yemmie

My girl is currently looking into it. She and her brother have been talking about it. They know someone in real estate there. I don't know too much about it yet. I will pass on more information as I get it.

Hi all, I'm not sure where I should put this post. Please forgive me if I have guessed wrong. My fiancee and I are considering buying a time share in Sanya. I am wholly ignorant about this. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Reasonable prices, logistics, etc. Thanks

Hi jin, I am a Westerner (USA). I am not passionate about classical music (it's OK, but not my favorite), but I am passionate about people being able to share ideas and thoughts without others making them feel they have done something wrong. You have done nothing wrong. I am sorry that others here have been so rude to you. Please continue to post here. I enjoy reading everyones posts, but I especially like to read the thoughts and ideas of people from the East. It helps me understand Asians better in general, and especially the Chinese and my beautiful fiancee in particular. And, I like to think that we can make some good friends here from both East and West.

Hi everyone, My girl is finally ready to send a bunch of her stuff to me before she comes. At first, we thought we would just use China Post and have it sent directly to my home, but she has enough stuff that she found it was going to be enormously expensive. Hence, she has decided to use a shipping company. So, the items will enter throught the port in Norfolk, Virginia. My question is how does she address it? Does she put my name and address on it? I have checked out the rules on importation for a fiancee and my understanding is that her personal effects and household goods should not be subject to import duties, but I will have to go to the port to clear the items. So, I know she will provide a complete inventory when she gives the stuff to the shipping company. Should she also provide me with a copy of the inventory? I also read something to the effect that the carrier will notify the importer ( Iguess that's me) of the arrival of the goods. Since the carrier is a Chinese company, will they send a notice to me at my home. (She should be here with me before the goods arrive). God what a headache!! I wish I could be there with her to do this in person, but it is not possible for me to go there at persent. I am going to call the port and ask some questions too, but I would appreciate any information you can give me as well, so I don't feel like a total ignoramous when I try to talk to them. Also, please feel free to tell me more than I have asked if I have forgotten important thing that I will need to know. Thanks

My story is a combination of preference and default. When I was about 10 or 12 years old, I went to a James Bond movie. His romantic interest was a beautiful Asian (Japanese, I think) woman. I remember thinking, wow!!!! I did not think about it any more for at least a couple of years. Then, in 9th grade, I met a filipino girl that I was smitten with. She was always nice to me, but friends only. I was too shy to pursue her. I don't think she was interested in me romantically, but I'll never know for sure. When I went to college, I studied comparative religions and sociology. I was exposed to Asian culture both in a social science context and in a religious context. I found myself drawn to many aspects of it. All through college, and after, I had very little success with American women. They simply were not interested in me. I was/am not a typical American male. I could not care less about sports, don't watch them. I am not a very aggressive person. I love music, like to read books, and to weatch movies. In the 1990s, I met two Chinese American women. At the time, both were married. I became friends with one of them and fell in love with the other. However, despite some difficulties which she told me about, she loved her husband. I had never wanted to break up her marriage. I just had mistakenly thought that she really was not happy and would eventually leave of her own accord. Anyway, after a while, she realized my mistake, and we went our separate ways. I stopped seeing her sister as well, because it was too awkward. In the 2000s, I decided to try to find someone on line. I started out with local listings, gradually widening my geographic area. I soon learned that if I was interested, they were not, if they were interested, I was not. Then, by chance, I met a Chinese woman from England. She said she liked me very much, but was already in a serious relationship. Eventually, I decided that my chances were much better with a Chinese woman because they seemed more receptive to me. I also thought I might as well pursue what attracts me most, Asian women. After a few false starts, I met my girl on line in 2005. The rest is history. In fact, it is history still in the making.

Hey guys, I know some of this has been touched on already, but I have not been able to find the posts again. When my girl and our son get here, they will need some time to bring their English up to par before they will be ready to go to college. I read in one of these posts something to the effect that you must get them enrolled very quickly or it will be very difficult later. I can't remember the details. I am hoping I can marry my girl fairly quickly, get here SS card with the correct names, get employment authorization for her, etc. I'm not sure of my exact prefered time table, but I was thinking a few months, then get her working and into school. The same, more or less for our son, bring his English up to par and then get him into school. I am also trying to get them into an in-state situation to bring down the tuition costs. Along with that, I would like to try to get some grants, and of course financial aid. I know I can go to the colleges and get some help with these things, but I was hoping some members here might be able to share some of their knowledge with me as well. Down the road we would like to start our own business. Will she qualify for any kind of small business loans or grants owing to her ethnicity and/or immigration status? And finally, with the American stock market going down down down, and the Chinese stock market folllowing suit, my girl says that when the Chinese stocks bottom out, it will be a great opportunity to invest. What do you guys think? If I do that, and we start making money from abroad, how do I handle my taxes. I have an accountant who does them now, and I can ask him, but again, I was hoping someone who has been there and done that could give me some insight. I know I am asking a lot here. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hello everyone, Once again I want to thank all of you for your input. Many of you, I believe, have me pegged fairly accurately. I am not writing about what I want here, I am trying to carry out the wishes of my soon to be wife. I come from a family in which all of us are college educated, but none of us have been made rich by it. My passion was music when I was young, but I was/am self taught and never did learn to read music. I obtained two degrees in college, later went back to school and got a technical certificate for audio recording, later went back and got a high school history teaching certificate. I do not really use any of them. I work for the U.S. government. (I'll talk about what I do some other day.) Unfortunately, music did not pan out. Some day, I will try again on the internet, but my girl and her son come first. My point is, it would be wonderful if my girl and her son could identify something that is a good money maker, but in which they also really have a deep and abiding interest. So, I sought the advice here to identify good marketable fields. I agree with some of the folks here that college is not necessarily right for everyone, but my girl is set on it. I can understand that because my parents were the same way. However, they also had two friends that they met when my father was in medical school and my mother in nursing school whose parents were pushing them to be doctors. They could not stand the pressure and ended up commiting suicide. My parents did not want their children to feel such pressure, so, while they insisted on a college education for all of us, they did not specify any particular fields. Believing that I would one day be a successful musician (rock star), I made stupid major choices in college. I got my degrees (comparative religions and sociology) as I had promised my parents, but I could not use them. Anyway, I find myself stuck in the middle now. I still believe that you should pursue your dreams in plan A, but I also believe you need to have a good sensible plan B. The lucky ones choose a plan A that is also sensible. Hence, I am going to try to guide and advise, but I don't want to dictate. I couldn't even if I wanted to, because my girl would not let me for all of the reasons stated by others in this thread. This thread shall be presented to both of them when they arrive here. I think it will help them enormously.

Congratulations, that is great news.

Mike, I just got italkbb. So far, I like it. I will try disconnecting my phone company from the main input soon, and then will connect 4 phones + my fax machine + caller id to it. It is supposed to work well with up to 4 phones. I am hoping that those two extra items will not degrade the signal too much. If it still works well with them, then it will be bye bye to cox for phones service, but I'll keep them for internet and TV. Eventually, I may make more changes, but for now, we can watch Chinese programming on the computer for free.

I am among the many who am so sorry that this has happened to you. I am sure it has nothing to do with your preparation. Hang tough for your lady, and continue to seek the excellent advice that is available here. Eventually, you will prevail.

I believe the answer is yes, but I am hoping not. I will be filing to adjust the status of my wife and our son (that is after they get here and we get married). Do I have to pay $1010X2?

Outstanding!!!!!!!!!

That's great. I'm glad it went through quickly.

Way to go!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Missing You, and yes, good luck to you. Think Pink.

Hi Guys, I have read some of the posts here already, and have used the link that takes you to the rules for Non-residents/first time immigrants. I think my girl qualifies as this so she /I will not have to pay duties on her clothes, and other personal items she has shipped here, nor on any household items. I understand the packing it up and having a fairly accurate inventory list for clearing customs. Here's what I am not clear on: Is it possible to have the stuff shipped directly to my home, or do I have to actually go to the port of entry and clear it in some way and pick it up there myself? If I have to go to clear it, is it possible to have the stuff sent to a local port so I don't have to go too far to get it? I have read a few posts in which Toplaw made reference to boxes of his girls'stuff arriving, but I did not know if they came to his home, or if he had to go pick them up at the POE. Toppy, if you read this, I'd love to hear from you. In fact, maybe I should PM you about it. Can anyone recommend a good shipping company that will be reliable and reasonable? Thanks as always.

It's pink, it's pink!!! All the months of preparation and worry are over. Now, I will relate the interview as my girl related it to me. I asked her what questions were asked: what time do you come to china? Answer: 3 times, and she gave them the dates. what words did we speak? (she said she was referring to my first trip) Answer: i said that you said you love me and i said i love you too asked taht if i met your mother and forther Answer: No, because they are both dead how many sisther and brother /(that I have) Answer: (She didn't tell me her answer, but I'm sure she got it right) The VO only asked her for our pictures, the affidavit of support, and my taxes. My girl said she felt very lucky. The VO was an African American who she said was very tough on some of the other interviewees, said no to many, but that she was very friendly to her. She said the interview was short and not difficult. They will pick up their visas on Tuesday of next week. So, now my girl and her son just need to tie up some loose ends in China, and then America here they come. Thanks to everyone on this site. You all have been so helpful during the process, providing great guidance and advice. Of course, it isn't over yet, there are many more steps after they arrive in America. My life is about to change dramatically. I am sure I will continue to need your help and support, but I also hope that I can help others as well.

My girl will interview on Sept. 5. I wish I could be there with her, but getting away from work right now is impossible. So instead, I am trying to work it out to where I can stay home with her for a few weeks when she arrives. Good luck Bob. I'm sure it will be pink.

That is gereat news. I am very happy for both of you.

Congrats. Wish you great happiness.

Hi everyone, Wish us luck! My girl and her (our) son will have their interview on September 5. I wish I could be there, but right now it is not possible for me to get time off from my job to go to China. I can't go into it any further here just now, but eventually I will explain. In the meantime, as I said, wish us luck.

My heart goes out to the victims and their families. Unfortunately, this kind of thing can happen anywhere. I am glad that so far, the people who are talking about it seem to be aware of that fact.

Thanks everyone. What you are saying about their figuring out what theirs interests and strengths are is exactly what I have been telling my girl, but I think she wants to see what the lucrative things are first. At any rate, the information you have given me will help me to provide her with the information she needs. Then, it will be up to her and her son, with a little more guidance from me, to decide what they want to do.

Hello everyone, I have been reading with interest all of the various posts about English acquisition, but my girl and I have another question that really applies to all students today in America. What should they study? Both my girl and her son wish to go to college here, but they are also very practical about it. They want to study and then get the greatest financial return on their investment. I can sympathize with that because although I have two degrees, an expired history teaching certificate, and an outdated audio recording certificate, I don't really use them. When I pursued each of these, I foolishly thought that if you were the best in your class, then you would find a good job, even in a small job pool. Not true, I was the best, but I had enormous difficulty finding a good job in my area (Tidewater, Virginia) I have a fairly good paying job now that I just kind of eventually stumbled into. I don't want my girl and her boy to have to go through that. Of course I could have moved, but for many years familial obligations made that very difficult. So, what can they study that will supply them with a skill which is in very high demand (here in Tidewater and elsewhere) so they can eventually easily find work that will pay them well in the workforce? I have googled the top 50 jobs in America, but my girl asked me to also ask some very smart people in America. Well, it has been my experience that this site is filled with some very smart people. Thanks to all.

Congats, that is really great news. Now, you can go to the island paradise. But you know, I get the feeling that as long as you two have each other, any place is paradise.