Soft Landing

Soft Landing is what GM refers to as the period before your sea shipment arrives.  We have approximately 8 weeks before we see the bulk of our belongings, so we're in limbo and making due with what we have and a few things to purchase.

Today is Monday.  We've been here since Saturday evening, and we've jumped in head-first.  David started work first thing yesterday morning, and the children started school today.  For the first time, in I'm not sure how many weeks, I am quietly alone to do my own thing...ahh...good coffee, a cherry-almond muffin, and a temporary apartment that is not calling me to do anything, except maybe unpack.

While David went into work yesterday to acquire his badge, see his office and be officially introduced, the kids and I walked around our little section of Shanghai.  We passed the school, looked at where we think our apartment is, exchanged some US$ for RMB's and did a small amount of shopping.  Then we bumped into David on our way back and we all stopped for lunch.

It was a beautiful 48 degree, sunny day.  I like January in Shanghai...beats MI snow, but there doesn't seem to be much of that there either this year.  Most everything we need is right here, within walking distance, which is really nice.  For the bad weather days and longer treks, we have Mr. Yin, and a minivan.  He is our driver for the duration and accessible to us 24/6.  We're not allowed to drive, which has it's up and downs.  It's nice to not need to find parking or not worry what you're doing or who will drive on an evening out, but there's an amount of independence that I'm sure we will miss, but it is what it is and we'll make the best of it.

The process since we were officially notified at the end of November has been a whirlwind.  We spent our week in Shanghai before Christmas, looking at 25 houses and 6 schools in 5 days, not finding the right place to call home.  Two days after returning home, our agent found, what we believe to be, the perfect place.  I'll see that Wednesday afternoon.  Christmas was celebrated, In-laws moved on to their next American destination, Zizka's were feted at our house, then the real chaos began.

There were lists and piles; full trash bins and more piles; forms and notifications; friends to see and goodbyes to say.  When the packers arrived on the 23rd, we were exhausted!

Our 20-foot truck, with everything that we think we need for the next 3 years (and maybe a few things that we don't) rolled, almost full to the door, away from our home on the 24th.  Left with just our luggage for the airplane (which was 17 pieces of suitcases or boxes), we cleaned the house, saw some friends and family and enjoyed some time in the Homewood Suites where the kids swam and we had meals since we didn't have a pot to cook in at home anymore.

The flight was uneventful, if not long.  We were on the second floor of a 747, a first for 3 of us, and thoroughly enjoyed the business class experience!  It was supposed to be 15 hours, direct, but we lucked out and made it in 14.  I tried to encourage the kids to have SOME sleep but not too much as we would be landing at 7:30PM and would need to go to bed shortly upon arrival.  Abigail fought sleeping, choosing movies and anything else, but William, as always, complies with clearly defined rules and fell asleep almost immediately after I told him to shut down.  David and I both dozed, and Abby finally gave herself over about 2 hours before we landed!

So here we are, starting our new adventure.  I'm trying not to catch the eye of every American that I see on the street.  I don't want to scream 'newby', but I did stop some people yesterday to ask where I could exchange money.  Unlike France, I think there will be higher criteria for friendship beyond just, "Do you speak English?...Great, let's have coffee", because Americans are everywhere, especially in this part of the city.  With a 63% American population at the kids' school, I'm bound to make some friends along the way.