First off to the mods if this would be better in the share your love story forum please move it there, I wasnt sure which was best.
Ok as many know I have quit my job and apartment in Edmonton, moved my furniture and effects to Summerland BC with my sister, packed up my life and moved to China to be with Zhen. we decided I would move to China to live until after we marry and get the visa to allow Zhen into Canada. No way am I going to marry her and then leave her in China while our BS bureaucratic system takes a year or so to decide our marriage is real and lets her into Canada. So we will live in China until we can move to Canada as a couple or not at all.
So in this thread I will chronicle the ups and downs of our experience from me leaving Canada to our return to Canada if we ever get that far.
So after arriving in BC on the 17 October I spent the last week tidying up my affairs and setting things to run by themselves while I am out of the country for up to 3 years. I also gave my sister power of attorney to handle any emergency issues that pop up. So between doing that and spending a few days with my Mom and two sisters the week past quite quickly.
The biggest issue was packing for that long of a stay out of country. Also my sister decided to send a ton of Avon products over for Zhen and her friends so that really cramped up my luggage. It cost me and extra hundred dollars at the airport for overweight bags hehe. So on the 25th of October I bid farewell to Canada and boarded the plane for Beijing. The flight was packed and there were over 100 people from India as well so the plane stank pretty quickly all the way for 12 hours. Even the great stewardesses of china air were visibly disgusted by the end of the flight. It sure made it seem even longer than when I went over in september. Still I survived to arrive in Beijing and thats all I cared about.
When I got off the plane in Beijing the excitement really started to build and I breezed through the health checks and customs. My bags even decided to come with me this time and even managed to stay together, overstuffed as they were. So out the departure area I went and heard someone calling my name in a beautiful chinese accent, yes it was Zhen who came to get me at the airport. So into a cab and off we went to a hotel.
The hotel was not very good but I suppose it was all we really needed. Next day we went to the Beijing zoo to see the Pandas. First time ever saw one in real life. We did the rest of the zoo as well and were done just after lunch. Then it was off the seaworld exibit for the afternoon but that turned out to be a disappointment and ended in just over an hour.
Zhen and I picked up exactly where we left off and communicate quite well without the electronic translator using her minimal english and my very minimal chinese. We just seem to understand what each other is saying even though we cannot understand the words. People say its like we have been together for years. Its actually amazing that we can go for a whole day and never touch the electronic translator at all.Keep in mind also that the translator machines seem to do better from english to chinese than they do from chinese to english and get confused quite easily.
So next day its off to the train station and our trip to Handan, which is Zhen's home town. Getting all my luggage and Zhen's into the train was a hassle, just lucky we had the front seats in the car we were in so we had a bit of extra room for the suitcases. However when we got to Handan getting a cab was impossible. None of the taxis wanted to take all the luggage. We finally ended up in a powered pedicab but he had an accident with a donkey pulling a cart of bricks and screwed up one of his wheels. He was nice enough to get us a real cab for the rest of the trip to our apartment though. dindt seem to bother him about the accident either. Strange people these chinese. So after over an hour in cabs we made it to our apartment.
For those that have never seen chinese apartment buildings, they dont pay any attention to the common areas like stairwells or the outside surrounding areas, so we had to step over the garbage and debris and climb the stairs in the dark to the apartment, luckily for us its on the first floor. The building from the outside looks like a slum but the apartment itself is just like a typical western one except it has a squat toilet and a tiny kitchen. How these ladies can cook the fantastic meals they do in that tiny space using the stuff they have available is astounding.
Now since Zhen borrowed this apartment from one of her friends we cannt unpack as her friends clothing etc is still in the wardrobes etc so I will be living out of my suitcases until we get a teaching position. Also a word about the water. As most know the tap water will make us westerners sick really quickly and even Zhen doesnt drink it. What we do here is put the tap water into a water cooler that heats the water for hot water. so we take it out by the glass and let it cool and drink that. So far I have seen no ill effects from doing this and I have been drinking it for about 5 days. I also use the same water for brushig my teeth.
Zhen and I visited the agency the day after we arrived in Handan and I was greeted and welcomed like a long lost friend. The agency in Handan is truly a fantastic agency with genuinely friendly people. We spent over an hour chatting with Daniel and Echo the owner and several of the ladies also The agency is within easy walking distance from our apartment so its really convenient.
Adjusting to being almost the only Lao wei in Handan was easy this time since I knew what to expect, but it is still funny watching all the old folks or teen age girls staring at me all the time. Still the people are really friendly and no one is rude or intrusive so I figure let them stare and bask in the attention heheh.
Another thing is that all these chinese ladies I think get started right away with husband training. When I read the thread where the married guys discussed this I thought it was funny but now I am seeing it in action heheh. Watching Zhen rule her house is quite the sight until she starts in on me for leaving something in the wrong place or not doing what she tells me to do etc. Its quite funny although she is completely serious hehe. However when we go out she is the perfect dutiful wife and always agrees with what I say or suggest, and definitely looks out for my well being. Walking about town with Zhen on my arm surely makes me the proudest , happiest man alive. It is amazing how smart and organized and independent yet at the same time totally willing to let you lead these ladies are and I cherish her for who she is and her trust in me. I could not ask for a better wife than Zhen and feel truly blessed that we are together.
A couple of days after i arrived in Handan my back began to give me problems. I occasionally get pinched nerve issues in my lower back and it started to act up now. Also I think the pollution irritated my nose and throat so its like I have a cold. Well off to the pharmacy Zhen goes and comes back with medicine for the nose and throat and some back patches for my back. Well after only two back patches my back is fine again and my cold symptoms are fading rapidly. These chinese sure seem better at over the counter medications than in Canada.
So we have settled in to our apartment, and also |I had a job interview that Zhen set up with one of the local private schools. The problem is that they cannot get me a Z visa as I dont have a bachelors degree but they are willing to have me work illegally and will basically buy off any one who has an issue with it. My problem is that if I get deported for working illegally then I cannot get back into the country and so wont be able to marry Zhen so I think I will turn down the job. I know its a small risk but I am not willing to accept any risk that might interfere with our marriage plans. I do have another phone interview on Monday for a position in Wuhu so if that goes well I think I will take that job as they can provide a Z visa so the work is legal and I can stay in china for at least a year without issues.
So here we are basically caught up to date with our little story. Zhen goes back to work tomorrow so I will get a taste of being on my own for the entire day without her to help translate or for company. She has told me not to answer the door if someone comes and also if I go out not to go too far. She also told me to call the agency if I run into trouble with anything. Talk about being looked after hehe its like I am a teenager again. Still its nice to know she is so concerned with my well being.
So there you are the first week of my new life in china. Every challenge has been easy to solve with Zhen at my side and we sure make a perfect couple. We think the same, look at things the same, love each other the same etc. Its like we are two halves of the same person.
Anyway more later as things develop.
Regards,
Zhen and Brian
