last month...or so

posted by Daisy
(click on pictures to see them full size)

I've had a month and a half to recover from my last entry so sorry in advance for the mega long monologue.

HK: I went to HK the last week of August to apply for my Z visa. When I wasn't at the visa office, I was exploring the city, eating, and window shopping. It's an interesting city where EVERYTHING is on top of each other, more so than any other city I've visited - with serious signage and space overload. The double-decker buses and the intense signage were overwhelmingly amazing. I was wondering if the double-decker buses don't crash into the signs above then if the signage ever falls off the buildings because there are just THAT many.

signage in HK; can't read but I think there's a sale at this store...

I've been there a handful of times over the last 10 years but it was a completely different feeling coming from Shanghai. It made me realize how different Shanghai's dynamic is compared to both HK and NY. The allure of ads and shops in HK and NY screams YOU NEED TO BUY THIS IF YOU WANT TO BE SOMEONE but in Shanghai I really don't get this feeling (or maybe the ads and shops aren't doing a good job attracting me). But I've noticed people around me could care less what I'm wearing, what designer, and where I go eat my meals, shop, etc. Of course when I dress better or go to pricey-er establishments, I receive more attention like anywhere else... but the pressure to be a certain way, dress a certain way, shop a certain place isn't here -- or I haven't felt it calling me. (Don't worry, I haven't become totally reckless to the point where I put on same unwashed clothes day after day...although the thought appeals to my laziness right now...) It's a liberating feeling and it made me miss Shanghai for the first time. After three days in HK, I was ready to return “home" with my Z visa in hand. And for you guys who go through this visa process periodically, you know my joy when I say I got my Residence Permit! No visa paperwork to deal with for a while!)

yummy Japanese honey lemon tea;
back in SH I was greeted by men covered head to toe ready zap me with their fever gun

TR: ...stands for Test Rite Group. That's the trading company I work for now... I've been here just over 1 month. The people on my team are cool. They're all really nice and Chinesey. I'm the only native English speaker on my team but their English is good and my boss is originally HK-nese so he speaks English (and Cantonese). But there’s always something comforting about meeting another native English speaker. About a month ago I recognized a girl walking out of our building. I met her briefly through a friend at ch'ch. Turns out she works here too! Yay! When she found out I worked here, it seemed like she was excited but at first in disbelief that I worked at TR too. There aren't many Americans here – there was her and now there's me. TWO! Nice... haha.

Every team has a different category so I'm in the Gardening Department. My team finds factories that make gardening tools and various sundry items and exports them to retailers all over the world – kind of like a middleman. I used to be on the buying end and now I'm on the sourcing/exporting end. Should be interesting! I came in at the end of the summer so it’s been slower than usual and people are still getting in last minute vacations – a good time for me to slowly transition into my new role.

And last week I got my first Chinese paycheck. Pretty normal but in my mind I wasn’t sure I was actually going to get paid until I got paid. My China mentality… expect nothing and deal with it when it does or doesn’t happen… Seems to work most of the time. When things work out, I am pleasantly surprised and slightly amazed with how things work out here. When things don't work out, I had no expectations in the first place. Doesn't work for everything but it keeps me rolling with the punches and from expecting America in China... all while trying to enjoy the China way.

a sea of cubicles...

+1 year: Thanks to those that sent emails and FB messages to wish us a happy anniversary! Feels like Alan and I met just a couple years ago…but that’s nearly eight years ago. Looking back on the last year, so many things have happened and it’s incredible seeing where we were and where we are now in a year's time -- and we did it together. I'm so thankful and I'm looking forward to more years together like our first : ) For our anniversary we spent the day riding bikes, walking through the park, and enjoying a Mexican dinner together.

With the help of some friends I helped throw two showers to celebrate the arrival of our friends Lizzy and Daniel's baby boy ~ Houston! It was tough planning something traditionally American IN China but totally worth it!

Baby Shower foods, pin-the-baby-on-Lizzy, and baby's most needed item ~ Huggies!" p.s. Lizzy baked the cake in the shape of a yellow school bus herself -- it was delicious!