Monday morning Matt and I heard a funny sound bellowing from an Asian man sitting behind us at breakfast. It sounded like an evil Disney character laughing in a deep voice "Muh a hahahahaha...." We weren't sure if he was really laughing or if it is a kind of laughter among business men. We giggled to ourselves across the table and had to avoid eye contact for a couple minutes.
I heard the same kind of laughter today at lunch from a man that is Taiwanese. I would love to know if this is common, or just a fluke to hear it twice in one week?!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Hot date with the Grocery Store
We had family date night tonight. There is a Carrefour grocery store in the basement of the mall next to the hotel we are in, and it was quite a treat to wander through it for an hour. The place is huge, and more like a small WalMart than your typical Kroger or Publix. They sell everything from computers to fine cooking pots, lots of raw mystery meat, 20 lb bags of rice and CHEERIOS! That's right, Dean can enjoy his favorite snack again.
A box of Cheerios costs approx $4.00, about the same as a box at home that's not on sale.(I used to only buy cereal at Publix when it was BOGO).
We were also excited to find baby food in jars. The brand is Heinz, which we think is the same company famous for ketchup. I don't remember ever seeing baby food made by Heinz in the U.S. Everything is written in Mandarin except a brief description on the back, but the pictures on the front pretty much identify what's inside.
There isn't a huge selection, but we bought Dean 4 kinds to try with the following descriptions: apple/pumpkin/date paste, salmon/pumpkin paste, carrot/tuna paste and fruit juice/oat paste. Should be fun to see how he likes them.
We also found an aisle of candy, including small bags of peanut M&Ms and Dove chocolate. YUM! My favorite discovery, however, was a section of cheese made by land o lakes imported from USA.
On another note, we are sending love and well wishes to our niece Mia who fell and broke her collarbone last Thursday. Her Dr says she will heal quickly. We love you baby girl, and we want to hear that you're busy crawling into trouble again very soon!!
Thank goodness for skype, which allowed us to call and wish her well + sing happy birthday to my brother Andy for about a penny a minute. I (heart) technology.
A box of Cheerios costs approx $4.00, about the same as a box at home that's not on sale.(I used to only buy cereal at Publix when it was BOGO).
We were also excited to find baby food in jars. The brand is Heinz, which we think is the same company famous for ketchup. I don't remember ever seeing baby food made by Heinz in the U.S. Everything is written in Mandarin except a brief description on the back, but the pictures on the front pretty much identify what's inside.
There isn't a huge selection, but we bought Dean 4 kinds to try with the following descriptions: apple/pumpkin/date paste, salmon/pumpkin paste, carrot/tuna paste and fruit juice/oat paste. Should be fun to see how he likes them.
We also found an aisle of candy, including small bags of peanut M&Ms and Dove chocolate. YUM! My favorite discovery, however, was a section of cheese made by land o lakes imported from USA.
On another note, we are sending love and well wishes to our niece Mia who fell and broke her collarbone last Thursday. Her Dr says she will heal quickly. We love you baby girl, and we want to hear that you're busy crawling into trouble again very soon!!
Thank goodness for skype, which allowed us to call and wish her well + sing happy birthday to my brother Andy for about a penny a minute. I (heart) technology.
10 days in
The past ten days in China have gone by in the blink of an eye. We are adjusting to life here, although it’s been very easy so far since we’re still living out of a hotel. When you have someone bringing you replacement bottled waters and fluffing the duvet on your bed every day, it feels more like a vacation than a relocation.
This will all change in just a few short days. We will be able to move into our apartment at the end of next week (by May 1st), and then we’ll fend for ourselves again when it comes to groceries, doing dishes, and washing laundry (without a dryer!)
While I’ve been at work, Matt’s been taking care of Dean and exploring the city on foot. He's now a pro at preparing bottles and changing diapers in a flash. Last night he even gave me advice for how to keep Dean happy while changing his diaper (hand him a diaper to hold). We hope to be able to hire a nanny, or "ayi" - which means "aunt" in mandarin chinese - to help us take care of Dean. Matt would like to work while we live here, but we're still at a loss for how to do this. No leads yet.
On Wednesday I took a trip to visit a factory about an hour and a half plane ride north of Shenzhen. It was an overnight trip, so Matt and Dean stayed in the hotel alone. Even though Dean is over 9 months old, Matt had never been alone with him overnight. We didn’t realize it at the time, but the little guy is teething and was cutting a new top tooth. Dean cried most of the day on Thursday, and when I got home from the business trip around 6, Matt had a crazy look in his eyes and his hair was standing on end. He handed Dean off and crawled into bed to take a nap that ended up lasting through the next 13 hours.
Other than the teething, Dean is very happy. He's adjusting to city life and extra attention quite well. It’s a little tough to take him to breakfast now because the staff know him and look forward to seeing him in the morning. Three young Chinese interns working in the hotel restaurant befriended him last week and they now swarm when they see us, constantly asking how "Mr. Dean" is doing today. Dean hams it up with smiles when they come near, and his head turns as they walk away. We’re glad he’s made friends, but it’s very tough to feed him with his head on a swivel.
We’ve taken a ton of pictures and even some cute videos we would love to share on this blog, but we are having trouble posting them through China's internet firewall. We can’t load pics from the cell phone, which is very disappointing. Hopefully we can figure something out soon.
The weather has been nice here, but it’s cloudy most days. I miss the beautiful spring days in Atlanta…. Especially those days after rain washes away the pollen and the air is crisp, clean and full of excitement for the summer days ahead. If you’re enjoying a day like this today, give thanks and get outside and enjoy it!
This will all change in just a few short days. We will be able to move into our apartment at the end of next week (by May 1st), and then we’ll fend for ourselves again when it comes to groceries, doing dishes, and washing laundry (without a dryer!)
While I’ve been at work, Matt’s been taking care of Dean and exploring the city on foot. He's now a pro at preparing bottles and changing diapers in a flash. Last night he even gave me advice for how to keep Dean happy while changing his diaper (hand him a diaper to hold). We hope to be able to hire a nanny, or "ayi" - which means "aunt" in mandarin chinese - to help us take care of Dean. Matt would like to work while we live here, but we're still at a loss for how to do this. No leads yet.
On Wednesday I took a trip to visit a factory about an hour and a half plane ride north of Shenzhen. It was an overnight trip, so Matt and Dean stayed in the hotel alone. Even though Dean is over 9 months old, Matt had never been alone with him overnight. We didn’t realize it at the time, but the little guy is teething and was cutting a new top tooth. Dean cried most of the day on Thursday, and when I got home from the business trip around 6, Matt had a crazy look in his eyes and his hair was standing on end. He handed Dean off and crawled into bed to take a nap that ended up lasting through the next 13 hours.
Other than the teething, Dean is very happy. He's adjusting to city life and extra attention quite well. It’s a little tough to take him to breakfast now because the staff know him and look forward to seeing him in the morning. Three young Chinese interns working in the hotel restaurant befriended him last week and they now swarm when they see us, constantly asking how "Mr. Dean" is doing today. Dean hams it up with smiles when they come near, and his head turns as they walk away. We’re glad he’s made friends, but it’s very tough to feed him with his head on a swivel.
We’ve taken a ton of pictures and even some cute videos we would love to share on this blog, but we are having trouble posting them through China's internet firewall. We can’t load pics from the cell phone, which is very disappointing. Hopefully we can figure something out soon.
The weather has been nice here, but it’s cloudy most days. I miss the beautiful spring days in Atlanta…. Especially those days after rain washes away the pollen and the air is crisp, clean and full of excitement for the summer days ahead. If you’re enjoying a day like this today, give thanks and get outside and enjoy it!
Friday, April 16, 2010
THANK YOU
The last two weeks are truly a blur. What’s crystal clear though is that we have so much - and so many people - to be thankful for in our lives. We are safe in China and our household goods are tucked into a POD storage facility due to the help of our friends and family.
We wanted to take a minute to say THANKS to all the people that helped us make it to that plane on Monday:
Mom and Dad Adgate thanks for taking care of Dean, taking in our kitties, packing up our FedEx boxes, telling us to walk away from the condo even though we knew everything wasn’t quite finished (by the way - we didn’t get the fridge cleaned out…) and driving us to the airport… we really might not have made it through security without your extra sets of hands.
Tic Toc and Granddaddy thanks for taking care of Dean - especially the Wednesday before when he had a Dr. appointment, preparing a crucial bag of toys for the plane, and an amazing last meal on Sunday with friends and family. We already miss your home cooking TONS!
Will thanks for helping Matt move all the heavy furniture and keeping him focused (to the best of your ability of course). Also for our snacks - the hot pickled sausages and chocolate bars made it to China a-ok.
Brian thanks for helping us pack up, sorry again that ‘ole Blue bit you on the way out. Hope your thumb doesn’t need to be amputated. Leanne - take good care of it!
Lutz thanks for packing up the kitchen. We don’t know where anything is, but we know it’s safe due to your mad packing skillz. Thanks also for the going away party. We SOOOOOO appreciate it!! It was great to see everyone before we left.
Andy & Jade thanks for bringing us dinner to fuel our packing and for helping us get the odds and ends into boxes. We’d probably still be trying to figure out what to do with the stuff in the office and the junk drawer in the kitchen if it weren’t for you. Jade - thanks again for the sister-in-law intervention on the pants. You were right, I didn’t need them. Can you help us unpack in a few years and donate things to charity??
Kim thanks for all of the moral support in the weeks leading up to this move, and especially for the helping hand with Penny. Thanks also for being a hotel our last night in EH… your guest bed was very comfortable for the three hours we spent in it!
Leslie thanks for being there, and for calling and emailing often to check in. Your friendship and support means more than I can put into words. You are amazing and I love you like a sis!
Leigh & Richard thanks for the swim trunks for Dean. They are awesome!! Also for the wonderful food/dessert on Sunday. YUM.
Will & Elizabeth thanks for entertaining Dean and for drawing adorable bunny rabbits on his Easter placemat. He misses you two a lot already, and can’t wait to see you again soon.
Chad and Mel thanks for taking in Miss Money Penny. We miss her, but know she is in good hands.
To the Brighton Point crew Lisa/Ryan/Kien/Tif/Lisa/Dave/Kim thanks for cheering us on and cooking out on the 2nd. Hope to see you at a cookout in a few years!
Aunt Sally thanks for playing taxi in LA during our long layover, and for taking the time to visit with us, especially Dean. We love you and appreciate the many ways you have helped us and taken care of us over the years.
Grandma and Grandpa Adgate thanks for a wonderful visit and an amazing meal. That peach pie was so delicious!!!
The Plaid family in Atlanta - thank you so much for a wonderful luncheon meal on the 7th and for all of the moral support and cheering on you gave me (Emily) in the weeks leading up to the move.
The Surfaces team at Plaid - miss you all already!!!! But we will be in touch of course. Thank you so much for the beautiful bracelet and the moral support. I love you guys!
The Plaid family in China - thank you for welcoming us with opening arms and smiles on your faces. We are so happy to have this time to learn about your culture. Matt is embracing the noodle bowls with a big smile on his face… and you’ll be proud, he even tried chicken fingers and pig ear at breakfast yesterday.
We wanted to take a minute to say THANKS to all the people that helped us make it to that plane on Monday:
Mom and Dad Adgate thanks for taking care of Dean, taking in our kitties, packing up our FedEx boxes, telling us to walk away from the condo even though we knew everything wasn’t quite finished (by the way - we didn’t get the fridge cleaned out…) and driving us to the airport… we really might not have made it through security without your extra sets of hands.
Tic Toc and Granddaddy thanks for taking care of Dean - especially the Wednesday before when he had a Dr. appointment, preparing a crucial bag of toys for the plane, and an amazing last meal on Sunday with friends and family. We already miss your home cooking TONS!
Will thanks for helping Matt move all the heavy furniture and keeping him focused (to the best of your ability of course). Also for our snacks - the hot pickled sausages and chocolate bars made it to China a-ok.
Brian thanks for helping us pack up, sorry again that ‘ole Blue bit you on the way out. Hope your thumb doesn’t need to be amputated. Leanne - take good care of it!
Lutz thanks for packing up the kitchen. We don’t know where anything is, but we know it’s safe due to your mad packing skillz. Thanks also for the going away party. We SOOOOOO appreciate it!! It was great to see everyone before we left.
Andy & Jade thanks for bringing us dinner to fuel our packing and for helping us get the odds and ends into boxes. We’d probably still be trying to figure out what to do with the stuff in the office and the junk drawer in the kitchen if it weren’t for you. Jade - thanks again for the sister-in-law intervention on the pants. You were right, I didn’t need them. Can you help us unpack in a few years and donate things to charity??
Kim thanks for all of the moral support in the weeks leading up to this move, and especially for the helping hand with Penny. Thanks also for being a hotel our last night in EH… your guest bed was very comfortable for the three hours we spent in it!
Leslie thanks for being there, and for calling and emailing often to check in. Your friendship and support means more than I can put into words. You are amazing and I love you like a sis!
Leigh & Richard thanks for the swim trunks for Dean. They are awesome!! Also for the wonderful food/dessert on Sunday. YUM.
Will & Elizabeth thanks for entertaining Dean and for drawing adorable bunny rabbits on his Easter placemat. He misses you two a lot already, and can’t wait to see you again soon.
Chad and Mel thanks for taking in Miss Money Penny. We miss her, but know she is in good hands.
To the Brighton Point crew Lisa/Ryan/Kien/Tif/Lisa/Dave/Kim thanks for cheering us on and cooking out on the 2nd. Hope to see you at a cookout in a few years!
Aunt Sally thanks for playing taxi in LA during our long layover, and for taking the time to visit with us, especially Dean. We love you and appreciate the many ways you have helped us and taken care of us over the years.
Grandma and Grandpa Adgate thanks for a wonderful visit and an amazing meal. That peach pie was so delicious!!!
The Plaid family in Atlanta - thank you so much for a wonderful luncheon meal on the 7th and for all of the moral support and cheering on you gave me (Emily) in the weeks leading up to the move.
The Surfaces team at Plaid - miss you all already!!!! But we will be in touch of course. Thank you so much for the beautiful bracelet and the moral support. I love you guys!
The Plaid family in China - thank you for welcoming us with opening arms and smiles on your faces. We are so happy to have this time to learn about your culture. Matt is embracing the noodle bowls with a big smile on his face… and you’ll be proud, he even tried chicken fingers and pig ear at breakfast yesterday.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Blogger blocked!
Well, it's true that the Chinese government is very strict on what content can be viewed online. We can only access this blog right now through the handheld cell phone issued by work. It is very hard to see the screen and type for any length of time!
We are doing well and starting to finally feel adjusted to the 12 hour time difference from home. Dean is like a little celebrity here. Matt took him to a tea shop today while I went to visit a jewelry factory for work. The women working in the tea shop showered him with gifts like a swiss chocolate cake roll and a marshmallow shaped like a cow on a sucker stick. Matt said the little guy loved the attention. The Chinese people truly love babies, especially when they have blomd hair and blue eyes.
We are doing well and starting to finally feel adjusted to the 12 hour time difference from home. Dean is like a little celebrity here. Matt took him to a tea shop today while I went to visit a jewelry factory for work. The women working in the tea shop showered him with gifts like a swiss chocolate cake roll and a marshmallow shaped like a cow on a sucker stick. Matt said the little guy loved the attention. The Chinese people truly love babies, especially when they have blomd hair and blue eyes.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
We made it!
It was a long journey, but we landed in Hong Kong safe and sound earlier today. We have much to post regarding the journey here, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. We're exhausted and heading to bed.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Note to self
When moving to China, don't wait until the last three days to REALLY pack your entire house for storage.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Packing in full force
5 days left until we leave for China, and it looks like a tornado tore through our condo. Boxes and misc "stuff" litter the floor in every room right now.
At times as we're going through things I really feel like we belong on the show Hoarders. I just threw away no less than 30 mini bottles of shampoo/conditioner/lotion/etc from under one of our sinks and discovered some half used Clinique gift makeup samples that are probably 15 years old (those are in the trash, too).
I haven't made it through all of the closets yet, but I'll be tackling the one in Dean's room this evening. I started to work on it Saturday, but it was just too tough with him at my feet picking up everything and shoving it into his mouth.
Dean is spending the week with grandparents - the first half with Langfords and the second half with Adgates. He'll be so spoiled rotten by the time we take off next Monday! We are spoiled, too, with having family so close to where we live. It's going to be such a challenge to not be able to pick up the phone and call a grandparent if Dean's sick or if we just need a mental parent break. Holidays are going to be real tough, too.
Here's a couple pics from Dean's first Easter:
The little guy is still healing from ear infections in both ears that started about 3 weeks ago. He heads to the Dr. tomorrow morning for another ear check, and if the infection is still there, he'll receive a series of 3 shots over the next three days to knock it out. We're hoping and praying that he is well and can fly without pain, especially since it's a VERY long trip!
It will take us almost 24 hours of flying time to get to Hong Kong, and then about an hour by car to the city of Shenzhen on mainland China. We leave Atlanta and fly to Los Angeles (3-1/2 hrs), switch planes and head to Taipei in Taiwan (18 hrs), then switch planes again for a flight to Hong Kong (1-1/2 hrs). We figure everyone on the plane to Taipei will know us by the end. I can only imagine the looks we'll get from passengers around us as we settle in to our seats.
Will Dean be "that" baby that screams the whole way? Will we get any sleep? How will we both eat with an infant in arms? Will the flight attendants be patient enough to bring our meals at different times? What do we do with stinky dirty diapers? Is it considered rude to let him crawl through the aisles to burn off some excess energy? Should we bathe his entire body in hand sanitizer if we do???
We'll have to get back to you on the answers. For now, it's back to packing.
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