Our dog, Blue, arrived today!! :) Yah!
The first couple of days here, I noticed (for the first time) 2 different Chinese people out walking their Chows. Whew! I also saw a Japanese man walking a husky. I think Blue will be just fine here and we are so glad to have him back. We missed him! Ryan kept hugging Blue all night long...he has an extra special relationship with Blue.
Blue actually looks pissed off at us. I think we will be needing to give him lots of extra special treats and attention to get him to forgive us. He also looks pretty beat. He took the longest #1 I have ever seen him do when he got here, followed immediately by two separate #2's. I'm a little uncertain on his care after leaving Hong Kong. :( He has been sleeping a lot since arriving. He actually looks like he's trying to "recover" from the ordeal. It's to be expected, we didn't think this would be easy on him. But, it's still hard to witness for our beloved pet.
We love him soooo much!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
First few days
The first few days of somewhere new, there is always some first impressions...
The bugs are different here. If you really look at the bugs on the windows, in the house, on the car, on the ground, etc, you'll notice they are mostly small. But the bugs in the trees sound BIG...and there are thousands of them! Next to our house, there are many very tall tress lining a canal and there is the unmistakable sound of cicadas - THOUSANDS of them. It is very hot here and they are buzzing like crazy! Then, they will quiet down and something must fly through there to stir them all up again, and the sound is quite loud. Now, if you walk to our local grocery store, there are trees lining the street the whole way as it is a planned community. But, these trees next to the road are your more typical and moderately tall trees. The bugs in those sound different. You can still hear cicadas, but you can also hear other bugs that sound even bigger and louder than the cicadas. I have yet to see a really big bug closer to the ground though. I'm sure if I walk through one of the many crops in the outlying areas, I would find a few. :)
The kids are definitely absorbing all the new sights and sounds. They look enthralled as they look out the window of the car. We saw at least two frogs tonight and it was interesting to see them notice the difference in the size of the frogs here versus frogs back home. They really like looking at the frogs. :) And they MUST be growing by leaps and bounds, because just today BOTH boys' shirts and shoes were too small for them! We had to run out an buy new shoes for both of them! Their shoes fit fine yesterday. Isn't it amazing how quickly they can grow?
Speaking of kids...
Kids here hold a certain celebrity-ism. Chinese people absolutely adore children! They especially love foreign kids. They stop and stand around the kids for as long as you let them. They want to touch and hold your children. In fact, this is one of the few times I see so many Chinese people at one time, smile for so long. It is a little disconcerting. And even though the focus is on the kids, they are always looking at us as well. I thought I could get away with putting on little or no make-up while I was here since, heck, I don't know anyone. But, I'm not so sure. haha If people are going to be constantly looking at me by association with my kids, then I may feel the pressure to look my best. For most of you who know me well, you know how I hate that! hahaha
Brandon immediately attached himself to May (our previous hostess) and wants to know if she can live with us. Brandon calls her May-May. Ryan, however, managed to give a [hard] stare down to a chinese boy about his age and made the boy cry. He even put a forward lean into it for extra imtimidation. I swear, if he had been wearing his cowboy hat, he would have been living up to his very "American" image.
I noticed the water in our house has a yellow tinge to it, so we are making a visit to Culligan a top priority.
A few things I wish I had thought of to pack or get before I left (I can't believe I didn't think of everything!): Large (standard) trash can liners, a translator (with english written on it), a GPS unit, my personal preference of brand name tampons, an iPod waterproof case, an iPod arm band (you do a LOT of walking here), a memory foam mattress pad, and I'm sure there is going to be a LOT more things I will come across very soon.
Everything here is smaller. Smaller trash bags for smaller trash cans. Smaller portions at restaurants. Smaller shopping carts, smaller cars, smaller people, the countertops are lower, smaller paper towel rolls, etc. We went to Ikea and got a bite to eat with a drink. The drinks were 8 oz - no refills. Excuse me? I'm American...where is your 32 oz-ers? haha I could hardly believe it...8 oz!
Don't expect anything to be ice cold. You have to ask for ice all the time. The soda machine at Ikea didn't even offer ice! The refrigerators in stores everywhere offer you a semi-cold soda pop. Definitely something I'm going to have to get used to here.
China is a "green" country. Be prepared to bring your own bags to the grocery stores to hold your stuff at checkout. Paper plates, bowls, etc are somewhat difficult to find.
This is definitely the place to buy a rice cooker. They have the BMW's of rice cookers here.
Don't expect to find clothes dryers. We have only found ONE stand alone clothes dryer and it is about $1300 by itself! Needless to say, we are researching other options at this time.
Food for thought...
Remember when soda cans used to have those pull tabs? Well, also try and remember that when they did have pull tabs, the soda cans fit your mouth differently. Imagine this. There must be engineers out there somewhere designing soda can tops to fit your mouth better. Because, if you'll notice, that today's modern pop up tab has a different feel that inevitably feels better because you don't stand around thinking about it. That is, until you again have older versions of soda pop cans and go, "Hmmm. This doesn't fit my mouth as well and, thus, I'm not enjoying it as much." Expect to find this kind of thing here. Granted, I have no idea if other parts of the world are also experiencing older styles of soda pop tops. My own experience is limited. Really. :)
These are just a few of the thoughts, impressions and observations I have had in the first few days of living in Shanghai. It's all about perspective, isn't it? I will be curious to know what I will have to say in a couple of years here. Only 24 MONTHS for my friends out there...23 1/2, really. ;)
The bugs are different here. If you really look at the bugs on the windows, in the house, on the car, on the ground, etc, you'll notice they are mostly small. But the bugs in the trees sound BIG...and there are thousands of them! Next to our house, there are many very tall tress lining a canal and there is the unmistakable sound of cicadas - THOUSANDS of them. It is very hot here and they are buzzing like crazy! Then, they will quiet down and something must fly through there to stir them all up again, and the sound is quite loud. Now, if you walk to our local grocery store, there are trees lining the street the whole way as it is a planned community. But, these trees next to the road are your more typical and moderately tall trees. The bugs in those sound different. You can still hear cicadas, but you can also hear other bugs that sound even bigger and louder than the cicadas. I have yet to see a really big bug closer to the ground though. I'm sure if I walk through one of the many crops in the outlying areas, I would find a few. :)
The kids are definitely absorbing all the new sights and sounds. They look enthralled as they look out the window of the car. We saw at least two frogs tonight and it was interesting to see them notice the difference in the size of the frogs here versus frogs back home. They really like looking at the frogs. :) And they MUST be growing by leaps and bounds, because just today BOTH boys' shirts and shoes were too small for them! We had to run out an buy new shoes for both of them! Their shoes fit fine yesterday. Isn't it amazing how quickly they can grow?
Speaking of kids...
Kids here hold a certain celebrity-ism. Chinese people absolutely adore children! They especially love foreign kids. They stop and stand around the kids for as long as you let them. They want to touch and hold your children. In fact, this is one of the few times I see so many Chinese people at one time, smile for so long. It is a little disconcerting. And even though the focus is on the kids, they are always looking at us as well. I thought I could get away with putting on little or no make-up while I was here since, heck, I don't know anyone. But, I'm not so sure. haha If people are going to be constantly looking at me by association with my kids, then I may feel the pressure to look my best. For most of you who know me well, you know how I hate that! hahaha
Brandon immediately attached himself to May (our previous hostess) and wants to know if she can live with us. Brandon calls her May-May. Ryan, however, managed to give a [hard] stare down to a chinese boy about his age and made the boy cry. He even put a forward lean into it for extra imtimidation. I swear, if he had been wearing his cowboy hat, he would have been living up to his very "American" image.
I noticed the water in our house has a yellow tinge to it, so we are making a visit to Culligan a top priority.
A few things I wish I had thought of to pack or get before I left (I can't believe I didn't think of everything!): Large (standard) trash can liners, a translator (with english written on it), a GPS unit, my personal preference of brand name tampons, an iPod waterproof case, an iPod arm band (you do a LOT of walking here), a memory foam mattress pad, and I'm sure there is going to be a LOT more things I will come across very soon.
Everything here is smaller. Smaller trash bags for smaller trash cans. Smaller portions at restaurants. Smaller shopping carts, smaller cars, smaller people, the countertops are lower, smaller paper towel rolls, etc. We went to Ikea and got a bite to eat with a drink. The drinks were 8 oz - no refills. Excuse me? I'm American...where is your 32 oz-ers? haha I could hardly believe it...8 oz!
Don't expect anything to be ice cold. You have to ask for ice all the time. The soda machine at Ikea didn't even offer ice! The refrigerators in stores everywhere offer you a semi-cold soda pop. Definitely something I'm going to have to get used to here.
China is a "green" country. Be prepared to bring your own bags to the grocery stores to hold your stuff at checkout. Paper plates, bowls, etc are somewhat difficult to find.
This is definitely the place to buy a rice cooker. They have the BMW's of rice cookers here.
Don't expect to find clothes dryers. We have only found ONE stand alone clothes dryer and it is about $1300 by itself! Needless to say, we are researching other options at this time.
Food for thought...
Remember when soda cans used to have those pull tabs? Well, also try and remember that when they did have pull tabs, the soda cans fit your mouth differently. Imagine this. There must be engineers out there somewhere designing soda can tops to fit your mouth better. Because, if you'll notice, that today's modern pop up tab has a different feel that inevitably feels better because you don't stand around thinking about it. That is, until you again have older versions of soda pop cans and go, "Hmmm. This doesn't fit my mouth as well and, thus, I'm not enjoying it as much." Expect to find this kind of thing here. Granted, I have no idea if other parts of the world are also experiencing older styles of soda pop tops. My own experience is limited. Really. :)
These are just a few of the thoughts, impressions and observations I have had in the first few days of living in Shanghai. It's all about perspective, isn't it? I will be curious to know what I will have to say in a couple of years here. Only 24 MONTHS for my friends out there...23 1/2, really. ;)
Driving Ms. K**
When I spoke about a car and driver to my friends and family back home, I got quite an "ohhh" response. This is when I immediately had to explain that a) it's necessary here in Shanghai due to the crazy driving and b) the fact that there are no seat belt laws for children and thus, we need our "own" vehicle to transport our children with their attached car seats.
The driver was to meet us at the airport. He was late and we soon discovered he had no idea where he parked the car. Hmmm. Ok, so we finally find the van and it is a locally made minivan (Asian brand). Now, somewhere along the way, I had the impression that the windows would be tinted to preserve a little privacy for the "customer". I was wrong. Okaayyy... Upon closer inspection, I realize that this vehicle is owned [probably] by the driver as there is personal stickers on the windows, faded seat covers, a Chinese dangly thingy hanging from the rear view mirror, personal items in the rear of the van, etc. *ahem* Not really what I was thinking myself when I thought about a car/driver situation. I admit, I had visions of something of a uniform for the driver, the vehicle in immaculate condition, tinted windows, etc. Ok...we're not in Kansas anymore! There would obviously have to be a few adjustments for the few expectations I had regarding a car/driver. Ok! Let me "absorb" this while we get rolling!
So, we go to our new home and settle in for a bit after our long journey. The next thing on our agenda is to get a bite to eat and head back home. On our first trip, we were used to handing a taxi driver a taxi card with the address of where we wanted to go that day. So, we hand our driver the address (in chinese characters) of the place to go for dinner. It took us an hour and a half to go less than 10 miles! The driver kept hopping out to ask other cars for directions while cars behind us were honking their horns incessantly. Not really what I had in mind when we hired a driver to keep us safer in the vehicle. Hmmmm. So, we eat and we indicate that we want to go home. The driver understands almost no english, but he does understand "home". On the way back, he is as lost as the first time, doing the same kinds of things to get directions. Needless to say, the first evening we were here was very tiring.
So, this is the deal here in Shanghai. When you hire a car/driver...usually the driver comes with the car you pick. Choose wisely.
As for our car and driver? Our driver's name is Mr. Chen. After some initial doubts, he has proven to be very helpful in other ways as well as getting us to where we need to go - eventually. Like all relationships, it might take some time for us to get to know one another. He is very good with the kids and helps out at the store to keep them busy. He is eager to learn English and helps us learn Chinese (and Japanese too). I'm confidant that by the end of our time here, he will be very familiar with all my favorite haunts and know exactly where to go by name. I'm also confidant that both our language skills will improve. :) The van is actually kind of cool. He keeps it pretty clean on both the outside and the inside. By request, we got a van that seats 7 passengers so when we have guests in town, our guests will benefit. The middle seats swivel around so most of the passengers can talk to each other face-to-face. I think we'll keep both around for awhile. :)
The driver was to meet us at the airport. He was late and we soon discovered he had no idea where he parked the car. Hmmm. Ok, so we finally find the van and it is a locally made minivan (Asian brand). Now, somewhere along the way, I had the impression that the windows would be tinted to preserve a little privacy for the "customer". I was wrong. Okaayyy... Upon closer inspection, I realize that this vehicle is owned [probably] by the driver as there is personal stickers on the windows, faded seat covers, a Chinese dangly thingy hanging from the rear view mirror, personal items in the rear of the van, etc. *ahem* Not really what I was thinking myself when I thought about a car/driver situation. I admit, I had visions of something of a uniform for the driver, the vehicle in immaculate condition, tinted windows, etc. Ok...we're not in Kansas anymore! There would obviously have to be a few adjustments for the few expectations I had regarding a car/driver. Ok! Let me "absorb" this while we get rolling!
So, we go to our new home and settle in for a bit after our long journey. The next thing on our agenda is to get a bite to eat and head back home. On our first trip, we were used to handing a taxi driver a taxi card with the address of where we wanted to go that day. So, we hand our driver the address (in chinese characters) of the place to go for dinner. It took us an hour and a half to go less than 10 miles! The driver kept hopping out to ask other cars for directions while cars behind us were honking their horns incessantly. Not really what I had in mind when we hired a driver to keep us safer in the vehicle. Hmmmm. So, we eat and we indicate that we want to go home. The driver understands almost no english, but he does understand "home". On the way back, he is as lost as the first time, doing the same kinds of things to get directions. Needless to say, the first evening we were here was very tiring.
So, this is the deal here in Shanghai. When you hire a car/driver...usually the driver comes with the car you pick. Choose wisely.
As for our car and driver? Our driver's name is Mr. Chen. After some initial doubts, he has proven to be very helpful in other ways as well as getting us to where we need to go - eventually. Like all relationships, it might take some time for us to get to know one another. He is very good with the kids and helps out at the store to keep them busy. He is eager to learn English and helps us learn Chinese (and Japanese too). I'm confidant that by the end of our time here, he will be very familiar with all my favorite haunts and know exactly where to go by name. I'm also confidant that both our language skills will improve. :) The van is actually kind of cool. He keeps it pretty clean on both the outside and the inside. By request, we got a van that seats 7 passengers so when we have guests in town, our guests will benefit. The middle seats swivel around so most of the passengers can talk to each other face-to-face. I think we'll keep both around for awhile. :)
Friday, July 18, 2008
Making 'scents' of it all!
Having two small children, I have had the opportunity to see the world through their eyes. Also, I have had the opportunity to re-discover the world through their other four senses as well. It's wonderful. You forget how much of your own existence is dictated by the sensory perception of your youth.
The first eight years of my life were spent in San Diego. We lived near the cliffs and terraces and canyons bordering the ocean. Having moved from the area at such a young age, I had no way of knowing how much I could remember as an adult just by using my sense of smell. I was driving with a friend on a leisure trip one time as an adult, when we drove along the 52 through some of the canyons on our way to La Jolla. The air coming through the vents sent me flashing back in time as a series of images I didn't think I had came rushing back to me...all of them from my childhood in San Diego. It was powerful. The air was a mixture of ocean breezes clinging to the damp moisture from the dew strewn vegetation of the canyons. My emotions zipped through me, weaving a mental tapestry of childhood feelings and images.
However, not many of these moments have occur ed in my life as my sense of smell is, let's say, not my most powerful sense. I could be burning the water out of a pot on the stove and not know it until the metal melted. So, it came as a surprise when I got off the plane and jet way in Hong Kong and immediately felt compelled to stop...and...take a deep breath of air. I'm not sure what struck me first...the air felt different and/or the air smelled different. Both, I imagine. But, I immediately thought, "This doesn't smell like home."
After all the times I have passed through LAX or my local airport, I never once stopped to consider how much even the airports can feel like home. Hong Kong smelled different. It smelled foreign. There were undercurrents of rice and stuff like saimin and other "foreign" foods. Even though the airport was completely void of people at 6 am, you could still smell the activity of a busier yesterday. So, imagine that...my somewhat useless nose was the first sensory impression I had when arriving in Hong Kong.
Since arriving in Shanghai, it seems the input of my surroundings is less of a mental change in atmosphere and more of a sensory one, which again reminds me how much we rely on our five senses to learn. Shanghai offers different sounds, sights, smells, tastes, etc. It's a sensory feast and I can't wait to see what I learn from it. I know my kids have GOT to be growing by leaps and bounds from being here even such a short time. It'll be fun to watch them grow in new ways as well! :)
The first eight years of my life were spent in San Diego. We lived near the cliffs and terraces and canyons bordering the ocean. Having moved from the area at such a young age, I had no way of knowing how much I could remember as an adult just by using my sense of smell. I was driving with a friend on a leisure trip one time as an adult, when we drove along the 52 through some of the canyons on our way to La Jolla. The air coming through the vents sent me flashing back in time as a series of images I didn't think I had came rushing back to me...all of them from my childhood in San Diego. It was powerful. The air was a mixture of ocean breezes clinging to the damp moisture from the dew strewn vegetation of the canyons. My emotions zipped through me, weaving a mental tapestry of childhood feelings and images.
However, not many of these moments have occur ed in my life as my sense of smell is, let's say, not my most powerful sense. I could be burning the water out of a pot on the stove and not know it until the metal melted. So, it came as a surprise when I got off the plane and jet way in Hong Kong and immediately felt compelled to stop...and...take a deep breath of air. I'm not sure what struck me first...the air felt different and/or the air smelled different. Both, I imagine. But, I immediately thought, "This doesn't smell like home."
After all the times I have passed through LAX or my local airport, I never once stopped to consider how much even the airports can feel like home. Hong Kong smelled different. It smelled foreign. There were undercurrents of rice and stuff like saimin and other "foreign" foods. Even though the airport was completely void of people at 6 am, you could still smell the activity of a busier yesterday. So, imagine that...my somewhat useless nose was the first sensory impression I had when arriving in Hong Kong.
Since arriving in Shanghai, it seems the input of my surroundings is less of a mental change in atmosphere and more of a sensory one, which again reminds me how much we rely on our five senses to learn. Shanghai offers different sounds, sights, smells, tastes, etc. It's a sensory feast and I can't wait to see what I learn from it. I know my kids have GOT to be growing by leaps and bounds from being here even such a short time. It'll be fun to watch them grow in new ways as well! :)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Airlines
Oohhhh, what a difference...an airline can make when traveling! I can't believe the difference between our first trip over here and this second time. I also can't tell you how much anxiety I was feeling making a 15-hour airplane trip with two small children under the age of five years old...with a two hour layover AND another two hour domestic flight. Needless to say, I packed us with enough carry-ons to take us around the world - TWICE! This, in itself, was difficult because we had 7-8 carry-ons, four of us, two car seats...and a partridge in a pear tree. BUT, I have to say in my own defense, the reason behind so many "essentials" was due to the fact that the first airline we took was little more than a cattle coach, in the truest sense of that term. So, this time, I prepared us for all worst case scenarios.
Anyway, this time we flew over here with an airline that seems dedicated to setting the bar pretty high, even in the economy class. Ahhhh... Everything that we needed, ended up being provided for us by the airline with EXTRAS! This included in-flight entertainment centers with kids' shows, movies and games, snacks, food and beverages galore, pairs of socks, kid size headphones, pillows and blankets, in-flight sleeping cribs for babies, extension seat belts for younger kids, and a Disney activity pack for each child that came with coloring books, colored pencils, magnets and more! Again, ahhhhh.
Airfare per person - $1,000
Sippy cups for the plane - $4.00
Everything else taken care of, including peace of mind for a 15-hour flight with kids - PRICELESS :)
The flight took off about midnight, the boys slept their usual hours, they watched TV shows and movies, colored, etc, walked up and down the aisles a bit and then we were done! Whew! This was way less painful then the last time...a very nice surprise.
Now, I don't know if the wonderful airline and it's service had anything to do with this next statement, but Hong Kong airport was really nice! :) I think it should be rated one of the best airports - somewhere. haha No, really. I think I would like Hong Kong if I had an opportunity to visit more than the airport. The airport was big and clean and there are mountains when you look outside the windows and ocean on the other side.
Hong Kong reminded me a lot of Hawaii on first impressions...the green mountains right next to the ocean, the humidity and they had little round volcanic balls in all of their planters, indicating volcanic activity somewhere in the vicinity...or at least somewhere in China. The little round balls were pretty cool. They had the black porous basalt on the inside of them and rust colored weathering patterns of the outside of them. They came in different sizes, although they were all small and round. What a great idea for the planters! But, I digress...
The mountains outside the windows and the little volcanic balls held a mystique for me that Shanghai, unfortunately, has not done for me so far. It did get me excited to possibly explore China more than I had originally planned to do. After all, it IS quite a big country. Shanghai is very flat, with a lot of farming soil and water instead of rocks and mountains.
One more note about Hong Kong. While living in Hawaii, I worked extensively on all the islands that tourists often visited. I used to tell my friends and family that, as mainlanders, they would probably feel most comfortable in Maui. It has a very nice island feel to it, BUT it's also covered with white mainlanders. It can't be helped...people often feel most comfortable when there is other people who talk, look and act like them. Sure enough, I always felt so comfortable on the Kona side of the Big Island and Maui for those very reasons...and it's been proven that my friends and family do too. :) Hong Kong, being English for so long, had lots of Brits and Americans in the airport, as well as Australians and New Zealanders, etc. Ahhh. I can't help it! When your half a world away from home, it's just nice to be around others who talk, look and act similar to you. So, if you are of European or American origin and are considering transferring to Asia...you might want to keep this in mind. Not to be necessarily swayed by it...but definitely something to think about. :)
Anyway, this time we flew over here with an airline that seems dedicated to setting the bar pretty high, even in the economy class. Ahhhh... Everything that we needed, ended up being provided for us by the airline with EXTRAS! This included in-flight entertainment centers with kids' shows, movies and games, snacks, food and beverages galore, pairs of socks, kid size headphones, pillows and blankets, in-flight sleeping cribs for babies, extension seat belts for younger kids, and a Disney activity pack for each child that came with coloring books, colored pencils, magnets and more! Again, ahhhhh.
Airfare per person - $1,000
Sippy cups for the plane - $4.00
Everything else taken care of, including peace of mind for a 15-hour flight with kids - PRICELESS :)
The flight took off about midnight, the boys slept their usual hours, they watched TV shows and movies, colored, etc, walked up and down the aisles a bit and then we were done! Whew! This was way less painful then the last time...a very nice surprise.
Now, I don't know if the wonderful airline and it's service had anything to do with this next statement, but Hong Kong airport was really nice! :) I think it should be rated one of the best airports - somewhere. haha No, really. I think I would like Hong Kong if I had an opportunity to visit more than the airport. The airport was big and clean and there are mountains when you look outside the windows and ocean on the other side.
Hong Kong reminded me a lot of Hawaii on first impressions...the green mountains right next to the ocean, the humidity and they had little round volcanic balls in all of their planters, indicating volcanic activity somewhere in the vicinity...or at least somewhere in China. The little round balls were pretty cool. They had the black porous basalt on the inside of them and rust colored weathering patterns of the outside of them. They came in different sizes, although they were all small and round. What a great idea for the planters! But, I digress...
The mountains outside the windows and the little volcanic balls held a mystique for me that Shanghai, unfortunately, has not done for me so far. It did get me excited to possibly explore China more than I had originally planned to do. After all, it IS quite a big country. Shanghai is very flat, with a lot of farming soil and water instead of rocks and mountains.
One more note about Hong Kong. While living in Hawaii, I worked extensively on all the islands that tourists often visited. I used to tell my friends and family that, as mainlanders, they would probably feel most comfortable in Maui. It has a very nice island feel to it, BUT it's also covered with white mainlanders. It can't be helped...people often feel most comfortable when there is other people who talk, look and act like them. Sure enough, I always felt so comfortable on the Kona side of the Big Island and Maui for those very reasons...and it's been proven that my friends and family do too. :) Hong Kong, being English for so long, had lots of Brits and Americans in the airport, as well as Australians and New Zealanders, etc. Ahhh. I can't help it! When your half a world away from home, it's just nice to be around others who talk, look and act similar to you. So, if you are of European or American origin and are considering transferring to Asia...you might want to keep this in mind. Not to be necessarily swayed by it...but definitely something to think about. :)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Immunizations
Immunizations. Yes, you will need them. The WHOLE family, including the pet. In the area we are from here in the States, it was, AGAIN, unclear as to which immunizations we needed exactly. This is because the pediatrician referred us to the hospital...the hospital referred us to the county and the county NEVER answered phone calls and were only open for 3 hours out the entire week. So, back to the pediatrician who then referred us to an injury clinic who happen to have a travel health nurse. Finally!
Our inital consultation consisted of me, my husband, our two very restless boys, a nurse, and a very large desk in a very tiny, under air-conditioned office. She informed us that we would need Rabies, Typhoid and definitely J.E...all costing a WHOLE lot of money because most of these vaccines come in a three part series. How much is this move going to cost us?
We make appointments. We come back. They are out of J.E...we should be fine, we are told. Are you sure?? Because you said we would really need it! It turns out that our 2 year old isn't old enough to get them anyway. Hmmmm, well, that worked out - conveniently.
So, as it turns out, all we really need (for sure) is the Typhoid vaccine. JUST AN FYI...
Our inital consultation consisted of me, my husband, our two very restless boys, a nurse, and a very large desk in a very tiny, under air-conditioned office. She informed us that we would need Rabies, Typhoid and definitely J.E...all costing a WHOLE lot of money because most of these vaccines come in a three part series. How much is this move going to cost us?
We make appointments. We come back. They are out of J.E...we should be fine, we are told. Are you sure?? Because you said we would really need it! It turns out that our 2 year old isn't old enough to get them anyway. Hmmmm, well, that worked out - conveniently.
So, as it turns out, all we really need (for sure) is the Typhoid vaccine. JUST AN FYI...
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Pet Relocation!
I said I would save this subject for a later date...and that day has come. Let's talk pets, shall we? I have some advice for those who are thinking of relocating to China...don't own a pet. That is, by far, the easiest plan to have. However, if you're like my family and already own a beloved pet which you cannot possibly begin to think of separating from...well then, you have a problem. A big one. I think China has got to be one of the hardest countries to relocate an animal - on purpose!! They don't want your pet and they make that clear by all the red tape you have to sort through prior to moving over there! Below, I have tried to list the procedural details I have gone through THUS FAR.
1) We're moving to China! Ok! Of course we will be moving with our pet! He's part of our family! First, I call a few pet relocation companies I found online to get quotes. $4400??!! $5200??!! $6800??!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAAAT!!!??? No way! He can just fly over with us!!
2) I get some advice from a reputable pet relocation company that I feel comfortable with on how to do this by ourselves. It doesn't sound easy...but it's not impossible, right?? Since we are flying directly into Shanghai, I find out that there is a 7-day quarantine with a 23-day home quarantine IF all the proper paperwork is filled outprior to departure. I'm told by my local vet and the pet relo company that if the documents are not exactly right, there is nothing to stop the Chinese government from killing our dog. They are not usually prone to sending an animal back to it's original country out of kindness. This COULD be a rumor...but why chance it?! So, let's get those documents!
3) I'm told...You need some permits by both the US and the Chinese government. You will also need a USDA accredited vet to inspect your dog within 10 days of departure to China. Then you need to send the official Health Certificate to the USDA office, have it stamped and get it sent back to you all before your family leaves for China. All this, along with the appropriate vaccinations before and within 30 days of leaving. Uh...ok...?
4) I get my dog a "physical" with our trusted local vet who happens to be USDA accredited - GREAT!! However, after explaining what we'll need from him and where we are moving, he obtains an "official" transcript from the USDA office on the proper procedures from him and from us. He explains a whole new list of items, hoops and barrels we'll have to jump through prior to leaving the country. What!? One of the items listed is a 30-day quarantine in the HOME country prior to departure and there are only a few facilities, in a few cities that offer this service. Which, by the way, adds additional costs galore!
5) After reviewing the list carefully, I find that the wording is obscure. The way I read it, the 30-day quarantine applies to breeders or some such people that have a long list of professional protocol to transport animals across the world. In fact, there is a separate paragraph addressing this issue, indicating that "normal" people have to only follow certain item numbers. However, my vet informs me he has to strictly abide by the document or it could cost him his license. Well, that doesn't sound good. And neither does having my dog put to sleep because I just couldn't get to the bottom of it all. So, I ask my vet to double check with the USDA office and talk to a person about it. He does, and the USDA office says that the procedures listed on the document are correct. Ok...yes, well, I got that. The document is correct but still vague about WHO needs to abide by the 30 day quarantine. UGH!
6) The pet relo company I had been talking to insists that they do this all the time and the vet doesn't truly understand the document. UGH!
7) Microchips. Yes, you're pet will need one. My dog already has one, but, as it turns out, he has the wrong one. Of course. Most of the WORLD reads the frequency of the Home Again chip. Parts of China, however, ONLY read from an Avid chip. So, ultimately, my dog will be double chipped, double vaccinated for Rabies, etc.
So, where does this leave me?? Confused and unsure - thoroughly! Let's not forget that the responsibility of having my beloved pet SAFELY transported to Shanghai hangs in the balance and I still don't know how to proceed. Is this a conspiracy?? Who is working with who? Hmmm...
My ULTIMATE advice: Hire a knowledgable and reputable pet relocation company.
That's all folks!
PS - I looked online and found a company who specializes in products for moving pets around the world. They had, available for purchase, documents and a list of items and procedures they would send to you if you wanted to do this all on your own. They had several countries you could choose from and of course, I pay to have them send me all I need to know about relocating my pet to China. When I received the bundle of paperwork and documents...in BIG RED INK...they have printed "When moving to China, use a pet relocation company." Good thing I didn't pay a lot for this packet...
1) We're moving to China! Ok! Of course we will be moving with our pet! He's part of our family! First, I call a few pet relocation companies I found online to get quotes. $4400??!! $5200??!! $6800??!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAAAT!!!??? No way! He can just fly over with us!!
2) I get some advice from a reputable pet relocation company that I feel comfortable with on how to do this by ourselves. It doesn't sound easy...but it's not impossible, right?? Since we are flying directly into Shanghai, I find out that there is a 7-day quarantine with a 23-day home quarantine IF all the proper paperwork is filled outprior to departure. I'm told by my local vet and the pet relo company that if the documents are not exactly right, there is nothing to stop the Chinese government from killing our dog. They are not usually prone to sending an animal back to it's original country out of kindness. This COULD be a rumor...but why chance it?! So, let's get those documents!
3) I'm told...You need some permits by both the US and the Chinese government. You will also need a USDA accredited vet to inspect your dog within 10 days of departure to China. Then you need to send the official Health Certificate to the USDA office, have it stamped and get it sent back to you all before your family leaves for China. All this, along with the appropriate vaccinations before and within 30 days of leaving. Uh...ok...?
4) I get my dog a "physical" with our trusted local vet who happens to be USDA accredited - GREAT!! However, after explaining what we'll need from him and where we are moving, he obtains an "official" transcript from the USDA office on the proper procedures from him and from us. He explains a whole new list of items, hoops and barrels we'll have to jump through prior to leaving the country. What!? One of the items listed is a 30-day quarantine in the HOME country prior to departure and there are only a few facilities, in a few cities that offer this service. Which, by the way, adds additional costs galore!
5) After reviewing the list carefully, I find that the wording is obscure. The way I read it, the 30-day quarantine applies to breeders or some such people that have a long list of professional protocol to transport animals across the world. In fact, there is a separate paragraph addressing this issue, indicating that "normal" people have to only follow certain item numbers. However, my vet informs me he has to strictly abide by the document or it could cost him his license. Well, that doesn't sound good. And neither does having my dog put to sleep because I just couldn't get to the bottom of it all. So, I ask my vet to double check with the USDA office and talk to a person about it. He does, and the USDA office says that the procedures listed on the document are correct. Ok...yes, well, I got that. The document is correct but still vague about WHO needs to abide by the 30 day quarantine. UGH!
6) The pet relo company I had been talking to insists that they do this all the time and the vet doesn't truly understand the document. UGH!
7) Microchips. Yes, you're pet will need one. My dog already has one, but, as it turns out, he has the wrong one. Of course. Most of the WORLD reads the frequency of the Home Again chip. Parts of China, however, ONLY read from an Avid chip. So, ultimately, my dog will be double chipped, double vaccinated for Rabies, etc.
So, where does this leave me?? Confused and unsure - thoroughly! Let's not forget that the responsibility of having my beloved pet SAFELY transported to Shanghai hangs in the balance and I still don't know how to proceed. Is this a conspiracy?? Who is working with who? Hmmm...
My ULTIMATE advice: Hire a knowledgable and reputable pet relocation company.
That's all folks!
PS - I looked online and found a company who specializes in products for moving pets around the world. They had, available for purchase, documents and a list of items and procedures they would send to you if you wanted to do this all on your own. They had several countries you could choose from and of course, I pay to have them send me all I need to know about relocating my pet to China. When I received the bundle of paperwork and documents...in BIG RED INK...they have printed "When moving to China, use a pet relocation company." Good thing I didn't pay a lot for this packet...
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