Hey Guys,
Thinking about sending "Rosetta Stone" to my girl in "Shezhen"...
Just wondering how long to you think it would take from Pennsilvania,
and will it be safe sending it there? Is the percetage pretty good as far as shipping and handling? Is it pretty expensive as far as shipping?
Thanks
Hiya Jeff,
Shipping by courier from North America to china is basically as safe as shipping elsewhere. If you use Fed Ex or Ups or whomever they give you a tracking number you can track the entire way on the internet. I had my lawyer send my divorce certificate by courier and that is a vital document you must have to get married. Yes I was worried but I discovered the courier companies all work together in China. Whichever company is closest to your destination address will deliver the package. At least that is what I was told.
My divorce paper arrived on time no problems. Granted its expensive but as safe as anything short of bringing it yourself. I also sent a package by mail to a lady from Canada and that also arrived when they said it would. Perhaps I was lucky but so far so good. Going by courier would be best since you can track it all the way, just make sure you put the english and chinese address on the label.
The english address to get it to china and the chinese to get it it to her. Yes you could possibly do it with just the english but why take the chance? Ask the agency to send you the address in chinese so you can cut and paste it to the label with no translation errors.
Ok now thats out of the way have you considered having her enrol in english classes in her town instead? The cost may easily be less and possible much more useful. Its easier to go to school where there are people to help than it is to sit and listen to cd's and hope you pick it up. I personally have not been successful using the cds. If she gets frustrated she may stop using them and you are back to square one. At least in formal classes there is a tutor and other students for help and support.
I have Zhen going to a different school than I teach at so she can learn the basics like sentence structure and sounding the words. Yes I could teach her myself but with a chinese tutor they can explain things in chinese far better than a cd can and they can help her with the words and sentences also. Once she learns the basics I can teach her much faster than otherwise so she should be prettty good by the time we go to Canada to visit. For Zhen to go twice a week for two hours each class for two months was under 500 rmb which is about 85 dollars or so. Thats less than the courier costs to send the rosetta stone cds.
I realize everyone is different but it may be worth it to check on sending her to school instead of sending her cds. Its much more personal and should earn you some goody points with her and the family showing you care enough to send her for lessons.
Anyway just a thought.
Take care
Zhen and Brian
