Finally Something Easy

I ordered a few groceries online today from an import grocery store and had them delivered. These items included: microwave popcorn, Austrailian steaks and ground beef, pork tenderloin, flour, baking soda & imported milk. Not only was I able to just email my order, but I got a confirmation phone call, in English no less, to let me know it would be delivered a few hours later. Amazing. This is the first thing that has been efficient since we've been here. AND the steak was delicious. Good night.

The Violation

Scott and I went to have a medical exam today that is required to obtain resident status in China. What an experience. First, we had to bring 9 passport-like photos with you, but they took another picture when we got there. Then we waited for about an hour in a waiting room that at first had only one man in it (and no receptionist at the desk). By the end of the hour there were at least 30 other people (all foreigners) with us, all standing around with no explanation of what was happening. We somehow managed to be the first two people in line, praise the Lord!

They took us to a little locker room like place where we had to take off our shirts and put on little robes. In a new room, they took 3 tubes of blood (after we were required to have fasted for 5 hours - not a good combination). The blood-taking nurse was not very good at her job, our arms are still sore.

Then we each went in another little room to have an ultrasound done. I think this was to make sure we had organs. I don't know what else they could have been looking for because they were probing the wrong area to be looking for a baby. Not to mention Scott had this done as well. He asked the nurse, "No babies?" She confirmed this for him, thank goodness.

In another little room we had and EKG done, complete with thingys clipped to our ankles, wrists and chest. Odd. Yet another little room brought an ear, nose and eye guy. He made sure I wasn't color blind, or blind and looked in my nose. Apparently he looked in Scott's ears, but not mine, hmmmm. Then we had our blood pressure taken in a different little room.

This next part was even stranger. Still in our pants and robes, we were given winter coats to wear to walk across the parking lot to a different building. This was the x-ray building. We got chest x-rays done, then walked back across the parking lot to the other building.

We were finally done, and by now, so was Timmy. He was not happy about being passed back and forth between MaMa and DaDa while all these tests were being done. Although a nice nurse gave him Hershey kisses. We topped it all off with a much needed, 2:30pm lunch at good old McDonalds.

For pictures from our first week here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=15202&l=6d5c9&id=1145683473 (you DO NOT need to be a member of Facebook to see these)

Things I've Learned So Far...

In Shanghai...

1. You can buy almost anything off the back of a cart or truck or bicycle.

2. There is a store near my house that sells flowers and prints photos in the same store.

3. Its next to impossible for a foreign girl with a baby to get a taxi before 11AM.

4. You can buy MSG by the bag (see photo).

5. January is strawberry season in China - awesome.

Shanghai Ocean Aquarium

On Sunday Scott, Timmy and Jerry (a guy from Scott's work back in the USA) went to the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium. We thought Timmy would be really excited, but mostly he seemed scared of the fish. Oh well. He did, however, enjoy the penguins and we had a good time.

I got my first massage of hopefully many to come last night. Its kind of strange because in the US you take most of your clothes off to get a body massage. Here, you just take off your shoes and they throw some blankets over your fully clothed body. Regardless, it was great.

What I call "real life" started today. Scott went back to work after a few weeks of being out of the office. I got us mostly unpacked today and have spent the day trying to figure out what Timmy's new nap schedule will be like. After a glorious full night's sleep in his own bed, he got up at 6am and stayed up until 1pm. That is a long time for a little guy. He is happily sleeping now.

Ode To Toys 'R' Us

We ventured to the other side of the Huang Pu (pronounced Wong Poo) River today to check out the Superbrand Mall. Its huge. We didn't actually buy anything, but we saw some pretty sweet stuff at Toys 'R' Us. So Mom, here are some pictures to show you that toys are cool here too. Who knew?

Oh we also were right next to the Oriental Pearl Tower, which is a pretty famous Shanghai

landmark. It looks like an alien space ship or something.

Arrived

We have arrived. Timmy is such a trooper. Its a little bit unreal that we got about 8 hours of sleep last night (7:30pm - 6:00am with a two hour break from 1-3am so that we could watch Baby Einstein and eat mini muffins with Timmy). And it is a bit unreal that Timmy is taking on his normal schedule like a champ. We will see what night number two brings. Currently (at 7pm) he is down for the night right on time. Scott is out for a traditional chinese dinner with some officials that are friends with his company. Last time this happened, he said he was willing to try any kind of food, and so he ate shark fin soup and a lot of wine. 

Before we got here everyone kept telling us that it is sooooooooo cold in Shanghai in January. Outside it is just like Chicago, maybe even warmer. But, alas, they were correct that it is so cold, because no one turns on the heat! We are the exception. We have every built-in heater cranked and we bought a few extra heaters today, so our apartment is toasty. Its strange, at dinner last night most people kept their coats on throughout the whole meal and at the grocery store today, no heat. Oh well. This is China. 

For those of you that read this only for the pictures, nothing picture-worthy has happened yet so stay tuned. 

 

Packing Up

The time is almost here for us to leave! Our belongings have been shipped, not to be seen again until almost March. That includes most of Timmy's toys, $250 worth of all the medicine we might need, a dozen boxes of Mac & Cheese, and a crib among other things. Here are a few pictures of the shipment. We're having a party on Sunday to say goodbye to everyone. Hope to see you all there.