It Takes Time...

A wise brother told me recently "it takes time". No really, my brother Marc just told me tonight how it takes time.  I was telling him how before we left for this adventure many people told us what a great opportunity it is and how the kids are so young and adaptable they won't be missing anything.

I waiver back and forth on this idea about them being so young.  In the bigger picture, of course, what's 2 years of their life.  My earliest childhood memory was when I was 4 years old at my oldest brothers bar-mitzvah and apparently I hung to my mother's dress the ENTIRE time.  Though I am not sure the memory is from memory or the memory of my family reminding me of the event.  I digress, my 1 year old yes she is adaptable. Jet lag seems to be the biggest hurdle for her; that and keeping the Eastern paparazzi away from taking her picture and reaching out to touch her hand with their stranger germs.  She is smiley, makes friends and is already learning to do things when asked in Chinese like dance, clap hands and wave goodbye to mama.  My (almost) 4 year old on the other hand, I'd say is having a harder time.  His toys have not arrived yet, comforts from his room from NY and missing his friends and cousins on a daily basis.  Reminded by my wise brother in the bigger picture perhaps my children are more adaptable than I think as it has only been 3 weeks.  3 exciting and scary weeks and as my mom is constantly reminding me "look at what we've done already!"

Streaks Are Meant to Come to an End?

Unfortunately, before we left NYC we had a BIG streak going on being at the pediatrician's office at least once a week for very minor ailments:, coughs, low fevers of the like.  Thankfully we love the pediatrican's office staff so it we was quiet pleasant yet wanted to stop going for obvious reasons.

I was a bit nervous moving to a foreign country, not knowing the language what the medical care would be like with kids who like to frequent medical facilities. We started a new streak upon our departure on Febuary 28th and it lasted 3 weeks- NO visits to the doctors office...until today.

Thankfully, great friends I've met here have guided me to the right avenues for recommendations and setting up so I was pretty comfortable taking the little ones to the Health Center.  After all, I know how lucky we really were to have been here without meeting the doctors yet.

Needless to say the kids are fine, minor coughs, I am the one with a development of allergies and a sinus infection. Not sure if it is air quality related or not.  Modern medicine does extend to China along with a great medical staff.  I will say this, I hope to not get to know them as well as I do our New York doctors.

Below are some pictures from our visit.
Check me out on Instagram ERF21 for daily updates on pictures of China.

Learning Chinese thru Tom and Jerry reruns while we wait

Getting taller

Checking out 

Pics from Our Sunday Funday Bund Day

Downtown Bund District

Let's make a letter "A"

The Bund

China Street Sweepers (and Passover cleaning)

Making Matzah at Chabad (to dip in chocolate of course)

Goodnight from Shanghai (our building all lit up)

Accomplishments So Far...

After 2 attempts at the cell phone store and being here for 2 weeks, we have local numbers. I may have signed away everything I own in the contract as it is all Chinese to me but we have phone numbers. If you want to whatsapp message me and I'll give you the number.

Long Term Resident Visa

Today we had quiet an experience.  We began the process of applying for our long-term resident visa, which allows us to live here and Ari to work here (good thing).  I was for-warned (thanks Hadar) about the process (good thing), which helped manage my expectations but it still was certainly something.

We were greeted by our relocation assistant at the International Health Center, about a 10 minute cab ride from our apartment. Quickly led to a side office we were guided to a man who then took our picture so we could have 10 passport size photo's each of our lovely faces.  After leaving the picture building we went into another building on the property. In this building we were then guided with our application, 10 pictures and our passports to 4 different windows (one of which they took another picture of us), confirmed we are who we are and paid for the health exam.

The fun begins,  the relocation assistant then guided us down a hallway and said the process should take a half hour, follow the instructions and she'll meet us back here in 30 minutes.  Ari and I walk into what looks like a small locker room. Uncertain whether it is co-ed or not we call back our helper friend who ensures us that it is in fact co-ed.  We are instructed to (in private rooms) take our tops off and put on a robe.  Ushered to a scale for us to be weighed and measured we then proceeded to go through a serious of different exam rooms.  X-ray, vision, EKG, blood, blood pressure, breast exam, and lungs.  Frankly, I am surprised we didn't need to leave a urine sample.  After each exam they nurse would comment "normal", next.   And quiet frankly it freaked me out.   It certainly didn't feel like something out of 2015 but this is what needs to be done to stay here for our search for General Tso.

It's Certainly Something...

Taking it one day at a time.

The moments come and go with easing into the idea that we are really living here and "oh my god what are we doing" to "this is an awesome adventure". When we told people we were moving to China for 2 years they'd respond with things like: "that's crazy", "that's awesome" or "no way" . I would respond back(and I am sure people over heard my say it alot in the lobby of MDS) "it's certainly something!"

Jumping in with both feet along with 3 other people's set of feet helps keep me sane...well as sane has a nearly 4 year old and 1 year old can keep one person sane-ish.  A special shout out to Jodie Steinway for letting me borrow her reading material(I will return the book), a hilarious book called "I Heart my Little A-Holes" by Karen Alpert. Basically it is snipits of all the annoyingly lovable things kids do and why we have kids and the things you wish you could say to complete strangers when they make completely unsolicited comments, suggestions and judgements to your parenting style.  The book has helped me have a lighter attitude on the adjustment here and being with my kids.

Moving to Shanghai has certainly taken it's toll on our kids.  Between the jet-lag, the food, the new environment, uprooting from school, family, friends, favorite playgrounds to name a few we are hanging tough.  I know how hard it feels for me as 30-something individual who can fully (when willing) express my feelings and thoughts go through this process.  Being aware of my feelings and sensations I have become more sensitive on how my nearly 4 year old must be feeling.  It was a rough week at school for him. We initially thought the transition went well but towards the end of the week we got slot of resistance from him.  Too be expected and trying to help him find the words to express how he is feeling about this "crazy adventure" we are enduring together.

We are starting to meet some other parents in the community and neighborhood which is helping us and the kids.  Today (our Sunday) we took the very clean not non congested subway "intown" to check out a different neighborhood.  We ended up in an area that was basically like being on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan (Cartier, Gucci, Apple).  We also found ourselves inside this mall.  Not knowing we were in China you might think we were really at a mall in New Jersey!

A special shout out to this little one-year old LDF. If you asked me a year ago, let along 6 years ago if I'd be living in Shanghai, I would not have believed you.  A special shout out to this awesome big brother for being a sport about this whole crazy adventure.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

What a Difference a Week Makes....

It has been 8 days since we left for Shanghai from NYC.  We lost a Sunday on our way traveling and some how seemed to have made it up this week.  We were very ambitious, or that's the impression I am getting from people here, to anticipate being able to move into our long term residence so quickly.  Well it was a Friday miracle!  After searching nearly 15 apartments all day Monday and Tuesday, one nicer than the next (for the most part), we narrowed down and moved into our new China home.

We found a beautiful 3 bedroom (plus a small closet for the would be maid's room), 2.5 full bathrooms, kitchen with a new oven (so no issues kashering) and a washer/dryer in the actually apartment. Yes, I know, it will be an adjustment already moving back to NY to our 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment.

We spent out first Sunday in Shanghai at Ikea. It was very comforting to walk in and it be the same mazy store they make you walk thru, with similar pricing as the States and overall a successful trip in finding furnishings and knick knacks to make our home feel more like home. Our air shipment is going thru customs and should arrive in the next 2-3 weeks.  1,000 lbs of "we must bring this with us in our move to China".

As for food, we are not wasting away...yet.  We've been relying on the local Chabad restaurant for meals (usually linner (not quiet lunch/not quiet dinner) until we fully navigate the recommended supermarkets that carry imported AND kosher products.  Trying to get into a groove. In the meantime, the time difference has been working toward our advantage, especially with jet-lagged little ones (hoping the worst is behind us). We are officially 12 hours ahead of NYC easy to figure out for those that are mathematically challenged.

The language, as anticipated is a major barrier.  We are trying our best to nod politely and say che-che (thank you in Mandarin) as we learn the necessary terms to get around.  People have been very friendly and patient with us, which helps.  Google translate is VERY helpful.

Living in the Future?

I joke that since we are 13 hours ahead of NYC (until Saturday night when we go to 12 hrs) that we are living in the future. Having always had to calculate what time it was in Israel to call my family, it seems strange to be counting backward. I wonder if this is how they always feel "is ok to call America? Too early?" Still getting in the swing of it but so far the future has not stopped me from communicating.

We landed Monday morning after a rather long and thankfully uneventful flight. After checking into our accommodations we hit the road running to check out btn the 2 days 15 apartments. Seeing so many made the decision more difficult than we thought. Most of of the buildings here are 5-7 years old, high rises with luxury/modern finishes (gym, pool, playroom, billiards, ping pong), a little different than the amenities on our building in NYC. Hoping to have news in the next few days and move in over the weekend.

Shangbye-shanghi

14 hours of packing, 8 bags, 2 strollers, and 1 car seat we are on our way. Looking forward to apartment hunting and getting our sea legs in a new country. Looks like we are really doing this!!