the art of gift giving...

I must really be Chinese at heart.  I say that because gift giving is an art form in China.  They are all about giving gifts.  They give when you first meet someone, when they go to parties you bring a gift for the hostess, etc...  I have always been into gift giving as well.  I think it is a way to make someone feel special or to cheer up a friend when they are down.  I think that it is an art form, so to speak.  I actually get giddy inside when I find the perfect gift for someone.  I just can't wait to give it to them.  I think that gifts do not have to be expensive or elaborate.  The best gifts definitely come from the heart and I think when they are unexpected that makes it extra special as well.  My love language is gift giving/receiving for sure! 

We had cultural training before coming to China and our trainer told us about gift giving in China and the fact that Michael should bring gifts for the people who would be on his team, as well as his Chinese counterpart, so another supervisor and also his boss.  We chose Detroit t-shirts from Detroit Manufacturing for Michael's "subordinates" (for lack of a better word.)  He got a Detroit hoodie for his Chinese counterparts and he got liquor for his boss.

In the workplace you need to give gifts according to people's role.   So Michael could not give a "better" gift to his subordinates than he would to his boss.  It is kind of weird and status driven, but also makes sense, ya know?  There are definitely more "rules" in China, or so it seems.  I guess maybe they are not rules as much as cultural norms. 

Anyway, that was a long lead up to the reason I am writing this post.  It is to share the gifts that Michael received from his supplier this week. 

some sort of "roots"  not sure yet what they are

these dried, yet not dried date type thing was pretty good

 

 

 

 

He received the gifts that are pictured above.  One box was full of dried, yet not dried date type things.  They were ok.  Michael really liked them.  And then he received a box of "roots"?  I think they are supposed to be eaten.  They smell like dirt.  I mean when we opened a box a whole bunch of dirt actually got all over the table.  I am going to see my realtor later today to go do another inspection of our house and I am going to ask him what they are. 

So I encourage you to give someone an unexpected gift or even a card with an encouraging note on it.  Believe me, it makes you feel just as good as the person getting it.  I believe wholeheartedly  that God gives to us so that we can give to others.  And I think that  includes not just giving gifts but also giving money and the giving of our time.  As much as I try to be a good gift giver, I can still do better.  Maybe living in China will help me become an even better "giver".  I hope so!

So far, so good

We made it to Nanjing. After a canceled flight and many delays we made it a day late, but we made it. We ended up getting in on Monday instead of Sunday as planned, so we were racing around trying to get things done as soon as we stepped on Chinese soil. We got sim cards so we now both have Chinese cell phone numbers. We had to go to the bank and go check on the progress of our house. Oh and we had to go to Metro. That is a grocery store that has some western food items, and you have to get a membership card, like Costco but with no fee. And we wanted to do it while our Realtor Nathan was with us, so he could fill out the form. Even thought it is a store that caters to western tastes, they do have have English speaking employees.

Michael had to leave less than 24 hours after we got here on his first business trip.  So I have been chilling in Nanjing on my own.  I thought I would veg out for a day or two before venturing out.  But since we do not have our slingbox set up yet, which will give us American cable, specifically Chicago cable.  The slingbox is at my brother's house who lives in Chicago, so we will be streaming his cable to us in China.  Technology these days, I tell ya.  So with only 5 english channels I was not able to veg out as well as I thought.  If I would have had my old favorites, food network, bravo and tlc I probably could have holed up in my room for a while longer.  But I was bored after about half a day, so I decided to jump on the subway and see the city.  On Tues I took the subway back to the city center where I had already been when we came on our looksee.  I went to the same shopping centers and under ground shopping maze that I was already familiar with.

But today I decided to just see where the subway took me.  I got on and then just decided to get off somewhere and walk around.  I found a cool nature area with a mini waterfall...that was nice but the water was a little stinky. 

I also came across an eight floor mall.  I just walked around.  Shopping at American style malls in China will not be something we do.  They are extremely expensive because the tax on goods in a mall like that is 50%.  That is what our realtor told us.  And there are so many street vendors and places where you can bargain in China and get a great deal.  I loved getting good bargains in the States and I still love getting a good deal in China!

the mall I came across...it had 8 floors!

 

 

So things are going good so far.  I will be glad to have Michael back tomorrow.  I am fine being alone during the day, but I am not one of those people who can go and eat by myself in a restaurant so I have just been ordering in every night.  It will be nice to have him back, so we can have dinner together.  And we are supposed to move into our place on Saturday and the first things we will do is go to the grocery store so we can eat at home! 

Better late than never...

So right now I am in Seoul, South Korea.  Waiting in the lounge to board our much delayed flight to Nanjing.  Well actually our flight to Shanghai got canceled, so we are a day late getting to Nanjing...better late than never.

Also better late than never.... are some pics I took the day the movers came.  I lost my camera for about a week, but found it hiding under a bra.  Weird I know. 

Before...a hot mess

another before...another hot mess

another before...Coco is really enthusiastic about the move, as you can see

Our pod arrives

our movers.... D.C, Hop Scotch and Earl...they were great

nicely wrapped packages

our stuff in boxes

and more boxes

trucks now loaded and ready for China

empty room... no longer a hot mess

Coco ready to go

and we wait....

It is so weird these days.  Our house is now mostly empty.  When you talk there is an echo.  When I go to get a fork out of the drawer, it is empty.  When I go get a coat out of the closet, it is empty. 

Michael is wrapping up his job responsibilities here so he is getting home from work early these days, which is nice.  We sit in our empty living room and talk about what our life is going to be like in China. 

I was at my good friend Barbara's for the last 5 days, so I was occupied.  I was getting to spend time with her and her husband, their 4 cute boys and our friend Ela.  But Michael was home alone and when I talked to him he said he was feeling like he did not belong here anymore.  I have been feeling that for a while now.  It is a weird feeling, knowing that in a few days our life will be TOTALLY different from what it is right now.  Everything is set in motion, but you just have not reached your destination yet.  We have said good-bye to all of our family.  And we are in the process of saying good-bye to all of our friends.  We are still hanging out with them, but it is just a little different because you know your days are limited.  Our life is waiting to start in a whole new country...our friend's lives continue here.  They are still living their lives, making plans for future gatherings that we are not invited to.  It feels weird.  It feels like we are sitting in the shell of a house, waiting to be transported to a far off place.  And we are not making plans for our future because we do not have any idea of what to plan yet.  We cannot plan events with friends we have not yet made or plan to go to places that we do not yet know of. 

I am thankful for my faith ALWAYS, but especially in times like this.  Because I know God and my hubs are the only thing getting me through these days.  The packing process ended up being way more stressful than expected and having to clean and fix up the house is no fun, but necessary before we go.  Michael has been carrying the bulk of the burden on his shoulders.  We were at it like cats and dogs for the 2 days before the movers came.  I felt like I had been doing good.  I had packed many boxes and tried to organize stuff.  Michael had not had time because he works so many hours.  So 2 days before he movers came he got a fire under his booty and wanted to do a ton of stuff.  I on the other hand just wanted to curl up in a ball and close my eyes, hoping it all went away.  It did not help that we both had a cough, cold and sore throats.  During this process  Michael made the comment that he is task oriented and wanted to get stuff done and I was not task oriented.  Whatever! ☺ Task oriented sounds boring.  That is why is he is so good at his job.  He can get things done no matter what road blocks come his way.  Me....well I am more like a tumble weed blowing in the wind.  I blow around in the wind until I hit something.  Then I stop and just chill and when I am ready to move on I will remove the object and let the wind blow to my next stop.  Michael and I being so different really works for the majority of our relationship.  He loves that I am so excited about moving to China.  He said it is something he would never have done on his own.  I don't really have a care in the world.  And I love that he is such a hard worker and gets things done.  And he worries about all the hard stuff, while I just tend to block it out.  And normally that really works for our relationship.   But when it has come to getting things done past couple weeks....our personalities have not liked each other so much. ☺  But that is marriage right?  Up and down and down and up.  That is what makes it exciting though, right?  There is nothing boring going on around here these days.

Well...except the waiting.  The waiting is boring.  So here we are again.  Back to the waiting topic.  We are waiting because we have to wait.  We cannot leave any sooner and even when we get to China we have to wait for our house to be finished.  They are behind on getting it finished so we will be living in a hotel for a while.  I hope in China though that I don't wait around too much hoping for things to fall into my lap.  I hope that with God's guidance I find something meaningful to be a part of and hope to pursue relationships, which I have no doubt I will.  Being a pursuer of relationship is something that I do here so I am sure I will continue to do it in China. 

So...the waiting will be over soon.  Only 3 days left!  Thanks to everyone who has made our last few weeks here awesome.  Giving us parties and taking us to dinner, praying for us and spending time with us.  You have all made this waiting process much easier. 

7 days and counting...

I cannot even believe that I only have 7 days until I will be living in China. I am excited. But I also lay awake some nights and wonder what life will be like in China. But I am going in with an open mind and an open heart. I hope that I am strong enough to accept the challenges that come my way.

I never in a million years would have thought that I am moving to China. But that is what is awesome about life. You never know where God is going to take you. I started in Asia many years ago and now I am going back. I hope I'm ready. I tell myself I am ready, but deep down I am probably not 100% ready.

So stayed tuned. I think my blog will only have more exciting things to come. I am sure there will be laughter, tears, meltdowns and hopefully some personal growth stories, with me you just never know!

Gotta love Chotchkies!

So most people that know me, know I things that are cutesie, quirky, kitchy and yet totally cool.☺  I love little chotchkies....things that when I look at them, they make me smile.  I have been buying up chotchkies for China to make my place cute and unique.  For example...

this box says FAMILY DRUGS

the side of the Box says Open Wide...take your medicine!  Love it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this one says...Random crap from here and there to there and here ☺

They are little boxes to keep whatever.  I think they are so fun and funny.  I got them at Leon and Lulu's if you would like some of your very own.

Don't worry about me...

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.  ~Kahlil Gibran

This quote says it all.  I have been crying a lot these days.  But this quote really speaks to the reason I have been crying.  I am sad, yes, but really I am thankful that I have such great friends and family.  I am thankful that they care about Michael and I so much.  And yes, I will miss them, but God willing I will see them all again soon.  Time flies.  Just thinking that it has been 10 years since 9.11 is amazing.  And all the shows paying tribute to the people who passed and the survivors and their families has not helped my crying.  It is so sad to think of losing a family member or friend so tragically.  It breaks me whenever I see a child talking about they parent they lost that day.  

And I really hate that I cry so easily.  I feel like it is a weak trait to have.  But I can't seem to stop myself these days.  We had 2 going away parties this weekend...one Saturday and one Sunday.  And I had one last weekend as well.  And even though it  makes me sad to think we are not going to be here to share in our friends lives anymore, I am so  thankful that we have such great friends, who care enough to throw us a going away party.  I know that everyone does not have that.  

So if you see me around and my eyes are blood shot and it looks like I have been crying, I probably was.  But don't worry about me.  It is not because I'm worried about going to China.  It is because saying good bye is hard to do.  But also because I feel blessed beyond what I deserve.  And because crying just seems to be what I do these days.

Thanks to all our friends and family who have been sending us off with love and support, parties and gifts.  We really appreciate it!

One of the really special gifts Michael and I received from our good friend Tracy

 

19 DAYS

• until Michigan is no longer my home
  
• until I leave the familiar for the unfamiliar
• until I leave our little house that we love and move into a bigger house where I hope love will continue to grow
• until I fly the much friendlier and comfortable first class skies! ☺
• until people cannot understand what I am saying, well maybe that is no different from how it is now☺
• until my faith and trust and God is stronger because trusting God more everyday my goal and I think China is going to test me, a lot
• until I will probably be forced to be gluten free
  
• until I leave my friends and family
• until I hopefully make new friends
• until my poor eyes get a break from crying whenever I think of leaving
• until I go to a place where people are not free to worship God the way I do
• until I hope to make God proud by sharing my faith with courage and conviction, but without getting myself deported ☺
• until I leave a little of my heart in Detroit, but hope to fill it up with a little piece of China
• until I can no longer point at right hand to show people where I live
  
• until pasta is replaced with rice and coffee is replaced with tea and bread is replace with, I don't know what
• until I leave the wonderful cool falls of Michigan to enter warmer falls of Nanjing, but still wonderful I hear.
• until driving will not be the norm, but riding will be the norm
• until Michael and I walk hand in hand into the new chapter of our life and we look back only to say Hi to friends and family, but always looking forward to the plan God has for us...no regrets, no worries, no fears...just peace, trust and hope knowing God has our backs.
• until China is our new home!