20 Days and counting...

Stressed to the Max

I don't have time to write today, so in an effort to express just how I'm feeling with less than three weeks before we leave, I offer this:



I'm looking forward to the 16 hour flight, if for nothing else but to sleep!!

24 Days and Counting...

Family and Goodbyes (written while traveling yesterday)

We're traveling I-26W headed towards a sister's home after a lovely trip to my parents' home in Charleston, SC. This weekend we're visiting family to say our goodbyes.

My husband and I live 1-5 hours away from all immediate family members (excluding the growns). Living in the states full-time we manage to see most family 3-5 times a year, but we communicate several times weekly via mobile phone, email and/or facebook.

Our choice to live as expats at times is a touchy subject for the stay behind family. Contrary to our reasoning and lack of inhibitions, sometimes our parents, adult children, close siblings and best friends experience feelings of separation and a genuine fear for our safety of the unknown in an unknown environment. We're taking care to reassure our loved ones by making every effort to continue normal communications.

This weekend I opened my mom a free Skype account and installed all numbers to reach us. For less than $9.00 she bought a mic and she's now ready and armed to VOIP!

Even though we're a mouse click, speed dial, or facebook entry away from our loved ones, the fact is we're living on the other side of the planet. So, as busy as we are preparing to leave, visiting loved ones and saying our proper goodbyes is one of the most important "to-dos" on our list.

29 Days and Counting...

Being flexible is a MUST!

Wait! Five days ago it was "30 days and counting" - what gives? Visas mostly, but the only thing certain about expat life is there are no certainties - and we've had to learn not to sweat the small stuff. The great news is, we have 5 extra days to prepare.

While we're on the subject of flexibility...I'd like to mention the typical expat two-year contract. When the subject of "how long will you be in China" is brought up, we feel compelled to explain that most expat assignments are generally two years. Ideally the company has long-term goals for the expat, but should all not go as expected the company will elect not to renew a contract and everyone goes on their merry way. Upon our explanation some folks are APPALLED that anyone would go to "all that trouble" with no more guarantee of two years worth of work.

And yet, where in America right now is ANYONE guaranteed two years employment?

Flexibility and abandoning any degree of false security are choices - so is faith.

30 Days and Counting...

Technology Makes Expat Life Easier

Moving is a booger, plain and simple. We're now 30 days away from departure and the pressure is on to get all things settled once and for all. Simple, everyday details must be attended to, things like; mail forwarding, lawn maintenance, bills set up to pay online, paper delivery stopped, cell phone service stopped, Internet service stopped, deciding whether to continue with a land-line phone service, deciding on cable service, having someone watch our home, finding a new home for our beloved pet, setting up VOIP accounts, setting up VPN service, and then there's PACKING!

Technology has certainly made living globally much simpler. I mentioned VOIP which is "Voice Over Internet Protocol" - which allows us to talk with our loved ones on their computers for free (video calls as well). Or, we can call any phone in the world very inexpensively. We've been using SKYPE with very good success for years, but there are many others.

Other applications we're using for our move to China are:
CHINESE POD - An interactive, online Mandarin study.
HAVA - A REALLY cool streaming service that allows us to watch our local cable anywhere in the world via a PC or mobile phone. Now, the streaming will only be as good as our ISP in China - so I'll keep you posted...
WITOPIA - VPN = Virtual Private Network - important to reach US based websites we would otherwise be blocked from viewing/using because of China's Firewalls (remember China is still a communist country).
BBK USA - Electronic English Chinese Translator & Dictionary with Two way Sentence Translation (Voice: Chinese & English; Interface: English or Chinese)
Nintendo DS Chinese Coach - Long a big fan of Brainage Games, we purchased the Chinese Coach and we love it!

My husband and I are technology buffs which is a testament to our willingness to embrace new ideas and concepts; the very attributes needed to be successful expats. While you don't need to be a geek to be an expat, embracing electronic technologies sure can make expat living easier.

35 Days and Counting...

Ni Hao and Welcome!

I bought a new computer today - not the MAC I was hoping for, but an HP that will meet my needs nicely. The new laptop is my first official preparation for the anticipated move.

My husband and I are feeling a bit overwhelmed at this point. I'm in the process of ending a small web design business, and my husband is busy training locally with a company that hired him to be the GM of a manufacturing facility. He's very pleased to be working with the new company and we're both excited about the move. But the excitement is tempered very much by the many lists of 'to-dos' that must be accomplished before we can feel comfortable boarding a plane for the other side of the world.

My husband and I are in our early 50's, we've three beautiful grown children who will be staying in the states. We're southerners through and through hailing originally from South Carolina, but we're fortunate to have called the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina our home for over 21 years. We are seasoned expats having lived four years in south central Mexico once upon a time. We are also not new to moving - this move will be our 17th relocation!

Because we are not selling our current home, the move to Shanghai should prove much less stressful than someone who must cart or unload all their worldly possessions. We will be packing our 'puters, clothes and grits and we'll be on our way. But there is still very much to be done. Stay tuned!