Stella takes Shanghai!

After our long anticipated reunion, we finally got to pick Stella up from her week of quarantine! 

Stella's VIP transportation from the facility to the front office. 

She couldn't wait to get out of that kennel!!

She didn't have her collar or leash on yet so I couldn't put her down while she wriggled and licked like crazy!

Crazy Stella!

Finally calmed down a bit! She was so excited to see us! (and a little smelly!)

REUNITED!! And it feels so good... 

Already taking over the front seat... and buddies with Wei! 

Happy pup!

Checking out the new digs!

Her typical post-bath tantrum!

Squeaky Clean!

Her first walk! LOTS of new sights and smells!

And what's up with all these bikes and scooters? 

Making herself at home!

All settled in!

A few days in and Stella seems happy to be in Shanghai!  All of the neighbors and employees in our building give her lots of extra attention! She loves to ride in the car with us and we have even found some restaurants that allow dogs on the patio (and no... they are NOT on the menu!) ;)

A Fabulous First Week

Almost exactly 7 days after arriving in Shanghai, I can honestly say that it has been more than I could have ever expected it to be. More crowded. More thrilling. More delicious food. More friendly expats. More westernized. More stores. More streets. More bikes. More opportunities. More FUN! More everything! So much has happened in the past week that there is no possible way to fit it all in one post, but I’ll try to sum up the highlights! (And after this one, I promise my posts will be shorter!)

Tuesday, July 3rd

We arrived at the airport around 6:30 pm on Tuesday night and were cheerfully greeted by Wendy, our relocation agent, and Mr. Wei, our new driver! While his English is minimal, his smile and friendly demeanor are so endearing! We are beyond lucky that the company provides him for us! (More about him later… ) After arriving at our apartment and making an immediate trip to Ikea for pillows and bedding, we stayed up late unpacking our 6 suitcases and settling in. With a new mattress pad to pad our landing, when we finally plopped into bed at around 3am, we could hardly believe we were finally here! (And I was shocked I hadn’t cried yet… well since the flight!)

Wednesday, July 4^th

Wendy helped us get all of the boring but necessary things lined up. Bank, cell phones, registration at the police station, blah, blah, blah. If I was frustrated and bored, you would think Wendy would be too, but she just smiled and giggled, and skipped around as if she was in Disney World for the first time. I’ve got to get a picture with her and post it. She’s adorable! Anyways, I can’t imagine how we would have done any of it without her! Then, we took the dreaded trip to Carrefour, which is the equivalent to Wal-Mart, but several levels and covered in Chinese characters. We spared Wendy the misery of accompanying us there – big mistake.  We started in the appliance section and found our way to the irons. Immediately, 2 employees approached us from either side. One picked up the Panasonic iron and the other picked up the Phillips iron and they both waved them in our faces and simultaneously started rambling in Chinese what I assume was all of the wonderful features of the irons. I thought, “Oh really? It has a steam button? WOW!” Unable to process a complete thought, I looked at the prices, chose the cheaper, and drug Aaron away as fast as I could. While not every aisle had these “product pushers”, they were randomly placed throughout the store near the bagged salad, cleaning supplies, curling irons, and more. While I would have loved some help reading the labels and differentiating between laundry detergent and fabric softener, the only “help” we received was knowing which product was “China best!” I haven’t found out the details yet, but I’m pretty sure there is some commission involved there and I’m going to avoid that place at all costs! (Especially the meat department!) To do list: Find alternative grocery store.

After a full day of productiveness, we were starving and didn’t want to cook a thing. An expat women’s group that I have been keeping up with online for a few months hosts weekly Wednesday night dinners, and that night it happened to be in our neighborhood, so we decided we shouldn’t waste any time meeting people and went. This week’s was at a new French restaurant called Mimosa and there were about 8 people there. We were warmly welcomed and quickly realized we were the only Americans in the group. The nationalities ranged from Namibian to Ukrainian and everything in between. We suddenly felt very “un-cultured”. Everyone was very friendly and the food was delish. We will definitely attend again! Since jet lag hadn’t set in yet and we were still running on adrenaline, we felt it was our American duty to celebrate Independence Day on the other side of the world! (And I had to find somewhere with other Americans celebrating so we could wear these awesome festive headbands from my sweet friends Doyle, Abbey, and Leslie!) Soo..We met Aaron’s boss, Mark, out for a few drinks at a few cool bars to cheers to our arrival and America. 24 hours… check!

Thursday July 5th

Honestly, Thursday is a blur. (And no… I wasn’t hung over!) I blame jet lag, but all I can tell you is we ran some more errands during the day. And called the maintenance man several times trying to figure out how to work our appliances. If I had a video of our game of charades trying to understand which compartment is for the detergent and which button is for wrinkle release you would be rolling on the floor laughing. To do list: Sing up for Mandarin lessons. On a side note -  Mr. Wei is a God-send! Not having to hail a cab, figure out which line of the metro to take, or ride a terrifying bike or moped around this huge city is just plain amazing. All we have to tell him is the closest intersection to where we want to go and BAM! He knows how to get there. No map. No GPS. AND he opens the door. Can you say spoiled? That night we met Mark (our local tour guide thus far!) for dinner at an authentic Chinese joint whose name escapes me. Yet another great meal. I had goose for the first time there – It was good, but I like duck better! I might just become a full-time foodie here… you think I could get paid for that? We stopped at a DVD cart on the street at got the box set of Modern Family, Mad Men, and a few movies for a total of like $15! With dodgy connections with our American cable TV set up, I’m pretty sure they’ll be priceless! To do list: Hook up DVD player.  

Friday July 6^th

Friday morning Aaron went into work for a bit while I had some fabulous Skype dates (best technology EVER) and checked out our building’s gym. It’s literally just an elevator ride away and got enough equipment, but I just prefer group classes. To do list: Find workout studio.  Then we went with Wendy to the airport for Stella’s arrival. While I had been warned that it was likely that we wouldn’t get to see her before going into quarantine, I secretly thought maybe we could slip somebody some cash and get a quick cuddle. No such luck. We were shuffled around to countless office buildings around the airport to show our passports, paperwork, and wallets ($$$), and finally received THE paper we need to have to pick her up a week later. When I saw the paperwork that was attached to her kennel and I knew she was actually there, I’m not gonna lie…I teared up a little. Ok, a lot. I showed them this adorable picture of her and batted my eyelashes and even whipped out my pouty face, but nada. Supposedly she was already en route to the quarantine facility in a different location. Tear! One week countdown starts now! To do list: Buy Stella lots of treats and toys for her homecoming.  By the time we got back to the apartment it was 6:30 and jet lag hit big time! We ordered pizza through Sherpas (an amazing food delivery service that delivers food from a wide variety of restaurants to you with practically no delivery cost!) and I was passed out by 7:30, wishing Stella was cuddled up next to me! Good night, Shanghai!

Saturday July 7^th

Happy 29^th Birthday to me! Who would have thought I would walk up to 29 in Shanghai, China? I definitely didn’t, but am so glad I did! It was a great birthday! We spent much of the afternoon with Mark on the patio of Cantina Agave drinking margaritas and sangria (I’ve already been back twice!). 

Benny, our server, who kept referring to me as "Lady" and repeatedly saying "Ladies first!" 

Then we strolled down the street a couple blocks to Subconscious Day Spa. Yes please! 90 minute full body massage in a peaceful, tranquil setting (with a little buzz from the Sangria). That’s what I call a birthday present! When Aaron asked where I wanted to go for my birthday dinner, I immediately thought of Bali Laguna, the restaurant on the pond in Jing An park that I mentioned in my last post. We invited Aaron’s new German co-worker and his wife to join and had a lovely Indonesian dinner al fresco! They introduced us to another rooftop bar (they are everywhere!) called Kartel, where we capped the night off. Great city. Great new friends. Great birthday!!

Sunday July 8th

We slept in, had some more precious Skype dates, and then decided to finally just walk around the neighborhood and explore! The big city girl in me has always dreamed of living somewhere where I could walk out my door and stroll down a busy tree-lined city street to a coffee shop, market, restaurant, or shop. My dreams have come true! ;) We discovered the Pines market, that sells quite a few “western” goods, Costa Coffee Shop, wine stores, bakeries, boutiques, and street food vendors (disturbing yet delicious)! And above all else, The Avocado Lady! I had read rave reviews about this market online before every stepping foot in China, and it did not disappoint! http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/article/avocado-lady-18720.html A mere 3 blocks from our apartment, I have a feeling I will be making daily stops at this legendary produce palace!

The crowd of expats at The Avocado Lady's! 

Via the online women’s expat group we had dinner with Wednesday, some other newcomer ladies to Shanghai and I decided to meet up for brunch in the Tian Zi Fang area. (A blind date, of sorts!)  A veteran expat suggested we go to Origin Café, a quaint little multi-level spot nestled in one of the small alleyways of Taikang Lu that offers fresh seasonal cuisine. After winding through the maze a while, I finally found the spot and was delighted to meet Rebecca, Jane, Jessica, and Fanny – all very recent newcomers to Shanghai and English speakers! Ironically, while they are from Canada, Indonesia, and L.A., they are all of Asian decent, so I still looked like the only foreigner in the place! ;) We had a great time sharing our stories of arrival and getting to know each other and I immediately felt comforted to know these ladies were in my shoes and I had some new friends! We all decided to be sight-seers together and headed to the Shanghai History Museum, underneath the Pearl Tower.

Pearl Tower

A cool diarama of The Bund in the 1930's

Creepy manicans throughout the museum depicting Shanghai history. They were following me with their eyes.  

Rebecca, me, Fanny, Jessica, and Jane.
New expats gotta stick together! 

 While the museum was sub-par, the company was fabulous. We all agreed to meet up again soon. Rebecca, the cool Canadian chic who came here for her job in advertising, lives close by, so as we shared a ride home we decided to continue our “blind date” and she joined Aaron, Mark, and I for dinner at Bella Napoli. She is my age, here alone, and super cool. My first Shanghai friend. Awww ;)

Monday July 9^th

Aaron headed out early for his first official day of work in Shanghai, which marked the beginning of my temporary career as a stay at home expat wife, or “trailing spouse” (which doesn’t have a very positive ring to it). With a long to-do list at hand, I kept myself busy throughout the day, with the help of Mr. Wei. I researched a few different Mandarin schools and visited one that I wasn’t too fond of.  After another boring workout in the gym downstairs, I searched online for group workout classes and learned there is a Zumba studio literally across the street from our place! Having Zumba’d a ton at the Y in Nashville, I called and reserved a free trial class for that night and couldn’t wait to check it out. It took about 2 minutes to walk over and I walked into a room full of 20-something westerners! Woo hoo! A couple American girls were super friendly and welcoming. We exchanged numbers and I mentally added them to my quickly growing list of friends in Shanghai! ;) Zumba was a blast, especially James, the punky Asian dude who lead the class and looks like he should be on “So You Think You Can Dance”! That night I cooked our first home-made meal in Shanghai, which wasn’t Asian at all. With so many awesome restaurants, its hard not to eat out all the time, but with the Avocado Lady so close, I’m sure I can whip up a few good meals a week!

Tuesday  July 10^th

The Zumba studio also offers Bar Method classes, so I got up early to check it out. More friendly ladies, a few American, and a super tough work out! I think I can check “Find group workout studio” off my to-do list! I went to check out another Mandarin school and loved it! It is on the 15^th floor of a tower right behind Jing An Temple and has a great view, nice facility, and 250 students from all over the world.

The view from easyMandarin - my new Mandarin school! 

 The consultant I met with was a super nice American guy who helped me decide on my classes. I start an intensive beginners course Monday with a group of 4 other students. 5 days a week, 3 hours a day, for 8 weeks. This should be interesting! For lunch, I met Jessica, the only other expat “trailing spouse” I’ve met so far that doesn’t work, in her neighborhood, Xin Tian Di. It is a new and very trendy area with lots of fashionistas and tourists. We had delicious dumplings at a famous place called Din Tai Fung and then headed north to the People’s Square area to shop on the Pedestrian Street. 

People's Square Pedestrian Street

While most of the shops were Asian brands that weren’t our style (or size!), we did find a GAP, Sephora, French Connection, and a few other American staples. Unfortunately, all of the American brands here are much more expensive than at home. I think I’ll have to resort to online shopping and fake markets. ;)  It was a fun day and Jessica is definitely my new weekday-exploring buddy! Aaron had to work late, so I met Rebecca for another great meal at Cantina Agave and called it a day! Phew! This making new friends and exploring a new city is hard work!

As promised, here are the words, perks, and quirks for the week!

Words to Know: (With horrible American pronunciations) 

1.      Wǒ shì měiguó rén (whoa shhh may gwo ren): I am an American. As if it isn’t obvious by looking at us!

2.      Zàijiàn (Zy gee on): Good Bye. I can say hello and goodbye pretty confidently. Anything in between – not so much.

3.      Qǐng mǎidān (Ching my dawn): Bill please! If you don’t yell this across the restaurant you will never get your bill. Ever. Being a server all through college, it is against every fiber of my being to yell at my waitress, but you just have to do it!

:) Perks: Mr. Wei, our driver. It didn’t take long for me to thoroughly appreciate having this luxurious service. The majority of locals and expats walk, ride bikes or scooters, take cabs, or ride the metro. The convenience of having someone who knows how to get around and is available whenever you need him (and I mean whenever!) and being able to escape the heat or other elements is absolutely priceless! Thank you TRW!

:( Quirks: Crowds and pushing! With a population of over 23 million, the crowded conditions are hard to miss. Whether you are in a car, on a bike, walking down the sidewalk, or walking out of an elevator, it is every man for himself! Did you ever play that game when you were little when you walked in a straight line ahead, no matter if you were about to bump into someone, to see if you could make them move first? Maybe my sisters and I were the only weird, rude kids that did that, but that is the game everyone is playing in Shanghai! And you never win! Aaron and I have repeatedly asked people how to say, “Excuse me” in Mandarin, only to find out there is no literal translation because no one says it! The people aren’t being rude, it is just their culture, and it is something we will get used to, but hopefully not make a habit of!

So there you have it! One week down and what a week it was! Like I said, it was more than I ever imagined! I can’t believe how easy it has been to meet people, learn my way around, and get involved! We’ve already got a fun itinerary planned for this weekend and are working on getting a few trips organized, too! Once we pick Stella up from quarantine on Friday, and our shipments arrive (hopefully in a couple weeks), I will really feel settled!

To be continued....