Total AW but...

i2012do

Ok, I know everyone probably is super excited about Vday yesterday afterall its our last one as a SINGLE lady.

My day was awesome before i even saw fiance.

First I had entered into a caption contest for a local jeweler to come up witha  photo caption. The photo was of a diamond ring leaning on a little heart. My caption was "between a rock and a heart place" and i won  a diamond Shamballa bracelet!!! I am going to pick it up on Saturday.

Then my boss called me into her office. I was SO nervous. And she asked me to go to China for 2 weeks with her- NEXT MONTH. I am super having a panic attack over this because obvi i need new work outfits ,and the cost of souveniors and anything else I chose to do in my free time is on me- but I totally can't give up this opportunity to go there- with my flight and htel for free and to advance my career! I am just freaking out over hte LONG flight and spending 2 whole weeks with my boss!

Ah it was an insane day! So today I am applying for my visa.

We are going to shanghai yiwu city and hong kong!

I also had a great vday. REally low key. I made chicken parm and fiance picked up cupcakes from the place that is making our wedding cake- in our flavors. Then we watched Midnight in Paris!

calindi

Congrats on all!  China's a cool place.  Where are you going?

If you're in a big city, I recommend having a suit made there.  I don't know Beijing or Hong Kong that well (though I have friends who do, if you want info on them) but I do know where the fabric market is in Shanghai.  I paid $70 for a totally custom made suit of really high quality material while I was there.  Usually takes about a week, so it's good you'd be there for 2 weeks!

Souveniers should be really cheap overall - negotiate like crazy!  If they say 100 kuai (that's slang for yuan - like saying bucks for dollars - and is equal to about $12), then you should say 20 kuai.  No joke.  Often they'll negotiate using a calculator due to the language barrier, so just be firm.  Be willing to walk away.  Go up a little bit, but not a lot.  For 100 kuai initial price, you probably shouldn't be paying more than 60 kuai in the end.

Best thing to get is pearls, in my opinion.  You can test if they're real by rubbing it against the front of your tooth - if it feels like light sandpaper (it doesn't hurt, promise) then it's real.  If it's smooth, it's fake.  Pearls are a great deal over there, and SO PRETTY!  I want some more.  I also got a fantastic set of scroll paintings that are hanging in my house - they initially wanted 500 kuai for the 4 of them, and I got them down to 100 kuai.  I also bought my brother a sword - it's kind of fantastic - I spent about 400 kuai on that.  And I bought myself a silk purse with bamboo handles for around 20 kuai.

ETA:  I studied abroad in Shanghai, and traveled to Beijing, Nanjing, Chengdu, and around rural Sichuan province.  I can give a good amount of advice on Shanghai, and a little on the rest.

Ajoyd

What a great day! You'll have to post pics of the bracelet

And that is AMAZING news about your trip to China!

i2012do

Calindi- I will be going to Shanghai, Yiwu City, and Hong Kong.I won't have a lot of fluff time because most of my time will be spent walking through the factories to hash out issues we are having and also i will spend a lot of time in yiwu city walking in the markets.

I don't plan to bring a lot of money- since my boss i paying for everything.

We are staying at hte W in Hong Kong so I am really excited- it looks beauitful.

My plan is def. to invest in some pearls.and a jade bracelet!

I'm REALLY nervous about the flight. I am fling first class and heard its like a little pod but i am still really nervous, so any hints on that let me know.

saraschilling88

Congrats on the bracelet and your trip to China!!  How exciting!! 

I don't know much about China, but for flying if you haven't flown a long flight before probably take some dramamine to prevent motion sickness!! 

Enjoy your trip!!

owengirl996

Congrats! That is soooo exciting! (Both the jewelry and the trip!!)

rojacobs

We had chicken parm (the meal we cooked on our first date) and watched Midnight in Paris too!
A trip to China sounds intense, but such a cool opportunity!

i2012do

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_august-2012-weddings_total-aw-but?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:1fb748ee-7a4e-40eb-b4b4-e553486f4cacDiscussion:6447b691-7b1a-4a20-8fd1-806e16263068Post:9542f541-6f08-4fab-a3b6-b6f58c869d68">Re: Total AW but...</a>:
[QUOTE]We had chicken parm (the meal we cooked on our first date) and watched Midnight in Paris too! A trip to China sounds intense, but such a cool opportunity!
Posted by rojacobs[/QUOTE]

ha! Thats totally funny! The same vday evening :)