tesibria

Happy First Month-aversary to Us

Wow.  Today is September 24.  It’s been a month already. Hard to believe. 

In some ways, it still seems a bit like we are on an extended trip – we are still generally living out of our suitcases. Well, we are not literally living out of our suitcases, because we’ve unpacked them, but we are still living only on what was in our suitcases – and, since the furniture isn’t here yet, we’re using the “pile” method for the stuff we can’t hang. And I’m very glad that I got several Ex Officio shirts to wear because the “DC in August” humidity here results in, uhm, perpetual glistening, but I have to say that I’m getting a bit tired of my 5-shirt/2-shorts/1 jeans wardrobe. (Ah … first world problems, I know.) 

(As an aside, both J and I are now huge fans of Ex Officio clothing for travel and/or for being in hot and humid weather because … they’re awesome. Any wrinkles really do fall out in minutes after unballing them from the suitcase; “glistening” really does dry up in minutes; you really can wash them in the sink and hang them, and they’ll be dry before the next morning. When home and using the washer/dryer, they’re typically dry in 15 minutes or less (on low heat). And any “chopstick accidents” really do wash out easily too!)

And though we are in our “place,” since our furniture is not here yet, the place still seems a bit foreign … and very empty.  The view outward is utterly awesome.  I don't think I'll ever get tired of it - whether looking westward out across the river, or eastward over the thriving local neighborhood below.  But inside ... we’re sleeping on a smaller-than-queen guest bed in the guest room (which means that the cats are restless throughout the night because they can’t find a good spot). Our bedroom is still completely empty but for two lamps and a TV sitting on the floor, provided by the landlord. When we eat at home (rarely), we’re picnicking because we don’t yet have a dining room table (or a coffee table, which was our primary “dinner table” back in Phoenix).  We have two towels, that rarely dry in this weather, so they're getting washed every couple days.  So, it’s kind of like “glamping.” Fun, but not exactly home yet.

And, since we have two cooking pans, and very few cooking utensils, I'm making only very simple meals when I do cook, which is usually Monday nights.  Monday nights, J watches the recorded Cardinals game, so I try to make a meal. (He won’t go on Facebook or check emails on Monday, because he doesn’t want to know what happened until he watches the game.)    So, yesterdary I knew that I’d have several people in and out (again) doing various repairs and such, then have (my first) Mandarin lesson yesterday afternoon, so I wanted to make something quick. Salmon, spinach, and fried potatoes would be easy peasy, right? Yes, actually … except that I had to make the fried potatoes in the wok-skillet first, then clean it out to make the spinach. And I had to bake one piece of salmon in our only other cookware -- a (thankfully oven-safe) small sauce pan -- then take that piece out when it was done and put the other piece of salmon in to bake that one. So … let’s just say that it took a bit longer than expected and that the food was of varying temperatures when served. 

And since I only know how to cook “western food” (and barely know how to do much of that~a competent cook I am not…), eating at home is usually substantially more expensive than just going out.  I can report one bit of progress. Given my utter lack of confidence in cooking, I’ve always been a “by the book” cook – measuring stuff out exactly, making sure I have all the ingredients exactly as called for and prepped in separate bowls (to avoid missing any ingredients ). Well, I’ve learned to “let go” of some of that, out of necessity. We have two plates, two salad bowls, and two pasta bowls. If I use them for ingredients I have to wash the dishes out before we eat. So no more pre-prepping stuff into little bowls. And, since we don’t yet have our measuring spoons or cups, I’m just guessing on the amounts. A pinch here, three shakes there, a handful of this, a spoonful of that until it looks ok. And, since I either can’t even find some stuff in my recipes – or I find it but it’s outrageously expensive, I’m learning to substitute – or just skip – certain listed ingredients. So ... that’s a bit of progress, I guess. So far, J has eaten what I’ve prepared without complaint. (Then again, he eats all sorts of things most people wouldn’t so I can’t take too much comfort in that.)

Speaking of eating all sorts of things (it’s really NOT all about food…), that is another way in which this adventure still seems more like a trip than a move:  Since we are eating out a lot still, and since local food is one tenth the cost of western food, I’ve been “stretched” outside of my food comfort zone again and again. I managed to live for more than 48 years without eating, say, duck tongue, cow tongue, pig tripe (and other offal), jellyfish, tree fungus, fish cheeks, shrimp with the shells. 

And, to be sure, it’s not as if at least most of this food isn’t available in the US. It’s just that I just wouldn’t really consider eating it. Indeed, up until my mid-30s, I wouldn’t try anything “new” or “weird” – and my definition of “new” and “weird” was essentially anything that I didn’t grow up eating. Even when I decided to become a bit more adventurous – eating artichokes, spinach, and even tofu (!!) – my idea of what was adventurous was a bit, uhm, not-so-adventurous to most people probably.

Here, I just decided to go for it and try stuff at least once. And so I am. To some degree of success....

Not to yuk anyone else’s yum, but I still don’t like organ meats and tripe and that sort of stuff. (I’m thinking maybe there’s a reason that offal rhymes with awful … or that maybe I just haven’t had it prepared the way I might enjoy it.  It’s one of the two.)

And frankly, while duck really IS delicious, duck tongues and webs are a whole lot of work for a little teensy tiny bite. Shrimp shells? Well, they’re not great but they’re not awful either – just add a bit of crunch to the bite.

Now -- pickled jelly fish and cabbage? Yummy!!! Edible tree fungus? Delish! Fish cheeks?Awesome!  

 ~~~

And ... I know I will get used to our neighborhood and I am starting to recognize a few neighbors and vis-a-versa, so it’s beginning to feel “home-ish” but the neighborhood outside the complex is still so very exotic to me. To the north is the financial center, which could be AnyBigCity. To the west is the river. To the east and south are smaller “local” neighborhoods and wandering through the streets still feels exotic and foreign. Especially on weekends where you never know what you’re going to see on the street. Like “repair shop row” right outside our complex, where you can get your shoes fixed while you wait, your bike repaired, your AC repaired, or your flowers refreshed. Or, if you like, you can stop for a quick haircut.

~~~

And ... I really do need to learn at least some Mandarin beyond "hello," "thanks," and counting 1-10.  That only goes so far (which is not very far at all).  And I can’t keep calling the bilingual translator service every time I get stuck with a clerk or serviceperson at the apartment, although I'm so happy to have discovered it.  (Well, I could but that’d just not be right.)  

Very Cool Thing:  You can call this number any time of the day or night, and ask for a translation. You say what you need to say, then pass the phone to the other person.  The operator will explain what you need in Mandarin. The other person will respond to the operator, then pass the phone to you. The operator will then explain the response to you in English. It's a bit clunky, but was  very helpful when a repairman showed up yesterday to fix our tub and the gestures just weren't working to explain the issue.  The service is free - part of Shanghai city services.  I "discovered" it while at a store, when a clerk was trying to sell me something.  I wasn't "getting" what she was saying, so apologized for not understanding her and started to leave. She  held on to my arm (!) then called the number and the operator explained what I needed to know.  Sale made.  And I was assured that I got what I needed for the price I wanted.  Great service, but don't think it's a viable alternative to learning the language for day-to day living....

I did have my first Mandarin lesson last night and will have my first language exchange session tonight, so … I’m getting started on that, finally.  This is a good thing, because the printer we got only has Chinese keys and codes and I still haven’t figured out how to work it.  And, I am going to have to figure out how to use the washing machine and dryer consistently.  (Sometimes it works great; other times, the clothes are literally still soaked at the end of the wash cycle and/or still sopping after a hour in the dryer.  I have to wring them out in the sink, then dry them for ... a couple hours ... at least.  There's just gotta be something I'm doing wrong.)   I know that most of the language lessons I’m scheduled to have will be for spoken Mandarin, but I’m most interested in learning written Mandarin – at least the things I need to know to be able to run appliances and read menus and signs!   

~~~

And ... I look forward to being able to establish some routine in my days.   Back in Phoenix, my days and weeks had a general routine.  Even though we were very busy and traveled a lot, there was a general routine to all these things.  I just don’t have one here yet.  Too many things still up in the air.  It’s been hard so far, because every day “something” is going on:  a repairman is coming to fix X, Y, or Z, or I need to go find envelopes so we can mail something, or the property management needs to come by to address a bill, or a delivery of something or other is scheduled.   And on that,  let me just say that my experience to date indicates that the concept of time is very different here than in the US.  In the US, repair people will generally say that they’ll be at your place during a certain three-hour window on a certain day - and then they are often late.  So far, my experience here is that something is scheduled for a certain hour on a certain day.  But they virtually always come early.  So taking a shower within two hours before the scheduled visit is not a good idea; chances are that the doorbell will ring just as I am soaping up.  

And the only errands I can run during the day of a delivery or service are those within a couple-block area because chances are very good that my phone will ring with a message that someone is at my door waiting to deliver something .  No matter that the visit wasn’t scheduled for another four hours.  I need to get back home quickly, because they are waiting.   Best thing is to just wait until the visit occurs before venturing out.  And, there are days where nothing is scheduled but I still get a call or hear the doorbell, because someone who was here yesterday forgot to tell me something*  … or because they think they might have left something here ** … or because they miscalculated some cost and need to give me the correct change.** *  

*Yes!  This has happened twice!  Even though everyone has cell phones here, people will come all the way back to the apartment and up the elevator to tell me something they forgot to say while they were here about something!

** This has happened twice too.  Once for a disposable plastic bowl, and once for a tea mug that – despite searching for 10 minutes, we could not find here.

**Yes!  Just yesterday, the property manager employee came over to deliver 2.5 rmb (that’s 41 cents) because they had miscalculated the electricity bill.

Another thing that makes it difficult to have a routine – or to be able to plan out a day when I get up – is that I never know how long something is going to take.  Running to the store to get four ingredients might take 15 minutes – or it might take three hours because I can’t find what I’m looking for in the first … or fifth store I visit.  And I just might not find it at all.  And, I just might be so frustrated with the fact that I can’t find something or I might be so exhausted from the effort that I decide to stop in and get a shampoo/blow dry, so there goes another hour!!  And, before I know it, it’s early evening and the day has disappeared.

On that note, I just may never wash my own hair again while I’m here.  Ok, that’s a bit of an exaggeration but only a bit.  I’ve been working my way through the multiple salons in a two-block radius.  I’m not done yet.  There are at least three times as many hair salons here as there are nail salons in Phoenix.  And I’ve found one that gives a great shampoo/blow dry, albeit without the massage and other fluff, for $3.  I found one that gives a decent shampoo/blow dry and decent massage, for $8.  And when I want to splurge and get the full treatment (ears and all), it’s a whopping $16.    I still have at least six more salons to try – assuming I stay in a two block radius.  If I decide to venture out to a 3-block radius, there’ll be a least another dozen or so to try.

And on travel, Trip Advisor has lots of information on China cities we want to visit, so that's great. But it only goes so far. Getting train tickets - or plane tickets - isn't just a matter of logging on to Expedia or Travelocity. There is no Southwest Airlines here (although we learned that at least some airline tickets are refundable, thankfully). I found a way to order train tickets online, but they have to be ordered at least four days before travel. (And right now, we can't definitively plan four days in advance due to variations in J's schedule.)

And, when we do travel like we did to Hangzhou this past weekend, it's a very different sort of trip. Even fewer people speak English. (Fortuantely, J's amazing faculty with languages is serving him (us) well.  He's already doing more than I'll likely be able to do in a year.)  

It's difficult to find a reliable map -- or has been for us so far. And my iPhone's Around Me, Google Maps, and iPhone Map are ... almost ... worthless. We were looking for a specific place J had read about this weekend, so I looked it up on Google Maps, then in the iPhone Map, then on the paper map that the hotel gave us. Google and iPhone showed the address in completely different parts of the city -- though both were on the east side of the lake -- and we couldn't even find the street on the hotel map. So, we had a cab take us to the east side of the lake and we wandered around. For three hours. Had a great time - Hangzhou is a beautiful little city - but we just couldn't find the address. It didn't seem to exist.  We walked up and down the street twice.  Tried north.  Then South.  We gave up and decided to turn back north again and just go find some dinner since it was nearing 8 pm.  And stumbled on the place. The address had no (linear) relation to the actual location of the place although it was, as stated, "lakeside."  As in it wasn't on the street named (though it was only two streets over), and while the building did have the right number on it (13), the building was not between 23 and 10 on that street. Mystery we still haven't solved. Except to know that can’t rely on addresses and maps the way we are used to doing. So, it's not exactly like hopping in the car for a quick trip to Flagstaff, Cottonwood, or Wilcox for a relaxing weekend. It's much more of a production:  Must remember to have directions to hotel in Mandarin on your phone - then remember to have your phone with you always. (Or be prepared to find a work-around if you forget it, which we did one night....) And learn to enjoy what's in front of you rather than trying to find something you think you want to see.  

~~~

I know that at some point, all of this will be the “new normal,” but it hasn’t yet sunk in yet. Maybe when our stuff gets here, this place will really start feeling like our “home.”   Or maybe when I get through one day without getting utterly stumped about how to do something.  But I’m just not there yet.  It’s hard to describe.  I opened by saying that it feels like a long trip.  That’s true – but not as in a long vacation trip.  There’s just too many “hard things” for it to be a vacation.  There’s not much relaxation going on ... well, except for the shampoos of course.   There is a lot of wonderful discoveries and excitement (or terror, when going down the wrong side of the road, or seeing someone coming at you when you’re on the right side of the road). 

The thing is, it’s not just a trip.  It's not just an interesting vacation.  And it's not yet "home" either.

It’s … different. 

It’s an adventure ... every day.

 

… Stretch, Tes, stretch …. 

Efficiency Happens ...

I know I've groused a bit about how long it takes to do - or get certain things done here.  But I have to say that I find myself quite impressed with the efficiency of two particular “things” here:  (a) immigration-related medical exams and (b) the trains, which really do seem to run on time!  More about the trains later ....

First, for some context:  In order to stay in China for any period of time as a noncitizen, you have to have a work and/or resident permit.  In order to get a work or resident permit, you have to get a medical exam, here -- in China -- by a specially-designated medical facility.  (The exact facility depends on where you intend to live.)  I’d heard quite a variety of things about the exam, so wasn’t sure exactly what to expect.  I am glad that I read about it – including the conflicting info – before I went, because I was more prepared than I might have been. 

My exam was scheduled for early morning the Monday after we arrived. The facility was about 50 minutes away from our place, so I got to see another part of the city during the drive (and discovered PetZoo, the largest pet supply store in the city, which was fortuitous.) Thankfully, the immigration services provider had someone meet me there, because I could not have communicated or understood how to fill out the forms without that support.  When I got there, I wasn’t sure exactly what to do, but there was a line snaking its way out the door, so I stood in it, holding my nine passport pictures (required), and my passport, then texted my designated contact, who promptly stood up in the waiting room and met me.  Yep, I was in the right line.  She took my passport and stash of pictures, and told me to wait in the waiting room. So, I got out my kindle, expecting the typical waiting time – only worse given the line out the door.

I’d barely read one page before my contact signaled for me to follow her into the next room, to fill out some paperwork.  She walked me through it – which was generally the typical “new patient” form, only in Mandarin, but asking for the typical medical history stuff.  When I completed it, she told me to wait again, then turned the paperwork in and returned to me with a ticket that had a number on it.  Just like the DMV – only not.*

*ASIDE:  There are multiple instances in which you take a number for services here – going to the mobile phone store, returning items at a store, picking up items at a store. So far, none have been as efficient as the medical exam system, although IKEA comes close, promising a wait no longer than 9 minutes.

My number was about 20 numbers ahead of those flashing on the wall above the next door, so I again pulled out my kindle to settle in for a doctor’s office wait. And, again, I was surprised when my number was called in less than 5 minutes. So, I went through the next door, where clerks checked my paperwork and entered the info I’d written into their computer. I had listed “attorney” as my occupation.  The clerk asked me whether I was going to be working as an attorney for a firm here in China.  “No.” So, she told me to cross that out and write “housewife.“ Ok …  She quickly finished entering the rest of the info, then stapled one of my pics to the documents I’d completed, and handed them to me, directing me to leave out the side door … into a hallway filled with doors.

A young woman dressed in scrubs guided me directly to the next door on the right, where I was to change clothes and put on the gown thing.  Now, I’d read about this part:  most people take off all clothes down to undies, which is “ok” – unless one is uncomfortable walking around 150 other people with the backside open.  The thing is, you can wear shorts, even though they do not explain this. So, anyway, I only partially stripped, put on the little cloth slippers and the gown (opening in front), put my stuff in the locker, and walked back out. 

And, then the “exam” began.   

First up, Door 107, where a young HCP* took my weight and height, while another recorded it on my papers, then initialed it.  About 45 seconds later, she directed me back to the hallway, where the “traffic coordinator” directed me across the hall to Door 108.  (There was a stream of coordinators, and a bigger stream of examinees in the hallways at all times.) 

*I have no idea whether each person was a medical technician, nurse, doctor, or other, so I’m referring to them all as “HCP” – health care provider.

Behind Door 108, a HCP took my blood pressure and temperature and recorded it on my paper.  She also talked through my responses. About 2 minutes later, she directed me back out to the hall.   

A coordinator saw me emerging and promptly directed me to Door 110.  There, I had to lay down behind a screen.  The HCP took my papers, opened the gown and attached electrodes to various spots then went to her computer. About three minutes later, she stapled a printout of the EKG (?) to my chart, signed in her spot, came over and popped the electrodes off, handed me the papers, and pointed towards the door.

Back out in the hall, another coordinator directed me to Door 113. There, after taking my papers, a HCP directed me and then positioned me before an x-ray machine.  Once in place, another HCP behind a window took the picture.  The HCP signed my papers and directed me back out the door.  Total time in Room 113 was less than 5 minutes.

Next up, eye, ears, and throat exam in 120. First the HCP looked in my ears, throat – then paused and looked at my papers again and raised her eyebrows at me. I’d marked “no surgery” – because m immigration counselor said to list only surgeries in the past year. So – I said I misunderstood the question and explained yes, when I was 20 I had my tonsils taken out.  She made notes on my chart, and then gave me the eye exam. I couldn’t see the two bottom rows and explained I wore contacts.  She made some more notes and then handed me my papers and pointed to the door. Total time in that room – less than 5 minutes.

Another coordinator promptly pointed me to Door 124.  There, an HCP was drawing blood from a guy, so told me to wait.  (She was the only person of the many who “directed” me through this process that was … less then politely professional.  I think she might have been a drill sergeant once or something….)  Anyway, she slapped on the band, stuck the needle, and withdrew the guy’s blood in what seemed like less than a minute, then directed me to sit down.  Seconds later, the band was on and she was repeating “fist… FIST!!” because I hadn’t made a fist fast enough. (I was staring at her glove, which had a red spot on it – I made the fist only after I confirmed that that was from her red sharpie and not something else…..).  In went the needle and out went two vials of blood; on went the gauze and tape with a “Hold for 3 minutes!” With a wave of her hand, I was out of there (and happy to be so!).

Final room was back to 122, where I had to lay down again for a sonogram of my belly.  (I’d heard of this as well, and heard that every single American’s medical report included “fatty liver” based on the sonogram…)  Here, things slowed down a bit.  The HCP started “tsk tsking,” and speaking with a man sitting at the nearby computer, who appeared to be a doctor and certainly was her supervisor.  She went over the right side, then the left side of my belly repeatedly, telling me to take a deep breath and hold, again and again.  For at least 5 minutes.  (Yikes, my apparently very interesting belly was gumming up the works; I could hear more and more people lining up at the door in front of the curtain.)  Then, the “supervisor” took over the controls and spent a bit of time going over the same area.  After another 5 minutes of this, he appeared to finish, though he took out his camera and took pictures of the screen showing two sonogram photos.  Then he said “ok.” And I jumped up and walked past the now 6+ person line out the door.

Back in the hallway, a coordinator said “that’s it, you’re done,” then directed me back to the changing room. I changed clothes and then went back out to the lobby where the helpful immigration counselor took my papers and went to the counter to check out.

And, fifty-five minutes after I’d arrived at the facility, I was out the door.    

About a week later, I received the medical report.  No fatty liver.  Yaaaay!   

Yes, that exam certainly took more than 4 people – I’m sure that, between the initial intake clerks, the hallway coordinators, the HCPs and their assistants, my exam took at least 40 different people -- but man was it efficient!!!

 

(Just because I know someone will ask, the report indicated that I might have a very small kidney stone on each side - which is what the HCP/doctors were looking at on the sonogram.  But - fortunatly, I have never had any symptoms and they're apparently very small and all that. Anyway, will take care and pay attention to that just in case but -- really, nothing to worry about.)

Update on the furkids* ...

A couple people have asked how Majerle and Gracie are doing.  The answer is that they're adjusting well for the most part.

Neither one of them have liked riding in the car much, since we first adopted them.  But Gracie really seemed to hate it.  She'd start howling as soon as I put her in the crate and only stop when I got her back out.  

So I wasn't really looking forward to the 7+ hour ride to LAX.  (We drove them (and us) to LAX because the temperatures in Phoenix in mid-August are just too high for pet air travel -- even though the cargo hold is temperature controlled once the plane is flying, there's still a period of time of sitting on the ground where it is just deemed not safe.)  Fortunately (for us), Gracie generally quieted down after about the first hour and did well. Majerle was mostly quiet although he would stand up, watch out the window, then meow at us a bit every so often.   

We stayed at the Sheraton right by the airport over night, as the pet taxi folks were scheduled to pick them up 9:30 the next morning and - if we stayed close - they'd pick them up from our hotel and take them directly to the airport -- which was one less transfer the cats would be subject to so I was all for it.

They were generally quiet and nervous in the hotel - a whole new space with new smells. Both of them spent most of the time hiding behind something -- either the chair in the corner or behind the TV in the armoire piece. (First thing I did when we got in the room before I let them out of their crates was to make sure that the "under bed" space wasn't accessible. I had nightmares of having to dig them out from under the bed in the morning.  It was a great relief not to have to do that.  The hotel was great - when I realized our room didn't have a freezer, I asked the folks downstairs if they could freeze the furkids' water.  (PetRelocation.com recommended that we freeze the water, so that it wouldn't spill on first transfer and would slowly thaw, giving them cool water for several hours.)

Anyway, the pet taxi folks who partner with PetRelocation arrived the next morning.  I'm sure people near the entrance of the hotel thought I was surrendering them or something because yes, I cried.   The pet taxi guy asked me whether they'd flown before, and I said "no."  He laughed and said, "they don't have a clue what is happening then, do they?"  Uh .. when he saw my face. Then he assured me that they'll be just fine.  

We got them both in the back of his little mini van and I said goodbye.  And off they went. (He was very efficient and that was a good thing - longer the process, the more upset I would be, so I was glad he was transferring them fast and all that.)  

And then, off they went.  I walked around a bit to get it together before returning to our room to pack up our stuff.

They were scheduled to fly out at about 1:45 but the plane was delayed a few hours.  Of course I didn't know that as we were scheduled to fly out ourselves at about the same time, so even though I had signed up for flight following, I also had already turned my phone off before any delay messages came through.   

When we got to our hotel in Shanghai, I checked messages and saw that they had arrived in Amsterdam.  I didn't notice the delay in arrival, but it ended up having "consequences" as - from what I understand, the delay out of LAX resulted in them being held over another full day in Amsterdam.   I didn't learn about this -- that they weren't on their scheduled flight from Amsterdam to Hong Kong until after they'd been scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong.  That was a little disconcerting.  But - flight delays happen (on our last trip to Shanghai, we ended up getting here a day late because we were delayed out of Phoenix and by the time we'd gotten to SFO, the plane to Shanghai had already left.  The *good* thing, from my perspective, was that they were delayed in Amsterdam, not in Hong Kong.  KLM, the airline that they flew, has a wonderful "pet hotel" just for furkids like Majerle and Gracie who are flying around the world.

Anyway, since they were delayed out of Amsterdam, they would not arrive in Shanghai until Tuesday, rather than Monday as we'd thought they would.  (Well, originally we understood that they'd not get to Shanghai until Tuesday, but then we learned that they were scheduled on a flight to get them here on Monday ... until they missed their flight out of Amsterdam.)

Finally (or so it seemed to me), I was able to go get them at the airport in Shanghai.  And that's when things got a little crazy, due to what I can only fairly describe as a series of miscommunications/misunderstandings between myself and my relocation company.   

As an aside:  The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know is that both Majerle and Gracie arrived safe and sound, physically and mentally.  Another important thing to know is that, while there were  some miscommunications, I share the responsibility AND, even so, the company has more than "made things right" by proactively listening to my story and asking me what could make it right, and then making it right -- making actual changes to processes to ensure that things don't happen again.  Flight delays happen.  Miscommunications happen.  Busy customers who have 1,000 things to think about sometimes hear things wrong or don't hear them at all.  And everyone is human and can make honest mistakes.  What matters most to me is that (a) my furkids arrived safe and sound, (b) PetRelocation was great to me, and (c) PetRelocation made some changes to processes based on how things are here in Shanghai and ... how things played out.   I fully expect that I will use PetRelocation when we return to the states based on how they professionally and graciously handled the entire situation - and can recommend them to others.  

Anyway, two heroes saved me that day (the furkids were fine; I was a basket case):  "Mr. C," our driver, and J's wonderful secretary "Ms. E."  They worked the phones for a couple hours figuring things out (and, with Mr. C, continually telling me that it'll be ok - they will figure it out.)   When there was some issue with the paperwork and the shipping company didn't want to release the cats, it was Mr. C who ... uhm ... spoke persuasively, and Ms. E, who found, then provided, information that convinced them I was who I said I was and those cats were mine!

Anyway - all I can say about that is that I was a basket case for a few hours, and I can't recall when I was so relieved as when we had them in the back of the van and were driving back to our place. That trip was hard, because their crates were wired shut and - huge, obviously - so they were in the back and I was in the front.  It took us about an hour to get back home.  Ugh.  But -- we did.

And, finally, they were HERE.  Out came the wire cutters and all that.  I'd expected to need to bathe them after such a long trip but both they and their crates were clean (enough).  So, that was one less trauma (for both of us, as they both hate baths!)

Gracie was - pretty much - a leech.  She would not get off me - and while on me, she insisted on being up at my face.  

I kept trying to get pics of both of them to post on Facebook that they were here, but it was almost impossible with her because ... this is how she was.  For a long while.

Eventually, she was content to sit on my lap for a while.  But when I got up to go to the bathroom .. or anywhere, she was like a little puppy following me around, then jumping up on me.

Essentially, Gracie was .. attached for pretty much the first 24 hours or so.   When I went into the kitchen, she'd stop to get a drink for a bit, but only for so long as I stayed near.  Soon as I left, she would too.

 

 

Gracie cuddling me after she arrived.

Majerle, on the other hand ... not so much.  I had also shut all the doors to rooms to give them an enclosed space, but Majerle anyway, was having none of that.  

After spending some time drinking up, he promptly went to the first closed door (kitchen) and meowed at it, until I opened it.   He'd not even explore that space before going to the next door and meowing at it until I opened it.  So, within about 10 minutes, all the doors to all the rooms were open in the house.

Majerle would come over every once in a while but wouldn't let me pet him initially. He'd just rub up against me then walk away to explore again.  

Then he'd come back to me for a while longer, and even sit up on the couch beside me (us). Never for long, but for little bits of time.

Eventually, he did let me pet him.  But he was pretty restless for the entire day. 

Waking up together in Shanghai

Tbe next morning, though, all was well in Shanghai.  I woke up to Majerle curled up with me, along with Gracie just a few inches away.   And, they stayed that way pretty much the entire day: sleeping, and sleeping, and sleeping some more.

Then, they ate a bit, and got a drink, then slept some more.

By Thursday, Majerle was back to exploring some, then napping, then exploring.  Gracie was back to being a leech, then napping (usually on me), then being an active leech on me again (I could not type or do much of anything.  She was THERE, insisting that I pet her, talk to her, actively BE with her.)

They've been slowly adjusting.  In part, it is hard - especially for Majerle I think - because our sea shipment is not yet here, so we still have a lot of wide open spaces, with very few places to hide.  He loves hidey holes, but -- other than the bed and the couch - there just aren't any.  He used to get in the closet (much to our dismay, actually, but the doors were such that we couldn't prevent him from doing so) anytime he wanted a break from his little sister (who can be really annoying!! she is such an attention whore.  seriously! she must think she's a dog or something....)

So, they are "arguing" (cough cough) more than they did before.  And I haven't yet found ways to stop that.  I separate them but then MAJERLE comes back and insists on engaging Gracie again.  Which I find very weird.  He gets so annoyed at her for trying to play - growling, hissing, etc etc.  But each time I separate her and give him space in a room and distract her, he just comes back for more.  ::: shrugh ::: I'm hoping that when our stuff comes and he has his "space" that used to be HIS space ... on the bed, on the dresser, and the like, that they'll stop -- or at least reduce -- their squabbling.

The funny thing is that while they really do squabble like an older brother and younger sister, all that stops -- immediately -- when someone "new" comes.  (And, so far - given that there are still certain things that need fixed and the like -- someone is coming virtually every day.)  When the door bell rings, they're suddenly very close buddies.  It generally goes like this: They run behind the couch in my office (which I pulled away from the wall so they'd have a hidey place).  And they listen, peeking under the couch.  Majerle, who gets sooooo tired of Gracie, is such a "big brother."  He will watch with her, then just look at her until she settles down, sometimes nudging her, always looking straight at her.  Then, and only then -- once she's settled down and closed her eyes, he'll decide to take a nap too.  If she wakes up, he's immediately watchful and watching her.  Then, once she calms down again, he'll close his eyes and take another nap too.  

They stay this way (whether awake or asleep) -- face to face -- until the place is quiet again. Then Majerle will venture out and check out the place to make sure that no one is here. Then he'll come back in on the couch and meow a bit, and then (and only then) Gracie will come out from behind the couch.  And - half the time (at least), they'll just start squabbling again as if they weren't the sweetest siblings 30 seconds before ....

And - Majerle has his new "garage door."  Back in Phoenix, Majerle always insisted on going out into the garage in the evening.  (Gracie never did.)  He'd meow at the door while Jeff was cooking or I was cleaning, until we let him out there.  Twenty minutes later, he'd be ready to come back in. Here -- he does the same thing at the kitchen door, insisting that we let him out into the laundry/storage room area.

Majerle:  "Let me OUT!! "

He is also not at all yet done exploring the territory.  No matter what door or drawer I open, he is in it before I can stop him.  

Majerle exploring little spaces...

Gracie is a little less in-my-face, but not all that much.  She's constantly up here, on my desk, while I'm trying to work, insisting that I pay attention to her.  Then, she'll settle down for a bit, anyway, so long as she can be beside me....

Gracie:  "I don't care that you want to type, I want you to play with ME."

As it was back home in Phoenix, both Majerle and Gracie like to be up on my desk beside me, as I work (or play) ... my desk is much smaller, so they now have to take turns ...

Gracie, chilling on my desk.

Majerle getting some love  atop my desk too.

So, they're adjusting well over all, but I think it'll take some time (and the delivery of our "stuff" that they're used to being with and on) before they are fully comfy and realize that this really is their home ... for a while anyway.

~~~

*Special thanks to Pam Barklage for permission to "borrow" her term, "Fur Kids." It is a perfect moniker for, well, my furry "kids."

About grocery shopping...

Disclaimer:  Vegetarians might want to skip this post.

I just noted how I very much prefer the smaller shops to the big "superstores."  Some days, however, I just have to bite the bullet and go.  Like today.  I needed to find envelopes - plain mailing envelopes.  I haven't seen them in any of the smaller shops nearby and I didn't have time to go wandering around to find them, so I decided to go to Carrefour, because I knew that they had what I needed.

Of course, I took my iPhone.  So, how about let's go shopping Shanghai style?

We'll start with the familiar, that is with Imported Product. 

First, a bit of context.  To figure out cost in dollars, you need to take the yuan price and divide by six. That's not an exact exchange, but it's close enough.  Second, it's kind of hard to show scale here, but nearly all the items are in smaller containers than in the US - and in metric.  (I'm thanking Mr. and Mrs. Wengerd right now because, while it's been a bit of an adjustment, thanks to them I really did learn the metric system way back when.) 

So, you can get a small box of Great Grains cereal for only $7.78.

A bag of Ruffles will only cost you about $5.88.

But, you can get a 6-pack of PBR for only $2.50.

Ok, I'm sure that at some point I will be c-r-a-v-i-n-g something from this section but, right now, while I walk through this section just to see what's there, I'm strictly window shopping.  So, moving on to the more ... interesting (to me) ... aisles.

The oils aisle.

This incredible aisle probably explains why I'm still in the process of scrubbing down my once very-sticky kitchen:  that entire wall is full of cooking oils of every kind imaginable (and some I didn't imagine).

The soy sauce aisle.

Now, I thought that soy sauce was soy sauce - that there were about as many varieties of soy sauce as, say, salad dressing.  I've been schooled on that one!  Both sides of this aisle are filled with of dozens and dozens of types and brands of soy sauces and a few related types of sauces. Of course, I can't tell the difference between most of them because less than 5% have English on them, but there clearly are differences, or they would't fill up both sides of this entire aisle.

The chili aisle.

I love this aisle.  While I can't read the labels, I can see the ingredients on most and, as Jeff and I both love chilis of all sorts, I'm having fun in this aisle.  I bought several different jars here.  I've only used two so far, but they were both yummy!

Aside:  While these pictures were taken in a big superstore, the floor space dedicated to each type of food is pretty consistent in stores here, regardless of size.  In the smaller grocery stores, the aisles are smaller, of course, but there's still one big aisle of oils, one big aisle of soy sauces, a big section for chilis, and the like.

My favorite aisle is this one:

Noodles!!

I love this aisle.  Noodles of every kind imaginable.  Yummy.  I hope to try them all while I'm here.  The rice aisle) is actually bigger, but while I'm not a big rice fan, I've not yet met a noodle I didn't love. And, there's another aisle nearby that has different kinds of "noodle-like" bags, but they're actually made of kelp, various seaweeds and the like.  I bought a bag of kelp ones to try too.

More "noodles"...

Obviously, tea is huge here too.  In addition to the very big two-sided aisle of packaged dried teas, there is a "bulk product" tea section, where you can mix and match the flowers, tea leaves, and related aromatics yourself.  

Bulk Tea "stuff."

Of course, you can get rice in bulk too...

The bulk rice section.

Most superstores have a pretty big meat section.  I have to say though, that I've not before seen meat sections as big as they are in the two different superstores I've visited here.   A partial survey .... 

First, the dried meat area:

A closer look:

Now, for the fresh meat section...

Pick your pork parts ...

Or your chicken...

Or your fish ...

Or other seafood.  But if you insist on having it truly fresh....

...You can do that too.  

Of course, there are a lot of working moms in Shanghai looking for fresh prepared food, so there's a section of prepared meats as well:

Meats ready to eat.  

For those who prefer tofu, there's an entire station of a few dozen varieties from which you can choose:

Small corner of the large tofu station.

There is a similar section of prepared veggies and other side dishes nearby.  And, as with any grocery store, there's a big produce section:

Portion of the Produce Section.

There is a frozen food section, a smaller yoghurt/dairy section, and a few others, but -- as I was snapping pics, I suddenly remembered that I'd gone to Carrefour because I was in a hurry, but somehow 45 minutes had flown by again.  

That being said, I couldn't resist one last shot, just for the folks back "homehome" who shop at Hilltop: 

CandyLand!!!  

Yes, the sweet tooth is alive and well here.  In addition to this huge candy section, there's an entire two-sided aisle full of cookies and the like.

 

And, after nearly an hour of sensory overload, it was time to go home!

 

Meet the Neighborhood...

It's kind of fun when you start recognizing one or two people in the elevator.  The place begins to feel like it might become home.

It's also wonderful to be back in a walking neighborhood.  I loved not having a car in Chicago, and I think I'm going to love it here too.  There will be days I'm thankful for the gym facilities,* but for now, I love taking my daily urban hikes.  At least once  a day, if not more, I set off to discover what might be down a street nearby.  I still have many many streets to go.  I try to go down at least one new one every day, and have to repeat streets several times to "catch" everything anyway.  I count the way "out" as exercise, walking at a clip and  and scoping things out.  But I always have a bag on my shoulder just in case ... because on the way back, I might stop by a place catches my eye.  (And this is definitely a BYOBag city.)  And I have found a treasure or two.  Like coffee filters just 2 blocks away from our house!  And Columbian coffee beans (J's favorite).  And a few other Laowai-type things -- as well as some great local things like a wet market less than two blocks away, through a side street.

*Uhm, I'm sure I'll be thankful for the gym facilities - they're quite nice.  Full open and airy gym, indoor pool, outdoor beach, the works.  Too bad I struggle doing those kinds of workouts...  Yet another thing on my "to get better while I'm here" list.

I also love being able to get fresh "stuff" every day.  Back on PHX, Jeff would get his bananas for the week.  Now, I go down to my favorite fruit guy who always sets up just outside our complex and I get a couple apples or oranges every other day or so, and he throws in a couple bananas for "free," then points to himself indicating (I'm sure of it...), "Buy your fruit from me and I'll give you a deal."  He also picks off the bad grapes and such before weighing them.  (And he really is doing that - I checked.)

The  Friendly Fruit Guy  just outside our complex.  I pass him a few times a day, every time I leave. 

When we first got here, I went to the big Carrefour supermarket, drawn to the "familiar." Ok, it wasn't really familiar in that I spent hours (literally) going through the aisles trying to find things I recognized.  But shopping at the big "Safeway/Target"-style stores was familiar, so that's where I went.  Now, I'm in the process of finding which little stores nearby carry the stuff we want.  Now, I need to go to several stores to complete the shopping list as no one store has everything, or even close to everything, I might have on the list, even for a single meal.  But, this makes every trip out just more of an adventure. (Except when I'm in a hurry.  But that's kind of rare right now.) 

Frankly, I love the excuses to be out and to have to go to several places because, as with my "hikes," I get to see OMGReally!?!? things and just "be" here, soaking it all in.  Like the busy outdoor "cafeteria/buffet" just up the street. 

 The outdoor "cafeteria," just up the street from my Friendly Fruit Guy.  (Yes, the guy in gray is washing the used dishes.) 

This is the "buffet" from which the customers make their trays.  The food must be delicious because the place is virtually standing room only between 11:30 and 12:30 each day. 

Interestingly, from what I've seen, most sidewalks are wheelchair accessible.  They all even have this strip down the middle to enable people who are blind to walk safely (presumably using a cane?).  The strips turn to round "lego" type things at each corner to let the person know that the sidewalk is ending.

The sidewalk in front of one of the local grocery stores.  The darker red stripe is on every sidewalk and is, I've been told, designed to enable people who are blind navigate safely and independently.  

Oddly though, most stores and restaurants are elevated so not at all accessible to people in wheel chairs.  Not quite sure how it came to be that virtually every sidewalk is "blind friendly" but virtually every business entrance is "wheelchair unfriendly."

Anyway, between the Friendly Fruit Guy and the local grocery store, there are two alley markets, where various vendors set up shop each day to sell services (luggage and bicycle repair while you wait), meats (cut right there to your order ... so long as you don't mind the process but that's another story), live sea creatures (eels, catfish, turtles and more), rice, spices, blankets, hats, and more.  And veggies.  I go there for the veggies!

My favorite-to-date veggie stand, just up the street from our place.

So -- that's just a teensy tiny taste of our new neighborhood ~ all (and much much more) within a block of our place.

Not-so-small victories

I don't think I've ever been so excited to do laundry as today.  But our washer and dryer are now working great.  The loads must be quite small (first the flat sheet with one or two small things, then the fitted sheet with one or two small things), but -- the applicances work and the clothes come out clean and dry.

OMGReally?!?! Aside: Where in the US can one call the manufacturer with a problem and have the manufacturer's repairman show up the next day?  And when was the last time that the cost of a service call and/or repairs was less than $50?  Here, the dryer was "fine" except that the prior resident had put the filter back together wrong so it was clogged up and wouldn't dry. The service call charge to tell me that, and explain how to put the filter together correctly was about $9.   And the guy came back four days later to deliver extra filters as they must be replaced about once a month.  Cost - $2 for 4 filters delivered to my door.  As for the washer, it had a significant mildew issue that required replacement of parts, two visits, and a 6-hour sanitizing process.  Total cost including service and parts?  $50.  So, while MsB*tch was grousing about all the people traipsing in and out, the fact is that folks get things done here!  Yaaaay.

As for other things that really stumped me in the first week - I'm developing a few "coping" mechanisms .... 

(Totally First World) Problem:  All the remotes are (a) mostly in Chinese; and (b) not at all consistent in that +/- on one might mean volume, but it means channel on another.

Solution:  

It's not fancy, but it works.

 

Problem:  Copy/pasting addresses in Mandarin doesn't always work well in my iPhone for whatever reason.

Solution:  

I pull up the address on google, snap a pic with my iPhone, then show that to the taxi driver. Works every time (so far).

 

Problem:  It's really hard to describe-by-pantomime certain things I'm looking for.

Solution:  

 

I find a pic on the web on my computer, then take a picture of it with my iPhone.  When I get to the store, I just show the pic.   Works much better.  (But I still haven't found a store with screening.  On the WanderingFool's treasure hunt list.)

 

Problem:  I'm making dinner tonight (yikes), but can't figure out what the text on the slow cooker means.  And what I do know is that there is no standard cool-to-hot/left-to-right here. (Our standard "righty-tighty/lefty-loosy" isn't even consistently applicable here.  Therefore I can't really just guess without risking burning stuff up.  I mean I think it's a slow cooker, but I'm not positive.....)

 

Solution:  

I emailed the first picture above to a new friend and she translated it for me, which I turned into a picture with translations on my phone.  

There's always a way...................

 

Update:  I still burned the meatballs.  Oh well.  They were edible.  I'll do better next time.

Yep, it's an adventure alright...

I don't even know where to start.  (And I apologize in advance for the "stream of consciousness" that I'm sure this post will be but ...)  So, instead I'll just say:  I'm developing multiple personalities here.  There is, of course, TheB*tch ... but also StarryEyed ... and WanderingFool ...  OMGReally?!?!? ... and WhyNotZen.  And probably a few more, but these are the main characters right now.

TheB*tch comes out daily, actually -- because I'm sooo not used to being incompetent. And I am pretty incompetent here. Which is very frustrating.  I can't distinguish between dish soap and dishwasher detergent ... I can't figure out how to correctly copy directions in Mandarin to give to the taxi driver ... I can't figure out how to work the washer or the dryer (though I've made a little progress with the dryer - only took five hours to dry three towels...) Three steps forward, two back .. and all that. Wanting the adventure but wanting it the way I want it is rather fundamentally inconsistent. I'm working on that!

StarryEyed also comes out daily -- because something surprisingly magical happens every day -- like watching a man on the street next to me carefully repair an old shoe so that, the next day, he can sell it, or finding that this dish that J ordered, which is delicious, is edible tree fungus, or looking out my window morning, noon, and night and seeing such an incredible view.

WanderingFool comes out every day I go out. Because nothing makes sense so I spend a lot of time wandering around trying to find a logic to ... where and how things are. Like last week.  It took me four days, three stores, and a total of six hours to get the “supplies” to make coffee. Supplies needed to make coffee J-style:  (a) coffee maker; (b) coffee grinder; (c) coffee filters; and (c) coffee beans. On  Day 1, I found a coffee grinder. On Day 2, I found a coffee maker and coffee beans (Starbucks is really only option). On Day 3 I looked for coffee filters without luck.  On Day 4, I spent 2.5 hours going aisle by aisle and shelf by shelf … and asking every employee I could find (I had a picture of a filter) – without luck, until finally, one employee recognized the picture of filters and knew where they were. They were in the imported products section – on the bottom shelf, just below imported Nutella and jelly products. Now – why didn’t I think of that??  So – VICTORY – I finally had coffee filters!!!!  (For the low low price of $6/40 filters.  If only I had thought to bring our gold/reusable filter with us. That's definitely on the list for first trip back - it's already in my Amazon.com shopping cart.)  

And today.  I went to four different stores looking for nail polish remover and isopropyl alcohol. I found nail polish remover (though I fear not the right kind).  I still haven't found alcohol. That's my goal for tomorrow. If I can find one thing, or figure out one mystery a day, I'm a happy camper.

OMGReally?!?! also shows her face every day -- whether I go out or not -- because I'm still discovering things that just ... shock me. Even though, with many such things, I read about them before I got here. Reading about something and seeing it for real are two very different things. Like cars (or mopeds with small children standing on the foot space) going down the wrong side of the road. Or men - and women - hawking up big loogies and spitting them both on the street and even (once, for real) in the aisle at IKEA. Or realizing that it really does take 8 people to change a light bulb here. Seriously. True story: On Friday, it took 8 people to change the light bulb above the stove. EVERYTHING takes at least 4 people -- who show up unannounced throughout the day, always in groups of at least two, each with cell phones into which they talk a lot, presumably about the issue at hand. This morning, it took 8 (different) people -- over a span of 4 hours -- to change a broken hinge on the closet door.  I could have done it myself in about 15 minutes. But, no - it's part of the building, so ... they must do it. And the landlord's agent(s) must arrange it.  

And in several stores I've visited, getting out the door with something takes at least 3-4 people. Today, in my fourth attempt to find nail polish remover, I ventured into a Watsons that I happened upon. The greeter (#1) offered to assist me.  As I don't speak Mandarin, I pantomimed what I needed. She spoke rapidly (instead of speaking loud and slow the way we might do, I find that folks speak faster and faster to me when they realize I don't understand...)  and nodded her head yes, then took me to a counter where a beauty consultant (#2) showed me the display version of the product. I decided to get it, so #2 wrote me a ticket. #1 then took me to the counter where #3 read the ticket and took my money. #3 then gave the ticket to #4 who went back in the storage room (?) to find the real version of the product. Then #1 pulled it out of the box to show me that it was sealed, and to show me that the expiration date was in 2015. Upon my approval (but I'd already paid so...?), I was released. But then, on my way out of the store (which was smaller than the typical 7-11), #2 asked to see my receipt from #3, to confirm that I'd paid for the product that I could have only gotten from #4 after #3 gave him my paid receipt. #1 came running while I was digging for my receipt and yelled at her, then gestured that I was free to leave. I tried not to giggle -- just smiled and said xièxie.  

(You probably think I'm exaggerating just a little.  I am not exaggerating.)  

Oh - an aside. We're not really on the 49th floor.  In China, the number 4 is like the number 13 in the US ... only worse. So, there is no 4th, 14th, 24th, 34th, or 44th floor -- and at least in this building, there also is no 13th floor in an apparent nod to all the expats living here (probably 25% of the total population in this complex). So we're really not that high after all.  

In light of all of the above, WhyNotZen is, well, inevitable. I really have no choice other than to give in and enjoy the ride (or go stark raving mad). I mean, why not just chill out!! Really, it'll all be ok.  It IS all ok.  It's just a different kind of "ok." But -- I know that I'm with the love-of-my-life, and my Gracie & Majerle are here exploring our new digs and making me smile all the time. I can walk outside and get all the fresh fruit I could want for pennies. I can look out my window and see this grand city. And I can walk out my door and see this crazy, amazing, mystifying (to me) city.  

It's all good.  Or at least the parts that aren't really my definition of "good" yet are ... interesting.  I laugh at myself a lot (usually right after TheB*tch has thrown an internal temper tantrum and I realize how silly it is to get all worked up).

And I can't not giggle at the crazy-to-me things I am seeing and experiencing. There's nothing like ...watching several dozen adults do a choreographed slow dance to Chinese classical music each evening down at the corner intersection just south of our place. Or hearing a Chinese karoke version of "We Are the World" playing while you shop. Or hearing a live girl band doing a karoke cover of Maroon 5. Or watching a car come right down your lane right at you in the opposite direction like in a game of chicken. Or hearing your door bell ring announcing the arrival of yet another person here to help the 5-6 people already here deal with ... something - whether or not you asked for that "something" to be addressed. Or walking through the meat section of the grocery store and seeing people pick through a high pile of frozen chicken legs or stacks of unfrozen raw beef the way "we" in the US pick through apples or cucumbers in the produce section. Or getting a one hour shampoo, massage, and blow dry, complete with ear cleaning for $10 just down the street. Or having the taxi driver insist that he can fit in all your "stuff" from IKEA ... in his trunk ... then using a roll of packing tape to hold the trunk down. Or seeing the little kids with their split pants squatting in the grass - or right on the sidewalk. 

All I can say (to  myself ... repeatedly ...) is "hang on, 'cause this is gonna be a ride." 

Making the Leap ...

“What’s important is that you make the leap. Jump high and hard with intention and heart. Pay no mind to the vision that the commission made up. It’s up to you to make your life. Take what you have and stack it up like a tower of teetering blocks. Build your dream around that.” 

~Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things:  Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar.

The countdown is in full swing now.  It's getting really real.  

Twenty-eight years ago this month, my mom, dad, two sisters and I embarked on a cross-country trip.  We drove to a college in Tennessee, where my sister T had received a scholarship.  Once T was settled in her new dorm, we continued on to San Angelo, Texas, where I would finish my college education thanks to a scholarship.  I had never been to Texas before, but had always wanted to go there.  I had been wanting to "get away" for a long long time.  I was excited beyond words.  

My dorm was still "under construction" when we got there, so I moved into a temporary dorm room.  Mom, Dad, and M helped me get my stuff settled in then turned around and started driving back home.

And there I was.  My dream had come true.  I had finally "gotten away."

And within about an hour after they left, I was terrified.   Sick with fear and dread.  What was I doing?  How was I going to function - everything was weird there.  Brown and flat and ... weird.  And huge: I'd gone from living near a town of 600 to living in a "city" of 80,000.  I had a car (my lovely 1972 Dodge Dart) -- but had no idea where to go to find anything and was terrified of getting lost.  (Alas, this was long before google maps and iPhone direction apps.)  

The first two months there were the hardest two months of my life.  Everything was different.  The land, the weather, the people, even the language.  Or at least it seemed that way to me.  People talked with this accent such that I couldn't understand 60% of what they were saying, and I talked so fast they didn't understand what I was saying.  And the food was weird.  I understand that most kids gain weight when they go away to college.  I lost at least 10-15 pounds in my first semester, because I couldn't get used to the weird food.  I craved Mom's green beans, potatoes, and hamburger dinners.  Anything simple. Anything from home.

I eventually acclimated and ended up spending eight years in Texas.  I graduated with my elementary education degree and luckily found a job immediately up in Richardson, Texas. It was there that I met Karen, my "boss," who would become one of the most important people in my life -- with whom I learned so much about myself and my place in the world and how to live joyfully in my own skin.   Alas, that's another story for another time.  I share this only to say that I thought I knew why I was going to Texas when I applied to 20+ schools there.  I was going to "get away" and see the big world "out there."  It was only years later, that I figured out that I went to Texas to find Karen.  I just didn't know it at the time. 

 ~~~

This whole thing feels kind of like "going to Texas" -- on steroids.   I'm so excited about this.  It is such a great chance to expand our experiences and our world, to travel to places we've not yet had the chance to see, to immerse ourselves in another culture and experience the world "outside the bubble" of the US.  It's a great career opportunity for my husband too.  

I'm somewhat terrified too.  Next week this time, assuming all goes well, we will be unpacking some suitcases in our new home, or out shopping for some basics.  And life as I've known it will be ... very different.   I will be the foreigner, the minority, the immigrant. I will not be able to read the dials on my washing machine or the microwave in my new home.  I will not be able to communicate with my neighbors, or the grocer, or the waiter, or the doormen and receptionists at our apartment. I will not be able to read maps, menus, or ingredient listings on packages at the grocery store. I will not recognize many of the vegetables in the produce section.  I will not know where to get my phone changed to the network in China, or how to explain what I need when I find where to go.  I will not know how to get ... virtually  anywhere -- or how to explain where I need to go.    It's going to take some getting used to.

But I'm still taking this leap. 

And some day -- maybe a year from now, maybe ten -- the real "whys" will make themselves known.   

The Tracking Phase Begins

So, we're in the tracking phase now.  

Air shipment - arrived in China; now being processed through customs.  

Sea shipment - departed US; estimated arrival by end of August.

Cat import papers - in process.  Yes, this whole cat import process is, by far, the most complicated part of the entire move process.  Seriously.  There really is a lot more going on in this move than getting the cats there -- but getting the cats there is the hardest part.  

First, cats must have received required shots more than 30 days, but less than 365 days, before travel.  So, even though Majerle got his 3-year rabies shot August 10, 2012, he had to get another one in late June, because the last  3-year shot was given (barely) more than a year before.

Second, not more than 10 days before travel, we have to get checkups and health certificates for Gracie and Majerle, which then must be mailed to the local USDA office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who will officially endorse the certificates and mail them back ... hopefully in time for the trip.  The paperwork must be filled out "just so" (in blue ink) or there is a real risk of problems.  And finding out, once cats are in Hong Kong, that there's a problem with the paperwork would ... be a very bad thing.  

So - on Wednesday, Gracie and Majerle got to try out their crates for our trip to the vet to get the exam and health certificate documents.  The good news:  Gracie will, eventually, stop meowing when riding in a car.  I wasn't sure, so decided to leave early and just ride and ride to see what happens.  I learned that it takes about 15 minutes for her howls to wind down to whimpers ... then, so long as you keep moving, the whimpers get fewer and fewer.  Right up until you hit a red light and need to stop. Then the howling starts all over.   (Majerle, of course, just sits there quietly - looking very aggravated-ly from her to me with a "make her shut up!!" look on his face.)  The 6 hour trip to LA is going to be ... interesting.  But that's another story.  

Anyway, while neither cat likes to be crated, the "good" thing was that, once we got to the vet where there were other critters and lots of people, they were just fine staying in their crates, thank you very much.  Which was a good thing, because the process took quite a while.  Our absolutely wonderful vets at Dear Creek Animal Hospital, particularly Dr. Beth Robbins, spent quite some time  on Wednesday doing the health exam and getting all the required papers filled out exactly right (any errors and you need to start all over, so it was an adventure).  We faxed them over to Tobi to confirm everything was good and, once confirmed, we were done.  (Thank goodness for PetRelocation,who has this process down to a science.)   Well, except we needed one more original signature on a document - which had to be from a vet who wasn't in on Wednesday, so we'd have to wait until Thursday to get that doc.

Gracie and Majerle at the vet.

On Thursday, I got the final document and emailed to Tobi to make sure all was right -- and once approved, sent the package off.  

And, fortunately, it arrived in New Mexico right on time today.  

So, now, I'm tracking the next label, to confirm when USDA sends it back out. Fingers crossed that it will get to LA on time.  I'm very much looking forward to getting this process done.... !  I don't think I'll be able to really relax about this until I've picked them up at the Shanghai airport ... Tuesday, August 27 if all goes well.  

And, once they're there safe and sound, the rest is all ... gravy.  Of course, I'll be hoping our air and sea shipments get through customs and all that.  But really -- that's just "stuff."   Once Jeff and I -- and the kitties -- are back together in Shanghai, I'll just be very very happy.

 

Update:  The USDA's Arizona-New Mexico Veterinary Services Office called me just a bit ago as a courtesy to let me know that papers are in order and are going out this afternoon.  How is that for wonderful customer service?!

Shanghai Then and Now

The Atlantic Monthly has a new article with amazing pictures showing the incredibl development of the Pudong District (our new home) between 1987 and today.  Check this out.

 

And check out 26 Years of Growth: Shanghai Then and Now for more pics.