My schedule in July

Here's my schedule in July.

Oh really?!

Wow, there goes google and gmail, which were both unable to be accessed on Thursday in China... but why?

Google's software makes it possible to analyze the frequency and source of search terms. In a check on Thursday, Google's Web site showed that no one had entered the phrase "abnormal relationship between son and mother" in Chinese for months until it suddenly became a popular phrase entered only in Beijing in the days before the show, making it more likely that it would pop up as a suggested search term.

The same CCTV show included an interview with a young man, identified as a college student, who expressed horror at pornography on the Internet. Chinese bloggers have since identified the man as an intern for CCTV.

As quoted in today's NYTIMES article: Beijing Adds Curbs on Access to the Internet (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/world/asia/26china.html)

I talked to some Chinese friends of mine, and their reaction? "Oh really? I don't use Google. I use Baidu, its great!" Nearly word for word from all the locals I asked. Baidu is China's homegrown search engine, and obviously much more popular with the local market.

However, the reactions from my American friends, "WHY!?!?!?! I can't live without Google!!!!"

So there's that. Without google, I can't check the only email address that I have, and I can't post msgs to this blog (also a google product).

Age-ism

I'm going grey. I'm going to dye my hair, all light grey. In May, I turned the corner and am headed downhill towards my 26th birthday. But age isn't the same everywhere... if I were Shanghainese, I would already be counted as 26. Cooler still, if I were in Korea, I would even be considered an ancient, 27 years old. Its great being 26, except I look 15...

Forever a student. Having a late birthday always put me towards the younger end of the spectrum, but I still haven't gotten used to it. Thankfully, I've been lucky enough to be working more and more recently, but that means being introduced to new clients, teaching new students and meeting other business people all the time. Inevitably, every one of these new people will make a comment about how young I look, typically (95%) within the first minute of meeting me. Today, it was, "You look like a student." I'm happy to report that another student later said, "You look like an MBA student."

Whatever! Usually, I can joke and admit I look more like a high-schooler than a business teacher, but this is an every day occurence. Last month, after meeting one of my oldest friends, from high school, I realized my look hasn't changed in 9-10 years. I really still do look like I could be in high school. To compare, when I saw pictures of my college friends on Facebook, I really didn't recognize them.  Its only been 3 years, but they looked like actual adults.  They're white, and I guess, Asians just look younger, for longer.

What should I do? Teaching in a business environment where the youngest students are office workers, 5 years older than me, this is starting to be a problem. It seems, Chinese business people don't respect you unless you're old (or at least older). Up until this point, I've embraced it, and worked it into my teaching style, explaining that was the reason why I acted more energetic than they do. But business people don't usually see the benefit; I simply look inexperienced.  So what to do?

The real problem is I'm going to look like I'm 15 until I'm 30.

Just another day, in Shanghaiville

Actually, I know nothing about June 4th. All I know is that it's taboo; too (politically) sensitive to bring up and so in my time here I've never talked about it to anyone.

Also, everyone knows that you can't search about it on the internet here and additionally recently, youtube has been blocked (March), blogspot and other blog services have been blocked (last month), and now twitter and hotmail went down in China this last week.  So its amazing to see that the nytimes website is still online despite writing a handful of very informative pieces about June 4th.

Since no one in China can access this blog now anyway, I thought those of you outside of China might be interested in these articles:

• 4 photographers discuss their historic "Tank Man" (most interesting)  
  
• A slideshow about the days leading up to June 4th from the former NYTIMES Beijing Bureau Chief (most informative)
• The "Forgotten Revolution" - from a Chinese person who was actually there on June 4th

Nothing special is happening here for this anniversary, which is definitely what the gov't wants. Even if there was, I wouldn't know b/c I'm not tapped into that crowd here.

Just another day, in Shanghaiville,
Brian

Reminders

Bicycles in China are a dime-a-dozen, so I was just confused when the nytimes gushed over over the latest trend in NYC, Dutch bicycles...with an "old-fashioned design: it comes with fenders, chain guard, generator and rack... ridden upright..."

In China everyone (and their mothers and grandmothers) has a bike like this... and moreover its authentic vintage from some twenty-odd years ago. So when there is a problem, they don't throw it away like we do in America!! Instead they get it fixed and replace parts by the guy on the corner. In fact every neighborhood seems to have a bike guy. He's usually very old, hands black from years of oil, dirt, and grime... face weathered from work and standing outside all day.

After seeing a billion bikes everyday and being nearly-ran over some billion times, I find these bike-guys more fascinating than the products they fix.

STILL... STILL... when my friend in Paris sent me, via facebook, this brilliant picture I couldn't help but "ooo" and "ahh" over it.  Its certainly a blast from the past, circa summer 2006. You can't unlearn, but you can forget and be reminded.

Happy June,
Brian

Business Cards

Since I've become a free-lance English teacher/Business trainer, I've decided I needed to have my own business cards... but its already been 6 months, and I'm still deciding over a decent design.

Can you help me?


I started kinda experimental... and very minimalistic...




So then I realized I'd need a phone number.




Then I thought, I should have as much information as possible...




And I have a Chinese name, why not accentuate it to "localize" my business card or "ming pian"　(名片). But as Jihye pointed out, it doesn't feel American, which is a key selling point for an English teacher, eh?




So I went back in another direction, with some color and centering things a bit. But it still felt boring!!





Here's where I am now. Highlight the name with some color. Keep things off-center to make it interesting, indent the title a little, and finish with the contact information in the right corner.

From Drop Box

A less colorful alternative for cost savings, and a little red-white and blue action for that American feel. (To see the other designs that I considered, click the drop box.)

Anymore changes?

Dad, you are the designer so do you think we're ready to go to the printer?

Mothers Day 2009

As I sit in bed writing, my ayi (housekeeper) is on her hands and knees moping the floor. This, in addition to doing my laundry, washing the dishes, sweeping the floor, and taking out the trash, is her job. She's not local Shanghainese.

She's from Xi-An, land of the terracotta soldiers, and as she just told me is 26+ hours away by train. She only has two chances to go home; when the foriegn students that she works for are taking breaks from their school and back in their home countries.

Why does she work so hard and for so little? I'm embarrassed to admit that I can earn more in one hour of teaching than the amount we pay her for one months' worth of work (she cleans for us, twice a week). She does this, because she is alone in Shanghai - her two children are back in her hometown.

The older one is a 17 year old boy, finishing his 1st year at high school and the other is 8. She tells me that the elder one is furiously studying in preparation for college - waking at 5 am, and sleeping at 1 am... studying diligently every hour in between. That's why she works so hard, and I imagine, conversely she is why he works so hard. (Also, its pretty unusual for families to have two children - there is a heavy tax/fee for the second child).

Being so far away, I really feel helpless, not able to be there for my family. With the internet and technology, I try to be as acessible as possible, but there's no concealing the fact that we're a (half) world apart. But while talking to her, I'm not sure the ayi feels the same way - she seems to fully understand this is ALL for her children.

I learned from the ayi's story today, the only way to recognize and fully appreciate your parents' hard work is to work just as hard yourself. Happy Mother's Day.

Lastly, I have to include: when we were talking about the absurdly high salary expectations of most foreigners, I had the audacity to explain that its tough for us, foriegners to live in another country. Geez, I wish I could take that back - she was on her hands and knees working while I was in bed surfing online.

Who still has everything to learn? Who is the teacher?

Things from home

Its really good to be back and seeing my friends and getting back into a routine. Its wierd not to flinch when the taxi driver is going the speed of sound and zipping through traffic like a madman. I guess I'm used to Shanghai. I've even started to understand random words in Shanghai-nese. Most of it still sounds like "loka loka loka!" ;) but maybe one day.

Oh yeah check out all the great stuff I brought back from America... (my luggage weighed a cool 60 lbs... most of it was this):

The advil came in handy today... I played basketball for the first time in 6 months.

Its so good to read again, and write (in the moleskin notebook).

These are already half finished.

Miscellaneous snacks - mmm chocolate...

You wouldn't believe that American Q-tips are more comfortable!

And finally my proudest acquisition...

Nature's Valley Granola bars...two giant Sam's Club boxes with 60 bars each... Hopefully that'll last 3 months, about halfway until I go back (for more).

3 weeks sure go by quickly - a picture post

Here it is - Three weeks in America - the picture book version. Thank you for giving me so many good memories in just 3 weeks. Now I remember all I was missing in America. There are about 50 pictures here so it might take a minute for it all to load.

Stepping off the plane and onto American soil...
I was going to kiss the ground, but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to lift myself up after the 20 hour flight and 6 hour delay.

Thank you mom, dad and Uncle Eric (they picked me up at the airport)

My first meal back with my family: Cheesecake Factory. The portions seemed offensively grand compared to what I had gotten used to in China.

The weird thing was that I had reverse-travelers sickness, probably because I've been eating Chinese for SO long my body couldn't digest good ol' American food.


After a few days, I felt better and visited all my friends in Maryland!


Thanks for letting me crash at your apartment "R & D" Robin and Danielle!
On the 3 day trip, I was lucky enough to:

1. brainstorm new ideas with R & D,
2. see Quinn (finally met his girlfriend),
3. visit Lan (and his growing family),
4. hang out with Justin (honored to be one of the groomsman at his wedding next year),
5. have lunch with Allan and Susanna (see the beautiful additions they made to the farm),
   
6. chat like old times with Keshav.

That's just before going up to New York City for the afternoon to:

1. catch up with Kelly over a beer and nacho's
   
2. visit my grandpa (who is in his late 90's)!

Along the way I collected these great mini-polariods!!
(Thank you Nicky for the camera - it was a super-hit with everyone back home).


Then down to Atlantic City to celebrate my father's successful year at Honda!


Congratulations dad - you really can do anything!


Got to spend some good quality time with my parents.


Ji-Hye came the next day all the way from Vancouver!


We went to New York...


but it didn't matter where we went...


because we had a brilliant time together!


Thank you Ji-Hye for taking me to MOMA!
I hope you liked Chinatown's Cantonese food.


Over delicious dim-sum she met some family & friends


Where she got good reviews from everyone!


We also went shopping - I got new sneakers - she bought socks.


Even evenings at home were a great time
(in front of my parents' new plasma high-def. tv...)


On her last night in NJ, we went to get STEAK and there's nothing like good American steak!!


We flew down to Orlando for a fun family vacation!
(The same day I took JH to the airport... I was tired).


Nothing like breakfast & unlimited coffee at Perkins to wake you up!!!!


Our red rental car! Apparently if your batteries die and you try to start the car, it locks your key in the ignition and you have to call for help, how handy...


But before the batteries died, we went to Universal Studios


My parents wanted to show everyone we were tourists (look at those bright colors!!)


I was a kid again...


I even threw a fit (like a child), "NO MORE PICTURES MOM!!"


The hulk roller coaster is, well, incredible.


This car also wouldn't start...


What, oh you're having fun?


The next day, we decided to go with a dark look.


But we still had fun!


Sometimes a bit too much


OH and there was a live taping of a professional wrestling!!


I really got into it.


We really should thank that guy in the background wearing green for putting some color into the picture.


We got to make some new friends before we went home.


Three weeks passed by quickly, and I still didn't get to see all my friends.
But it was unbelievably fun...


And super super comfortable...
My favorite thing to do while home was just hanging out on the couch with my family
(watching baseball on high-def. tv)


Thank you for 3 great weeks home.


I'm already saving up to go home again over September holiday.

3 weeks in America are finished

So my vacation is over and I must make my way back to Shanghai to work, study, and live. The thing I missed the most being away from home was the sheer comfort and ease... of everything. In DC, I had worked out a splendid system of living, surrounded by great friends and happy routines (beach volleyball circuit). In Jersey, I am thankful to have my supportive family and familiar friends both there for me.


A lot has changed and its almost like I missed a year of great progress. Visiting "old" friends I could see the things that could've been and what might have changed for me if I decided to stay state-side. This includes stupid things like new cars and giant plasma tvs, and great things like relationships, marriage, babies, vacations, and all sorts of growing up. Coming back and catching up is like looking at a flip-book with a few missing pages: you can sorta connect the dots, but its not as entertaining or fulfilling.

One strange thing is catching up on American culture. Reading the news only gives you an academic sense of what's changing and what's cool now. What better,as an indicator of culture than clothes and fashion and according to my shoe-saleswoman "sharp neon colors are in because we need something to brighten the times." She seems to be exactly right, how perceptive of her! (She recommends these sweeeeeeeet new Onitsuka Tigers 60th anniversary edition)

Still, walking around Jersey and Orlando, New York City and Washington DC gives you a feeling that people aren't as depressed as the news and economy suggests. People are spending money and living their lives.

The only thing I read in the news that reflects this was one comment: if 1/10 people are unemployed, there's still everyone else ninety-something percent. After watching all this in front of me the past couple weeks and little personal/emotional connection to the news I feel more like an foreign observer in my own country... nothing is exactly familiar.

Whatever, in coming back to America for vacation, I know this is my undeniably home. Its incomparably comfortable and there's a draw that's calling me back but not now, not yet.

(Marge is getting handsy...)

Its nearly 6 am in Chicago's O'Hare International. I've stayed awake all night talking on line (thank you wifi) and people watching... The airport has started to awaken. First with the floor cleaners, then the overnighter transfers (me) finally checking in and now the early bird travelers being dropped of.

I need to get rid of this baggage so I can move freely!