well, i'm back. for a few weeks, anyway. living in china has been interesting. oh, the things i could tell you...and probably will if i have the time and opportunity while i'm here. unfortunately, if you've been wondering why i haven't been keeping you updated here, i don't have access to blogger in china. you can catch me either on facebook a couple times a week (usually...although my time there is pretty limited, too), email me at hotmail, or through text plus, which is free even though i'm international.
but for this first blog, i want to take the time to prepare you for your own move to china....you know, in case that happens. hey, never say never. i did.
so, things you want to make sure to pack that i didn't. these are in random order, so feel free to prioritize them as you see fit:
1. towels. i thought for sure i would be able to get those once i moved, seeing as how they are made there and should have been cheap. however, i was mistaken. the towels there are very expensive, and not well made to justify the price. they are also very small. seriously, i wouldn't use what they consider a bath towel for anything other than drying my hands or maybe to dry dishes! it won't even work well for the kids! if you want a bigger towel, they are available, for a whole lot more money! not worth it. go to walmart, get the $2 towels, and call it a day.
2. fitted sheets. one thing i have learned in the past several months is that you shouldn't assume anything is normal! including the idea of the fitted sheet. it is not universal, people. nor is the concept of covering the whole mattress with whatever sheet you do buy. the measurements are all screwed up. that's a rant for a different day, though. let's not get distracted. get the sheets.
3. make up. this is, obviously, not meant for the men. but if you are a woman who would like to wear make up while living in china, bring it with you. bring extra, in fact, in case you run out, because you don't want to have to buy it there. if you are able to find some to match your skin tone, it will be expensive and, likely, old. who knows how long that has had to sit on the shelf waiting for you? too long, i will tell you that.
4. barbies and ken dolls. this is very important for the kids. barbies there are even more pricey than here, and there are NO ken dolls. my kids have some knock off barbies that fall apart too easily or are even more inappropriately dressed than people think barbie is (think sheer...), and they have had to settle for some same sex marriage between their dolls for lack of a better, hunkier option.
5. hair products. if you have hair that is not your typical asian hair, you are completely out of luck in china. don't let them cut your hair, i don't care how nice the salon looks or how high or low the prices. they have absolutely no formal training and no idea what they are doing! don't let them color it, cut it, or put any of their products on it. you won't have any luck in the stores finding what you want, either, unless it's hair spray.
6. shoes. shoes there are plentiful and cheap (most of the time). but they are weird and poorly made. what's that you say? the shoes here are made in china? well, yes. but you will learn very quickly that things made in china for china are completely different from things made in china for everywhere else. consumer protection? nah. quality control? what's that? no, just bring your own.
7. cologne for your guy. i can't find any there!
8. deodorant. you will find some...but the variety is nonexistent and i don't like what they have. but i do like not stinking, so i buy it. but now that i'm here, i'll be stocking up on "the good stuff".
9. cell phone. they are cheaper here, and they don't block vpn's or google. my very nice phone i bought in china...does. and it's driving me a bit crazy.
10. feminine hygiene products. ahem....i will not go into why. you'll just have to trust me on this.
11. your own spices. i have to buy my seasonings here. if it's not msg, salt, flour, sugar, or soy sauce...well, just bring your own.
12. jeans. see number 6.
13. batteries. their batteries last all of five minutes. no joke.
14. your snack food. i have missed regular flavors of snack foods. they have chips there, but they are flavors like "hot and sour fish soup" and "spicy prawn" and "seaweed" and "italian meat" and other such strangeness. do those sound like things that should be on a potato? they have chicken and bbq steak flavored cheetos. but no cheese flavored cheetos. they don't have beef jerky, but they do have squid and fish and duck tongue jerkies. now i've lost my appetite....
now, things that you should buy in china and not the US:
1. purses.
2. scarves.
3. gold.
4. clothes from the wholesale markets. i have had particular luck with jackets.
i'll have to let you know if i come across anything else that would fit in that category. until then, just assume you should bring it with you.
but for this first blog, i want to take the time to prepare you for your own move to china....you know, in case that happens. hey, never say never. i did.
so, things you want to make sure to pack that i didn't. these are in random order, so feel free to prioritize them as you see fit:
1. towels. i thought for sure i would be able to get those once i moved, seeing as how they are made there and should have been cheap. however, i was mistaken. the towels there are very expensive, and not well made to justify the price. they are also very small. seriously, i wouldn't use what they consider a bath towel for anything other than drying my hands or maybe to dry dishes! it won't even work well for the kids! if you want a bigger towel, they are available, for a whole lot more money! not worth it. go to walmart, get the $2 towels, and call it a day.
2. fitted sheets. one thing i have learned in the past several months is that you shouldn't assume anything is normal! including the idea of the fitted sheet. it is not universal, people. nor is the concept of covering the whole mattress with whatever sheet you do buy. the measurements are all screwed up. that's a rant for a different day, though. let's not get distracted. get the sheets.
3. make up. this is, obviously, not meant for the men. but if you are a woman who would like to wear make up while living in china, bring it with you. bring extra, in fact, in case you run out, because you don't want to have to buy it there. if you are able to find some to match your skin tone, it will be expensive and, likely, old. who knows how long that has had to sit on the shelf waiting for you? too long, i will tell you that.
4. barbies and ken dolls. this is very important for the kids. barbies there are even more pricey than here, and there are NO ken dolls. my kids have some knock off barbies that fall apart too easily or are even more inappropriately dressed than people think barbie is (think sheer...), and they have had to settle for some same sex marriage between their dolls for lack of a better, hunkier option.
5. hair products. if you have hair that is not your typical asian hair, you are completely out of luck in china. don't let them cut your hair, i don't care how nice the salon looks or how high or low the prices. they have absolutely no formal training and no idea what they are doing! don't let them color it, cut it, or put any of their products on it. you won't have any luck in the stores finding what you want, either, unless it's hair spray.
6. shoes. shoes there are plentiful and cheap (most of the time). but they are weird and poorly made. what's that you say? the shoes here are made in china? well, yes. but you will learn very quickly that things made in china for china are completely different from things made in china for everywhere else. consumer protection? nah. quality control? what's that? no, just bring your own.
7. cologne for your guy. i can't find any there!
8. deodorant. you will find some...but the variety is nonexistent and i don't like what they have. but i do like not stinking, so i buy it. but now that i'm here, i'll be stocking up on "the good stuff".
9. cell phone. they are cheaper here, and they don't block vpn's or google. my very nice phone i bought in china...does. and it's driving me a bit crazy.
10. feminine hygiene products. ahem....i will not go into why. you'll just have to trust me on this.
11. your own spices. i have to buy my seasonings here. if it's not msg, salt, flour, sugar, or soy sauce...well, just bring your own.
12. jeans. see number 6.
13. batteries. their batteries last all of five minutes. no joke.
14. your snack food. i have missed regular flavors of snack foods. they have chips there, but they are flavors like "hot and sour fish soup" and "spicy prawn" and "seaweed" and "italian meat" and other such strangeness. do those sound like things that should be on a potato? they have chicken and bbq steak flavored cheetos. but no cheese flavored cheetos. they don't have beef jerky, but they do have squid and fish and duck tongue jerkies. now i've lost my appetite....
now, things that you should buy in china and not the US:
1. purses.
2. scarves.
3. gold.
4. clothes from the wholesale markets. i have had particular luck with jackets.
i'll have to let you know if i come across anything else that would fit in that category. until then, just assume you should bring it with you.
3 comments:
Yay for blogging again! I would LOVE to hear what their feminine hygiene products are...you just need to get pregnant, so you won't need tampons! :P
Hey Susan
Great to see some action on the blogging front. I totally know what you mean about the things you would expect to be able to buy when you move to a new country.... seriously, kettles, duvets, and good chocolate - couldn't find any when I was in 3rd world Florida... ha ha.
My friends will be cycling through China in the autumn - i will direct them towards your post so they don't forget to bring anything important (esp feminine hygiene products -ahhhhhhh)
Lots of love to the Poon gang.
F x
I still can't believe you live in China! Thanks for the tips. Hopefully, our move to Utah won't be quite as traumatic as your move. ;)
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