There is no CHAI in CHINA...

I have an addiction...there, I said it...to some you may be shocked and dismayed, to others, this is old news.  My name is Geneal and I am addicted to Starbucks Iced Chai Tea Lattes.  

On both trips to China, we visited several Starbucks and there I would stand, searching...searching for my treasured beverage on the menu.  But alas, it would not be found.  Oh, I might soothe myself with a hot chocolate, but it would not replace my craving for my "iced venti nonfat chai".  So what would a rational, level-headed, future alien-resident of China do to remedy this problem?  Well, they would write to Starbucks China!  Here is my plea...

Hello, I currently reside in the United States but will be relocating to Dalian, China in May 2009.  I LOVE your Tazo Chai Tea Lattes!  Unfortunately, I cannot get this drink in China...any plans to add it to the menu?  I realize I can buy the product at retail stores like Target here in the states, but there is just something special about getting it from Starbucks...the cup, the good ice, the green straw...  Please help!  Thank you!

I am sick, right???  The bottom line is, when I make the move to China, I will suffer from withdrawls of many things...my friends and family, Mexican food, being able to read and understand the goings on around me, and now, also my beloved Starbucks beverage.  Here is the reply I received...

We are glad that you have interest in our products.  However, considering the special tasting, the Chai Tea Latte is more popular in U.S. and it is not the core item for us in China, so we may not have plans to introduce it to the Chinese customers recently.  

The Chinese to English translation is endearing :) but not what I wanted to hear.  If you need me in the next month or so, you can probably find me getting my fix while I still can at my local Starbucks!

China Moments

Things still look "on track" for a May departure date and we are starting to get back in the mode - well at least the very early stages - of getting ready.  We need to decide what we will take with us on the plane, what will be shipped via sea, what will be stored, and what needs to vanish.

Our relocation company in China asked me about our preferences for our driver:

- Do you want a driver that speaks English?..."Yes"

- Do you want a non-smoker?..."Yes"

- Do you want a driver that knows the streets of Dalian?..."WELL YEA!!!"

I could could see us now trying to communicate with our driver to agree on what location we are trying to describe, and them have him ask me where it is.  At this point I can find two locations really well; the hotel I always stay at and my favorite hot pot restaurant (which I can walk to from my hotel).  

Our friends that are already there have been telling us that it is still very cold (might get up to 32F/0C) but nice and clear.  Damon, if you read this...I was in shorts and a T-shirt working in the yard today.

- Michael 

A hot air balloon ride to China...anyone??

I guess I needed my four-year-old to rekindle my sense of adventure for our future trip to Dalian, China. Each child in Erin's class (she's #6, that's not her age) dictated to the teacher where he or she might go if they could, and how would they like to travel (car, plane, hot air balloon)? I can tell you honestly that most 4-year-olds want to travel to the beach, Disneyland, or McDonald's (by various modes of transportation). Not our child! I am proud to say that Erin is the only one on the whole wall that proclaimed that she would like to go to China! I guess she's as tired of hearing us talk about the ifs and whens as much as we are tired of discussing it.

There is news to report however! I have been reluctant to add to the blog because I was fairly certain that my frustration and growing apathy would be obvious - I did not realize that six weeks had passed since my last entry. I apologize and will try to update weekly from here on out. Anyway, Mike has been in discussion with those holding our lives in the balance and we are approved for a mid-May departure. You may be asking..."So, is this for sure???" To which I would reply, "Well, we thought having our plane tickets and movers scheduled was for sure last time, but..." See, there's that apathy I was talking about! Anyway, as far as we can tell, everything is moving forward with the project in China. Hiring will begin in the summer and Mike has lots to do to get things ready for the trainees.

I have been truly grateful to have these months to relax a bit, to enjoy our Arizona winter, to have all the extra time with family and friends. Now we will regain focus and begin making the lists and following our calendar for the countdown. We have been keeping in touch with our friends, Damon and Yukiko, who moved in the beginning of January. They have had some challenges but are doing really well - they are keeping an eye on our place which is right across from ours. Because of the delay in our move there is no guaruntee that the place we chose will still be available when we get there. Oh, and Mike and I may also have to go through the "medical exam" again because the government requires that you do it within six months of your move into the country. If you need a refresher on that subject, go back to Mike's October blog. Interesting how the exam at the time was traumatizing...when it was over, it was rather hilarious...now I'm back to being traumatized!

Well, this should catch you up a bit. I will follow up and fill in the blanks when I can!

Happy New Year!

Well, tomorrow would have been the big moving day for us...instead, we are going to take a day trip to Flagstaff to play in the snow!  Throughout the last month and even more in the last week or so, we have thought about how differently our time would have been spent had our move went ahead as scheduled.  I think I can speak for both of us when I say that while we are disappointed that things are up in the air for us, we are both grateful to have had the holidays minus the stress of packing, etc.  We had a wonderful Christmas and we're looking forward to what 2009 has in store for us.

Mike has had the last two weeks off so as far as we know things are still on track for March. We will definitely keep the blog updated.  Our friends from Oregon will be on the flight to Dalian tomorrow as scheduled so we are anxious to follow their journey and live vicariously through them.  

Thanks for reading our blog and keeping our family in your prayers!

Where has December gone??

December is inevitably busy and chaotic, but yikes!  I have posted a few pictures (scroll down past this entry) to try to capture some of our activities that have taken place in the last few weeks.  While it's always sort of sad to see the holidays come and go, there is something to be said for getting back to "normal".

I personally have had a very blessed month and I have put off writing about it because I am not quite sure how to capture it in words, so here goes my attempt...  

Despite our delayed departure date, the farewell parties went ahead as planned.  It began with a party hosted by Kristy, my best friend since fourth grade.  It was a girls only night and I still feel a bit overwhelmed when I think about the fact that so many women that I love and cherish were gathered together in one place at one time.  I am not sure what we laughed at more...the embarrassing stories of my youth or Kristy trying to read Chinese words during our trivia game (which I won by the way!)  It was a beautiful night from start to finish and I have found myself thinking that women should take turns having parties for each other.  Just a party to appreciate friendship and share memories - there is truly nothing like it.  Thank you Kristy and all the gals who celebrated with me!

The next celebration came in the form of a holiday/going away party hosted by my fellow teacher and dear friend Tammy.  This was for the Humphrey staff and it was truly a gift.  Not only was I given a box full of recipes, but they also presented me with a journal full of letters written by my beloved friends at Humphrey.  It was a great night!  Again it makes me think that we should take time more often to share how much our lives are impacted by each other.  I am so grateful to have been a part of the Humphrey staff - thanks to all of you for your support and friendship!

And so, as Christmas quickly approaches, I find myself somewhat glad that we are not taking off on January 3rd.  I am able to enjoy the holiday and the time with family and friends.  Maybe God needed to slow things down a bit for me so I could take it all in...whatever the case may be, I will celebrate relationships and be thankful for blessings big and small.

Merry Christmas to you!

It's been a busy December!

We went to the Fab 68 picnic at Desert Breeze park - we froze a bit but the girls had a great time!

Ah yes, to be a first grader!  We got a collective "kick" out of the missing teeth epidemic at Emma's Winter Concert at school...
The girls visited with Santa at Bass Pro Shop this year.   This is the first year that I haven't had to be in the picture - the girls were all smiles without me!
Erin celebrated her 4th birthday at Organ Stop Pizza with our family and friends.  My mom is the cake decorator in case you are wondering...
We had Christmas with the Fendrick side and the girls got to have some fun with cousin Jacob.
Here are the cutie pie cousins at the Risen Savior preschool performance.

Happy Birthday Jesus!  

Did we say January...???

Well, I resigned from my teaching position, the movers were scheduled, and our plane tickets were purchased...January 3rd was to be our grand exit...alas, it is not so! Michael received the "official" word today that our move has been pushed to mid-March. Yes, you read that correctly - we will be hanging around for an extra couple of months. There are mixed emotions as you can well imagine. I am grateful for extra time of course, but the uncertainty (because does March actually mean March? or will that turn into June or July?) is truly a test of faith and flexibility.

Mike and I have reveled in our individual and joint pity parties and have come to this conclusion: We cannot change what we do not contol. Our family is healthy, we have our home, we have one stable income, and countless other blessings - we will keep our sense of humor and our appreciation for all that is right in our lives.

Stay tuned...more to come!