November 2018 Month In Review

WRITTEN BY Julie

I can hardly believe that December is upon us. As Gretchen Rubin says, ‘The days are long but the years are short.’ As I get older, this sentiment rings more true. Mondays are as endless as always but looking back over the year is like a flash in the pan. (Or maybe my old age means I’m pulling out weird expressions like ‘flash in the pan’ with more abandon than ever.)

Here’s what we got up to in November.

Where We’ve Been

China: Shanghai (30 days)

Highlights

Visas? Check!: We completed our Shanghai visa and permit process and we couldn’t be happier. Maybe we’re used to it by now, or maybe things are always just a little easier in Shanghai, but it really went just fine. The potential hiccup we had with our affidavit not having the proper seal didn’t erupt into a big deal at all. If you feel like a slight increase in blood pressure, feel free to read about our latest visa escapades here.

Shanghai expat

Website fixed? Check!: We didn’t mention this at all here or in social media, but our website was hacked in November. The good news was that it happened after a recent big campaign with HSBC about expat life was already complete, so it didn’t impact the project’s deliverables. The bad news was that our website was essentially down for two weeks straight. All of the work we’ve done to optimize our Google search results (do you know that if you Google ‘McDonald’s in China’ our site is the first result?) was essentially wiped out overnight. It was stressful to see our site traffic plummet and stressful to get it fixed. Through our website design team we were connected to a good security company who helped sort out the problem. Anyway, I feel fine writing about it now because the drama is over (knock on wood) but it reminded us about how fickle and fleeting anything online can be if in the wrong hands.

Three days in Shanghai

Lowlights

Adjustments: We’re really enjoying life in Shanghai so far, but a move to a new city isn’t without its adjustments. Take our apartment, for example. We moved from a modern high-rise in Shenzhen to a quaint lane house in Shanghai. It’s got charm for days, but the hot water is…iffy. Despite a brand new water heater, the water can go from scalding to freezing to scalding before I even have a chance to yelp in surprise. Also, while our glass-enclosed hallway is bright and cheery, at night when the chill comes through, it’s just freezing. We are very adaptable people, and mostly we’re happy go with the flow, but still. It takes time.

Air Quality: You may have heard China has a bit of an air quality problem. We barely noticed it in the south where the wind and regulations has kept most pollution at bay. But thanks to the colder air in Shanghai and the proximity of so many manufacturing and energy facilities, air quality is an actual concern. Drew’s tennis league was cancelled one day last week due to low air quality. We put in an order for two home air purifiers and we’re not above wearing masks outside if needed, but my blase attitude about how over-reactive people are to the air quality issues here is over. I get it. (Below: Shenzhen and it’s clean, clean air…)

What We’re Loving Lately

More than just IKEA: In China, most people’s furniture comes from the local IKEA. For fancy types, heavy and ornate decorative pieces are also available in high-end malls for a small fortune. There are very, very few mid-range decent-quality furniture stores that cater to a Western aesthetic. Where’s Crate and Barrel or West Elm? Honestly, it’s a strange gap in the market and we have struggled to make our house a home with the slim pickings. Enter Ink & Ivy. In a random mall in Shanghai, Drew stumbled upon a magic store that has lots of fun and relatively affordable furniture and decorative items that are both stylish and sturdy. Our Christmas gifts to each other are settled and we’re expecting a big delivery next weekend. (Side note: the store we found was a stand-alone, but when I Google the brand, it looks like it’s distributed by many of the huge online distributors like Overstock and Wayfair and Kohl’s. Here’s a link to one page of their stuff, though the prices are cheaper here).

Our Christmas Lists: I think this is the only website online that didn’t do a holiday gift guide this year. Is it just me or does it feel like every website and blog is full of affiliate-heavy gift guides these days? Instead, the things that we’re hoping to give and get this holiday season are: Rothy’s shoes, Away luggage, Spanx faux leather leggings, local hometown gin, and anything from this website, which boasts ‘cool and unusual gifts for any occasion’. (no affiliate links or sponsored links at all…sorry not sorry).

Coming Up in December

Later this month we’re off to the US (again! it’s our third time this year) to celebrate the holidays with our families. My sister had her first baby on November 1st and my entire family is anticipating the magic moment when we put the new baby on his 18-month old cousin’s lap for the first cousin photo of our family. It only needs to last about ten seconds, and big cousin Theo is already practicing to hold his first baby. We’ll be in Florida and Indiana for the festivities.

Additionally, I’ll make my first trip to India next week for work. I’ll be in Mumbai but I have an extra day in town so I’m hoping to plan at least a few tourist adventures. I’ll take plenty of photos and will report back next month. India is on any serious traveler’s must-visit list so it’s about time one of us set foot in the country!