Q: Are you fluent in Mandarin yet?
A: Absolutely NOT. I just finished a 4-week intensive Mandarin course that totaled 60 hours of a small group class. I loved my teacher and my classmates and learned a ton, but I still feel like I am lying when I say, "Wo shuo yi dian Zhongwen" (I speak a little Chinese). Aaron has been doing private lessons a couple hours a week when he has time... and well... let's just say.. he has a math/science brain! ;) Mandarin is a tonal language, which means every "syllable" can be said in 5 different tones of your voice to have 5 completely different meanings. Luckily, living here there are tons of opportunities to practice. Often, I am faced with someone who knows no English and am forced to spit out the few words and phrases I know (or play charades and look like an idiot, or use an iPhone app or nearby person to translate)! Then, the local either replies in what seems like warp speed Chinese that I can not decipher, or when lucky, understood me and gives me what I asked for! Sometimes, when I realize my waiter speaks a little English, I will ask them if I can practice my Chinese with them, and usually they happily oblige (and then correct my pronunciation)! I haven't even begun to tackle the characters, but pin yin, the phonetic spelling of the characters is hard enough! I am taking a little break from my classes to study what I have already learned on my own and settle in a work routine, and then plan to continue with a few evening Mandarin classes a week. Maybe, just maybe I can conversational in a year.
Q: What do you eat?
A: A lot. With never ending delicious restaurants on every block and expensive western groceries, thus far, it has just been easier (and more fun) to eat out! While Aaron has tried everything from cow tongue to jellyfish when out of town on work trips, I tend to avoid the more obscure choices on the menu and stick to tried and true Mexican, Greek, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, American.. the list goes on! When we aren't meeting friends out for a meal or exploring the neighborhood for a hidden local restaurant gem, we order Sherpa's. For those nights when we want to escape the hustle, bustle, and chaos of the city, and sit on the couch with a pirated DVD, we simply click on the restaurant and dish we want, and it is at our door in 45 minutes. Heaven!
Q: What do you DO all the time?
A: Weekdays: Aaron works. Emily does not. Yet. :)While Aaron is busy solving the automotive problems of the world, I am a "Tai Tai"...the Chinese nick name for expat wives who lunch, brunch, and munch (although I personally like to believe I am quite productive!) For the past month, my Mandarin classes were Mon-Fri and kept me busy from 9:00 to 1:00. After class, my classmates and I would usually do lunch, run some errands, haggle over prices for Ray Bans, Long Champ bags, and tennis rackets at the fake market, or (occasionally) study together. Throw in the random Zumba class, dip in the pool, afternoon date with a new friend, walk with Stella, or hunt for the perfect teaching job, and there's a full week! Tough life.. I know.. but I have to soak it up while it lasts! Nights and weekends: We play! From the Thailand-esque Full Moon party to the Lawson's convenient store street party, from pool parties with swim up bars and fake beaches to brunches that turn into Sunday Fundays, the expats in this city know how to throw down, and who are we not to join them?!?! Oh - and Aaron just joined a softball league! They played their first games this past Sunday and while he got a sun burn and swears he sweated out 5 pounds, he met some cool guys and is ready for some action every Sunday for a while!
Q: Emily - Are you going to work or just be a "tai tai" forever?
A: While I am quickly becoming accustomed to this stress-free, lackadaisical (would have lost the spelling-bee on that one!) lifestyle, I am indeed going to put my "expertise" to use. I began tutoring English with my first client this week (more on that later) and will be subbing at a handful of the international schools once the school year is underway. Once I get a better feel for my options, we'll see where the road leads! (But hopefully it can still involve a tad of the tai tai lifestyle!)
Q: Did you get your stuff yet?
A: We got our air shipment with the rest of our clothes and shoes last week. While I was anxious for some more shoe options, I have quickly realized that I really only wear a tiny fraction of my wardrobe and should have sent much more to Goodwill before the move (but don't tell Aaron I said that)!We should receive our sea shipment in about 2 weeks. Although I can't wait to replace the couches and bed that came in our apartment with our own cozy ones, what I really want is our stuff - wall art, picture frames, kitchenware, books - the things that will make unit 2182 feel a little more like home!
Q: How is lil Miss Stella?!
A: Great! She has made herself right at home and loves the fact that Aaron finally gave in and lets her sleep in the bed with us! The tennis and basketball courts are her new playground and our driver, Wei, is her favorite person alive. She refuses to use the pee-pads, which requires us to take her down 18 floors on the elevator (even when it is typhoon-ing outside), but hopefully our scheme to install a patch of grass on our balcony will solve that problem!
Q: What are you checking off the travel list next?
A: I leave in 2 days for Cambodia!!!!!!!! My good friend Heather, that I had my Mandarin class with, invited me to join her on her 10-day adventure through the Kingdom of Wonder! Since I haven't committed to a work schedule yet, I figured it was perfect timing! Unfortunately, Aaron will be saving his vacay days, but I am assuring him this is just the maiden voyage so I can be his tour guide next time! The first week of October is Chinese National Holiday, when practically everyone has the week off of work. We have been warned to get in and stay in (to avoid masses of tourists), or get out of China! So, after much debate over where to go, about an hour ago we pulled the trigger and booked our flights to Japan!!
Q: What do you miss the most about the U.S.?
A: 1.YOU! Our dear, irreplaceable friends and family have been SO committed to staying in touch and letting us know we are missed and loved. You have made this move SO much easier! We love you! 2. Target. I'm pretty sure Aaron would disagree with this one, but there are times when I could really use a mindless stroll through the 1-Spot and every other aisle of that big, beautiful, red store. Hmm.. any takers on a FaceTime date during your next Target trip? 3. The Greenway in Nashville. While the French Concession has endless tree-lined streets, they aren't quite as serene and easy to navigate as my (and Stella's) favorite running route. The list changes frequently... but that's what's top-of-mind at the moment! (Aaron is already asleep, but I am guessing his #2 would be Music City Brewfest. We were on the Great Wall while it was taking place, but nothing compares to Brewfest!)
Words, :)Plus, and :(Cuss for this post:
Words to Know: Mei guanxi (may gwan shee) : No problem!
:) Plus: Friendly expats from around the world. One of the most delightful things about this city is how open everyone is to meeting new people. Whether someone has lived here for 6 years or 6 days, they are in the market for new friends! Through one new friend you meet 10 more.... and then they start to create a tangled web! 23 million people in this city, including 200,000 expats, and somehow we are already having "what a small world" moments!
:( Cuss: Internet connection. We still don't quite understand how Shanghai doesn't have a 4G network, and one of the 2 main mobile companies doesn't even have 3G. With 3 routers in our apartment, we still can't change rooms while on Skype and certain times of the day it can take minutes to load a webpage. Thus... it takes forever to load pictures on blogger, so only one pic this post! Sorry!
Thank you all for entertaining my new hobby by reading my blog! We only hope it intrigues you enough to come visit! ;) Until next time...
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