So, y'all know anything about Shanghai?

[ms.peachy]

It looks like there's a very good possibility that mr.p might be offered a 2 year contract for a job there. I'm really kind of torn about it. On the one hand, I really like our life here. On the other, it would be an adventure, and in this uncertain economic climate, it seems like it would be foolish to turn down a guaranteed good income for the next 2 years. Eep. Really not sure how to feel about this.

[na§tee]

does mr p. have a fixed term contract now, or is it permanent?

[ms.peachy]

He is currently self employed.

[na§tee]

what do you think about that? is work/flow guaranteed for the future? if he took the 2 year contract what would happen afterwards? (get to country stuff later, heh) whaddaya anxious about?

edit: you don't have to answer those questions if it's too rude. i'm just trying to think from a future planning standpoint for YO(ur) FAM(ily).

[rirv]

I spent 3 days in Shanghai a few years ago and that was enough. It was totally overwhelming and I had a really horrible night out which I try to forget.

But don't let me put you off.

[ms.peachy]

what do you think about that? is work/flow guaranteed for the future?

Not really, no. There is probably enough work for at least another year, but we will really have to keep our belt tightened and hope with all of our might that the UK economy doesn't completely tank to such an extent that he can't pull in another big client in the next 6-9 months.

if he took the 2 year contract what would happen afterwards?
Good question. Got no answer for that one. The thing is, the way he has the finances figured, with what they are likely to offer him and the lower cost of living there, at then end of the two years we can have built up a good £25-30K in savings, so if in two years the global economy is still a mess, we'd at least have a bit of a cushion. We could if necessary go live in his old apartment back in the US, which has no mortgage, and live OK for a while even if work is hard to come by.

(get to country stuff later, heh) whaddaya anxious about?

Leaving a life I rather like, really.

[jabumbo]

at least you don't have to worry about changing schools yet?


would it be plausible/worth it if you stayed put and the mister just went there for work?

[na§tee]

so - nothing is really guaranteed either way: option a staying in the uk and toughing it out or option b going to shanghai and seeing where you're at after two years. it's a bit of a gamble. but it looks as if whatever option you take you'll be safe and be able to ride out whatever situations you come across.

i'd say the real factor here is not any economical shiz but your happiness. you like the life you have right now. that doesn't mean you wouldn't like the life you may have over there, of course, but it will be massively different. hmm. difficult decision you have there, p. i don't know. on one hand i think it's great to have a new challenge, a new adventure, but on the other you're sort of tying yourself in to two years of potential misery (a bit harsh but hey) if not. but, again.. nothing ventured nothing gained? oooh. i do not know.

jabumbo: my father lived away for six years of my childhood (11-17) and when he came back he was a different man. they got divorced a year after that. my mother had moved on. they had problems anyway and i'm not saying that's the course for most couples but i'd be cautious. if it's a finite amount of time, sure, maybe you can grit your teeth through it but two years? that far away? with a really young child? i don't think it's worth the gamble. my father came into my home and i didn't know who the fuck he was any more.

bottom line is i think peachy can make anything work if she really wants to - question is if she has the desire or not.

[Gareth]

went there last year
didn't particularly like it
i mean, i could probably live there for a few years but only if i was making good money

[ms.peachy]

We will only go if it is 'a lot' of money. The thing is, it is looking like they may offer him about £90k per year, plus subsidise our housing cost and pay all of the moving expenses. That's a lot of money.

[Gareth]

would you want to raise a child in shanghai for 2 years?

[paul jones]

I saw that Madonna film once and it was very shit(y)

[ms.peachy]

would you want to raise a child in shanghai for 2 years?

Wouldn't be the worst thing. She's only 2.5, so it's a good time for her to be immersed in another language, and there's not currently a 'school' issue to worry about. Although, two years from now, there will be, and not knowing where we'll be then, it might make the admissions process more difficult at that time, because we won't have been able to do the local groundwork.

The fact is, the person in the family it would be hardest on is me. Mr.p will have his work (and by extension, a ready made peer group), my daughter will be happy and make friends wherever she is, but I will have (probably) no job, and have to make the effort of finding people to be friends with. Which obviously isn't impossible (and in some ways is easier with a child), but it will be a lonely few months up front.

[ms.peachy]

yeah so, they called him this morning with a pretty damn god offer.

So it looks like this thing really might happen.

Holy crapstick

[na§tee]

wow. good luck. i envy you being in that position.

who needs to find a job when someone else is on 90-odd K? lounge around eating grapes all day! get massages! build a library! play world of warcraft 24/7! wah-hey!

i kid. personal goals yadda yadda. at least you guys won't be left wanting should you not get a position immediately. how exciting! i wish i had a shit hot trade someone would slam down more than four times my current salary for, hehe :)

time to go HOUSE HUNTING!

[kaiser soze]

Ooh what a Surprise!

I guess the money matters so more than likely you'll be going.

Your husband better spoil the SHISH out of you for making the sacrifice.

What about family? They won't see your daughter for 2 years...she'll be talking/walking/feeding herself/writing novels/speaking Chinese the next time they see her :confused:

[BangkokB]

I see it as a win/win situation. With the way the economic situation is going in the long term your daughter may very well learn to speak Chinese(Mandorin or Cantonese I haven't a clue), which will be hella beneficial in her later years. At the very least she'll have a leg up on her fellow UKman in the later years if you play your cards right. Plus+ You get to add a chapter to your life that most people can't and it will look good in your memoirs. You say that you like where you're at now: Well, where have you been to set the barometer to it? I would love to have a passport that's been stamped with every stamp under the sun but I'm kinda adventurous like that. You're in the drivers seat. Enjoy it and if it doesn't work out then move.

I thought that Shanghai was crazy overpriced to live there now. I know China's economy has been sluggish this past year but 2 years ago(yea, yea, I know) I was told that Shanghai was quite the expensive place to live.

[ms.peachy]

Ooh what a Surprise!

I guess the money matters so more than likely you'll be going.

Your husband better spoil the SHISH out of you for making the sacrifice.

What about family? They won't see your daughter for 2 years...she'll be talking/walking/feeding herself/writing novels/speaking Chinese the next time they see her :confused:

Well, as it stands they live in the US and we live in England, so it's not like they see much of her now beyond Skype.

Money is of some importance, certainly. Beyond our own expenses, I do have a disabled sister and a nephew who will always need some form of assisted living, so to speak, and in the current economic climate, we kind of have to go with the more 'sure thing', really.

I don't know that he needs to spoil me per se, or look at it as I am making a big sacrifice for him necessarily. This is a marriage; we're a family, we're making this decision together - if I was absolutely opposed to going, then it wouldn't happen. I might be 'giving up' certain things, but it's all about investing ourselves in our future together really, not "I'm doing this for him" or vice versa.

And anyway, it is not a 100% done deal, it's ust the most likely scenario at this point. It is likely he will also be offered something with a firm in Portland OR, and with one here in London. The thing is, neither of those two is likely to pay as well, they are not quite as senior positions, and the economic forecast for the US and the UK is a bit dicier than for China. So we will see. I am just trying to work my head around the idea that it very well may be that 3 months from now, I will be leaving for Asia. It is very exciting, and daunting.

[jabumbo]

you should take the maglev train from the airport to the city and tell the government here how amazing it would be to have that operating in this region!



think about it this way, the quality of local cuisine is bound to go up!

[Myu-to]

It was some of Owen Wilson's best work.(y)

[hpdrifter]

I've been there, I thought it was a pretty cool place. Supposedly the most "Western" of Chinese cities outside of Hong Kong. I would be so excited if I had an opportunity like that, though I would also be scared. I remember thinking it was very slick and there were tons of fancy new buildings and bars. There may be expats there that you could meet. Hell, I found an Irish bar there. And hot pot was just about the best thing ever. 2 years is a long time but I love foreign languages so if I had the chance to go an be immersed in one I would be thrilled.

[Lyman Zerga]

i only know that i dont care about it