Fairy Tales Do Come True!

Once upon a time, there was a Girl from the Most Humble Beginnings, who was given the gift of Opportunity. When she grew up and married The Man of Her Dreams, they knew that this was one of the greatest gifts they could pass on to their four children. Together, they dreamed and plotted, plotted and dreamed, until their path was finally made clear. Three years before in the Land of Portland, Oregon, The Man went to the huge Japanese company he worked for (equivalent to the Kraft or Pillsbury empires of the US) and asked if there was any chance of an overseas assignment to a Chinese speaking country. The company took the idea and ran with it, making The Man the first non-Japanese employee of the company to be given this Opportunity. After several years of patience (and impatience), including Renewing Their Vows so that their marriage certificate stated The Girl was born in China not Taiwan, they were finally cleared to go. The Man's company helped them pack up their belongings and promised to take good care of them. Friends in the Land of Portland took over their business and personal affairs and sentimental treasures and threw them Fabulous Goodbye Parties. The company set them up in a beautiful Castle in a 6th floor apartment in the Land of Dalian, China, where they had met 14 years earlier. The Children were put in Chinese schools so that their Chinese language would be solidified in their brains. The Girl spent 3 hours every day in accelerated Chinese Language classes with a couple more hours of studying each night. Things were not always easy for The Girl and Her Family. Language and culture barriers often surprised, frustrated and even angered them. They made new friends in the Land of Dalian who helped them ease into their New Life as Expats. They sought out help from local Chinese students who studied English to help the kids with their homework. They ate wonderful Asian foods that kept their bellies full. No matter how tough things seemed to be, their Little Family tried to stay grounded, using Sunday mornings for Precious Family Time. Although this Fairy Tale is far from over (they committed to a year and a half), we know that they lived Happily Ever After.