anticipating shenyang...
I've mentioned previously on this blog that we're excited about our post in Shenyang. I think at first glance (only at wikipedia, no less) lots of people would question our enthusiasm. Honestly, I've heard it referred to as the "Detroit of China" in the past, but if you look past the car factories, heavy industry and snow, I think that's a bit unforgiving. I really believe Shenyang is the perfect fit for our first post so let me share a few reasons (some serious, some frivolous) why.
1-It's China! We love China, and after investing so much in it (learning the language, starting to figure out the culture, etc.), we're thrilled to be going back. Thanks to Communism, while some things will be different, I know that there's a lot that I can count on being the same. There will be plenty to learn in this transition into the foreign service alone (how a Consulate runs, what the community is like, etc.) and it's a comfort that we'll be making those transitions without the added stress of a whole new country and language. I do still expect to experience culture shock, but I'll be able to identify it and cope with it a little bit better this go around.
2-Shenyang is a solid 2nd-tier Chinese city just like where we lived in Southwest Asia. The central government has invested a LOT of money into this region in the last decade and GDP has grown 13-14% annually. While there isn't a big expat community, Shenyang is developing quickly and stores like Ikea, H&M, Metro (a German verison of Costco) & Uniqlo (Japanese Gap) all have storefronts there.
3-It's not the China we knew inside and out (which has all changed anyway after 2+ years, but still...). While heading back to southwest China would be incredible, we are excited about having plenty to explore in a new region. We'll want to find that perfect tea house like R had in our last city. We're looking forward to great dumplings and Korean food in Shenyang. You can see Japanese & Russian influences in the architecture and culture as well due to periods of occupation. We didn't join the foreign service to do comfortable familiar things. We want to be challenged to learn each and every day, and I think Shenyang will encourage that while having a sense a familiarity.
4-We are close (4 hour train ride) to places like Harbin & Dalian which I've heard so much about, but never made it to during our last stay in Asia. If you haven't heard of Harbin- it is home to an INCREDIBLE International Ice & Sculpture Festival. You have to see all of the pictures from the 2012 Festival here:
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/01/harbin_international_ice_and_s.html
It looks like pure magic! I had to post a few... I really hope we go this year!
5-We're also not far from Beijing; Seoul, South Korea; and Japan. While we've visited Beijing several times (R lived there for 2 summers & I couldn't keep away from the pearl market), we would love to visit South Korea or Japan. Two years doesn't seem long enough!
6-Shenyang people also speak very standard Mandarin so R & I will be looking to improve and solidify our Chinese during our time there. R will be doing LOTS of visa interviews and there is probably not a better way to improve your Chinese than talking to Chinese people day in and day out. I plan to get a language tutor (amazing what all you lose after 2+ years of not using Mandarin- kind of wish I would have kept it up). With a smaller expat community, we will have more opportunities to build relationships with locals.
7-There's a good possibility I could work in the consulate in Shenyang. We're still exploring options and trying to figure out what could be the best fit, but at least a part-time position would lend some structure and help me get to know some people in the consulate.
8- We hear morale at post is high. I am trying to still keep expectations low, but literally everyone we speak to says there are great people at the consulate in Shenyang. We are firm believers that the people you serve alongside make or break your time abroad. If you're positive and make the best of the hard things, your time will be good. From everything we've heard it sounds like the morale in Shenyang is high and people like living and working there.
9- The housing for FSOs in Shenyang looks incredible. They're furnished high rise apartments with amenities like gyms, swimming pools, & saunas. I was shocked to hear our apartment will most likely have a dishwasher, as in, the appliance, people! I still don't know if I will believe it until I see it! It will be very different from my first residence in China, that's for sure.
10-We get to leave for Shenyang right after Christmas. All of the details aren't quite worked out yet, but after R met his boss on Monday we heard we'll be able to get to post right after Christmas. I am glad we won't be spending 10 months in DC, learning another language and just raring to get overseas. I'm also thankful we'll be stateside for one more set of holidays before we're abroad for 2 years.
11-Hello! New! Wardrobe! I have to do a separate post about my winter wardrobe and the 2 other times I narrowly escaped living in tundra conditions, but it's fun to get to shop for snow boots and parkas. I can even justify adding to my scarf collection that R likes to remind me is quite substantial. You try turning down $2 scarves and $5 pashminas in markets in Asia! It's nearly impossible.
12- We earn equity & differential. Each post around the world is given a certain differential which acknowledges how much of an adjustment living there takes compared to a US city like Washington DC. Due to the weather, pollution and a few other factors, Shenyang has a high differential. That has been helpful to keep us pretty sober-minded yet excited about it. It will also possibly help as we bid for our next post. Typically the more difficult your current post, the more inclined the placement people are to give you one of your top choices for your next post. Of course, there are people serving in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, etc. that have a much higher differential than Shenyang. But we are glad to serve somewhere that's not quite as glamorous and confident that if we don't freeze, we will probably thrive there.
All things considered, Shenyang seems like the perfect first post for us. Everything will not be perfect, but no post is perfect. We hope we'll be able to contribute to the community early on and enjoy two years in China! Thanks for reading!
1-It's China! We love China, and after investing so much in it (learning the language, starting to figure out the culture, etc.), we're thrilled to be going back. Thanks to Communism, while some things will be different, I know that there's a lot that I can count on being the same. There will be plenty to learn in this transition into the foreign service alone (how a Consulate runs, what the community is like, etc.) and it's a comfort that we'll be making those transitions without the added stress of a whole new country and language. I do still expect to experience culture shock, but I'll be able to identify it and cope with it a little bit better this go around.
2-Shenyang is a solid 2nd-tier Chinese city just like where we lived in Southwest Asia. The central government has invested a LOT of money into this region in the last decade and GDP has grown 13-14% annually. While there isn't a big expat community, Shenyang is developing quickly and stores like Ikea, H&M, Metro (a German verison of Costco) & Uniqlo (Japanese Gap) all have storefronts there.
3-It's not the China we knew inside and out (which has all changed anyway after 2+ years, but still...). While heading back to southwest China would be incredible, we are excited about having plenty to explore in a new region. We'll want to find that perfect tea house like R had in our last city. We're looking forward to great dumplings and Korean food in Shenyang. You can see Japanese & Russian influences in the architecture and culture as well due to periods of occupation. We didn't join the foreign service to do comfortable familiar things. We want to be challenged to learn each and every day, and I think Shenyang will encourage that while having a sense a familiarity.
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/01/harbin_international_ice_and_s.html
It looks like pure magic! I had to post a few... I really hope we go this year!
5-We're also not far from Beijing; Seoul, South Korea; and Japan. While we've visited Beijing several times (R lived there for 2 summers & I couldn't keep away from the pearl market), we would love to visit South Korea or Japan. Two years doesn't seem long enough!
6-Shenyang people also speak very standard Mandarin so R & I will be looking to improve and solidify our Chinese during our time there. R will be doing LOTS of visa interviews and there is probably not a better way to improve your Chinese than talking to Chinese people day in and day out. I plan to get a language tutor (amazing what all you lose after 2+ years of not using Mandarin- kind of wish I would have kept it up). With a smaller expat community, we will have more opportunities to build relationships with locals.
7-There's a good possibility I could work in the consulate in Shenyang. We're still exploring options and trying to figure out what could be the best fit, but at least a part-time position would lend some structure and help me get to know some people in the consulate.
8- We hear morale at post is high. I am trying to still keep expectations low, but literally everyone we speak to says there are great people at the consulate in Shenyang. We are firm believers that the people you serve alongside make or break your time abroad. If you're positive and make the best of the hard things, your time will be good. From everything we've heard it sounds like the morale in Shenyang is high and people like living and working there.
9- The housing for FSOs in Shenyang looks incredible. They're furnished high rise apartments with amenities like gyms, swimming pools, & saunas. I was shocked to hear our apartment will most likely have a dishwasher, as in, the appliance, people! I still don't know if I will believe it until I see it! It will be very different from my first residence in China, that's for sure.
10-We get to leave for Shenyang right after Christmas. All of the details aren't quite worked out yet, but after R met his boss on Monday we heard we'll be able to get to post right after Christmas. I am glad we won't be spending 10 months in DC, learning another language and just raring to get overseas. I'm also thankful we'll be stateside for one more set of holidays before we're abroad for 2 years.
11-Hello! New! Wardrobe! I have to do a separate post about my winter wardrobe and the 2 other times I narrowly escaped living in tundra conditions, but it's fun to get to shop for snow boots and parkas. I can even justify adding to my scarf collection that R likes to remind me is quite substantial. You try turning down $2 scarves and $5 pashminas in markets in Asia! It's nearly impossible.
12- We earn equity & differential. Each post around the world is given a certain differential which acknowledges how much of an adjustment living there takes compared to a US city like Washington DC. Due to the weather, pollution and a few other factors, Shenyang has a high differential. That has been helpful to keep us pretty sober-minded yet excited about it. It will also possibly help as we bid for our next post. Typically the more difficult your current post, the more inclined the placement people are to give you one of your top choices for your next post. Of course, there are people serving in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, etc. that have a much higher differential than Shenyang. But we are glad to serve somewhere that's not quite as glamorous and confident that if we don't freeze, we will probably thrive there.
All things considered, Shenyang seems like the perfect first post for us. Everything will not be perfect, but no post is perfect. We hope we'll be able to contribute to the community early on and enjoy two years in China! Thanks for reading!
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