennis courts, etc. as well as an on property lake that I can run around when it’s not 90+ degrees.  Other cool features of our new home include a private elevator from the lobby, modern kitchen with dishwasher and w/d (most only have a w/d combo which takes forever), a huge master bath with tv over the jetted tub, expansive views of The Bund/Hung Pu, 2,700 square feet (larger than our house was and our current apartment is only 825 square feet!) as well as a maid’s quarters.  Not sure if we will have a maid but Thom thinks it might be cool to embrace the culture and have a maid plus car/driver.   Since there is NO WAY I am going to let Thom drive other there, we may have to have the car/driver or really get to know the metro system. 

I have discovered my new favorite restaurant, Element Fresh, which has what they term as “Western Food”.   Thank goodness they have locations all over Shanghai.  I had some moments when my body did not embrace the new cuisine (definitely not Western Food) this past week at my meetings so I’ll have to be more careful in the future regarding what I eat and drink.  Something about staring eyeball to eyeball with your meal is unsettling and not at all appetizing but that’s just me!