All we wanted to do was return a vacuum cleaner. We had purchased it 5 days earlier, broken it after 20 minutes total use, and decided to get a different model. By the time we were successful we had involved most of the Wal-Mart’s night shift, provided entertainment for other shoppers, yelled at the store manager and received personal guidance on choosing a vacuum cleaner from the housewares department manager.
All of this only took about one hour. What a night.
We’re still moving stuff into our new house, but now we’re actually living there. Last Friday we had the cable guy hook up our television and Internet service. We moved our venerable futon bed, set it up in the downstairs bedroom, and that was it.
Time to move in!
Winnie and I have been spending the past week cleaning, fixing, and repainting our new house. You’d think that after a year’s worth of rebuilding our Mississippi house, a little painting would be simple.
But I must say, the painting and relatively minor repairs we’re doing feels like “Deja Vou all over again.”
We took a big step towards settling down in Virginia. Wednesday morning, Feb 28, 2007, we closed on the purchase of a house here in Dale City.
For me, the closing was a typical event of crossed signals, missed connections and general confusion. For our realtor and the other professionals it was an embarrassment of chaos. So I’d have to guess they’re just not used to doing business the “Charest way.”
It’s taken 39 long months, but yesterday it finally happened. Yesterday, Winnie received her letter from the INS (USCIS) welcoming her to America.
Today is Chinese New Year, the main holiday of the year for more than one quarter of the world’s population. This is the start of family gatherings, fireworks, the Reunion dinner, dancing lions, and fifteen days of celebration. In the Chinese zodiac this is the Year of the Pig (or Boar).
So to all the millions of people around the world celebrating today, I wish you 新年快樂 (Xīnnián kuàilè) and 恭喜發財 (Gōngxǐ fācái) !
Follow below to find out what you may expect from people born during the Year of The Pig past, present, and future.
It’s been an interesting week here in beautiful northern Virginia. We had a snow day, delay in closing on buying our house, and a possible closing date on the house we’re trying to sell down in Mississippi. Valentine’s Day came and went and Chinese New Year, the year of the Pig, is fast approaching.
Yesterday afternoon, Saturday, Winnie and I were witness to a relatively minor auto accident. Minor in that no one appeared seriously hurt even though three vehicles were involved. We were one of the first on the scene to actually stop. I did the Good Samaritan bit and helped out until the pros arrived then left.
Not a big deal as these things go, but after some reflection last night I dredged up feelings from an earlier incident.
This continues the saga of our (Winnie and mine) Internet Romance and Marriage. Falling in love and marrying via Internet proved a lot easier than getting her visa to join me in America.
By the time I left China after our wedding I was about as exhausted, physically and emotionally, as I’d been in many years. The jet lag of a 13 hours’ time change, the different climate, food, all the constant traveling, never knowing what was going on (due to my lack of language skills), and getting married besides just did me in.
The months of house-hunting are over, and our life in an apartment are coming to a welcomed end. Yesterday, our offer on a house was accepted!
