On our flight to Shanghai (SH), I was reading one of my favourite column in The Sunday Times. The column by Dr Lee Wei Lee. In case, you do not know her, she is the daughter of our Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. I quote her
"Facing adversity. It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. People are not disturbed by particular events as such, but by the view they take of them."
I must say that visiting SH for the very first time didn't leave me a good impression. It was 1) polluted 2) dirty and 3) crowded.
I could only seek comfort in that the house we have chosen and made the decision as a family, was away from the city. DH, realising that I was pretty stressed by this pre-trip, suggested that we should spend few hours shopping so that I could regain some sanity. Actually, it kinda doubled my "insanity". I was "stalked" by sellers asking me to buy bags, watches, clothes, etc.... I vowed never to step into that place again. Maybe, I will stick to my US online shopping and pay a premium for shipping cost and help boost the US economy and thus, the world's economy.
God knows best. It is no denying that He is always one step ahead of us. During our one week in SH, we have met with nice people working with us, helping us.
- The relocating agent was very helpful and professional (after our feedback, they gave us a really good one - ask and it shall be given)
- The Int'l school where the kids will be studying is headed by a very good gentleman who happens to have attended Grace AOG before and I am pretty sure, have also attended the same youth group as me....ions ago
- The air purifying machine sales manager, who insisted that we should NOT pay him any deposit until he has delivered the machines into our rented house
A world without strangers. Only, angels. The first thing when I meet God, I will check with Him if all these people were angels in disguise.
My 2 to 3 years in SH are going to be challenging. I worry about the family's health at the end of this assignment. What is going to happen to us, especially for the kids, with this constant exposure to bad air, drinking only bottled water with minerals from who knows where...but as one mama said,
To put things in perspective, yes, the pollution is bad but not to the extent that you see kids with stunted growth or deformed brains running around everywhere. If so, they wouldn't be churning out 1st class graduates by the millions each year...Our posting to Beijing has been my least favourite one by far but I am grateful we got to experience it. It's good to know that not everywhere is blue sky and green open spaces with cookie cutter homes. I wasn't a spoilt expat to begin with when we arrived in Beijing but with this under my belt, I can safely say my threshold has upped a couple of notches.
In all relocations, mums always have the toughest job. All fathers will be spending most of their time in the office and the kids, at school. Mums, will be home most of the time, that's when loneliness sets in, worries creep upon us. I know of one mum, she will spend the summer vacation going through the SA and CA papers with her kids. No, we are not afraid of losing out in anything, it is the help we want to give our kids when they eventually go back to their home school. No one parent wants to see their kids suffer during the transition from overseas education back to local education.
Yes, perhaps, at the end of this relocation and by then, in my mid-forties, I will be a woman with much wisdom and threshold...and like what Dr Lee said, "it's not what happens to you, but how you react to it." Perhaps, the one year trip to US was to teach us to BELIEVE and this trip is to teach us to live a life of FAITH.
Well...I will lighten up this posting with some pictures of our pre-trip...enjoy. (I have come to realise that we haven't really left the US...)
This looks like some sci-fi movie. Due to the H1N1 flu, upon arrival at SH, we were not allow to leave the plane until the health officials have taken all our temperature and given the all clear. The kids found it amusing
This is not fog. It's pollution. Understand from the relocating agent that they are preparing for the World Expo 2010 therefore, alot of constructions are going on at the same time. Read in the local papers that half of the world's cranes are in SH
This blue mascort is going to be THE thing for the World Expo 2010. It can be seen everywhere. Looks like everywhere we go, there are bound to be a big event coming up. When in US, it was the exciting US Presidential Election!
This is going to be the school for the kids. Cultural room where the kids will learn about the various festivals, traditions and cultures of SH
Art & music room
Science lab
Nice, neat and big hallway. Spacious gym
An art gallery and...the kids' all time favourite hang out - the library
Computer room and reading corner
The kids fell in love with the school. Afterall, they are the ones who will be going to school everyday and therefore, their decision is final. Next, to find a house that we will call our home.
Don't this place remind you of our Macungie house? I actually love it but unfortunately, the appliances were not up to mark. As you know, yours truly loves cooking abd baking...to keep her sane
"I will follow you, wherever you may go..." as the song goes...Told you, we never really left the US. Even our favourite Nike outlet can be found in SH
