Ready, set, blog!

So it is today that I have decided to begin my blog after weeks of procrastination.  If it is grammatical and written profoundness you are seeking, this blog is certainly not going to be for you.  Rather I thought I would periodically write and publish to my family and friends some of the experiences this new adventure brings.  I want to remember/share some of the challenges, the hardships, the culture, and the laughs along the way.  The true challenge will be the longevity of this blog.  So keep your expectations low and I will be sure not to disappoint ;)

Right at this moment I am physically exhausted although enjoying sitting in silence on the floor of my son’s now empty room.  The movers are busy packing all our personal belongings to be loaded the next day in air and sea shipments.  How quickly we arrived at this point.  In just eight days our family will be boarding a flight to Shanghai and then another to our new home in Nanjing, China.  Most recently we have been packing like crazy, this not only included all our possessions but also all the western necessities that we are allowed to bring with us.  I am fairly certain that Natalie is going to be crowned “Costco Member of the Month” after spending large amounts of our bonus preparing for the trip.  We are allowed to ship via sea food and household items that may either be hard to find in China, expensive, or otherwise comforting to us as we ease into our new culture.  As you can imagine this is a challenging task as you must be mindful of expiration dates since the ocean shipment will take 6 to 8 weeks for arrival.  Packing has become a complex process as we sort things to bring in our suitcases, or within the airship and then finally the sea shipment.  This is a great time to thank several of dear new friends located in Nanjing, China; the Darwick, Johnson, and Turner Families.  Without their help and guidance over the last several months we would not be nearly as prepared and optimistic for our move.  Although leaving family and friends is immeasurable, have great new friends for us and the kids is very comforting.

Our first China experience did not include the children and occurred mid-November as we visited for one week to locate housing and school for the children.  We found a place to live that Natalie and I are very pleased with.  Our place is a departure from what we are used to however it has many unexpected comforts.  My best description would be a high-rise condo complex which is full service (cleaning, laundry, pool, fitness, gymnasium, etc…).  Please take a look at my Facebook page for pictures from our pre-trip (“… and the adventure begins!”).  We are also very happy with the school for Cooper and Brady; The British International School of Nanjing.  This is a private school that follows a British curriculum.  All of the teachers and Head Master were very friendly and the school felt like a large family.  There are approximately 15 to 20 children in each class thus we are looking forward to the personal attention each will receive. 

In sticking to my opening statements I also have to comment on some of the hardships we encountered during our first trip.  Our home finding was not similar to “House Hunter’s International”.  Rather we were treated to the unique relationship that the realtor and the landlord have with one another.  You see, the realtor only wants to show you properties that they have a landlord relationship with.  The idea being that they both seek to maximize profits for one another.  The house search process is not organized like here in the US and the challenge is further compounded by cultural/language complexities.  We were shown homes that were already under contract or quickly signed by other international seekers.  Frustrating process, however in the end everything worked out.  In the evenings we were fortunate to have dinner with friends and try the favorite ISE (International Service Employee) locations.  We went to an Italian, Irish Pub, and Taiwanese restaurant.  At lunch we ventured to local Chinese restaurants which were very good.  It is unlikely that either of us will try any street vended food in the near future…  Oh and I need to mention that the driving is crazy!  There are cars, people, scooters traveling in all directions.  It takes some getting used to.

Let me explain a little about the city.  Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions.  With an urban population of over seven million, Nanjing is the second-largest commercial center in the East China region after Shanghai.  We got to spend just a few hours visiting Purple Mountain, at the eastern edge of the city which is home to many of Nanjing's historical sights.  We got to witness the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, revered as the leading force in bringing down the Qing dynasty, who died in 1925.  We climbed the 392 marble steps to the top and took in the beautiful scenery.  It is experiences such as this that we look forward to sharing with the kids.  Aside from all the historical locations we want to visit we are also planning to relax in Thailand, Fiji, etc.. ;)

Our Mandarin lessons are proving very beneficial and I am optimistic we will become more familiar with the language when we are required to use it daily.  Cooper and Brady are doing great learning the language, in fact more recently we sang Happy Birthday to Brady in Mandarin.  We are going to miss our instructor (Sue) as she has been unbelievably patient and armed us with all the basics in our first few months.  We planned to continue the lessons once we become settled in China.  Also, I am looking forward to working with my colleagues throughout Asia Pacific and Africa.  I have obtained my India and Thailand Visa at this point and the entire family has all our passports and Visas.  What a process…  My new position is going to be challenging but building upon the growth in the region is going to be exciting. 

This all brings me back to the empty room where I sit.  We have had many great memories in our current house but we are looking forward to what is ahead.  Next on the immediate horizon is the completion of our packing, handing over the house keys to the new owner, and leaving for China.  The first week will require learning the food shopping process, purchasing cell phones, interviewing for our driver, preparing the kids for school, meeting my work colleagues, and experiencing the Chinese New Year celebrations. 

The coming days are going to be hard as we say goodbye to family and friends.  Thank you to those that have made our final days in Michigan memorable, you know who you are and we will never forget your generosity and love.