It has been relatively easy and fuss free applying for a bank atm card. The bank is usually not as crowded compared to the banks back home and we don’t have to queue in line for counter banking service, queue numbers are issued instead.

That part was a breeze until we realised we can’t do anything using our internet banking account besides checking our balance. So we have to apply for a “sheild”, an additional piece of hardware probably for secruity purpose. There is an option for a USB key or a token, we chose the token, but that wasn’t available at all.

James had his passport renewed so he has to update his ID.  He also has to delete his previous useless internet banking account because of the change in passport ID. There was a huge confusion on the right procedure to follow in order to successfully change his ID and delete that account. After like 2 hours in the bank, he finally got it done. We wasted so much time there that our shopping trip has to be canceled, grrrrr….

Armed with the USB key, I followed the instruction booklet and it took me another hour of figuring out how to register before I was locked out of the system. The registering of a new account didn’t automatically popped out as indicated in the instruction booklet, I realised that I had to do it manually today. So after another hour of trying, I had the new account registered, but I still can’t do any internet transfer!

I called the help line and the lady on the other side checked and informed me that we had to make another trip back to the bank to activate our account because we had previously deleted an account. WHAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH THE BANK??? They told us to delete the old account at the branch (we did the deleting at the branch) and said we could just register a new one to start using the online internet service, and now WE HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER TRIP BACK!!!!??????

Seriously, I have never encouter such tedious, unfriendly, full of obstacles, complicated system. I wonder if this is unique to 建设银行 or all the banks in China.

Freaking warm weather today. It is only mid Feb and the temperature reads 24C today.

Coming from the tropics, we never have the habit of checking weather forecast since it will be 31C everyday and if there is a forecast for rain, it is either a short passing shower or no show of rain, ie totally unpredictable. And therefore, I almost got myself toasted putting on a merino layer, a knitted sweater and a fleece jacket, believing that this set of light weight clothing will be just nice. Hell would I know it would be this warm, being freaking cold just 3 weeks ago.

Hopefully Zeeyau won’t get a heatstroke from her knitted top at school too. But she will certainly welcome such warm weather, for it means she could wear her dresses and skirts to school everyday.

Lantern Festival celebration at Zeeyau’s kindergarten. This school likes to invite parents in their celebration of major festivals, to foster parents and child relationship, to engage the parents and perhaps to showcase what the school has been doing.

Whichever the reason, the school has always made an effort to made our trip a worthwhile one. During the Christmas celebration last year, parents joined the children in their classrooms where the kids dance, sang Christmas carols and did Christmas themed craft work with parents.

This time, each class did a traditional lion dance with their self made “dragon”, raw and unpolished, but amusing to watch, especially touching to see the younger ones trying their best to do the show. The parents were invited to solve riddles with their child (the riddles were hung on the paper lanterns made by the children). Well, after solving 2 riddles with Zeeyau, I gave up trying as 弟弟 struggled and fought with me for freedom.

We don’t have a private driver or own a car here, so we mostly rely on the service of a freelance driver. He drives what is known as 黑车，which is like an unlicensed cab. However, this 马师傅 is actually a fruit seller, which also explains why we never run out of quality fruits at home.

It is rather sad to find out from him that top graded fruits are meant for export here, leaving behind mostly the lower grade ones for the local market. However, with a guru fruit seller around, he always supply us with the best recommendation. How the hell would I know to choose from china fuji apples, 延安 apples, 新疆 apples or some other variety of apples from another area unless I try a different kind each time.

And despite the general advice to choose strawberries that are bright red looking with a shiny exterior, we were told to keep away from those pretty looking bright red berries, 马师傅 said those are just good looking but very sour, only for people who don’t know the good stuff . He gave us a big bag of really ugly strawberries that looks quite mutated and deformed. True enough, they were absolutely crunchy and sweet. The only unknown worries is the amount of chemicals present, I heard they are quite generous about that.

We are used to bringing new year goodies or mandarin oranges in pairs while doing visits during the Lunar New Year, the preferred items to bring along here seems to be fruits. While that isn’t anything strange or weird, the interesting part is they come in boxes. Just looked at the boxes of pears, oranges and apples we have got, and there are more strawberries and grapes in the fridge.

It has been fruit feasting everyday and thankfully the two kids are like fruit bats that love to eat fruits. Though it is a much healthier new year this time round, I missed the slices of oily fatty bak kua very much.

They are here!! There are only 11 of them, but they are full of things we love to have. Our toys, clothes, books, stationary, sewing kit, shoes, ipod dock, carpet and most importantly, kaya, sardines, spices and such. What a joyous day

Anna, I am not sure why yours took so long to clear custom, but ours were cleared pretty fast. If not for the Spring festival long holidays, we would have received them a week earlier.  The moving company from the China side was quick in processing our shipment and even made the trip to our apartment to collect my passport. They filled in the forms for me, I just need to sign my big name on the lines. Unlike the shipping company I engaged in Singapore (which never provide me any info), this company kept me updated about my shipment since they took over the stuff when they left the Singapore port.

I have finished unpacking everything except a box of clothing more suitable for summer, just in case we decided to move house soon. The reason to move so soon (in fact less then 4 months) is another story, which is really 无奈。