Sounds like everything's going well! I'm glad to hear your trip was successful and you're feeling comfortable with the city and your move. Good luck getting everything done before you leave! If you have some spare time before you go (ha!) I'd love to have lunch.
Enjoyed the description of the haggling process with the calculator. I'm with you..."instant gratification" and all. Will you continue blogging while you're home, getting ready? And when do you FOUR take off? Love to all of you...what an adventure!! Linda
grocery store Thanks for all the pictures, especially the videos. Your pan of the grocery store fascinated me, probably becsause of the scale and the cleanliness. Is the background noise as loud and conversational as it sounds? I was also struck by the loud music in the (Tai chi) park previously. Linda
Suzanne, I really love how you write about the decision-process that you and Mark are going through. Another post mentioned the the joy of living your experience vicariously. Ditto. Linda
schools Really interested in the schools...it sounds like the kids may have the opportunity to learn Chinese, both speaking and writing. How terrific! I look forward to hearing about Nathan and Emily's classroom experiences. Linda
Love hearing your insights about Chinese culture and about your interactions with "strangers". I am getting a feel-good feeling about your future home town. Linda
Suzanne...I am already in awe of you. I started with your 5/30 blog and read all your entries backward and quickly discovered that you didn't arrive feeling as comfortable as you sounded five days later. I am now one of your riveted readers! Thanks for sending me the link. Linda
thanks for the tip Yes, we have heard this too. We've asked for a few additional items for each place, and also are trying to bargain on prices. We'll see what happens!
Apt. tip I've heard you can negotiate with the brokers/owners of the apt/ complex. For example, you can ask to have a bigger TV/ bed. This is just what I've heard, haven't actually tested it, but I read it from a few sources. Just thought I'd drop the tip, can't hurt to try right?
hi nathan! Nathan, thanks for sending me your nice comment. Daddy and I miss you and love you too! It's just a few more days and we'll be together again. We can't wait to see you and Emily soon.
Love your blog Hey Suze, Love your blog! Just sat down today to read it all and was bummed when I finished the last entry. Talk about culture shock! I am impressed that such an urban area has so much green space and playgrounds - very family friendly. Can't wait to hear more! Jen
household appliances Awesome blog-work, Suzanne! My parents' apartment had that dish sterilizer, too - and I was very confused. Have you come across any squat toilets yet?!?
Wow!! Hey Suzanne,
Sounds like an awsome adventure! I love adventures! I know they teeter on a fine line between fear and excitement. The schools sound good especially the first two. Hope the rest of your stay goes well and enjoy your cab ride ;)
Judy
hi amy! Not that I know of. I think it was more me being paranoid/feeling uncomfortable than anything else. It's a big adjustment being so foreign in a country of so many people. However, it's a good life lesson, since I've had 38 years of being in my comfort zone, right?
Thanks for the nice comments! Suzanne
Nice job on the blog!! I've enjoyed reading your blog-especially all the food details. I'm guessing they don't have Peapod. I liked your entry about the Tai Chi/ballroom dancing park. Are there many areas westerners aren't allowed to visit? Keep up the blogging! Amy D
thanks, Malia! Yes, although the school today is a contender. I'll post more on that one later. We have 1 more school to visit today and then it's decision time!
School #1 looks good! Loved all the details of your school visits! School #1 looks really good. Are you leaning toward thats? Do you have other schools to visit? Loved the photos -- very modern facilities! xoxox - Malia
Suzanne,
I was so happy to get your blog. Yours is the first blog I've ever read ... I know I'm seriously behind the times, but I'm glad I waited for such an interesting one. So far, your trip sounds thrilling .... I mean what an incredible experience! I love hearing the details of your trip so I can live vicariously through you. Tell Mark I said way to go with the Business class seats. He got some serious points for that, I'm sure. I hope you continue to have an amazing journey, and look forward to hearing more stories. We had a gorgeous day in Chicago with plenty of sunshine. Charlie, Haley and I started working on first-ever vegetable garden. Wish us luck. Hope to hear from you again soon! ~Amy
I am an American woman with a husband and 2 kids, about to relocate with my family to Shanghai.
The back story: We are moving because my husband is going to be working in Shanghai.
July 6, 2008: We are a bit less than a month away from the move and current postings chronicle the prep to get there, the logistics to be allowed to go there, and the coordination of all these things we have to do before we can go! Oh, and Mark is in China for about a month (the last month we are in the states and getting ready)...so I'm very busy.
July 28, 2008....2 days til the big move.
August 4, 200... full info
Linda
non-member comment
Love the charity-themed party idea. In fact, love the whole riff on kids' parties. Linda