Monique's First Two Days

Well, my long wait is over. Monique finally touched down in Shanghai Friday night. She was grateful to touch down, because things almost didn’t work out.

Delays in departure in SLC due to deicing caused her to have to race to the International Terminal at LAX to catch her flight. Beyond being delayed at check in by a predictably bureaucratic agent, she was then held up by a seriously slow security line. Literally at the time her flight was supposed to be departing, she was still waiting for someone to X-Ray her shoes. Despite trying to find ways to move through faster, and explanations that she was missing her flight “right now”, no one seemed to care. What with the OJ Simpson race through the airport (only old folks will remember the rental car commercials of olden days before OJ became a murderer), and the rude agent, and the prospect of having to pay for another airline ticket, she called me in tears (at 3:15 am my time) not knowing what to do.  My efforts to call LAX or Shanghai offices of China Eastern Airlines were to no avail, and unable to call her back, I had no choice but to climb back under the warm comforter and try to go back to sleep.

Finally through security, she literally sprinted to the gate in the hopes there may be a chance of somehow still making her flight. In the wrestle with uncooperative luggage, crowded escalators, etc., when she finally got into the gate area (the flight hadn’t left yet – yay) she unceremoniously threw her luggage on the ground as a bystander looked on incredulously. In a way only Monique could pull off, she gave the guy an evil eye and said loudly “I’m just PISSED OFF right now – OK!?!?!”  The guy slinked away wondering what he’d just run into.

At 3:50 am I am again wakened by a call from Monique informing me that she made her flight – but barely. They were just about to take off and I could hear the flight attendant getting mad that she was on the phone.  Well, after that it’s all flight time – 14 hours plus or minus. My colleagues and I counted the hours until her arrival later that day, they being so kind as to make sure I was out of an important meeting in time to get to the airport to pick her up.  It was only after she arrived that I heard (as Paul Harvey would say) “the REST of the story”. 

Travelers on China Eastern flights to Shanghai are predominantly Asian.  Typically only a handful of foreigners – and even fewer foreign women. Monique spotted a blond woman who she eventually realized was LDS. Doing the math, she surmised that one way or another she would likely end up meeting this woman someday. There aren’t THAT many Caucasian LDS women in or around Shanghai.  She interrupted the woman to ask if she was indeed LDS. The woman responded in the affirmative. After some chit-chat the woman asked who Monique was, to which Mo responded that she was moving to Shanghai, and that her husband (me) had been there a month or so already.  The woman’s explosive response stunned Monique.  “So YOU’RE Monique!!!”. And then proceeded to welcome her to China, etc., etc.

Turns out, this was the mom of a family with whom I had had dinner a week or two before. Knowing I was “batch’ing it”, they invited me over for dinner just before Christmas.  Their family had later returned to the states for the holidays and was on their way back – coincidentally on the same flight as Mo.  This woman (Allison) is the Relief Society President of our Shanghai Branch and knew ALL about Monique’s pending arrival. Then, as Allison’s husband returned to his seat, Monique was horrified to note that it was the very guy in the gate area who she had yelled at.  DOH!!!  Doesn’t it always work out that way? Bread with jam on it NEVER falls face up.  Well, they all laughed together, with Allison remarking that they’d had several similar trips over the years, and that they completely understood.  I’m pretty sure there is a lesson to be learned in there, but I’ll let you conjure that for yourself.

So on with the capers. Saturday morning, much to do.  Before I go back to work on Monday, leaving Monique pretty much on her own,  I have 2 days to teach her how to use the Subway, how to flag a cab (and say where you’re going), how to mentally convert money while bartering with a shopkeeper, how to get a prepaid phone SIM card, where are the “safe” toilets, and many other things.  It was a tough day. Saturdays are notoriously crowded at all types of shops as the Chinese (who don’t really have time to shop on other days) get all their errands done. But trooper that she is, fighting jet-lag all the way, Monique stuck it out and we started to gather some of the home furnishings that our house has been lacking (like spoons for Frosted Flakes, for instance).  At about 5:00 pm, I look at Mo and notice a deep glaze over her eyes. Realizing that it is 2:00 am her time, having had minimal sleep the previous 48 hours, we snag a cab and head for home. On the way home I can tell the cab driver is listening to a basketball game. It’s all in Chinese and I can’t tell if it is CBA or NBA. He says NBA. He doesn’t know the English names of the teams, and I don’t know the Chinese names. He gestures and says some words, and erupting from a groggy Monique in the back seat I hear “he’s saying Yao Ming” – the Chinese basketball player. Thanks Mo!  Who needs to know how to speak Chinese!!!  So as I listen, I know it’s Houston, but who are they playing?  They are playing the “Jue-su” – THE JAZZ!  In SLC no less. Both he and I are sort of stunned that here I am in Shanghai listening to the team from my home city play a Basketball game. Go figure.  Shortly after we arrive home, Mo is fast asleep.

Sunday, up early for 8:30 sacrament meeting. I “force” Mo to be the taxi guide, watching as she motions to written instructions about how to get to church, where to turn, watch her pay for the fare, making sure to get a “fa piao” (which, by the way is NOT the same as a receipt – ask me if you want to know more – it’s a weird tax thing in China, but VERY critical to our US Tax situation). I pretend not to understand Chinese, and it’s funny to hear the taxi driver’s comments as he tries to understand what she’s saying/doing.  She did a great job, but I feel like a meanie. Regardless, I reason that I will be thanked in the long run.  In reality, I think that probably won’t happen. Upon arrival at church, Allison and John from the airline flight enjoy another little laugh about the experience in the gate area, then later the women of the branch embrace Monique warmly (both physically and emotionally), comforting her that she is simply going through what EVERY foreign woman, wife and mom coming to China experiences.  Somehow, hearing that from another woman is more believable than having heard it from me for 4 weeks.  That’s OK, as long as it softens the blow a bit.

(UPDATE – It is now Monday night and after only 2-3 days Monique has headed off into the unknown to successfully navigate the streets of Shanghai by herself from the backseat of a careening taxi. Found some new stores, learned some new words and somehow made it home again. She’s amazing – even my colleague Bryan Ma wondered who in their right mind would attempt such a thing)

Well, so there you have it. Started off with info about Mo’s first two days, and drifted off into other stuff. A little like our lives right now. For some other photos of our house (which some of you may have seen already), click below.

http://s1180.photobucket.com/albums/x406/jtlarkin/Luoshan%20101/

Thanks for listening. Stay tuned for my next message about our Company new year kick-off. Wow, what a mind-blowing experience THAT was!!!  Too much to include in this email. Main message is: Great things just keep happening.

Cheers/Love to all.

Jay/Dad/etc.