Zai Jian, Shanghai: 27 Days & Counting

In 27 days, we fly out of Shanghai and move back to the U.S. (sniff, sniff) Here's a quick look at how it's going:

• I'm having lunch/dinner/coffee/drinks/dessert with many, many friends. Happy to say, my dance card is brimming and that I've got some pretty amazing friends in this fascinating land.

• Over the weekend I had dinner with some really cool brand-new friends. Strangely it will be hard to leave them, too.

• Last week, three moving companies came on three consecutive days to survey our stuff and place bids to see who gets to move us back. A hand-to-hand competition that comes down to: "Who will break the least amount of stuff?" and "If said stuff gets broken, who will reimburse us with the biggest check?" I was kind of nervous for the first survey...felt like I was auditioning for a show and had practiced my Vanna-White moves for showing off our furniture. ("And this," I said, wafting both hands through the air and scooping them dramatically in the direction of a cabinet, "is our lovely Tibetan chest." By the last survey I was like, "Yadayadayada. Tick-tock. Tick-tock."

Quick summary:

• The first guy, eh. Probably my first choice business-wise, but the guy hates China & I don't want to give my business to someone with so much negativity (and someone who shares such negativity with a potential client...um, hello?).

• The second was a ball of dough going through the motions. I looked for a sign that she gave a hoot about her job or at least how well my stuff would fair on the journey from China to the U.S., but alas, nary a one.

• The third was good. Personable. Informative. Thorough. But I've worked with this company before on a move and am not convinced the follow-through is as good as the promise. (Maybe if this guy could accompany our stuff in the shipment container, be present at every customs check, and oversee the packing & unpacking...but the survey is probably the last I'll see of him.)

• On Sunday afternoon, I spent a good bit of time packing up papers in my office. I'm a writer. Inevitably there is a lot of paper wherever I go. But I dumped much of it (except, of course, for the 29 hard copies of my novel manuscript that I've printed to read/edit...they weigh a ton, but I'm taking them back...ssshhh, don't tell my husband).

Good god...did I say 27 days until we fly out of here? What the heck am I doing writing a blog entry? I've got work to do! Boxes to ship! Journals to pack! Thumbtacks to put in a box!

Stay tuned!

_________

Yinyang Photo Credit: Filomena Scalise / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Comments

[Cynthia Schuerr]

Kristin, it's always so bittersweet moving away from dear friends. I think that's why there is so much work associated with packing up and moving.......to keep your heat from breaking.:-)

[Greg L.]

Best of luck with the move, these things are harrowing! Hope all goes to plan, and A&T are well. See you soon, G

[Carol]

Welcome back soon!