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Published: August 21st 2008
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Shanghai skyscrapers - modern architecture at it's best! Mon, August 18th:
Monday was a very successful day all around. We had to complete scheduled Foreigner Entrance Medical Exams, a mandatory health check up for all foreigners interested in setting up residency in China. We thought it would be just us two getting the exam but in the van was another new coworker of Ollie’s and she was new to Shanghai like us. And - can you believe it - she’s an ex-Toronto contemporary dancer!! It was unbelievable! We had so much in common - I had similar training and had worked with mutual choreographers. And now she’s a PhD and an MD working in biotech! This was one of those chance inspirational findings that somehow seem to happen when you’re on the other side of the world. I can’t wait to learn more about her past career as a dancer and how in her post dancing years she made such a transition into a completely different field.
So we had our medical exam . . . what a cultural experience!! A shared one that we will never forget. I’m actually at a bit of a loss of how to describe it, and I think it might be
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more skyscrapers one of those things you either have to explain in person or go through yourself. But I’ll throw out a few images. Picture being among about 50 foreigners in a 1950s-like medical centre, shuffling into room after room in your hospital gown and booties, assembly line style, holding your personal form and being instantly tested on such things as blood work, eye sight, ultrasound, x-rays, etc. It was unreal. We bonded with all the other people we were sitting with, a young couple with their little daughter from Germany, a man on business from London. Everyone was as confused and surprised at the tests as the next person. One of those things you just have to take in stride. Looking on the positive side it was a great way to bond with other foreigners though!
I also met with my first squat-hole toilet . . . it was at the foreigner medical exam centre. The first public washroom I’d used since being here. I went into the ladies room and the first 3 stalls I tried had nothing but a hole in the floor . . . I actually yelped out loud and said, “I don’t think so!” Happily
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Starbucks :) the 4th stall I tried had the only western toilet. Unless in an emergency I don’t see myself doing the squat!
We also took our first Shanghai taxi to the Canadian Consulate. A 10-minute cab ride cost 12 RMB, or $1.80 Canadian! So cheap! I can certainly afford to take a taxi everywhere. As long as you have the location written on a paper in chinese for the driver you’re fine, since they often only speak a few words of english if any. We registered at the Consulate and had our common law declaration notarized by a consular officer. Most of you know of our situation, but for those of you that don’t I’ll fill you in. Ollie has a 6-month work visa, I was only able to get a 30-day tourist visa. China doesn’t recognize common-law marriage, although the city of Shanghai usually does. Thus, we’re coming here with the hope that once here and with our declaration recognized by the Canadian Government, I can get an extended residence permit. If not, this blog is going to end up being really short! You can imagine how stressful it’s been to pack up one’s life and move across the
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Nanjing Road East world on a hope and prayer.
The only unfortunate thing about the consulate was that they didn’t have any particular meetings, clubs, or nights out for Canadians as we were expecting (maybe a notice or activity board, for social groups, pub nights, etc). In fact it didn't remind me much of home at all - sure there was the typical Canadiana chotsky - photo of Stephen Harper, maple leaf flags, etc, but nothing that I really associated with home and Canadian spirit. We're hoping that through friends, coworkers, and people we meet along the way we’ll establish a bit of a social group for the next 6 months.
The consulate was located in a beautiful complex called the Shanghai Centre on West Nanjing Road (a shopping mecca! think Versace and Gucci, etc) where there was also the Ritz Carlton and an international supermarket. We had our first real meal in 3 days here, lunch at the Ritz, a treat certainly needed. It was so nice to eat and we figured if there were to be a safe place to have our first meal, it’d be the Ritz! They had fabulous mango smoothies! We did our grocery at City
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a grand and official looking building near the Consulate - a museum or gallery, perhaps? Supermarket, which is a small but very well stocked international grocery - we got pastas, tomato sauce, cereals, applesauce, breads, soy milk, etc. It was great! Only downside is the price - $150 for what would’ve cost $60 in Canada. But again there are some things not worth skimping on, and healthy food is one of them! We really enjoyed the grocery shopping - the store was full of shoppers and products from all over the world (Japan, Germany, England, China, France, etc), and it was another one of those shared global experiences that we’re so open to having.
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