February 5th 2025

This is the day it all begins. Permits and visa procedures have been completed. We’ve put the Chinese New Year celebration and the school vacation behind us. It is Kristian’s first day at work at his new job in the Shanghai office in Pudong.

I got up at 06:30, and got the kids ready. At 07:25 we took the elevator down to send the kids off to school on the school bus. Kristian took off for the metro to Pudong, and I went back in.

How does one start a new life? Find goals and routines that fit into these new circumstances, this new life. Rather than attacking it full force, I’m approaching this from a point of discovery. So, I went back up to the empty apartment. Picked up the book I’m reading, and sat down in bed.

At 09:20 the cleaners came, and I hit the gym. After an hour on the treadmill, I did not have the motivation for weightlifting so I went back to the cleaned apartment.

The afternoon was dedicated to reading, taking a walk, and preparing dinner.

That’s a pretty good start to a new normal.