I have been listening to 刀郎's CD Andy brought back from China. I like his singing style very much. It sort of resambles Bon Jovi in Chinese folk songs... His voice and music has the wild open prairie kind of feel to them.
"都怪你" is the record we have. This site gives a very nice short intro to his background and his music style.
While searching for 刀郎's related info, I accidentally found another very interesting Chinese blog site, 六翼的天使. I think I just maybe falling in love with it. I haven't read Chinese books for so long, I just couldn't stop reading this site's various entries like a thirsty traveler found the springs in a desert.
The author's identity is some what confusing. I couldn't tell if it's written by a he or she. A Chinese American writing in Chinese so well... I wish I could do that. Of course that means I would have to learn how to type in Chinese much more efficient than 拼音 and copy/paste.
Friday, December 31, 2004
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Raising fish in a tank is depressing.
I'm not sure if I get more pleasure watching the fishes swimming about or does the frequent trips to the garbage can with a dead fish in my hand erase all the pleasure of having them in my possession in the first place.
When I urged Andy to buy 2 gold fishes for Alex at his 3rd year birthday, I, aparently, forgot all about the darker side of it all. Now he has gotten into this fish raising hobby but is temporarily out of town for the month, I'm facing their dying and the cleanup afterwards all by myself. It is depressing. Even though I also have a small jug of new borm fries growing, the constant depleding adult population in our 25 gallon tank is such a downer.
Some people believe, perhaps myself included, that every dead fish represents a bad luck it blocked for its owner. What BS that is but a self deluting execuse for fish owners to give themselve for their neglect toward the helpless creatures in their tanks. I'm sure all fish owners have good intentions toward their lovely pets that keep themselves entertained. But are we not playing the role of God? What if we, human beings on eartch are like the fishes in the tank to our God? Are our self killing and death from nature disasters on this planet the fault of our God's neglect and carelessness?
Disclaimer:
We're responsible fish owners. I know my water to fish ratio is within the recommended ratio of 1 gallon to 1 inch of fish. We have a few neon tetras, 4 guppies and a couple other barbs and algae eaters. We keep our water temperature and salinity at the recommended degree for these fishes.
When I urged Andy to buy 2 gold fishes for Alex at his 3rd year birthday, I, aparently, forgot all about the darker side of it all. Now he has gotten into this fish raising hobby but is temporarily out of town for the month, I'm facing their dying and the cleanup afterwards all by myself. It is depressing. Even though I also have a small jug of new borm fries growing, the constant depleding adult population in our 25 gallon tank is such a downer.
Some people believe, perhaps myself included, that every dead fish represents a bad luck it blocked for its owner. What BS that is but a self deluting execuse for fish owners to give themselve for their neglect toward the helpless creatures in their tanks. I'm sure all fish owners have good intentions toward their lovely pets that keep themselves entertained. But are we not playing the role of God? What if we, human beings on eartch are like the fishes in the tank to our God? Are our self killing and death from nature disasters on this planet the fault of our God's neglect and carelessness?
Disclaimer:
We're responsible fish owners. I know my water to fish ratio is within the recommended ratio of 1 gallon to 1 inch of fish. We have a few neon tetras, 4 guppies and a couple other barbs and algae eaters. We keep our water temperature and salinity at the recommended degree for these fishes.
Sunday, December 05, 2004
The Battle Against "Supersize Me"
It's been a month since my last entry. By now, Andy and Alex both are back home from their 2-months journey in China. This is officially the end of our China trip and life resumes back home in S.F. Their trip did not end in Shanghai like mine. They visited their ancestry home near Shan Tou in the second half of November before their return to SF. I wish I could have been there with them. And I would if it wasn't because of limited vacation days from work. I don't think I will attempt to write up their part of the journey though.
What prompted me to write this entry is actually more relevant to a couple of new things Alex has learned since his return. The brief month of bachelette life in Nov. got me back on my movie watching trend. I went through quite a few latest movie releases as well as the popular documentaries such as Fahrenheit 911 and Supersize Me. On Alex's 3rd day back, we watched Supersize Me together. Now he learned the truth behind the Big Macs and Happy Meals sold at the golden archies, he has agreed that he will not eat at McDonalds any more... :) It is amazing how easy it is to influence a 3-year old either to love something or to hate something. I know some of you may think this type of documentary is not suitable for kids, but what about the hundreds of TV ads aimed at your kids everyday, selling them on fast foods and snacks? Is that fair? I only hope that I can influence my kids at an early enough age where they would always get the message on both sides of the fence. So they will always learn to think twice about what they see on T.V.
Today, Alex helped me to thread many of our junk mails, under my supervision of course. They're mostly credit card offer letters and some are blank checks sent from our existing credit card companies for us to use as cash advances. We never use those checks. It got me to think how when I was a kid, any such type of letters at home would be kept away from us. Even papers used in our notebooks for homework are reused at home for other things. But my kids are learning a whole new aspect toward these documents. They will have no respect for them, no matter how pretty they're printed or packaged. Alex will learn how to filter out the real important mail from the junk ones. Material things, wehther toys or pretty picture books are so abundant in his little life, he will learn at this early age that you just can't keep or save everything just because they're nice or pretty things. You have to throw away or give away what you cannot use and don't need.
Because of my Chineses upbringing in an age of shortage on everything from food to clothes, not to mention toys, till this day, I still struggle with every decision I make to throw away something I don't use or need. I do realize now that I must change my mentality in order to keep my life and household lean and organized. The new shows on TLC such as, "Clean Sweep" really openned my eyes on how others suffer from the over abundance of material things and allow their homes to be clogged with junk they don't need. The battle against the big commercial interests in making profits by supersizing us and our lives has just begun. As conscious and responsible consumers, we must learn how to differentiate the psuedo demands advertisements create in our minds and teach our next generation to do the same just as how they need to identify friends from faux.
What prompted me to write this entry is actually more relevant to a couple of new things Alex has learned since his return. The brief month of bachelette life in Nov. got me back on my movie watching trend. I went through quite a few latest movie releases as well as the popular documentaries such as Fahrenheit 911 and Supersize Me. On Alex's 3rd day back, we watched Supersize Me together. Now he learned the truth behind the Big Macs and Happy Meals sold at the golden archies, he has agreed that he will not eat at McDonalds any more... :) It is amazing how easy it is to influence a 3-year old either to love something or to hate something. I know some of you may think this type of documentary is not suitable for kids, but what about the hundreds of TV ads aimed at your kids everyday, selling them on fast foods and snacks? Is that fair? I only hope that I can influence my kids at an early enough age where they would always get the message on both sides of the fence. So they will always learn to think twice about what they see on T.V.
Today, Alex helped me to thread many of our junk mails, under my supervision of course. They're mostly credit card offer letters and some are blank checks sent from our existing credit card companies for us to use as cash advances. We never use those checks. It got me to think how when I was a kid, any such type of letters at home would be kept away from us. Even papers used in our notebooks for homework are reused at home for other things. But my kids are learning a whole new aspect toward these documents. They will have no respect for them, no matter how pretty they're printed or packaged. Alex will learn how to filter out the real important mail from the junk ones. Material things, wehther toys or pretty picture books are so abundant in his little life, he will learn at this early age that you just can't keep or save everything just because they're nice or pretty things. You have to throw away or give away what you cannot use and don't need.
Because of my Chineses upbringing in an age of shortage on everything from food to clothes, not to mention toys, till this day, I still struggle with every decision I make to throw away something I don't use or need. I do realize now that I must change my mentality in order to keep my life and household lean and organized. The new shows on TLC such as, "Clean Sweep" really openned my eyes on how others suffer from the over abundance of material things and allow their homes to be clogged with junk they don't need. The battle against the big commercial interests in making profits by supersizing us and our lives has just begun. As conscious and responsible consumers, we must learn how to differentiate the psuedo demands advertisements create in our minds and teach our next generation to do the same just as how they need to identify friends from faux.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
The Expansion of the Fastfood Nation
Scenes from the streets of Shanghai and the brand new shopping center we visited today. U.S. franchise are spotted every where. Almost all of the most popular American fast food franchise are seen here, from Pizza Hut to Papa Johns and KFC...
The McDonalds seemed to be much superior than the typical ones we see in the States. The locals love them. Long lines are in front of each store. So of course we have to try out the Shanghai McDonalds store, especially when Alex insisted on it so much. I just wish I could bring you all some of their special spicy chicken wings here. It taste much better too!
Papa John's is perhaps one of the newest chain of the U.S. fastfood industry that is making their own food print here.
KFC is perhaps the most popular American fastfood restaurant here in China. It may be because of the fried chicken taste is much easier for Chinese to accept than any hamburger could. KFC has also adapted their menu to more suit the Chinese taste buds.
Pizza Hut is definitely the hottest pizza joints around town. I have not ate at one in China yet. But remembering even back in 1993, there are many Pizza Huts in Taipei where they sold pizzas with all kinds of fancy Chinese food toppings such as Kung Pao Chicken or shrimp...
Last but not least, of course we had to visit a McDonald store. The translation of McDonald's name in Chinese literally means, "to have grain to eat, one should work hard." It is so in synch with the traditional Chinese value of hard work.
The McDonalds seemed to be much superior than the typical ones we see in the States. The locals love them. Long lines are in front of each store. So of course we have to try out the Shanghai McDonalds store, especially when Alex insisted on it so much. I just wish I could bring you all some of their special spicy chicken wings here. It taste much better too!
Papa John's is perhaps one of the newest chain of the U.S. fastfood industry that is making their own food print here.
KFC is perhaps the most popular American fastfood restaurant here in China. It may be because of the fried chicken taste is much easier for Chinese to accept than any hamburger could. KFC has also adapted their menu to more suit the Chinese taste buds.
Pizza Hut is definitely the hottest pizza joints around town. I have not ate at one in China yet. But remembering even back in 1993, there are many Pizza Huts in Taipei where they sold pizzas with all kinds of fancy Chinese food toppings such as Kung Pao Chicken or shrimp...
Last but not least, of course we had to visit a McDonald store. The translation of McDonald's name in Chinese literally means, "to have grain to eat, one should work hard." It is so in synch with the traditional Chinese value of hard work.
McDonald's in Shanghai
Menu display outside of the store shows many items around the price of 5 Yuan which is less than $1.00 USD.
Yao Ming's endorsement life-size photo cutout greets all guests enterring the store.
A flight of staircase leads customers to the second floor dinning area...
McDonalds' employee are seen taking orders in the cashier lines to help speed up the orderring process. This is not done in the states typically..
Upstairs, there are video game consoles for kids to play for free... most likely since there is less space available for each restaurant to have a full size play gym... But of course, it was a challenge for parents to get their kids away from these consoles to actually eat their meals.
Yao Ming's endorsement life-size photo cutout greets all guests enterring the store.
A flight of staircase leads customers to the second floor dinning area...
McDonalds' employee are seen taking orders in the cashier lines to help speed up the orderring process. This is not done in the states typically..
Upstairs, there are video game consoles for kids to play for free... most likely since there is less space available for each restaurant to have a full size play gym... But of course, it was a challenge for parents to get their kids away from these consoles to actually eat their meals.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
The Road Block
On our way to the Thousand Island lake, due to the construction of the main highway is not yet complete, our tour guide decided to venture into the nearby mountains for a shortcut.... It was a road no more than 1.5 lane's width by US standard. There is no traffic lane of any kind drawn on the pavement of the road. On the left the steep hill side slopes upward to a sea of bamboo forest. To the right, a short cliff drops down to a valley of fields with plots of rice and yam and various other vegetations. There are farm houses spotted here and there but no main turn offs for cars miles and miles at a time. It's around 4pm in the afternoon. The sun down is just about a hour away. Our tour bus managed to manuver along this tiny road for the last hour and half when it had to stop behind a long line of other trucks and cars. The first line utterred by our bus driver, "We're stuck." He then pulled his hand break on and shut off the bus engine. Our tour guide was the first to jump off of the bus to investigate the situation up front. Soon, the rest of the 20+ passengers on the bus filed down one by one... Alex used the opportunity to catch a field butterfly and enjoyed himself running back and forth along the small high way.
This is the road we were stranded on from 4pm till 7pm. At the very front where the line of traffic changed direction is a truck the size of a semi with no trailer facing our direction. It is pulled over all the way to the right side of the road, but there is still not enough room left for another truck of bus to pass through. Smaller cars and bikes were way to squeeze through. Even those some times have taken the risk of having half of their left wheels hang off of the ledge of the pavement. The semi truck should have never taken this moutain road for sure.
The driver of the truck is seen under the truck trying to fix the problem. In the distance you can see a local farmer's brick house. It is typical for farm houses in China to have 3-4 stories tall.
I thought to myself, we may windup spending the night there...
By 5pm it was dark and cold. Most of the passengers had to dig out their jackets to keep warm. These tourists of my dad's generation, all in their late 50's or early 60's have been patient and understanding. Even though a few of the women complaint to the tour guide making such an unwise decision on his choice of roads. Andy later said he did see a sign at the start of the road showing tour busses are not allowed. However the driver ignored the sign and said that sign is only in affect for certain times of the day. By 6pm, the sun is completely down and a new crescent moon rose on the edge of the mountain. The view is still spetacular, but no one was in the slightest mood to enjoy it.
After hours of waiting and convincing, he finally agreed to let another truck driver, also stuck on the road to tow his truck with a steel cable up 20 feet to where the road is slightly wider. My mom and I were walking down the road looking for a spot to relieve ourselves and managed to find a small path that led up to the bamboo forest that is private enough to do so. By the time we're done, the bus managed to get through the blockade. And we made a change of plan to stop at a nearby hotel for dinner.
This is the road we were stranded on from 4pm till 7pm. At the very front where the line of traffic changed direction is a truck the size of a semi with no trailer facing our direction. It is pulled over all the way to the right side of the road, but there is still not enough room left for another truck of bus to pass through. Smaller cars and bikes were way to squeeze through. Even those some times have taken the risk of having half of their left wheels hang off of the ledge of the pavement. The semi truck should have never taken this moutain road for sure.
The driver of the truck is seen under the truck trying to fix the problem. In the distance you can see a local farmer's brick house. It is typical for farm houses in China to have 3-4 stories tall.
I thought to myself, we may windup spending the night there...
By 5pm it was dark and cold. Most of the passengers had to dig out their jackets to keep warm. These tourists of my dad's generation, all in their late 50's or early 60's have been patient and understanding. Even though a few of the women complaint to the tour guide making such an unwise decision on his choice of roads. Andy later said he did see a sign at the start of the road showing tour busses are not allowed. However the driver ignored the sign and said that sign is only in affect for certain times of the day. By 6pm, the sun is completely down and a new crescent moon rose on the edge of the mountain. The view is still spetacular, but no one was in the slightest mood to enjoy it.
After hours of waiting and convincing, he finally agreed to let another truck driver, also stuck on the road to tow his truck with a steel cable up 20 feet to where the road is slightly wider. My mom and I were walking down the road looking for a spot to relieve ourselves and managed to find a small path that led up to the bamboo forest that is private enough to do so. By the time we're done, the bus managed to get through the blockade. And we made a change of plan to stop at a nearby hotel for dinner.
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Shao Xing - Ke Yan:
Shao Xing (绍兴)- Ke Yan (柯岩):
Ke Yan's giant rock face towering over the park's lake and grassy plain, showcasing its dramatic presence to all tourists enterring the park. The park houses 7 giant rock formation which rises out of flat lands as if they flew over from some where and just landed here ...
Another giant rock in the park, a sculpture of buddha is carved into the stone. Of the hundreds and thousands of temples built to house buddha statues, I would have to say this is a very special one which make all the others deem into the shadows. The sourrounding hills and lake definitely make this one the penthouse of its kind. :)
Ke Yan's giant rock face towering over the park's lake and grassy plain, showcasing its dramatic presence to all tourists enterring the park. The park houses 7 giant rock formation which rises out of flat lands as if they flew over from some where and just landed here ...
Another giant rock in the park, a sculpture of buddha is carved into the stone. Of the hundreds and thousands of temples built to house buddha statues, I would have to say this is a very special one which make all the others deem into the shadows. The sourrounding hills and lake definitely make this one the penthouse of its kind. :)
The koi pond
There is a giant koi pond full of fish in the middle of the park. It was over populated with hundreds of fish fighting for tourists' food. Alex had loads of laughs watching them jumping at every speck he tossed out. But the park also make a killing selling small packs of fish food to tourists. The fight is so fierce they literally bite each other or suck each other's lips. In a way I see this pond of fish as a metaphor of China. Its beauty, prosperity and fierce competition all resembles today's Chinese people so well.... :)
Friday, October 22, 2004
A Picture Album of Shao Xing
OK, I figured out how to post multiple pictures within one Blog entry. So here it goes. Perhaps the only entry where I have more pictures than writing.
The fashionable young tourists spotted enterring Ke Yan Park. I often find myself much less fashionable these days compared to most Chinese city folks. No more will you find drab blue communist party uniforms in the streets. In parks and city streets, even farmers dress like run way models...
The one in the middle of the lake resembles that of the side profile of an old man. The way it sits in the middle of the pond as if he is on the verge of drowning.
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"Let Live" is something Buddhist monks always preach about. Don't kill and you will be loved by buddha and other gods. You will have luck and fortune if you let the animal go... This turns out also can be a source of profit for moden tourist attractions...
Fish and turtles' holding tank at the park's store where you can buy them to let them go in the nearby pond. This is an act of good faith on the tourists. But an extremely profitable practice for the park. They can fish the fishes and turtles back at the end of each day and sell them over and over again in subsequent days to different batches of tourists.
The lovely bell tower that is also a source of profit for the park where tourists can pay to ring the bell for good luck.
The walls of the staircase leading to the main house of the park tells the story of Buddha by elegant murals. They're newly painted using bright colors but with the old brush techniques.
View of the hammer rock from top of the hill.
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The second place we visited in Shao Xing is Lan Ting. The old residence of a famous Chinese writer, poet, Wang Yi Zhi.
In Lan Ting, the famous Ink Pond's center houses a patio where Wong Yi Zhi used to write at. I just love the roof lines of this structure! It is named the "Ink Pond" because the writer used to wash his brush in the pond daily. The water used to be completely black.
The old residence of Wong Yi Zhi sets in this beautiful green mountain landscape surrounded by a lilly pond. White walls, black tile roof tops outlined by blooming water lilly in the summer months would have been even better.
The near by river, the foot-bridge and its bamboo garden leaves a poetic impression in the mind of any traveler. I would have loved to spend a few days just lingerring there. On the other hand, one would not wish such a place to ever be converted into another modern day resort complex.
The small village next to Lan Ting park is a newly constructed tinsel town that houses many sourvenior shops. It will be great for film makers to use for their next Zhang Yi Mao movie...
The fashionable young tourists spotted enterring Ke Yan Park. I often find myself much less fashionable these days compared to most Chinese city folks. No more will you find drab blue communist party uniforms in the streets. In parks and city streets, even farmers dress like run way models...
The one in the middle of the lake resembles that of the side profile of an old man. The way it sits in the middle of the pond as if he is on the verge of drowning.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Let Live" is something Buddhist monks always preach about. Don't kill and you will be loved by buddha and other gods. You will have luck and fortune if you let the animal go... This turns out also can be a source of profit for moden tourist attractions...
Fish and turtles' holding tank at the park's store where you can buy them to let them go in the nearby pond. This is an act of good faith on the tourists. But an extremely profitable practice for the park. They can fish the fishes and turtles back at the end of each day and sell them over and over again in subsequent days to different batches of tourists.
The lovely bell tower that is also a source of profit for the park where tourists can pay to ring the bell for good luck.
The walls of the staircase leading to the main house of the park tells the story of Buddha by elegant murals. They're newly painted using bright colors but with the old brush techniques.
View of the hammer rock from top of the hill.
----------------------------------------------------------
The second place we visited in Shao Xing is Lan Ting. The old residence of a famous Chinese writer, poet, Wang Yi Zhi.
In Lan Ting, the famous Ink Pond's center houses a patio where Wong Yi Zhi used to write at. I just love the roof lines of this structure! It is named the "Ink Pond" because the writer used to wash his brush in the pond daily. The water used to be completely black.
The old residence of Wong Yi Zhi sets in this beautiful green mountain landscape surrounded by a lilly pond. White walls, black tile roof tops outlined by blooming water lilly in the summer months would have been even better.
The near by river, the foot-bridge and its bamboo garden leaves a poetic impression in the mind of any traveler. I would have loved to spend a few days just lingerring there. On the other hand, one would not wish such a place to ever be converted into another modern day resort complex.
The small village next to Lan Ting park is a newly constructed tinsel town that houses many sourvenior shops. It will be great for film makers to use for their next Zhang Yi Mao movie...
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Class Reunion
Now that I'm all by myself back home, I have more time to sit down and write up the last 2 destinations of our China trip. Andy and Alex stayed back in Shanghai because my parents-in-law will be visiting Shanghai coincidentally in mid-November. So since Alex was born and Andy's last trip to N.Y. back in 2000, I'm all alone for the first time in 4 years.
So you may wonder what's this class reunion stuff all about as suggested in my entry's title. Well, for our last weekend in China, we joint my Dad's Tong Ji (同济) classmates for their class reunion trip to Shao Xing (邵兴) and Qian Dao Hu (千岛湖). It's a easy way to travel, saving us the trouble of arranging for our own accomodations and tour guides. It also gave us a rare chance to peek into the social dynamics and insides of his generation.
Since my parents met and fell in love while studying architecture in Tong Ji university back in the 60's, this type of class reunions can reveal much about what their lives much have been like back then. I don't want to make this entry one that is about the China's infamous culture revolution but that is the back-drop of their college years. While the 60's has been an era of sexual freedom and drugs in the U.S. and western world, China was going through perhaps the most rigid era easily comparable to the Victorian age's social values when it comes to courtship and marriage.
Our young tour guide, Ms Jiang was of great help in stirring up the crowd. In order to entertain the group on the bus, she would bring up old stories she dug up from various classmates to discuss and laugh about. There are old dorm room stories as well as singing their favorite Russian folk songs. Yes you heard me right. They loved Russian folk songs. Back then their required second language study was not English but Russian. Of course it was due to the close relations between the 2 communist countries.
When asked to talk about their "love stories" on campus back then, the comments we heard most from them is how drastically different it is now adays for college students to date and have public intimacy and publically known sexual relationships. Back then, sexual relationships just aren't allowed and will be a cause for expelling the student from the school. If you were lucky enough to have a girl/boy friend, then everything must take place under the highest level of secrecy with the support and cover of your closest friends. It is just not talked about in public.
I sensed a kind of sadness among the laughters in the bus. The kind that says they were robbed of their golden years in a way. But I do believe the kind of relationship that was forged under those circumstance must be superior and can withstand more tests of time and tribulations. I would say most 90% of them stayed with their college sweet hearts till today.
They try to meet up like this every other year now. But knowing with passing time, each time there would be fewer of them make to the trip either due to their health condition or simply has passed away. I also would not hesitate to say that their generation has been the hardest working generation even today. There is a well known saying in China these days. "The prosperity and growth in China today is at the cause of an entire generation's health." I don't think I have ever recalled my parents having any type of personal hobby such as golfing or fishing or even going to movies... All their lives, they're either studying, working or taking care of family. Even today, at the age of 60, they still work 6-7 days a week on a regular basis.
So I give my salute to my parents and their classmates for all they have lived through and sacraficed.
So you may wonder what's this class reunion stuff all about as suggested in my entry's title. Well, for our last weekend in China, we joint my Dad's Tong Ji (同济) classmates for their class reunion trip to Shao Xing (邵兴) and Qian Dao Hu (千岛湖). It's a easy way to travel, saving us the trouble of arranging for our own accomodations and tour guides. It also gave us a rare chance to peek into the social dynamics and insides of his generation.
Since my parents met and fell in love while studying architecture in Tong Ji university back in the 60's, this type of class reunions can reveal much about what their lives much have been like back then. I don't want to make this entry one that is about the China's infamous culture revolution but that is the back-drop of their college years. While the 60's has been an era of sexual freedom and drugs in the U.S. and western world, China was going through perhaps the most rigid era easily comparable to the Victorian age's social values when it comes to courtship and marriage.
Our young tour guide, Ms Jiang was of great help in stirring up the crowd. In order to entertain the group on the bus, she would bring up old stories she dug up from various classmates to discuss and laugh about. There are old dorm room stories as well as singing their favorite Russian folk songs. Yes you heard me right. They loved Russian folk songs. Back then their required second language study was not English but Russian. Of course it was due to the close relations between the 2 communist countries.
When asked to talk about their "love stories" on campus back then, the comments we heard most from them is how drastically different it is now adays for college students to date and have public intimacy and publically known sexual relationships. Back then, sexual relationships just aren't allowed and will be a cause for expelling the student from the school. If you were lucky enough to have a girl/boy friend, then everything must take place under the highest level of secrecy with the support and cover of your closest friends. It is just not talked about in public.
I sensed a kind of sadness among the laughters in the bus. The kind that says they were robbed of their golden years in a way. But I do believe the kind of relationship that was forged under those circumstance must be superior and can withstand more tests of time and tribulations. I would say most 90% of them stayed with their college sweet hearts till today.
They try to meet up like this every other year now. But knowing with passing time, each time there would be fewer of them make to the trip either due to their health condition or simply has passed away. I also would not hesitate to say that their generation has been the hardest working generation even today. There is a well known saying in China these days. "The prosperity and growth in China today is at the cause of an entire generation's health." I don't think I have ever recalled my parents having any type of personal hobby such as golfing or fishing or even going to movies... All their lives, they're either studying, working or taking care of family. Even today, at the age of 60, they still work 6-7 days a week on a regular basis.
So I give my salute to my parents and their classmates for all they have lived through and sacraficed.
Monday, October 18, 2004
I'm back
Tonight, I'm back in Redwood City tonight safe and sound. It feels like I've been away a long time yet I'm not looking forward to go back to work tomorrow at all. :(
At the end of this trip, Bay area actually feels like home to me now. Although I have always seen myself as a guest here for the past 4 years. Perhaps it still stems from the fact we don't yet own our own house here.
--- And I truly truly appreciate the speed of my cable connection from here. What a difference. :) ----
What I will miss from Shanghai:
At the end of this trip, Bay area actually feels like home to me now. Although I have always seen myself as a guest here for the past 4 years. Perhaps it still stems from the fact we don't yet own our own house here.
--- And I truly truly appreciate the speed of my cable connection from here. What a difference. :) ----
What I will miss from Shanghai:
- Definitely all the great Chinese food from breakfast items to great local dishes. There are so much more variety than what we can find here. Plus everything is freshly cooked whether you buy from from street vendors or fancy restaurants. Even the grocery stores has a lot more brands. It will seem like a drab to shop here in our local Safeway again.
- The endless shopping malls you can browse. There are just a lot more styles and brands of everything.
- Most of all, I'll miss Andy and Alex who stayed behind. Alex will be spending another month there to attend the local day-care. I'm hoping by the time he gets back, he will be fluent in Chinese. :P
- The terrible city air. The car exhaust is the major source of pollution on the street. Then there is also the pollution from the sewer system below.
- The hundreds and hundreds of pedestrians and bicyclists on the street.
- The taxi drivers who would not hesitate to scold a 3-year old child for stepping on the taxi car seat.
- The spits on the side walks every where. It's like a national sport for men there. I guess you can't blame them if they really have so much spit due to respiratory problem caused by breathing all the car exhaust every day.
Compared to the Shanghai I saw the last time I was back there in Dec of 2001, there are visible improvements every where, mostly in the form of new constructions and high rises. Also I find the store clerks are more friendly now. I guess the customer service quality is also improving.
On my flights back, I finished the "Fast Food Nation" book. In this edition's final chapter, it seems to me, Schlosser made a turn for the positive in his attitude toward the golden archies giant. He gave positive encouragement to McDonald's corporation to continue their endeavers for a positive public image and extending their influence to the meat packing industries to treat their employees better and improve their work safety. My conclusion after reading the book is that just don't eat hambergurs any more. If we must, just go to In & Out joints. In fact, it's better to just be a vegetarian.
Any way, I better hit the bunk now. Hopefully I'll be able to sleep through the whole night considerring I didn't sleep more than a couple of hours on the flights over.
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Healthcare in China
It wouldn't be a complete vacation without someone getting sick and has to visit the local hospital. Alex, being the youngest member of our family was the first to get infected. Luckily it was just a common cold. With the shortage on flu shots in the US, he probably would have caught something back in the Bay area any how.
Taking my parents' suggestion, we took a taxi ride to the nearest Chang Ning general hospital. The hospital is quite modern. It's fairly new and is a complete contrast to the older hospital my dad stayed at back in 1999 when he had his pancreatic infection. Marble floors, large lobby that opened up to the 2nd, 3rd floors with plants around the corners and escalators. It looks more like a shopping mall than a hospital.
The lobby was full of people as expected. You see, in China, you don't call the doctor's office for an appointment up front. You just go to the hospital and register in the lobby for a #. The regular registration fee you pay at the lobby's registration windows is all that you pay for the doctor's examination and consulting fee. For regular registration, it's a modest 20Yuan, equivalent of less than $3.00 USD. Then if you need to pick up medication, you would pay that later in the hospital.
For us, we decided to go upstairs and register at the "Special Need" department where we pay a hefty 120 Yuan per patient, an equivalent of $15 USD or less (same as our current PPO co-pay amount in the states). There is no need to show any indication of insurance coverage or identification of any sort. At this service level, you'll be allowed to wait in a fancy waiting room equipped with nice sofa, TV and most importantly much faster turn to get to the doctor. The nurses will also fetch all the paperwork and necessaties for your blood or urine tests, etc.
The doctors servicing this floor have lesser patients to see than the other department. There are also more than one type of doctor available at all times on this floor. Aside from general family doctors, there is also a staff of other specialty doctors. Most other patients we found on that floor are either Taiwanese or Korean residents of Shanghai.
Overall, I find the division of service quite convenient for us, foreign travelers. The locals are also allowed to use this level of service as long as they're willing to pay the same amount. No wonder my parents have not had any trouble with their healthcare need during they stay here in the last few years. The expat level of service at the same cost as our co-pay in the states really goes to show the dramatic hyper inflated medical costs here in the states. Remember, there is no other insurance company who will pay the hospital another 80% of the cost at a later date... There will not be a medical statement sent to us later showing how much the insurance policy negotiated the doctor's rate down to and paid on our behalf... The 120Yuan ($15USD) was all it took.
And what medicine did Alex get for his cough and cold? Tylenol cold and Clariton D... :
Taking my parents' suggestion, we took a taxi ride to the nearest Chang Ning general hospital. The hospital is quite modern. It's fairly new and is a complete contrast to the older hospital my dad stayed at back in 1999 when he had his pancreatic infection. Marble floors, large lobby that opened up to the 2nd, 3rd floors with plants around the corners and escalators. It looks more like a shopping mall than a hospital.
The lobby was full of people as expected. You see, in China, you don't call the doctor's office for an appointment up front. You just go to the hospital and register in the lobby for a #. The regular registration fee you pay at the lobby's registration windows is all that you pay for the doctor's examination and consulting fee. For regular registration, it's a modest 20Yuan, equivalent of less than $3.00 USD. Then if you need to pick up medication, you would pay that later in the hospital.
For us, we decided to go upstairs and register at the "Special Need" department where we pay a hefty 120 Yuan per patient, an equivalent of $15 USD or less (same as our current PPO co-pay amount in the states). There is no need to show any indication of insurance coverage or identification of any sort. At this service level, you'll be allowed to wait in a fancy waiting room equipped with nice sofa, TV and most importantly much faster turn to get to the doctor. The nurses will also fetch all the paperwork and necessaties for your blood or urine tests, etc.
The doctors servicing this floor have lesser patients to see than the other department. There are also more than one type of doctor available at all times on this floor. Aside from general family doctors, there is also a staff of other specialty doctors. Most other patients we found on that floor are either Taiwanese or Korean residents of Shanghai.
Overall, I find the division of service quite convenient for us, foreign travelers. The locals are also allowed to use this level of service as long as they're willing to pay the same amount. No wonder my parents have not had any trouble with their healthcare need during they stay here in the last few years. The expat level of service at the same cost as our co-pay in the states really goes to show the dramatic hyper inflated medical costs here in the states. Remember, there is no other insurance company who will pay the hospital another 80% of the cost at a later date... There will not be a medical statement sent to us later showing how much the insurance policy negotiated the doctor's rate down to and paid on our behalf... The 120Yuan ($15USD) was all it took.
And what medicine did Alex get for his cough and cold? Tylenol cold and Clariton D... :
Friday, October 15, 2004
Trip Update
I must apologize for the lack of entries lately. The connection I have from my parents' home is very slow and my attempts to create new entries on Blogger.com are often unsuccessful. Here is a quick update of what we're up to.
We took a day-trip yesterday (Oct. 14) to go visit my ancestral home and grave sites on an island in the middle of Tai Hu lake (太湖,西山). It's a 2-hour drive from Shanghai, near Shu Zhou. That is truly a magical place. The island in the middle of the lake has its own moutain range and villages. The farmers live there are either fisher men or orange growers. Some also grow gingo nuts. My grandfather grew up there before he went to work in Shanghai. There is still one relative's family who live there today and tends to the ancestral graves. Their lives are of a completely different era in time and a pace of its own. They grow much of the vegetables they eat on their own land. The village has its own wells that supply their water which in my opninion is much better than the city's water. I'll have to write a separate entry for this place when I have more time.
Today afternoon, we'll be joining a group of my dad's old college class-mates for a short 2-day trip to Shao Xing(邵兴) and the "Thousand Island Lake" (千岛湖). We'll be back in Shanghai by Sunday evening. Then I'm scheduled to fly back to SFO on Monday the 18th.
We took a day-trip yesterday (Oct. 14) to go visit my ancestral home and grave sites on an island in the middle of Tai Hu lake (太湖,西山). It's a 2-hour drive from Shanghai, near Shu Zhou. That is truly a magical place. The island in the middle of the lake has its own moutain range and villages. The farmers live there are either fisher men or orange growers. Some also grow gingo nuts. My grandfather grew up there before he went to work in Shanghai. There is still one relative's family who live there today and tends to the ancestral graves. Their lives are of a completely different era in time and a pace of its own. They grow much of the vegetables they eat on their own land. The village has its own wells that supply their water which in my opninion is much better than the city's water. I'll have to write a separate entry for this place when I have more time.
Today afternoon, we'll be joining a group of my dad's old college class-mates for a short 2-day trip to Shao Xing(邵兴) and the "Thousand Island Lake" (千岛湖). We'll be back in Shanghai by Sunday evening. Then I'm scheduled to fly back to SFO on Monday the 18th.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
White Supremacy
I have a couple of cousins who are recent college grads from universities either in the States or Australia. Instead of seeking for job opportunities in the States or Australia, they now prefers to live and work in Shanghai. However, they face an unique dilema in finding a suitable job with just compensation.
Believe it or not, there is very heavy favoritism toward the "white" ethnic races here in this very homogeneous Chinese society. My father told me funny stories about how business presentations delivered with a white guy as a member of the presentation team, regardless of his nationality or expertise, will be perceived as of higher quality or more trustworthy. Some companies go to the extend of hiring a temporary "white" person just for show as part of their business proposition presentation or deal signing. I wonder if this mentality root from Chinese people's own inferiority syndrome all the way back to the Qing dynasty. This reverse discrimination is most obvious when companies are considerring compensation for foreigners who seek jobs here in Shanghai. A Chinese American who may have the same experience as a caucasian American in the same line of work will be given lesser pay than the caucasian even though hiring the bilingual Chinese American would often mean better communication skill between the rest of the company and this individual.
I don't know what the remedy should be... It is ridiculous and frustrating for those whose lives are affected. If you have suggestions, please let me know.
Believe it or not, there is very heavy favoritism toward the "white" ethnic races here in this very homogeneous Chinese society. My father told me funny stories about how business presentations delivered with a white guy as a member of the presentation team, regardless of his nationality or expertise, will be perceived as of higher quality or more trustworthy. Some companies go to the extend of hiring a temporary "white" person just for show as part of their business proposition presentation or deal signing. I wonder if this mentality root from Chinese people's own inferiority syndrome all the way back to the Qing dynasty. This reverse discrimination is most obvious when companies are considerring compensation for foreigners who seek jobs here in Shanghai. A Chinese American who may have the same experience as a caucasian American in the same line of work will be given lesser pay than the caucasian even though hiring the bilingual Chinese American would often mean better communication skill between the rest of the company and this individual.
I don't know what the remedy should be... It is ridiculous and frustrating for those whose lives are affected. If you have suggestions, please let me know.
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Impression of Yun Nan
The brand new Shanghai Opera House sets in the center of the city’s People’s Square. Designed by a renowned French architect, the structure resembles a traditional Chinese treasure basin symbolizing the idea of collecting and integrating the world’s arts and talents. For my birthday, my parents and I attended the new “Broadway” show equivalent Chinese dance production titled, “The Impression of Yun Nan” 《云南映象》.
Yun Nan is the southwestern province of China that borders Burma and Vietnam. The literal translation of Yun Nan means south of the clouds. I’m not sure if that is the region’s original name or not. But it is a quite poetic one. There are many unique geological wonders in the area that are quite popular tourist attractions. Several minorities populate the area. Their culture and spirit saturates the impression of the province in the minds of Chinese people. They have no written language of their own and are known to communicate through their dance rituals and songs. The show uses locally recruited dancer and singers led and directed by a seasoned, well known dancer, Yang, Li Ping “杨丽萍”. Ms Yang’s signature dance and her life’s pursuit is a dance that imitates a peacock, the region’s favorite bird. Amazingly at the age of 46, she still look and dance like someone in her 20’s. The peacock dance to her is almost at the spiritual level rather than just an art form.
My mom thought they bought the best seats. But the 3rd row seat became first row due to the expansion of the stage to accommodate the format of the show. Many times, if I stood up, I could literally reach over and touch the performers. We can also feel the breath created by their clothing whenever they ran across the stage. I could see each dancer's face and the excitment in their eyes. There are so much innocence in them. I could tell which member are professional dancers from the national dance institutes and which ones are truly local people from Yun Nan. But the coordination of the dances are well rehersed and orderly. The lighting and stage design all are very creative and modern. Many of the techniques employed reminds of me of some of the Vegas shows. Not anybody or any show can be chosen as the center stage show on the national independence day in the Shanghai Opera House. The fact they chose this show either means they're really the best or that there is definitely a shift in people's appreciation of art form here that I hasn't anticipated.
The dances include the ones they dance during their mating rituals and worship of fire or of the peacock, etc. The drumming was very uplifting. But perhaps the most memorable part was the dance of the women. "女人国“ features a song that really, truly describes the role of a woman. It goes, "Can the sun rest? Yes, it can. Can the moon take a break? Yes, it can. Can the woman relax? No. The woman cannot. If the woman rests, then the fire in the stove will die out... If there is a woman in the family, there everyone is united. If there is a woman for a man, then when the mountain collapses, the man will carry it. If there is no women in this world, then there will be no people. A woman must work hard or there will be no sweetness in her life.... Can the sun rest? Yes, the sun can rest. Can the moon take a break? Yes, the moon can take a break. Can the woman relax? No. She cannot." I cannot say I agree or disagree with the lyric. But I know how hard life must be for women of their culture.... Sigh!
Website for the show:
http://ent.sina.com.cn/f/ynpics/index.shtml
Website for the theater:
http://www.srts.net/shenzhou/Shanghai_dajuyuan.html
Yun Nan is the southwestern province of China that borders Burma and Vietnam. The literal translation of Yun Nan means south of the clouds. I’m not sure if that is the region’s original name or not. But it is a quite poetic one. There are many unique geological wonders in the area that are quite popular tourist attractions. Several minorities populate the area. Their culture and spirit saturates the impression of the province in the minds of Chinese people. They have no written language of their own and are known to communicate through their dance rituals and songs. The show uses locally recruited dancer and singers led and directed by a seasoned, well known dancer, Yang, Li Ping “杨丽萍”. Ms Yang’s signature dance and her life’s pursuit is a dance that imitates a peacock, the region’s favorite bird. Amazingly at the age of 46, she still look and dance like someone in her 20’s. The peacock dance to her is almost at the spiritual level rather than just an art form.
My mom thought they bought the best seats. But the 3rd row seat became first row due to the expansion of the stage to accommodate the format of the show. Many times, if I stood up, I could literally reach over and touch the performers. We can also feel the breath created by their clothing whenever they ran across the stage. I could see each dancer's face and the excitment in their eyes. There are so much innocence in them. I could tell which member are professional dancers from the national dance institutes and which ones are truly local people from Yun Nan. But the coordination of the dances are well rehersed and orderly. The lighting and stage design all are very creative and modern. Many of the techniques employed reminds of me of some of the Vegas shows. Not anybody or any show can be chosen as the center stage show on the national independence day in the Shanghai Opera House. The fact they chose this show either means they're really the best or that there is definitely a shift in people's appreciation of art form here that I hasn't anticipated.
The dances include the ones they dance during their mating rituals and worship of fire or of the peacock, etc. The drumming was very uplifting. But perhaps the most memorable part was the dance of the women. "女人国“ features a song that really, truly describes the role of a woman. It goes, "Can the sun rest? Yes, it can. Can the moon take a break? Yes, it can. Can the woman relax? No. The woman cannot. If the woman rests, then the fire in the stove will die out... If there is a woman in the family, there everyone is united. If there is a woman for a man, then when the mountain collapses, the man will carry it. If there is no women in this world, then there will be no people. A woman must work hard or there will be no sweetness in her life.... Can the sun rest? Yes, the sun can rest. Can the moon take a break? Yes, the moon can take a break. Can the woman relax? No. She cannot." I cannot say I agree or disagree with the lyric. But I know how hard life must be for women of their culture.... Sigh!
Website for the show:
http://ent.sina.com.cn/f/ynpics/index.shtml
Website for the theater:
http://www.srts.net/shenzhou/Shanghai_dajuyuan.html
Thursday, September 30, 2004
Day 2 - Sept 30
Jetlag woke Alex up at 3am. He started endless lines of questions that kep Andy up and finally woke all of us. Being hungry while the rest of the household is still asleep, we decided to venture out on our own for breakfast around 6:00am...
There are lots of senior citizens exercising in the common areas of the complex, on the side walks of streets, just about every corner. Some of them line up by the dozens and follow one leader, others are on their own. Some group is doing the typical Tai Ji Quan and others are waving around wooden swords or even doing latin dance. Yes you heard me right. They were dancing in the street to mamba and samba...
The traffic on the streets are still light. Most stores are not open yet. The air has the familar sweet scent from the Huang Pu river's water. I can always taste the fragrance even in their faucet water here. Although the water here is harder than I remembered. My hands feel reall beat to wash in it for long. It's a good thing I don't have to do dishes here. The house keepter/cook comes daily and takes care of all the cleanning, gorcery purchases, cooking and laundry. I always have to get used to the fact that someone else is busy doing all these while I'm just sitting around chatting or watching TV. I never have this kind of break in the States. So I have to keep reminding myself that she is paid to do this. But I digress.
Comparing to 2001, there are many more new stores on the streets near where my parents live. They reminds me of Taipei and Tokyo streets with all the advertising posted in the display windows showing all the too-familiar brands' logos except with Chinese names. There are Sprite mascot painted buses, Danon yogurt in the corner convenient stores, P&G shampoo/conditioner products lined shelves, Herbal Essence, Vidal Sasson, Johnson & Johnson...the list can go on and on...
The area on Xian Xia (仙霞) Rd. is known as the little Taiwan of Shanghai. However, the latest shopping center is actually named "Los Angeles" where they copied the format of a typical L.A. Chinese center where stores and shops lined up in a semi-circle with parking lot in front center of the center. Aside from the smaller scale parking lot, the rest quite resembles the center we see on Valley blvd. of San Gabriel area of L.A.
We found a local street vendors who make bao-zi and pot stickers fresh in the morning whee hours. The pot stickers are sooo good, Alex must have ate 5 of them before we got home. However, I'm sure there are plenty of animal fats or grease used in it.
===============================================================
The first order of business on my agenda, planned out by my mother, is to hit her favorite salon to get a hair cut. Me being me and working at Siebel, have not visited my barber for the last 3-4 months. I'm due for a cut no matter which way you look at it. So I went. Her hair dresser is a young man in his mid-twenties. He is extremely thin, too thin to be a male fashion model. His thinness made his long slender fingers look even more extreme and un-natural. But those fingers must do great with sorting hairs. Both of my parents go there always once a week. Since it's so cheap to get your hair wasthed and blown dry, prepped for RMB10, they use their service just for that once a week even when they don't need a cut. However the girl who washes their hair and the hair dresser really don't know much about my parents. According to them, I'm a chatter box compared to my folks. I guess I am an open-book to them. I know this is something my mother would advice me against. "Keep things to yourself." She always say, "Don't tell people everything." She is always on the defense. I don't blame her being so. I don't think I can survive as well here as she did. But I enjoy chatting with them. They're also insterested in asking me all kinds of questions once they found out that I'm visiting from America. There are silly conversations ranging from 'why air planes now-a-days really could flight all the way across Pacific without having to stop half way' and 'America's aircraft carriers lingers near China not because the fighter jets cannot make it across in one flight' to 'how astronomical the amount of money an average software engineer makes in California vs how much of that money can really be saved...'
If you're wonderring what I did to my hair, you will have to wait for my latest picture posting... :)
There are lots of senior citizens exercising in the common areas of the complex, on the side walks of streets, just about every corner. Some of them line up by the dozens and follow one leader, others are on their own. Some group is doing the typical Tai Ji Quan and others are waving around wooden swords or even doing latin dance. Yes you heard me right. They were dancing in the street to mamba and samba...
The traffic on the streets are still light. Most stores are not open yet. The air has the familar sweet scent from the Huang Pu river's water. I can always taste the fragrance even in their faucet water here. Although the water here is harder than I remembered. My hands feel reall beat to wash in it for long. It's a good thing I don't have to do dishes here. The house keepter/cook comes daily and takes care of all the cleanning, gorcery purchases, cooking and laundry. I always have to get used to the fact that someone else is busy doing all these while I'm just sitting around chatting or watching TV. I never have this kind of break in the States. So I have to keep reminding myself that she is paid to do this. But I digress.
Comparing to 2001, there are many more new stores on the streets near where my parents live. They reminds me of Taipei and Tokyo streets with all the advertising posted in the display windows showing all the too-familiar brands' logos except with Chinese names. There are Sprite mascot painted buses, Danon yogurt in the corner convenient stores, P&G shampoo/conditioner products lined shelves, Herbal Essence, Vidal Sasson, Johnson & Johnson...the list can go on and on...
The area on Xian Xia (仙霞) Rd. is known as the little Taiwan of Shanghai. However, the latest shopping center is actually named "Los Angeles" where they copied the format of a typical L.A. Chinese center where stores and shops lined up in a semi-circle with parking lot in front center of the center. Aside from the smaller scale parking lot, the rest quite resembles the center we see on Valley blvd. of San Gabriel area of L.A.
We found a local street vendors who make bao-zi and pot stickers fresh in the morning whee hours. The pot stickers are sooo good, Alex must have ate 5 of them before we got home. However, I'm sure there are plenty of animal fats or grease used in it.
===============================================================
The first order of business on my agenda, planned out by my mother, is to hit her favorite salon to get a hair cut. Me being me and working at Siebel, have not visited my barber for the last 3-4 months. I'm due for a cut no matter which way you look at it. So I went. Her hair dresser is a young man in his mid-twenties. He is extremely thin, too thin to be a male fashion model. His thinness made his long slender fingers look even more extreme and un-natural. But those fingers must do great with sorting hairs. Both of my parents go there always once a week. Since it's so cheap to get your hair wasthed and blown dry, prepped for RMB10, they use their service just for that once a week even when they don't need a cut. However the girl who washes their hair and the hair dresser really don't know much about my parents. According to them, I'm a chatter box compared to my folks. I guess I am an open-book to them. I know this is something my mother would advice me against. "Keep things to yourself." She always say, "Don't tell people everything." She is always on the defense. I don't blame her being so. I don't think I can survive as well here as she did. But I enjoy chatting with them. They're also insterested in asking me all kinds of questions once they found out that I'm visiting from America. There are silly conversations ranging from 'why air planes now-a-days really could flight all the way across Pacific without having to stop half way' and 'America's aircraft carriers lingers near China not because the fighter jets cannot make it across in one flight' to 'how astronomical the amount of money an average software engineer makes in California vs how much of that money can really be saved...'
If you're wonderring what I did to my hair, you will have to wait for my latest picture posting... :)
The Flight
We took Air Canada from SFO to Vancouver. Then transferred from Vancouver to a 767 for the leg to Shanghai. I chose this route because what we learned from our last trip. Transferring flight at the end of a 15-hour flight is not fun at all. So transferring at the end of a short 2-hour flight is a much better option.
There were 2 lessons learned during this flight. First, Air Canada is not part of the international terminal at SFO. We learned the hard way by walking over to Terminal 1 from International terminal after our ride has left us at the curb.
Second, $100 US currency is deemed worthless on the flight. We couldn't even buy a breakfast with that money until we found a $20 bill in Andy's camel pack.
The 15-hour flight from Vancouver to Shanghai was fairly uneventful in contrast. It turned out to be a good thing to order vegetarian meal and kids meal along with our tickets when we booked the trip through Expedia. Alex and I always gotten our meals first before they started serving the rest of the economy passengers. And the 3 laptop batteries all got used up entertaining Alex for almost 6 hours plus portion of the flight with video games we brought along.
Pudong airport is the newer one of the two international airports servicing flights into Shanghai. Yet, there are already signs of aging and deteriation from how I remembered it the last time I visited in 2001. Almost as soon as we entered the terminals, the familiar sense of hostility hit me. I felt this way whenever I'm back in China. The feeling of insecurity. My inner voice nags at me to stay alert and be prepared to fight. Not literally go punch someone in the face, but the anxiety of it is true enough when most everyone else around us are so much more "asertive," to put it nicely. You cannot afford to be polite because none of it will be given back in return. Especially when it comes to standing in lines. A word of advice, "Don't leave a gap in front of you at any time." However I must admit Shanghai is not the worst place I felt that way. Afterall, Shanghai in China is like Paris in France. Its people are not yet 100% about competition and profit at all times, although it's getting pretty close to it in recent years.
There were 2 lessons learned during this flight. First, Air Canada is not part of the international terminal at SFO. We learned the hard way by walking over to Terminal 1 from International terminal after our ride has left us at the curb.
Second, $100 US currency is deemed worthless on the flight. We couldn't even buy a breakfast with that money until we found a $20 bill in Andy's camel pack.
The 15-hour flight from Vancouver to Shanghai was fairly uneventful in contrast. It turned out to be a good thing to order vegetarian meal and kids meal along with our tickets when we booked the trip through Expedia. Alex and I always gotten our meals first before they started serving the rest of the economy passengers. And the 3 laptop batteries all got used up entertaining Alex for almost 6 hours plus portion of the flight with video games we brought along.
Pudong airport is the newer one of the two international airports servicing flights into Shanghai. Yet, there are already signs of aging and deteriation from how I remembered it the last time I visited in 2001. Almost as soon as we entered the terminals, the familiar sense of hostility hit me. I felt this way whenever I'm back in China. The feeling of insecurity. My inner voice nags at me to stay alert and be prepared to fight. Not literally go punch someone in the face, but the anxiety of it is true enough when most everyone else around us are so much more "asertive," to put it nicely. You cannot afford to be polite because none of it will be given back in return. Especially when it comes to standing in lines. A word of advice, "Don't leave a gap in front of you at any time." However I must admit Shanghai is not the worst place I felt that way. Afterall, Shanghai in China is like Paris in France. Its people are not yet 100% about competition and profit at all times, although it's getting pretty close to it in recent years.
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Departure from SFO
So we have tickets for 8:00am flight from SFO to Vancouver which means getting to the airport at 6:00am in the morning the latest. And there is the lucky someone who signed up to drive us there. The plan was to get to bed early tonight... but you know how it goes... the last 10% packing took the most time and the rest of hours flew by just picking things up around the house and getting the three of us washed up. At least Alex is finally in bed.
---- just a few lines to test out the blog page for now -----
---- just a few lines to test out the blog page for now -----
Monday, September 27, 2004
2 days before departure
As we prepare to take Alex back to Shanghai the 2nd time since his arrival in our lives, the long dormant writer inside me awoke. I can't deny perhaps this is brought on by my recently found interest in reading politically charged books which my left-wing sister keeps leaving behind intentionally or order for me (i.e., Fast Food Nation and Micheal Moore's best sellers). Whether you view it as a journal or a blog of our journey, I plan to bring to you the daily (or every other day) accounts of the events as an extremely subjective (entertaining) journalist (a dream assignment of any journalist, no doubt).
As globalization quickly engulfs the small planet we inhabit on, homogenizes every country and city with the same stores, merchandise and value system, I find myself incapable of choosing any commodity either in China or in the U.S. to bring with me as suitable gifts for everyone here or in Shanghai. What can't you find here in California's ever-growing chain of 99 Ranch market and Asian gift shops that you cannot find in Shanghai? Afterall, if it is not FDA approved, do I dare to risk anyone's health here with potential SARs or bird flu infection... And what practical gifts can I possibly find here in California that you cannot find equivalents for in Shanghai's US or other foreign establishments? The best option I came up with is Sharper Image's ionic air filter for my all too health conscious parents and the infamous US grown Hua Qi ginseng for my grandmother who lives in China. Wasn't it used to be people brought ginseng from China to America? My parents, on the other hand who specified the make and model of their gift, are more Americanized than I am these days. They're afterall, business owners now, who must play by the rule of a extremly energized capitalistic and corrupt economic system.
Therefore, my best offer is to simply share with you my trip itself accompanied with all my 2 cents of opinion on everything.
If a picture can really tell what a thousand words can't, then maybe I'm wasting my time. I will for sure have plenty of pictures from the trip that I can share with you all. However a picture is really nothing more than a picture these days. As if our lives are not so bombarded as is by hundreds and thousands of pictures daily from every possible media channel we're exposed to, including our own family members who refuse to write instead just snap with their latest acquisition from BestBuy or The Good Guys, me included. Words, personal letters, however have never seemed more precious to me these days.
Obviously, this choice of gift requires more precious time from both side. If you choose not to read this blog forced upon you, please tell me and I promise my feelings won't be hurt and I'll cross your name off of my address book forever....! J/K :)
--------------2 days before departure, Sunday, 9/26/2004, 4:00 am --------------------------
Maybe now I can finally go to sleep...
As globalization quickly engulfs the small planet we inhabit on, homogenizes every country and city with the same stores, merchandise and value system, I find myself incapable of choosing any commodity either in China or in the U.S. to bring with me as suitable gifts for everyone here or in Shanghai. What can't you find here in California's ever-growing chain of 99 Ranch market and Asian gift shops that you cannot find in Shanghai? Afterall, if it is not FDA approved, do I dare to risk anyone's health here with potential SARs or bird flu infection... And what practical gifts can I possibly find here in California that you cannot find equivalents for in Shanghai's US or other foreign establishments? The best option I came up with is Sharper Image's ionic air filter for my all too health conscious parents and the infamous US grown Hua Qi ginseng for my grandmother who lives in China. Wasn't it used to be people brought ginseng from China to America? My parents, on the other hand who specified the make and model of their gift, are more Americanized than I am these days. They're afterall, business owners now, who must play by the rule of a extremly energized capitalistic and corrupt economic system.
Therefore, my best offer is to simply share with you my trip itself accompanied with all my 2 cents of opinion on everything.
If a picture can really tell what a thousand words can't, then maybe I'm wasting my time. I will for sure have plenty of pictures from the trip that I can share with you all. However a picture is really nothing more than a picture these days. As if our lives are not so bombarded as is by hundreds and thousands of pictures daily from every possible media channel we're exposed to, including our own family members who refuse to write instead just snap with their latest acquisition from BestBuy or The Good Guys, me included. Words, personal letters, however have never seemed more precious to me these days.
Obviously, this choice of gift requires more precious time from both side. If you choose not to read this blog forced upon you, please tell me and I promise my feelings won't be hurt and I'll cross your name off of my address book forever....! J/K :)
--------------2 days before departure, Sunday, 9/26/2004, 4:00 am --------------------------
Maybe now I can finally go to sleep...
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