Saturday, June 25, 2011

Visa Service

Oh, by the way, if your traveling to China, the visa service I found is excellent: https://www.oasischinavisa.com/  affordable too! The gentleman on the phone was informative and friendly and the best part is that their service is in the same building with the Chinese Consulate in Washington, DC.

Shipping and Visa Applications complete!

How interesting, both the shipping cartons and the visa applications left in trucks at the very same moments. As I was putting all the visa application materials, the official invitation, the passports, into a FedEx envelope and handing it to the driver, Oksana called t tell me the man was loading the boxes into the UPS truck. It was 6:00 on the dot on the 24th day of the 6th month. 6x6! Any numeralogists out there?

In any event, we are truly on out way, just 6 (there it is again) more weeks to go!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Atlanta! Visas!!

Well, here I am, Nick, down in Atlanta, looking forward to the CASIE International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program in Visual Arts Workshop. As I read about the IB, I realize more and more that its a curriculum model that goes hand in hand with how I been wanting to teach all my life. I love the integration of the subjects and the holistic, whole brain, whole person ideal. This is going to be amazing!

Good news as well from Zhuhai International School. They sent the documentation needed for our visas by DHL courier services. It should arrive Wednesday so I can put the package all together to send in to the visa service tomorrow I'll call them to find out what I need to send.

Things are moving along, I feel the energy!!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

The Tide Has Turned!

Lots of good things happening. My Associate Dean received an email from the Zhuhai Officials that administer the Visa documentation, replied immediately, and now our visas should be forthcoming. We're organized our mail forwarding to start August 1st through a very good company that I highly recommend. It's called Personal Mail International and the website is: http://www.pmipmi.com/index.cfm. I've found them very pleasant to work with and very professional.

What's really exciting is the workshop Nick will be attending next week in Atlanta, Georgia. It's a three day workshop outlining the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP) in Visual Arts. Nick needs this training to hopefully reenter the job market in a few years in search of a position in a European School, preferably Eastern Europe. the position in Zhuhai will give him credentials in IB, International Education and returns him to the primary/secondary level. After teaching for 20 years in colleges and University, this was a necessity. Nick (me) can't wait to develop the IB Diploma Program in visual Arts at Zhuhai and prehaps stay long enough to work with the first graduating class.

Well, all for now, lots to do!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Visa Troubles

What complication revolve around visas! Here I thought we would have our visa documents all taken care of by now but there's a hold up with the Chinese government. Now we need a confirmation email from my most recent employer back to the government offices that administer the visa applications before I can even proceed on my end. Even when they receive confirmation I have to send in for the visas here through the chinese consulate. This is going to be tight and there was absolutely nothing I can do but continue to pester all involved! Has anyone else out there ever faced similar problems?

Thursday, June 9, 2011

New homes for our beloved pets...

One of the saddest aspects for all of us about moving overseas is that we can't take our two cats. the cost is just too high and the thought of them being in quarantine just too heart breaking. We hope to find good homes for them.


Snickers is a real lover, affectionate, soft and furry. He would make an excellent companion for someone who like a lapcat. He's 7 years old.


Kitty Missy is cute and calm and just a lovely pet. Very good with children and adults. Only two years old.

If any one in the Perrysburg, Ohio area would love a new pet or knows of someone, get in touch...

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Our first posting...

Well, only two more months before life changes as we know it. On August 5th, Oksana and I and Our two boys, Peter, age 7, and Cristian, age 5, will fly for 15 hours to Hong Kong and then take a ferry the next day to Zhuhai. We have sold our house, liquidated most of our belonging, finally got our 23 year to get his own apartment and generally purged our lives to start anew. We're all very excited. Stay tune for updates... and send us good vibes, please.