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When we arrived in Shanghai, China it was a big move for myself and my family. It helped alot to be able to write down our experiences and e-mail them to our friends and family. They all gave us a lot of much needed support during that time. After a few months of "adjustment", it became commonplace for me to write updates. Here is an arichive of e-mails sent before creating this website and updates after the website was created.
Family Photo Album:
E-mail to our Friends and Family 2/7/07
Hello Everyone,
I believe I missed a week in there but nothing earth shattering is happening. We’re into the next stage of culture shock where everyone gets sick (because of stress), sleeps a lot (due to stress), experiences depression and thinks about leaving prematurely (all because of stress). This is definitely the hardest part of the move and should last another 3-4 months. When you’re on vacation to other countries this is about the time you go home. It’s officially called the “Unskilled but Aware” stage. Meaning we know how were supposed feel and live but we don’t know how to accomplish it. Sean and I both have colds and I’m not in the mood to write this e-mail!!
Our shipment finally came last week which is good I guess. Sean and Sophie love having their toys. Scott is finally wearing different clothes to work. I on the other hand just realize how many things I forgot or didn’t think I needed or packed and I don’t need! I also have made various trips to IKEA for storage supplies etc. that I could not find. I need to get pictures out and I promise to do that soon.
Sean is still having a rough time. I just spent an hour yesterday with the principal and guidance counselor. First of all, it was a huge mistake moving in the middle of the year. The kids in his class have already made their friends and Sean is the “outsider”. Secondly, their building a new elementary that will be done in the fall that will cut the noise level way down but, right now he’s in this huge room with 5 other classes! It’s very loud and he’s finding it hard to concentrate. Last of all, there are a few boys that are incredibly mean and treating him very badly. The guidance counselor is going to talk to Sean about handling this and I’ve requested that these boys not be in his class next year. I asked Sean if he wanted me to find him another school and he did not want to hurt his teacher’s feelings and have to meet new friends. He’s had 3 play dates and has 1 friend he likes a lot. The 7 year old boy in the building is an ass!! Please excuse my language. Sean went to hug him good-bye and the boy called him a fag! This of course went right over Sean’s head and I decided not to make a big deal of it unless he says it again. I don’t want to hurt Sean’s feelings or embarrass him in front of his friend. What it boils down to is Sean is having to grow up really fast. The question is can he handle it right now. We’ve talked about returning home but I’d really like to give it 6 months to see if he can make it work. Many other things but I don’t want to bore you with all the gory details. He’s learning a lot of valuable life lessons, just a little earlier than I had expected.
On the other hand Sophie is still doing great! She still talks about “Ella” but is handling it well by drawing a lot of pictures for her (Kim you’ll get a huge envelope soon, so be prepared). She loves her American school which she is attending from 8:30 to 3:15 everyday and is learning so much I’m amazed. It probably has a lot to do with the fact she only has 6 kids in her class (that all speak English) so she’s getting a lot of 1 on 1 attention. It’s just a really nice small school that genuinely cares for their children. For her birthday we all went to the Westin for (of course) a Champagne brunch. We arrived at 11:30 and left at 3:00 if that tells you anything. Life is so different when most of the cliental doesn’t have to worry about drinking and driving. The hotel had tons of live entertainment for the kids and the food was excellent. The wait staff kept our glasses full of Champagne and the kid’s glasses full of apple juice. Sean said “Wow, I’ve never had so much apple juice in my life!” and Scott and I looked at each other and said “yeah we know what you mean”! Sophie ended up running into her favorite friend (Rachel) at school so she had a great time hanging out with her during the brunch. Sophie kept saying “thank you for taking me to this nice place” so our job was done.
Scott and I started Chinese Lessons. It’s a lot harder then I thought. We started out at 3 times a week but are changing it to 2 times a week. I’ll take Spanish any day!
I couldn’t talk Scott and Sean into getting their hair cuts in the street. Where is their sense of adventure? They want downstairs to the apartment complex barber and paid $15.00 for Scott, Sean and Sophie. You can’t beat that! I have not ventured out for a hair cut yet. It’s easier just to pull it up.
We’ve done some fun things as well. We visited this factory (I wouldn’t really call it a factory, just a big room with lots of sewing machines) that makes jewelry boxes, purses and bags. It was down a few very narrow and scary alleys and up three flights of stairs. Luckily our driver knew how to ask directions. We walk in and of course everyone stops sewing on their machines and looks up to stare at us wondering why Sophie is with us. No one speaks English and Sophie is hugging my leg. Scott somehow communicates that we want to purchase a jewelry box and they send us to this closet for us to search for a box. This is where I thought they’d close the door lock it and we’d be gone forever! We finally found one and tried bargaining but was too difficult. We got a good price for it anyway and everyone loved the experience.
Scott and I went out for dinner and drinks last Friday night. The restaurant was amazing with the décor being most of the experience. The kids did great with Ayi and all was good! That Saturday we found this amazing park just a short cab ride away that has rides, bounce houses, boats to rent and take around a huge lake, bicycles to rent etc. Very cool!
I don’t know if anyone noticed but yesterday our temperature reached 70 degrees. It was beautiful, sunny and very warm. The mother’s still had their babies dressed in winter coats, hats and mittens and most adults had on winter coats. Our driver had a black turtle neck on and a tweed blazer. Sophie and I were sitting in the back of the van fanning ourselves in tee-shirts and jeans while Sophie is saying “Doesn’t Mr. Lin know what air conditioning is”? (Spoiled American!) The weather is not supposed to last though. Back to winter coats on Friday.
Well, I better go study my freakn’ Chinese. Our teacher is a slave driver!!
I hope everyone is well.
Jennifer