We arrived back to Shanghai on August 19. We live two lives. We drop back into our house in Los Gatos for the summer. The girls play with the neighbor kids and it all seems familiar. The only except is our house is beginning to feel temporary as we haven’t lived there is seven years. Our home in Shanghai feels lived in.
We left California with uncertainty. Jim got a call from Owens Corning about a job in Anderson, SC. He had to do a google search to find where Anderson was located. We didn’t know he needed a new job within the Company. Apparently, the Company would like to send all expats home. It makes sense, as we are not cheap to live abroad. Between schools fees, housing, drivers, etc, they could get a Chinese person for half the cost. Therefore, we returned to Shanghai with the possibility of leaving at Christmas. I didn’t bring half of my usually food supplies.
Beautifying of Shanghai
We arrived back to the pile of bricks and the torn up streets and sidewalks of Shanghai. The sidewalks are all torn up to “beautify” the bricks. The old ones were fine, but not pretty enough. The City will be beautified by May 2010 for the Expo!!
Walking in Shanghai
Upon returning from America all summer, one has to readjust the process of crossing the street. It is a 2-block walk to the gym crossing two streets with lights. When I first return, I find myself forgetting to be aware. The little man blinking to walk is merely a suggestion. You WILL get ran over because cars turning have the right away. Walking down the middle of the sidewalk, one can expect a honk from a motorbike to clear the way. The street was full, but the sidewalk was open!! My thought is they installed the light system to follow the Western world. However, no one translated the rules of the light system for them. I have such joy walking across a street in America knowing the cars WILL stop. Hey, I love the zebra cross walks with no light, but cars are still required to stop…what a concept!!
Driving in Shanghai
Driving in Shanghai is always interest to watch from the passenger seat. Again, the yellow line down the middle is merely a suggestion. If it is open, by all means drive down it. If the road says no left turn, then drive through the intersection and do a u-turn in the middle of the road. You need a parking spot, the sidewalk is open. Driving in Shanghai is looking forward only. The car behind you is responsible to be aware of you. If you want to u-turn in the middle of the busy road, the car behind you needs to yield. Ok, there are times in the States, I would love to U-turn in the middle of a busy road!! My thought on the crazy driving in China is explained by the fact that this country grew so fast economically. The people went from riding bikes to driving cars. They still drive cars like they are riding a bike. This all explains why the Chinese drivers in the Bay Area are such bad drivers. They really aren’t bad drivers; they are just driving the Chinese way. I will say the Chinese have the best depth perception. There are times when cars are so close to us and it all seems normal to Mr. Nie.
Mr. Nie, my driver
I truly have the best driver in Shanghai. When he started with us three years ago, he had very little English. Today, his English is better than my Chinese. He does try to help me with my Chinese. However, Mr. Nie does have a Shanghainese accent so I never know if I am learning the word correctly.
He is one of the few drivers who does the extra “bits†for me. He will always help me carry my “load†of backpacks, grocery bags, rip sticks, etc up to the apartment. He runs errands for me, as Shanghai is big and sprawling. I will send him on my meat run to the butcher in the Sheraton Hotel. I really like the butcher where the only person touching my meat is the man behind the counter with gloves on. You can only really appreciate it when you watch people sort through a pile of chickens sitting on a table at the Carrefour.
Elle was 2 when we moved here. Mr. Nie has watched her grow from a toddler to a little girl. He adores Elle. Not that he doesn’t adore Emmy, but he has spent more time with Elle, as she was not in school when we arrived. He has a 14-year old son.