Ni hao! Welcome to my blog. Several people have been kind enough to ask me to keep a blog and share our experiences here in Shanghai. I will try to make it a little snappier but this is a start.
Overall, so far, so good. A few initial thoughts: there is a system to everything but we have no idea what it is, everything is taking 2-3x as long, expats are super friendly and welcoming, no one leaves voicemails, there are a lot of people who have jobs as cleaners, expats are VIPs and it is to everyone's advantage that expats are comfortable and happy, and I am one big American woman here.
Our "compound", the Shanghai Racquet Club, could not be any more lovely. The service, the grounds, the staff - its a cross between a chinese club med and a retirement community in boca raton. There are indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, playgrounds, restaurants, shops, etc. Even a medical clinic - which I took little one to yesterday and it was spotless and dare I say, relaxing! A fabulous Swedish MD spent almost an hour with us and provided us with antibiotics on site - no pharmacy. The clinic is affiliated with a Western hospital down the road that everyone says is like a spa. I don't doubt it.
The little neighborhood outside the compound is funny - straight up China on one side and Starbucks/Papa Johns/Coldstone Creamery on the other. Highlights are the "discounted" DVD stores and very cheap massages. There are some Chinese snack shacks that I haven't gotten the nerve to go into yet, but they look delicious.
For shopping, you can get just about every American product here at these overpriced expat grocery stores. The cool thing has been enjoying the overpriced expat products from Europe such as French jam, German bread and Italian pasta. All those "made in china" tankers have to come back with something, right? There are a few of these markets within walking distance. I have also been adventurous buying fruits and veggies at the local "wet market" which is about 1/10th the price ( would be 1/50th the price for someone who didn't look like me). Its really cool - great fruits and veggies, but also (which I am not buying, don't worry), fish and chicken and half cows hanging around. Also fresh tofu and noodles, which maybe I will work my way up to. I will try to take some pix, if I get the courage. Everyone stares at me when I go there - which I am trying not to mind.
Most importantly, the girls are doing great! Their school is tops. Big one made a great new friend from English who lives in our compound and little one has a buddy from Australia who lives nearby. 1st grade class has 15 students and one English and one Chinese teacher, nursery is 14 kids with one English and 3 Chinese teachers. Lots of outdoor play, since the weather here is pretty good, Chinese class, lunch in the cafeteria (british/chinese food, which the girls are actually eating!), numeracy (math), literacy (reading), etc. The uniforms are an absolute blessing! Getting dressed in the morning is a million times easier. The school is a 15 minute walk but they are taking a coach, which I have had to ride with them everyday, but I like going to the school since the teachers and parents are really welcoming and nice. Everyone here has been the new kid so they go out of their way to make us feel welcome.
Jed is trying to keep his head above water, now that all the visas and body checks and all that are over and the real work begins. I love his stories of new office politics he has to deal with - its a different world! I have a few more weeks off and then back to my US work, which I really miss and am excited to get back to.
Facebook, skype, email etc makes the world seem so small and me not so far away. I love hearing from everyone and its made the transition so much easier. I can say with 100% that I am so grateful for having spent 10 years in NYC, which really prepares you for a lot and makes you very resourceful.
I will try to post more info on new adventures - in the meantime, pls send any and all mundane details from Brooklyn and beyond.
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I LOVE THIS BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i will read it every day. You should do twitter!!! not that i know what that is or why you should do it, but anyone who talks about brands mentions it, so i go along with it. :-) omg it's a book, it's everything. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. I love it!!!
ReplyDeletePS: What's with having to get up the nerve with tofu or noodles?? Are you scared to eat the food?
Think you should let the ayi do the shopping, or will she let you go with her? That would be funny. I'd like to see her yell at them for overcharging you.
Can you post video here?
I love that noone leaves voicemails. Also, are they cleaners or "cleaners."
This is so awesome, Julie. Love hearing about everything and Rebecca and I WILL show up on your doorstep. Glad you have some more time to shop and look around before going back to doing some work, although I know you love that too. Give the girls a squeeze from us. Once you have some pics up I'll show them to my girls.
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