We may have an opportunity to move to Hainan, China in a year or less. Does anyone have any information they can share? We most likely will be done with homeschooling but if not we will have to continue over there. I'm a little scared, excited, and feel a wee bit overwhelmed by the idea. Any info would be appreciated. Oh and prayers too!
Wow! What an opportunity! We got to live in Japan for three years, and it was one of the best experiences!
Wow! are you going as missionaries with the A/G? Sorry if I am being nosy... just tell me to mind my own business
No were not going as missionaries but it is comforting to know that they will be there. Were only going for an amazing job opportunity. My husband will be going first for a few months then we would go over. It's exciting but also a little scary. I found an amazing blog of someone who lived there for several years and homeschooled. From the information I received it looks like it will be ok and they pretty much don't bother you about it. It appears their laws dealing with education only applies to their citizens. The kids are a little worried about it being a communist country and our oldest refuses to go. She's twenty so thats fine plus there is family here so I momma wouldn't have to worry to much. Doing more research about the area we will be in comforts them a little more. I think this is an amazing opportunity for all of us not just financially but culturally. The stuff were going to get to see and places we will get to go. We'll know more in a few days. Please pray for God's will to be done. We want him to open the doors to where he wants us.
My son lives in China. He is a teacher in the public high school in Lang Zhong. My youngest daughter was born in China and we went over there to adopt her. We had no issues when we were there and my son loves it. I would definitely recommend reading and researching the culture for the area you are going to. Let your kids know what to expect.. ex.. squatty potties, "live" food in windows, drying meats hanging with laundry on balconies etc. Be prepared to see poverty like nothing you have seen here in the states. We had a few run-ins with beggars who targeted us as the "rich Americans". We took our older daughter who was 11 at the time and she thoroughly enjoyed herself. I would go there again in a heartbeat.
Thanks Jakk! We were discussing a few things last night and the bathroom issue did come up. The area we think we might be going to is Americanized for the most part. I did tell my hubby last night I will not be eating any meat while I'm there...lol but I'm serious. Were looking at a couple possible locations now. Coloane Macau being another one. There's still a chance God has somewhere else too.
When I went to visit my daughter, I was surprised at how free it was for a communist country. It is not free by American standards, but not what we expected having grown up in the cold war. An example of not free: Our plane out of Beijing was cancelled so the airline put us up at a fabulous hotel, fed us a wonderful fancy meal, but confiscated our passports and would not allow us to walk around the city. They then put us on a plane the next day to our city, but they Olympic torch was in that city that day so it was closed to foreigners. We arrived on the plane to find the airport full of soldiers who were NOT happy to find foreigners on the plane. They put us in a corner and told us to "sit and stay." We did get quite a show of the soldiers drilling getting ready for the torch to appear. We were there for quite a while, but when I started taking pictures the soldier came back and put us on a shuttle out of the city to meet my son-in-law. It was a little scary because we don't speak Chinese, but they did let us call my daughter and she talked to the soldier to find out what was happening. The only other thing that happened was our taxi driver was stopped at a check point and his papers were checked to make sure that HE was allowed to carry foreigners and to leave the city. On the airplane make sure you take a pack of tissues. The airports will have a handicapped toilet, but they don't have toilet paper. Squatty potties are not that bad once you figure out how to use it. Horse meat looks just like beef so they often sell it as beef. It does cook differently, so that is when you know you were ripped off. Surprisingly it's not too bad. It has a mild kind of sweet flavor. My daughter has a very nice apartment there. She is able to afford a much nicer place than she would here in the states. There is a great deal of poverty there, all Americans are viewed as rich. Good Luck, this will be the experience of a lifetime for you and your children. Please encourage your oldest to at least visit. I would go back in a heartbeat. Of course my grandbabies are there lol.
Wow Joy! Thanks for sharing. I love hearing everyone's experiences. I'm getting a little more excited. We haven't even told anyone yet and don't plan to till we know for sure we are going.
Things are moving pretty quickly. Hubby has a meeting to go to in a couple weeks. February looks like it might be his month to go to China. Were discussing a ton of things right now. we know we won't be able to take our dogs. It's to much of a risk for us to have them taken away and possibly killed because someone complains about them. Please pray we find someone willing to take them together as they have been together since they were puppies. And pray for my kids and husband the thought of leaving them is proving to be hard on them. Animals become family members. I will miss them but look forward to not having to clean up dog hair for awhile. : ) we did tell my mom tonight and she took it pretty well. I think she sees this opportunity as something amazing like we do. Thanks so much for all the prayers!
Maybe not something to share with the kids, but something I learned in China. Dogs in cages are food; dogs that are loose are pets. *I* did not eat dog, but my family tells me that it tastes like greasy dark meat turkey. They actually have dog restaurants where they specialize in serving dog meat. Seriously, I believe you would have to put the dogs in quarantine if you took them with you. It would be very hard on them. I hope you can find the perfect home for them that will make all of you happy.
The kids already know about dogs becoming food over there. We won't be eating any meat over there unless it's fish. After last nights behavior from our oldest dog he's lucky he's not found a new home already!
ok, I had to find out what Squatty potties were... and lets just say.... ewwwwwwwww! I did have a good laugh at on persons portal of it!:lol: I am so happy you guys!
Yeah squatty potties are a giggle and an ewe around here too. They keep saying they know how home will have a toilet! I just giggle. I honestly don't think in fact I know I wouldn't be able to use one. I wouldn't be able to squat much less get up from that position. I di
Dang gone iPod!!! I did tell the kids about dogs being in cages being food. My youngest daughter gasped at the thought of it. I have a feeling she might try to let one out of the cage if no ones looking ....LOL! They are getting more excited about it and chomping at the bit to tell their friends. We'll know more in a few days.
Well China it is!!!! aaaaahhhhhhhhh Hubby will be signing the paper work over Christmas holiday and will be going to Hong Kong for 10-12 days in February to set up banking and other stuff. We are all so excited. God has opened this door and we are walking through it. If anyone wants to Google Sanya, China that is where we will be living.
How long do you expect to be there? One other interesting "cultural difference" is that they peel their grapes! One of my best friends will be heading to Taiwan right before Christmas. She's taught overseas for years (Guam, Hong Kong, Taiwan) and came home a good number of years ago because of her mother's deteriorating health. She lost her teaching job this past year, and a teacher at her old school in Taiwan is going on permanent maternity leave. So she's going to finish the school year; another teacher friend of hers is retiring at the end of this year, so she's confident she'll get to stay there long-term. She loves it over there, and could easily spend the rest of her life overeseas, especially as her mother has since passed away.
