Welcome to Shanghai!

So what can we say after 6 days living in China? How about “pass the blood pressure pills.” Indeed. Those daily tasks that for 29 years have been so easy and taken for granted, are now the stuff of minor anxiety attacks. Both of us have had moments where we need to come back to the apartment, and have a quite minute to “recharge”….in other words, hide.

John’s moment came when opening a bank account. Never again will we fault Chase for being “too complicated” or “not user friendly.” Compared to this experience, dealing with Chase is like having tea with Mr. Rogers. From trying to explain the intricacies of what we needed (a bank account), to what we wanted to do (get money), this was an exercise in patience and pure, unbridled trust in the one person who spoke English.

Hannah’s moment came when trying to buy the most basic of household staples: sheets. After a harrowing hour of trying to communicate what she wanted, the size of her bed, and what in the world a “bottom sheet” was, she finally was home and ready to make the bed (an oddly calming nesting activity for Hannah). Turns out, they are all the wrong size. So should you come and visit, and find that the guest bed you are sleeping on has an oddly sized (and shaped) “bottom sheet,” just smile and nod.

We are learning new things every day, and getting stronger in our ability to navigate this very different culture every minute. It is overwhelming when the simplest of tasks become the most difficult part of your day. But as any good adventurer knows – it’s not important how far you have to go, what matters is how far you’ve come: We have found a great apartment, in a fun expat-filled neighborhood (pics to come later), we’ve survived embarrassing and frustrating “foreigner” moments together, and most importantly…

Neither of us have gotten sick. Yet.