5 New Things

When I was planning my move to China, I thought of all these things I presumed I wouldn't be able to find. I packed toiletries, and snacks, and so many clothes! Now that I've been here awhile, I've discovered that I didn't have to pack nearly what I did. The plugs here take US cords, I can easily find my spices in both Beijing and Tianjin, and for the most part I can find clothes that fit {pants are the exception to that rule! Asian women just don't have the hips us Jewish girls do!}.

Here is my new, updated list of things I would bring if I were moving to China all over again:

1. Potato masher: goodness, I can't wait to get one of these. I can easily find butter, milk, and potatoes but have had NO luck finding a masher. Seriously, none. Currently, I use a whisk which sort of works {its better than a fork, at least!}, but not nearly as well as a *real* potato masher.

2. Fitted sheets: You can actually find these, if you look pretty hard, BUT you have to jump through some hoops or pay a lot of money. I'd just bring a set.

3.  French press: I managed to find a press the first few weeks I got here, but it doesn't really work the way mine does at home. The mesh isn't the same and there's only one place it filters. The one I have in the states cost about $25, holds more than the presses I found here, and works better. It's coming back with me.

4. Products for curly hair: I brought these and have used them sparingly because I know I won't be able to find any more at a decent price. I actually kept my hair long for awhile so that I could just put it into a pony tail, but the weather is getting warmer, and I was itching for a new haircut! Shampoo and conditioner are easy to find and work well with my hair, but they just don't have curly hair products designed for people with actual curly hair.

5. Lotion: Everything here has skin whitener in it. Need I say more?

Any other expats out there with thoughts?