The last couple of weeks here have been like my life anywhere. I am becoming Shanghaiese I think.
I attend my club luncheons, fund raisers, and outings. I hang out with girlfriends when I can and go to lunch, shop, or grab a movie. I go to yoga practice 3 to 4 times a week, which I have to say is kicking my ass!! Especially the 90 minute hot yoga classes twice a week. I am now tutoring two afternoons a week which tie up my days pretty much Tuesdays and Thursday. Mike and I usually have at least one to two business dinner during the week to attend. I try to make the Ladies Night Out on Wednesday Night. After all a girl needs to hang with her peeps from the old US neighborhood! All in all life here is like my life back in the States. Sure, I eat much more fried rice than a girl ought too! Nine times out of ten I am the only American in the room (except Ladies Night Out ..that's why I go!!). I go to the local market almost every other day for groceries and just paid $18 for a pound of bacon. I am sorry I wanted real bacon!!! Someone usually line cuts in front of me at least once a day! Being an ex teacher this is very hard for me NOT to say something. So, I usually say "really?"but then I just step aside. I guess I just don't understand why the big hurry? There are over 23 million people in this city. It moves pretty slow once you get out of the line and are back on the sidewalk or back in traffic. So, I guess I don't know where everyone is rushing off too or why they are cutting in line. Oh, yeah!! I have an awesome driver. He's my friend, my tutor, and knows all the great places to shop. I so don't have that back home, it's a nice perk. All and all I am doing o.k.
sounds like you are fitting in nicely~love hearing about all of this! I want to get into the yoga too~did you do it before you got to China? I need something and I don't want to get stuck on a treadmill in a gym.
ReplyDelete"Oh, yeah...I got an awesome driver, I so don't have that back home! All and all I am doing o.k"
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like things are working out if you're noticing the things you didn't have prior to the move. :) That's something I tried to help my friend with when she moved abroad. She really struggled for the first few months and there were plenty of things that she had lost; English chocolate being uppermost amongst them, although I sent her that as often as possible. But little by little, she started to notice the things she'd gained and the things she lost didn't seem as significant. (She's often very critical of England now, which sometimes sets my teeth on edge, but hey, her home is somewhere else now)
If I moved abroad, I think I'd want my life to be different. I don't think I'd mind losing things, so long as I was gaining something different. Otherwise, the hassle of visas, driving licenses, overseas medical insurance and everything else just wouldn't be worth it. I haven't been to a country that's taken me by the hand and said "You could be happy here" yet, but I'm always open to that possibility. :)
I think it's all in one's perspective. Each day is what you make of it. I can only speak for me. This is my first expat assignment. I am fortunate enough to be tutoring 2 wonderful girls two days a week. This offers me more than lunches out, shopping, spa days, etc.. Yet, I am not too tied down that if I do want to enjoy those opportunities I can.. I get to travel with my husband, I get to entertain family and friends when they come and visit. I am planning trips to Phuket, Tibet, and Cambodia in the near future. This is what we do. Yes, we are human. We miss things and are annoyed like anyone else, anywhere else, on any given day. Driving is something not everyone can do freely here. My husband's company will not allow us to drive. It is a risk that will not take. My perspective..or the way I look at it is to embrace it. Like many things that happen to you as an expat the point view is key. You must maintain a positive view point, especially one with a sense of humor, and one that looks forward.
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