Silence on Shenzhen

Neither regular readers nor fellow expatriates should be surprised when I tell you that we have no answers on our possible move to Shenzhen. It seems that our little ultimatum (school starts on Aug. 12, and our kids need to know that they're moving prior to the drive to the airport on Aug. 11) is of no real consequence to the decision makers.

Dave and I continue to feel comfortable with the option of moving, although we both vacillate wildly about which city we would prefer. I have a strong support network here now, and never feel isolated. This would certainly change upon moving to a new town. But we no longer live in the right house in Shanghai - too small, too unsafe, and too far away from school. This would be the perfect opportunity to mix up all that is frustrating about our home.

Essentially, for Dave and I, it comes down to this. If this would feel like an extended vacation, then we would have a great time. If this would feel like a short-term move, then it would be extremely difficult. If Dave works crazy-long hours and Lilly suffers with the transition, it could be more different than exciting. But the location and the apparent community both lead me to believe that we could have a great time.

Still, if we may be moving within a week, how do I shop for groceries?

It Ain't DC, but...

Just when we were beginning to feel stable, it seems there's a new city on the table. Dave's boss has a few very good reasons to want him working in the Pearl River Delta. Hong Kong would be ideal for the company, but with the price of living that city would be a tough sell to the budget-makers. As Dave's already turned down an offer in Hong Kong once, they know just how expensive our family would be. Shenzhen is nearby, Uncle H-- has an office there, and the cost of living is considerably less.

So, Shenzhen is now on the table.

And this will be a rush-rush deal. Partly on their side: if Uncle H-- wins a particular contract, the work will begin soon and need Dave on site quickly. Financially, our lease renews on September 1 and school fees in Shanghai become non-refundable as soon as the girls set foot on campus at the end of August.

But most importantly for us, school begins in Shenzhen on August 12th. I'm not able to picture a move from Shanghai to Shenzhen in under 3 weeks - especially as a non-refundable beach vacation lies smack in the middle of those weeks.

I've spent some spare time today looking at schools and housing. It actually seems like a fun place to live. Loads of expats, all living on a bit of peninsula with mountains on the background and the sea on the forefront. Fairies from the local terminal leave for Hong Kong and Macau 13 times daily, and people's hobbies seem to be scuba diving and lying around the beach. The girls will change schools this year either way, and realistically they will only be keeping a few of the same friends with that change. And myself? The next month would be such a whirlwind that I wouldn't have any time to be nervous.

Dave places the odds on this move at 50-50. The boss says we'll know by the end of the week. That timing is absolutely necessary for us to be in the Shenzhen area by the first day of school.

I wonder if many of the applicants to the foreign service - a career where you reliably move internationally every 2 to 3 years - look forward to it as offering stability?

Updating the Political Register

A nominee was just invited to the September class. This person will begin their journey in the foreign service in about 6 weeks. She seems to have been one of the last candidates called. She was called with a 5.8, and ranked #16.

Another nominee was just added to the list with a 5.67 (above Dave, who has a 5.6). He is ranked #45 out of 189.

If they are not dipping much further than #16, and Dave has dropped to near #50, then its good he is pursuing other options. Pray for quick absorption of Mandarin, and/or a high score on the Econ interview this winter.

Still Waiting

No news on the Shanghai front. Mom is still here, and still beautifully helpful. The sun now shines every day in a blue sky (we're blaming the Expo), and so we've plans to visit the pool every day this week. Dave has not been laid-off, nor has he been offered a new job. And the diet goes well - I dropped 1.2 kg. this week!

The waiting game continues to frustrate us, simply as we have trouble finding peace with not knowing our future. Should we be working toward something else? Should he work on Mandarin until eventually being called, even if it is later than this winter?

It is often through worship on Sunday afternoons that I receive some of that craved peace. This week, we sang Rebecca St. James' "Power of Your Love," and I found her chorus a very timely prayer:

Hold me close,
Let Your love surround me.
Bring me near,
Draw me to Your side;
And as I wait
I'll rise up like an eagle
And I will soar with You.
Your spirit leads me on
By the Power of Your love.

I leaned over to Dave, and whispered that we should pray for such a lovely waiting period.

Drama Deficiency

Maybe life had become too simple. The baby never cries. I'm practically sleeping through the night. The girls are loving our summer life. The diet is going well. My mother is visiting, and everyone enjoys each other's company. Dave continues to study Mandarin, and feels that passing the Mandarin test in November is entirely reasonable. Life rolls along rather smoothly these days.

And so, just to keep things interesting, I've got some new drama to share.

Uncle H--, Dave's employer for the past 10 years, has recently merged with another large company. Dave feels good about the merger, and not terribly surprised. He feels that he's front-line staff, and so not in particular danger of losing his job. But upon further reflection, he did make a startling discovery. His job apparently breaks into 3 primary responsibilities. Upon completion of this merger, people who carried those 3 primary responsibilities immediately prior to Dave will all be working for the same organization, in the same city. He began to feel a bit redundant.

Now, this could be quite advantageous. Should he be laid off in December, and offered a job with the Foreign Service in early January, he would receive a severance package commensurate to his decade of loyalty, and have a new job all lined up. The close timing would ensure that the State Department would "match" his current salary. Of course, they don't really mean "match;" they mean, take into account how much he was paid and put him at the top of the pay-scale for his tenure. This means about a 50% pay cut. But should he come in with no paycheck for the previous 45 days, there would be no salary to match. He would begin this new career as if it were his first. A serious blow, especially when you consider government salaries.

He's not worried, so I'm not worried. But life never dulls in this house!