Joyce's Adventure

Arrived in France alone.

2008-12-24T01:34:00.000-08:00

After Mickael left for Pudong airport on Dec 20's night, i packed my luggage and made sure that i took all stuff what i need in France. Long distance trip again, just like before it wasn't so easy to calm down which i only slept for 3-4 hours at night, woke up at 3:45am on Dec 21's early morning, killed some time and left for Pudong airport at 6am. This taxi driver was kinda dumb which i paid for 158RMB, the road condition was pretty good while it was 6am, for my safety's sake, i didn't argue with him, let it go.

I checked in and then was told that my flight would be transitted to Beijing at first place which i was so shocked, i never expected that and just worried if it would be late for Paris, actually i worried too much.

Well, i was lucky to get a window seat and a french man sitting next to me, but i swear to the God, we didn't talk at all during the flight from Shanghai to Beijing. Around 90 minutes' flight, we were in Beijing international airport. The funny thing is the staff in Beijing Custom was telling me i looked extreamly slim than the photo on my passport, it made me feel great, ghahaha.

The flight from Beijing to Paris was absolutely long for me, especially without hubby, i wished my hubby was with me on the plane, well, not too bad, as the french guy next to me chatted a lot with me along the way about his chinese wife, impression, finacial crisis around the world, different foreigners' personality, blah blah blah, at least it didn't make my trip way too boring. Additional, he helped me for finding and moving my heavy luggage and took me to the exit, afterwards he said goodbye to me and left for Lyon where he lives. Who said french people is a$$hole?!

Volia, i got out on Terminal 1 and saw no one from my family which was extremely upset, i kept waiting for over 40 minutes, plus i was way too exhausted after 12 hours' flight without good sleep, then i started nervous and tried to find someone for help, well, one chinese woman just made a phone call to her french family, after she ended the call, i asked her if she's chinese, yes, she is, then i asked her if she could make a phone call to my hubby's home, she did for me, however no one was home to answer. Then i chatted with her a little bit to release my nervous. She also was waiting for her french hubby to pick her up. Suddently i saw my hubby showed up and walked forward to me, hmm, i felt so security finally. My mother-in-law, sisiter-in law, father-in law all came to the airport to pick me up, i'm the happiest girl in the world.oyho.

Memory of Grandfather forever

2008-12-18T06:09:00.000-08:00

Grandfather passed away in the early morning of Dec 14, his funeral was finished by Dec 16’s afternoon. I really don’t know where to start about my grandfather’s story. The funeral, fete, tears, all things come out on my mind from time to time.

The most impressed memory is that my grandfather always was in the living room when we visited them on holiday, he was just sitting over there and waiting for us coming back home to get together. He always cared of us about of our life and work, sometimes we thought the overly caring was annoying, however we are not going to hear his voice anymore, life is short which is so true. I had grown up and lived with them until I was 16, afterwards I moved to Shanghai with my parents. I left my grandfather nearly 9 years which I visited them regularly once a year, that was so less.

I really do miss my grandfather though his body wasn’t here anymore with us, but I do believe he lives in our hearts forever. I tried my best to stay with his body in the living room in the past three days, he was so skinny that his face wasn’t be recognized by those people who haven’t seen him a lot. I know, he was my grandfather, sleeping so peacefully in the coffin, just peacefully.

The toughest time for me is the farewell for grandfather’s body in the crematorium, it was the first time for me to visit so serious and scared place in the world, the video man made a tape for us, after the farewell, we went to buy the stone box for grandfather’s bone ash, we picked a stone one with nice décor finally and asked them to carved grandfather’s name, birth date and death date. Later we were waiting in the restroom and was told that we could watch the video together, it was extremely sad and I saw my grandfather for the last time before he was sending to the first cinerator, I hate this. A couple of minutes later, the staff sent my grandfather’s bone ash to the restroom which was wrapped by the red silk. My dad took it and put into the stone box, the big body turned into a box of ash, this is the most astonished thing I ever experienced before.

Well, life needs to move on, i do miss my grandfather! Rest in peace!

E-gift to my new family

2008-12-09T07:02:00.001-08:00

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Updated: How long will it take to get married with Mickael?

2008-12-09T04:50:00.000-08:00

Oct.2.2008--Birth certificate notary, Hukou book notary. 2 copies including French translation, Certification letter to Foreign Affairs(550RMB)

Oct.9.2008--Single document notary, including French translation, Certification letter to Foreign Affairs(220RMB)

Oct.16.2008--To pick all notary documents. Yeah

Oct. 17.2008--Foreign affairs for the certificate of the notary. 200RMB (50RMB/document+50RMB delivery fee to French Consulate)

Oct.29.2008--An interview for marriage with Mr. Motier in French Consualte(Present all documents)

Nov 14.2008--Pick Marriage qualification paper in French Consulate

Nov 15.2008--Marriage register on Caobao Lu. FAILED, damn!!! Because French consulate made a mistake of translatation for Mickael's name, how could they make this kinda STUPID mistake?! So choked.

Nov 17.2008--French consulate correct the mistake of Mickael's name+ Marriage register on Caobao Lu(we're husband and wife now!!!)(9RMB)+ Notary office for marriage and translation(230RMB)

Nov 18.2008--Translate my ID card(70RMB)--In fact, VISA doesn't require it, i hate their website, i misunderstood.

Nov 19.2008--Notary done+send notary to Foreign Affairs(100RMB for the fast process)

Nov 20.2008--Got my ID card translation paper

Nov 21.2008--Get foreign affair docs+ send all docs to French Consulate

Dec 9.2008--To get our french family booklet and french marriage certificate, at the meantime, i filled out the Schengen VISA application form and presented all documents which they require, she asked me to take my passport and visa on Dec 15. The visa fee is FREE!!! Valid time is one year with multi entry:D

Dec 15.2008--Get VISA, vaild for 1 year, mutil entry

Our new apartment has the best view!!!

2008-11-30T05:27:00.000-08:00

Lu pu bridge, correct me if i'm wrong. Gateway towers, Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jin mao Tower, World Financial Center.

Lu Pu Bridge

GoodYear dirigible balloon passed by Xujiahui

Railway Station

Our new apartment is pretty close to Caobao Road subway station which has the nest view from our 2 balconies(South&North).

Basically we could see Xujiahui, Tomorrow square, TV tower, Jin mao tower, World Financial Center, Lu pu bridge, Nan pu bridge, ,most of the Shanghai landmarks are viewed so easily in our 19th floor sweet home, gahgahagahhh.

Cheers!

Thailand shuts down the second airport

2008-11-27T02:54:00.000-08:00

Just watched the international news that Thailand airport are such a chaos, they shut down the second airport which all passengers are stuck in there over 48 hours.

One American tourist weren't calm down and yelled as what they often do all over the world: I wanna go to Phuket, what's wrong with those people. A$$hole, don't you see those Thail pretesters fighting for their own right?! Shut up, loser! Do not never ever expect other people treat you like GOD when you're being a$$hole,dude.

Wedding albums in advance! HOTTTTT!!! To be continued.

2008-11-24T04:11:00.000-08:00

Wedding albums in advance! HOTTTTT!!!

2008-11-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been raining for 2 days which makes our mood blue, however we are told that our wedding albums are done, we could pick anytime.

Great, so finally got all products we ordered, including 3 albums(large+middle+mini), 3 small frames, 2 large inch typical wedding frames, 1 post, 1 big red suitcase, hmmm, so lovely, oh, and 56 pictures and 1 CD, and 35 invitation cards with inserted photo.

All right, photoes are more than any words, tatah, now is midnight so i'd like to post only 1 photo, to be continued tomorrow:)

We're husband and wife NOW!

2008-11-17T07:19:00.000-08:00

We almost choked last Sat when Marriage register told us that French Consulate made a mistake of translation of Mickael's name. We were so pissed off and i even wanted to punch someone.

Fine, Mickael went to french consulate to get new documents, what i'm not surprised is no one apologized in French consulate, come on. Due to their mistake, we lost one day for our marriage process, it's straightly related with getting family booklet and visa and flight ticket,etc. Losing one day maybe means lose one week. Yep, Mickael often says that, it's true.

And today, we went to marriage register again, well, everything went on very well, all documents were correct and we were required to pay 9RMB, after we filled out our declareation form, we were taken into that marriage presenting hall, the staff announced we're husband and wife, congratulations. Only 5 seconds, suddently we're a legal couple in China.

Updated: How long will it take to get married with Mickael?

2008-11-16T04:55:00.000-08:00

Oct.29.2008--An interview for marriage with Mr. Motier in French Consualte(Present all documents)

Nov 14.2008--Pick Marriage qualification paper in French Consulate

Nov 15.2008--Marriage register on Caobao Lu. FAILED, damn!!! Because French consulate made a mistake of translatation for Mickael's name, how could they make this kinda STUPID mistake?! So choked.

Nov 17.2008--French consulate correct the mistake of Mickael's name+ Marriage register on Caobao Lu(we're husband and wife now!!!)(9RMB)+ Notary office for marriage and translation(230RMB)

Nov 18.2008--Translate my ID card(70RMB)

Nov 19.2008--Notary done+send notary to Foreign Affairs(100RMB for the fast process)

Nov 20.2008--Got my ID card translation paper

Nov 21.2008--Get foreign affair docs+ send all docs to French Consulate

Dec...Waiting for getting french family booklet

To be continued.

I'm unloaded today.

2008-11-06T00:39:00.000-08:00

Our current landlord called me this morning which it surprised me, he asked when we would move out and he would ask his friend to come over and handle our deposit and some bills. The bad news is he'll have an operation in Ruijin Hospital soon:(

Anyway we decide to move into the new apartment this Sunday, hope we will get the keys on Sat for good:-)

A new gift i got today from a Japanese friend!

2008-11-05T05:54:00.000-08:00

Who will win in the end? Let's see in one week!

2008-10-31T05:51:00.000-07:00

My brain is basically stuck and unsorted and disordered now, you can't imagine how many phone calls i made home today, how many hours i talked on the phone with the current landlord, old and new agents, moving company, even on msn with Mickael to report the proceed of our trouble a$$hole landlord.

There's nothing messed up more than our house contract and landlord issues. I really don't wanna recall the bad news i got from the old agent this morning about the current landlord changing his mind again, blah blah blah blah

All in all, he just wants to get some reibursement back as we informed him about our moving too late, nonsense, i double checked the contract and confirmed with the agency, we're right, just because this landlord can't accept this truth.

Good news is that our new agent has done a great job to find a "client" who claimed to move into on Nov 15, suddently the landlord called my cell phone which i wasn't expected all the time, it looked he had a good mood and told me that we need to move out before Nov 15. So we should postone our moving plan tomorrow, instead of visiting Seattle Residence, then go sign the new house contract with the new landlord and new agency.

Bad news is that i'm really not sure if when the old landlord will change his mind again on this issue, it looks like we can trust him this time without any paper, this is not fair for us. God, please, Mishi finds "that client" asap. If not, we should renew our contract with him for one more year which we need to face with, meanwhile we'll lose 4,550RMB as we'll sign the new contract with another person and tomorrow we'll only pay one month's rental as the deposit.

This is a good lesson for any of us, when we deal with the money stuff or the contract stuff, we should double read and think about every single details. Try to pay less as the deposit, even if we're in trouble, the deposit doesn't hurt our heart a lot.

My wishes now are:
1.Hope our current landlord doesn't change his mind anymore and keep his word.
2.Hope we can move out next weekend.
3.Hope our current landlord gives lefted deposit back.

French consulate today, we'll be get married 2 weeks later.

2008-10-29T00:04:00.000-07:00

We had an appointment with Mr. Jean-Claude Mortier at 11am in French Consulate today, honestly speaking, i wasn't nervous at all before we arrived there.

We got there on time and we were waiting in the room a little bit, fine, i was still cool. Nah, actually the temperature was around 29 degrees, other people also complained it was to hot, or someting wrong with their air-con, whatever.

Voila, here we are, Mr.Jean-Claude Mortier called Mickael, so we followed him and went to his office, we were asked to present our passports and copy documents, plus he gave 3 pieces of paper to fill out which it was in french. I don't have any clue, i asked Mickael for help, suddently i realized that my hands were sweating, a lot, lol. What a serious and important moment for us!

After Mr. Jean-Claude Mortier got all documents he required, the INTERVIEW started, as follow conversation:

1. Jean-Claude: When did you meet each other? Where? Why?
Joyce: We met each other in March 17,2007.
Mickael: In Shanghai. That was a french party, a house party.

2. Jean-Claude:Have we seen each other's parents already? When?
Mickael: We met Joyce's parents last Mother's day.
Joyce: That was May 17, i guess.
Jean-Claude: So have you ever seen Mickael's parents? Or his parents visited Shanghai?
Joyce: Nope, not yet, we chatted on MSN and saw them.

3. Jean-Claude:How do parents feel like of Mickael? What was the first impression?
Mickael: Her parents like me .
Jean-Claude: They like you or more that like?
Mickael:Yes, more than like, the first impression was great, they're good people.

4. Jean-Claude:Do we live together? Sure?
Mickael: Yes.
Joyce: Errr, yes, i used to live with my parents, but now i live with Mickael most of the time.
Jean-Claude: Are you sure? Now you live with him?
Joyce: Yes, i'm pretty sure about this.

5. Jean-Claude:Do we have a plan to make a baby? When?
Mickael: We want to have a baby next year.
Joyce: Errr, nope, i want to have a baby after our wedding, so that'll be next summer.

6. Jean-Claude:Do we have a plan to buy an real estate in China?
Joyce: Yes, we used to have that plan, and now the real estate market in China is so weak and uncontrollable, we will wait a little bit.
Jean-Claude: Yeah, all markets, everywhere.

7. Jean-Claude:Has Joyce ever been to Schengen countries? Has Joyce ever visited France?
Joyce: Not yet, never, but i have a plan to visit them during the Christmas this year.

8. Jean-Claude:Do you have any plans for the future? Are you ready for your Chinese work contract?
Mickael: Yes, we will work and live in Shanghai for next few years. The Chinese work contract will be not a problem for me.

Voila, the interview is finished, simple and sharp, everyone needs to be honest. They will smell it if you cheat. Mr. Jean-Claude wrote down everything on that red paper as the proof, haha, and now we're told that we need to wait for 10 days as they will make a public notice about our marriage for us. I guess we need to visit him 10 days later to get French booklet.

12 sharp, our appointment was done.

Landlord issue,we're in trouble.

2008-10-28T23:43:00.000-07:00

We got a larger new apartment last Sunday finally, then i called our current landlord who were so gentle and nice, suddently he turned into a bad rude man through our phone converstaion this Monday.

He said it was too late to inform him, so he asked us to find another new client to rent his apartment immediately. He accused that i should have told him 2 months earlier. What a nonsense! I double checked our rental contract, it's written we should inform the landlord if we want to renew our rental contract, if not, we just need to move out in 3 days before the contract ends. Obviously this landlord does misunderstood overly and overly!!! Even he asked me to read the contract carefully, this is so ridiculous.

The second day, i called him again and he shouted and screamed through the phone again, he didn't give me any chance to explain which he was compeletely WRONG on this issue. Damn, what kinda human being it is?! He brings us to a wrose situation, he asked us to stay one more months, then we can leave whatever he finds a new client or not, this is so unacceptable. He also said that he didn't wanna give us back 9000RMB deposit, gosh, this is a robbery. I asked him to calm down and let the agency to talk to him, he was so angry for nothing and crazy.

I called the agency and explained every single detail to them , they fully understand us and will try to talk to the landlord, still, no news from the agency so far, i'd better call again.

To be continued...

Today is not my day! God damn it!

2008-10-22T22:17:00.000-07:00

I got up at 6am and went out to take the subway to my client's office when it was raining, everything was okay even i got a seat in the subway, was glad to wear my favoriet high-heels. Tahtah, eventually i arrived at Xinzhuang Station, errrr, i even don't wanna recall it again, so disguesting. Well, i walked as usuall, however suddently i felt like i was "flying" in one second, fcuk, i slipped and fell down, my arm got a little bit hurt, especially my butt, that was killing me, fortunately i'm young and i can survive. Which bastard keeps the vomit stuff here a little bit? Which bastard is in charge of cleaning station? As you know, i haven't slipped and fell down for ages.

Still i need to mention:
1. All passengers were just watching and passing when they saw i felt down, yeah, what a nice drama! CHINESE PEOPLE were so MEAN and CRUEL, especially CHINESE MEN, gentlemen in China mainland? NO ONE. FUCK!

2. At the end, one Shanghainese woman helped me to stand up which i'm so appreciate:)

Try to leave this crowded hell as soon as possible. Count down for the Christmas NOW!

Michael Scotfield is in Shanghai TODAY!!!

2008-10-17T09:10:00.001-07:00

Dude, you know what, Michael Scotfield is in Shanghai today, how could i miss this great news?! He is gay, however he got a huge load of fans in China although the Prison Break isn't so hot for those Americans, but us.

Me too, i'm such a big fan of him in Prison Break, he's just so cool and charming. Geez, hope Mickael doesn't check my blog today, lol

Updated: How long does it take to register marriage with Mickael in Shanghai?

2008-10-15T04:09:00.000-07:00

Oct. 17.2008--Foreign affairs for the certificate of the notary. 200RMB(50RMB/document+50RMB delivery fee to French Consulate)

Oct. 29,2008--French Consulate, "Interview" @11am

Ferrari is everywhere!!!

2008-10-15T04:02:00.000-07:00

The Ferrari is almost everywhere, i took these photoes yesterday downstaris of my office building.

Had no idea what they really wanted to do with this super brand new car, all passengers were so curious and took pictures over there. Inculding me, lol.

Money thing.

2008-10-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Today i realise that my monthly salary increases a lot lately which i absolutely can afford a decent Louis Vuitton bag. However i'm still not satisfied with the salary now, or let's say how much money will be enough for me in the end, it's a tough question, also endless. I'm so greedy, i want to make a lot of money now! This is my target by the end of this year.

Recently it's real that i'm under lots of pressure, the work, the life, especially the wedding, you know how much it will cost you if you have a wedding in Shanghai? Over 150,000RMB which also depends on how many people you will invite and where to have honey moon,air tickets, brand of diamond ring, special wedding plan, wedding dresses, blah blah blah. IT DRIVES ME CRAZY.

150,000RMB means a lot for young chinese couples, guess how many years they need to work hard and save hard. Mickeal is french, i wish he was chinese so that his parent could help him a little bit at least, but he isn't. The chinese traditon is the groom's family(parents) take care of the house purchase, decro expense, the whole wedding expense, well, yes, all chinese people work hard and save hard for the whole life just for their sons' wedding, what the FCUK. They're not liveing for themselves but for their sons. Just becasue those people lead the wedding way over and over, therefore the wedding expense increases as much fast and high as the rocket, and of course the face thing. Who doesn't wanna deserve a brillant and amazing wedding for once in their whole life?!

I used to be so tired of the wedding warm up, such as search good hotels, agencies for wedding photograph, wedding plans, etc. One day, i almost wanted to give up, as i really didn't get it why we need to spend so much MONEY&TIME on the wedding. Why can't we just have a small decent causal wedding party? WHY? The answer is i'm chinese, for my family good, for my own good, we just need to do it.

C'est la vie! sigh

How long does it take to register marriage with Mickael in Shanghai?

2008-10-09T03:48:00.000-07:00

Oct.2.2008--Birth certificate notary, Hukou book notary. 2 copies including French translation, Certification letter to Foreign Affairs(550RMB)

Oct.9.2008--Single document notary, including French translation, Certification letter to Foreign Affairs(220RMB)

Oct.16.2008--To pick all notary documents. Yeah

Sushi dinner

2008-10-09T02:03:00.000-07:00

Hungry!

I'm starving NOW!!! Please let me eat as they serve the food already.

I'm stasfied now, yum yum, i can't wait until Mickael finishes taking photoes.LOL

Reasonable price at 6th floor in Super brand mall, 98RMB per person, so we ordered 2 sets, LOVE Japanese food, expect Japanese people, shhh

Photoes during National holiday

2008-10-09T00:56:00.000-07:00

Holiday, holiday, holiday, holiday means full people everywhere, good for Shanghai tourism, good for Shopping malls, good for restuarants and so on, perhaps also good for theives, lots of targets for them, gaagagaga
We went to Super Brand Mall, what a huge one! But unfortunately i didn't see many super brands, such as Gucci, Dior, Longchamp, but H&M and ZARA, they're okay for me.

What a lovely night view of World Financial Center and Jin Mao Tower! They look great, don't they?

I hate the flash on my face. Can you imagine how slow the driving speed in front of TV pearl tower was at Oct 1st night? Extremly SLOW, we stood there for about 10-15 minutes to take some pictures of the TV tower, we observed that those buses even didn't move on at all though the green traffic light was on again and again. Geez, the traffic jam was just SUPER heavy.

Then some red color caught loads of people's eyes indeed, that was Ferrari. Damn it, what the hell was that red car doing here? I heard your engine, that performance should be good. But look at this photo, if you were the driver, what kinda feeling would you have behind those big and tall buses during such crazy traffic jam? You couldn't move on within 10 meters in 10-15 minutes. I prefer calling you NERD.

What i got today? Wedding shoes!

2008-10-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

Here it is, my wedding shoes. Thank you baby, you always bought me good stuff:)))) Honestly speaking, i can't imagine that i'm getting married so quickly, only 6 months left for get prepared. I got butterflies in my stomach, i mean we will go take wedding photograph in Oct,22. Now i'm still kinda fat, having some acnes on my face, actually i haven't paid too much attention on my keep-fit. But i swear i will make it happen in the next 2 weeks for our own good. Tough time!

Plus, baby also bought one more paire of white shoes for me, i can wear them for working. I never knew that the white shoes looked so good on me:)

Our plant corner in the balcony

2008-10-05T07:49:00.000-07:00

It's rarely to have a garden in the downtown of Shanghai, unless i have a villa or live on the first floor perhaps.

In fact, we used to bought a lot plants in IKEA for the decro, however most of them died in one week, so sad. Then i realised that those IKEA plants were protected well and never experienced the hot/cold weather, that's why they die so quickly after they leave their home(IKEA). Same for human being in our life, we will be strong and brave after we go through ups and downs.

Well, back to the point, i bought those plants from the vendors and flower shop which was great, they grow up healthily in our balcony and enjoy the nature well:)