Hi Melissa!
Happy New Year! Yes, I'm doing fine and am planning to return to the States soon (end of January, beginning of February). I'm so glad to hear that the kids are doing fine and growing big and bringing you joy.
I have to make this e-mail quick (my apologies) as I have a TON of things to do before I leave as I'm leaving China very soon to visit other countries on my back to the States. Let's plan on getting together for lunch or something when I get back so we can catch up, k?
Let me take some time to address your questions....
1. Shanghai... Shanghai is a little like New York... very modern and up-to-date in many ways but much, much safer. The cars (cabs included) are mostly the same you see in the states with exactly the same seatbelts, etc so there should be no problem there. China has a seatbelt law now but alot of people ignore them. If she hails a cab that is not up to her standards, then she can simply wave it on and get the next one. I think she will be satisfied, though. Transportation is alot like the states... there are cabs at airports to take you to hotels and at hotels to take you places (though I recommend doing alot of exploring on foot). The hotel will have a business card they can give her so she can take with her. Lots of people know some English but language will be a barrier. If she ever gets lost, she just needs to hail a cab and show the drive the card and he will take her back "home", safe and sound. DON'T LOSE THE CARD! *smile Buses are everywhere but you have to know the route you want, of course. Sometimes I just hop a bus to see where it goes, explore that new area and catch a cab home if I get turned around.
One word of advice to her. China is very, very safe---some say the safest country in the world, especially for foreigners. The only problem she might encounter is someone who wants to rip her off by charging her too much (Chinese people think all foreigners are rich) or someone who may try to steal her money from her purse or pocket--though this is rare. The only time a cab driver ever tried to rip me off was in Shanghai. Cabs have meters but ASK ahead of time how much it will cost. He will point to the meter if there is not a standard price. You can negotiate for long trips. The "bad" taxi driver we got in Shanghai stopped half way from the airport to our hotel and refused to move unless we gave him 200 RMB. We refused to get out of the cab and he HAD to take us to the hotel. We reported him to the concierge as he was unloading our bags, and the concierge (who spoke English) and some other guys went over to him and YELLED at him! It was fun to watch. If she gets in a pinch, be LOUD, STERN and get help from others. Foreigners are treated like rock stars in most places in China. Not so much anymore in Shanghai because there are alot of foreigners there now and they are used to us. As I said, I've been in China about 3 years and rode tons of cabs... this was my only bad encounter. Most people are extremely nice. Your friend may want to learn a few Chinese phrases before she goes... like "Ting boo dong" which means "I don't understand". It was my favorite phrase before I spoke Chinese. *smile
As far as getting ripped off.... tell her she can bargain for ANYTHING, even hotel prices, except in fancy shopping malls and then sometimes then give a "discount". She can ask for the cheapest price *wink *wink It's best to buy from "mom and pop" stores for the best deals. If she's shopping for souvenirs or any item other than standards like food, drink, etc... they usually more than double the starting price for foreigners (they think we can afford it... and we can, but that's not the point). Even if there is a price tag on it, the price can go down, trust me. Tell her to low-ball and be stubborn. Tell her to frown and keep shaking her head and look concerned (like she KNOWS she's being hood-winked). They use a calculator to show a price.... she will just need to key in the price she wants to pay. They may yell a bit (it's how they do business and it is harmless... they're not really mad... it's an act) and be prepared to walk away. If the person REALLY wants to sell, the price will drop to a reasonable level as soon as you walk. She can always go back or find another vender/store and they know it. I have alot of fun bargaining (I'm quite an actress now) and I hope she does too! Tell her if she likes to shop, to save LOTS of room in her luggage to bring stuff home.
2. Baby slings... Yes, just about every parent in my town (which is a mix of rural and rich) uses baby slings. I tried to find a picture of the kind in my area on the internet but it keeps timing out during the search. I found one similar (only the fabric is different) and have attached a file with the image. I can certainly buy one or two for you (I see kids as old as 4-5 in them as you can see in the second picture) The pattern used in my area is very busy... dark colors of black, red, blue, dark pink, etc in a pattern similar to what I call grandma quilts... lots of triangles and squares. I was going to buy one for Jessica and her new baby so it's no trouble to pick up more. Just let me know how many and what kind of fabric you like (I can have one custom-made for you in a snap). Maybe you like solids, geometrics, florals, stripes, pastels, primary colors, etc. If you'd like a traditional Chinese one I'll try to pick a few of different patterns so you have a choice. There is also the "basket variety" if you like. I already picked up a few small things for the kids so this will be a nice a addition!
Whew! I said this would be a quick e-mail and I just kept going! Hope this answers your questions. Feel free to e-mail me back if you want me to pick up anything else or if I missed anything. I have a few days before I leave. I look forward to seeing you all again!
Love from China,
Bridget