My dress is stuck... in China

Yes, it's true.  While I ordered my dress online quite some time ago, it was only today that I realized it's been held up... in China of all places!  To me, this sounded like something out of the movies.  Except that -- if it were the movies -- it'd all be resolved in a two-hour sitting, complete with popcorn and a soda...

So here's what happened: I ordered my dress from a web site that was reputable-looking enough.  Admittedly, it seemed a little too-good-to-be-true that the veil and the slip and the fitting and an extra-long train could all be included for *free* if desired.  But on the other hand, it looked so lovely and the price was so so so right!  I punched in that little row of numbers from my piece of plastic and waited expectantly for a big box on my doorstep.

And waited. And waited. And waited.  

Meanwhile, I raised an eyebrow when my confirmation e-mail arrived, written in such broken English that I could hardly de-code it.  And the other eyebrow went up when I realized that  the people at this bridal firm seemed to have no idea what "please add the free sleeve option" meant, when written in a small section that seemed perfect for notes.   

After trading at least six or seven e-mails with the vendors, I was suddenly made aware that our misunderstanding had less to do with style, and everything to do with English. Unbeknownst to me, I had ordered my dress from Shanghai!  

After considerable effort, the Chinese dressmakers and I each gained a mutual understanding that sleeves meant "those long things that your arms go through," free meant "your website says it won't charge me" and America meant "yes, I really do want the dress sent to the United States."  

But that was weeks ago, and my spirits are beginning to sink.  My dress, it seems, is stuck.  In China.