In 2008, I quit my corporate job, sold off everything I owned and moved overseas with my husband Drew. Since then we've traveled around the world, started our careers over as creative types and nurtured our love of sleeping in late. Oh and we had a baby. Cole, our almost 2 year old has been traveling since he was four months old and probably knows more Thai than me (not that he brags).
Okay, Let’s Try This Again
Dear China,
You are awesome. I just know it. And yes, we got off to a rocky start. And okay, yeah my in-laws are now emailing me, “I just read your blog, OMG I hope you can get out of this. It sounds like an awful place to be.” That’s entirely my fault. Some of my readers have been emailing me too. It might have been the picture of the smog-fog. Can I be honest? That didn’t look good.
So yes, it’s taken us longer to figure out where to live than I thought it would and yeah, I don’t love some of food here which can be very bland or super salty or dripping with grease (or all three, sadly). When I get a kitchen, I promise I will learn the names of all the dishes and stop playing Menu Roulette at every meal. And yes, I have to use a VPN to get online, but that’s half the adventure right? Like when I almost rented some guy’s flophouse for double the local rate, I didn’t get mad, I laughed about it. See! I can take a joke!
Today, my Kindle broke. I’ve been in China for two weeks, and believe me I’m not missing the irony of having a broken Kindle in the country that manufactures them AND the one place Amazon won’t send me a replacement. I told everyone on Twitter I was going to raid the factory in a covert op and people stopped their busy day to respond to me and tell that that was A Bad Idea. I’m now in the position of needing people to tell me to not break into buildings in foreign countries in order to replace my electronics through what can only be called theft.
I’m not doing well.
It might be the cold I got the moment I arrived, which my son has been feeding back to me every day with his germy kisses. When he gets excited he now sounds like a pug.
Or maybe it’s just me having a bad attitude about the freezing weather.
I’m not sure. Whatever it is, I know it’s not you. You, darling, are great. I don’t know you that well, but really all these complaints of mine are just the itchy discomfort of a woman trying to adapt too quickly.
So tonight, I’m calling a truce. Can I do that? Can we just start over?
I’ll stop pointing out your cultural differences like they are character flaws and you can stop breaking my stuff and help the swelling on my left eye go down (don’t ask). That would be fan-tastic. If you could also let my son know that when I try to put on his pants it’s not because I hate him, it’s so we can go ice skating, which he doesn’t know yet what that is, but it’s super fun.
Sort of like China.
XOXO- Christine
(PS Seriously, please don’t break my iPhone.)
(PPS Please note I do like getting emails where people are worried about me. Tonight’s post was almost called, “No seriously! And Then I Almost Died!” but I’m saving that for sweeps.)
In where Christine channels her inner @thebloggess –> RT @almostfearless: Okay, Let’s Try This Again: http://t.co/dK8Cx8DT
Did you find a new place to stay that you are happy with? How is the university class going?
Hmmm, definitely using these posts as a guide. Up to now I have: do NOT go to China in the winter, Learn Mandarin first and it would be best if I were fluent, bring gas masks for all family members, bring double on the electronics, and be very careful about apartment renting;)
Seriously, I have heard it can be rough adjusting there, just keep the humor going and know there is a light at the end of the tunnel…you know, SPRING!!
Sore left eye and colds? I usually get that whenever i go to anywhere in south east asia. I don’t really know why but i think i’m allergic to asian weather? Hehehe. Bums me out because i’m from there. I hope it gets better for you there….
And this too shall pass! You are knee deep in adapting!
New @AlmostFearless Okay, Let’s Try This Again http://t.co/XCXLgWpV
Yeah, you’ve got it – you’re trying to adapt too soon. Much of China’s charms (like it’s the open and friendly people you will meet, its quirky architecture, the stuff you can buy at the markets) may not make themselves known in the beginning… p.s. Have you tried the chicken? It’s the best thing ever – so sweet that it’s like a dessert
P.p.s. Having at least one Mandarin-speaking friend you can call for advice will improve your experience a lot
It’s a challenge and if it were easy, I don’t think you’d want to do it, right? That’s why it’s a challenge. You’ll do just fine; after you’ve left China, you’ll look back and laugh at all of the absurdities.
No Kindle??? OMG, I feel for you. Non-breathable air, a swollen eye, no apartment — fine. But no Kindle? Unbearable.
And I’m totally not being sarcastic; I love my Kindle so much I cuddle with it at night, so the thought of not having one (and being sooo close to a replacement, but yet so very far) sucks.
Christine, I am so grateful that you candidly and humorously tell us what it’s REALLY like living and traveling abroad: the good, the bad, the ugly, the adventures and misadventures, the ‘this is just like real life and sometimes it sucks’.
Okay, Let’s Try This Again http://t.co/JTF777mN (#travel)
Oh my! I will tell you that, after two years in Kaohsiung Taiwan, we were moving to KL. In order to get our work visas,we had to get chest x-rays. The doctor looked at mine and said, “So, you’re a smoker, eh?” I’ve never smoked a cigarette in my life! And I had my children there for two years??
Awwww man – this all sucks! But the good news is that it’s going to get better. So good in fact, that when you’re chatting up the neighbors in Mandarin, eating fabulous food and watching Cole do his first double salchow you’ll totally forget about all this *fun* stuff.
Any possibility of an American library in Beijing? An ex-pat in Paris filled me in on the advantages of finding one – not only books but all sorts of excellent resources to help you find apartments, get acquainted with life, etc.
Let’s Try This Again: http://t.co/hlpYv8jK RT@almostfearless
Hope things get better. I read a lot of blogs and rarely read one about China that is a positive experience. Feel better soon.
Okay, Let’s Try This Again: http://t.co/xfri8ln6 @almostfearless
Orbi quek, bo liao angmoh http://t.co/byeGRdiK
I used to be almost fearless like you, then I took an arrow in the knee.
I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon, but I spent 3 weeks in Shanghai in 2003 and by the end of it I had developed a regular couch… went away as soon as I left. And that was 9 years ago. And Beijing is more polluted, I think.
If was going to spend some time in China, I would go to Xiamen or Kunming – there’s a big difference in air quality! And never, never trust a totalitarian party. They systemically censor anything that makes them look less than favourable.
*cough, lol
Less @almostfearless, more almost-at-breaking-point: http://t.co/wCziHU1w But I think we’re allowed to laugh (sympathetically, mind).
your posts always make me smile. yesterday, i almost got run over by a british woman when the light was green and telling me to walk. I turned around to see what lunatic had almost killed me and this British woman drove off giving me the finger. i also spent an hour looking for a waxing salon because um, streets are SUPER easy in this country. it wasn’t until i found another salon that served me sparkling wine that i started to calm down.
You *will* adjust. Check out Sichuan food for the hot-sour-spicy thing — it’s hotter than most Thai, and heavier, but it’s perhaps that flavour profile you’re missing. And, yeah, I had a cold when I got to Beijing. It’s 30 million people all with their own colds, spreading it around.
@almostfearless struggles with Beijing | Okay, Let’s Try This Again: http://t.co/kGgYtkDQ
Awww…China will grow on you, and then you’ll become obsessed with it, like I am. I know when I go there, it will make me cry at times, but I’ve accepted it and come up with backplans for those days. LOL
Enjoy your time there. Keep reaching out for new experiences, even if you think it’ll break you in the process. You won’t regret it in the end, and if you do, well, you have a good story to tell.
I like your truce idea. We do that at our house when we don’t start out well with each other. Sometimes it doesn’t all need to be hashed through and worked out; it just needs a do over. Good luck on your do over.
Amazon wouldn’t ship a new Kindle to us in Turkey either. We had to ship it to a friend who then mailed it to us, but now the blasted package has disappeared somewhere en route. Ah, the joys of international living…
Knowing what an avid reader you are, I can’t imagine what the loss of your Kindle must be like. That would maybe be the last straw for me.
Okay, Let’s Try This Again: http://t.co/MZ9Z9qbz via @almostfearless #travel #China
Ouch, China. Ouch. –> Okay, Let’s Try This Again: http://t.co/dE1aOetO via @almostfearless #travel #china
You know what makes me feel better when I’m having “a moment” in a foreign land? Finding the nearest Starbucks haha!
Hope it gets better REALLY soon and you can look back on it all and laugh – whatever doesn’t kill us makes us stronger!
Christine,
Glad to hear that you also suffer from travel challenges
It makes me feel better…
This sounded a bit funny, and sad too! wishing you better luck! but thats what you should expect when ur a constant traveler
Stick with it – China is a tough place at first but your persistence will be rewarded. It’s an amazing country and culture.
hah just come to taiwan to live and learn mandarin >.< you wouldn't have had those problems you've encountered and since taiwan didnt have a cultural revolution, it is an even better representation of chinese culture
although the 40+ shows everyday on chinese television glorifying the killing of japanese is interesting at first, the propaganda gets a little old after awhile hahah
I had to laugh out loud when I read this. After moving to Shanghai this past August I know all too well many of the struggles, frustrations, and pit-of-your-stomach-knots you’re experiencing. China is truly a place that can only be described as “interesting.” Don’t you think that’s a good umbrella word that will cover the good, the bad, and the in-between?! We’re still adjusting every day, but trying to stay positive and enjoy this journey, bumps and all. Sometimes striving to live an extraordinary life is challenging! It looks as though you’re doing a great job at it=). Best of luck as you settle in and continue with your journey!
hi Christine, sorry to hear that you had a rough time settling down here in beijing, which is all understandable. this is really not the best time of the year in the city, and beijing really got this uniqueness that is covered by smog, fog, boldness, rude, spicy and greasy, and it sometimes takes a long time to fit in and unveil the quality part of the city. if you want to talk to a local person, please email me at mm.yuan@gmail.com, i live near wangjing area, and close to subway line13 and 15. about the kindle, is it totally broken? i might know a few places who can change the screen stuff in zhongguancun, but not sure they will be able to fix the problem. but maybe we can give it a try, all in all, don’t let it get you down! be tough! it takes guts and real tolerance to survive in this place, but you might end up loving the place despite all the harshness…good luck and stay tough! hope your boy won’t be affected by the smog…it will get better!