I think the part you don’t understand is it’s ok to at first not learn and get bad grades in second grade. Nothing bad will happen. The kid will catch up (unless he’s naturally stupid), and he’ll probably be better off for the experience. Remember, the point of school is almost never about learning things, it’s learning, excercising the mind, and by that metric the kid will actually have a highly productive year. This is something millions of immigrants go through, and you don’t hear any sob stories. All you hear are stories like Mangosteen’s “yeah, it went over pretty well.”
Anyway, I’m not saying international school doesn’t sound enticing (although a bit imperialist), but public school is a good choice too. It also depends on age. And, of course, how long you plan to stay.
But you asked how good is my Mandarin after staying in Shanghai for a year? Pretty bad. And you know why? Because everyone around me could speak English.
But it’s not ok to be unable to speak, understand, read or write. If one were able to enter a Chinese elementary school under such conditions, the child would be ostracized and put in a corner all day long. A Chinese elementary school is nothing like your experience or what you imagine. And I speak from experience instead of a WAG.
It’s a strange situation and it’s difficult to explain without giving too much personal info but I don’t question their ability and willingness to make everything right for us. The man doing the hiring has brought my husband to work for him (at the same firm) twice already, this would be the third time. Mr Duhnym would be coming in as a direct admit partner so it’s quite different from being a salaried employee.
It’s almost like a freight train, to be honest. I think I’m going to end up moving there whether I want to or not.
There is an added complication in that I’m pregnant. It’s early yet (I’m due in June) but it’s making moving look like a monumental, if not impossible, task.
Anyway, the tickets are purchased and the hotel is reserved, we’ll arrive on the 15th. Between meetings and tours, is there anything I should see?
Yeah, after what she went through here, I’m wary of putting her through that again. At the same time, she’s a kid, you know? Should we let her rules our lives and his career?
Interestingly, he’s got another round of interviews with a different company…in Boston. Why can’t the move/new job ever be close?
Pudong, where the new construction is, is straight east across the river. I lived in yang pu, all the way in the north east where the roads make a star.
I say, if you have the time, do some house hunting. Nothing’s gonna help you picture yourself living there like sizing up the places where you might actually live. This will also help you get off the beaten path of tourist landmarks and let you see the real city.
You should also visit some bars. There’s a great one right in the middle of people’s square called Barbarosa. It has a moat, so you know it’s good.
That’s my hood and within walking distance! The heart of the French Concession area, tree lined streets, classic old Western Shanghai with pre liberation villas.
Congrats on the pregnancy. I strongly suggest during your trip that you have someone set up an appointment to meet the Obstetrician-Gynecologist at the World Link Birthing Center. This is pretty much your choice as I’m sure you don’t want to go to a local hospital (where they do know how to deliver babies). We didn’t have the first baby there but were in the first ten and the first with twins. Youngest twin Serena had problems and the neonatologist/pediatrician was beyond excellent. Dr. Jenkins is the pediatrician you’ll probably want to use, and I can’t recommend him highly enough. Worldlink is a 10-15 minute drive from The Center.
If you live near The Center, schools will be a commute. If you want to live in the burb’s, then Hongqiao/Gubei area is probably the best location in terms of the office commute, international schools and lifestyle. Also has a great Carrefour Hypermarket (with a very good international selection at decent prices). Pudong is probably a non starter owing to the commute (it’s on the wrong side of the river, and no way to avoid the traffic on the tunnel or bridges.