Year-in-Review & New Year's Eve

Last year was quite eventful for me, to say the least. I worked as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch for 9 months, but then decided to leave given the fact that it would require a miracle (or someone's stupidity) for a 24 year-old man with no investment experience to find $15 million to manage within 12 months, compounded by the fact we're in a bear market that has baby-boomers clinching their computer mouse every time they check their declining portfolio values. So, given 1) that reality, 2) the dire economic situation in America, and 3) the fact that I'm unmarried and without any (known) children, I figured it would be a good time to SEE THE WORLD.

Prior to setting foot on Communist-Chinese soil, I interned at the City Council of San Diego for a little over one month and I stayed  with close family friends who were kind enough to let me live with them. In San Diego I learned how to drive a stick-shift (stalling out of the highway once), observed both the wonders and lunacy of American democracy through the lens of city-level government, bonded closer with family and friends, chilled out on the beach watching the waves, ate too many carne asada burritos, took early-morning hikes up Cowles Mountain with Jim, visited some of the California wine country with my sister, and I got to see San Diego as an adult.

When mid-June rolled around, it was time to embark on a new journey, down a path that still has an unknown end. I vividly remember the first couple of months here in China. Everything was new and interesting, I was starting to get my bearings, and I was trying to avoid getting hit by taxis (still a problem). Six months later, my experience in China is equally interesting as the first couple of days. I've started to pick up the language (which is by far the most difficult one I've ever tried), sampled all sorts of Chinese food (and gotten food poisoning twice), traveled a little, salsa danced around Shanghai, met many friends, gained an appreciation for my own country, and learned a lot about Chinese culture. Most importantly, however, the past 6 months have been very important because this time away from America and the "corporate world" has given me time to think about life and it has allowed me to live in another country, which is one of my life goals.

At times, I feel down when I think that my career is being side-tracked by this teaching job, especially when I compare my situation to friends who are working in top-notch companies and in positions that are preparing them for a great career. I have to remind myself, however, that it is okay not to know exactly where I am going in life and that it is okay not to be on a clear career path. What is important, though, is that I have never been as consistently happier as I have over these past 6 months.

New Year's Eve Party

Christmas in China

From dancing on bars in clubs to studying an Asia language, I've had a plethora of first-time experiences over the past 6 months of living in Communist China and today I can add one more item to the list: the first Christmas away from my family and country.

It was difficult to awake this morning to a cold, empty apartment in which there is nothing to resemble a Christmas decoration. Sure, it was great to speak with my family, but that can't replace sitting on the couch with my mother and brother as we sip coffee and eat breakfast together on Christmas morning. Although I awoke to an empty home, I didn't spend the day alone. A good friend of mine invited 8 people over for lunch and dinner, which turned out to be a fabulous time. He ordered lots of food, including a delicious turkey that I had the pleasure of carving, or should I say tearing apart with my claws. We sat at the table for a good 3 hours, watched movies, drank and ate, and spent a total of 12 hours together lounging around the flat.

The realization didn't come to me at first, but I'm starting to see and understand the new life I'm living and the emotions felt when living abroad, away from family and close friends. It's difficult to take in initially, yet there are always trade-offs in life and this time abroad has been a growing experience for me. As I've said since first arriving here in mid-June, I am truly living a dream and this has been the best time of my life thus far. Will I return to the colonies in 6 months for work? Will I go to another country? Or will I live in China for longer than originally anticipated? I have no clue, to be honest, but I am not opposed to living here for another 2-3 years. Only time will tell!

Last Sunday our EF XuJiaHui office had a Christmas party for the teachers and students. My official job was to be the MC for the event and make sure Santa didn't chase too many women. Throughout the part, we had copious amounts of drinks and candy, games, and also performances for the students. Three of those performances were songs, which I sang with other teachers, and needless to say, I don't think I will be performing at any weddings or birthdays anytime soon.

Chinese Basketball

A student and friend of mine invited me to attend a CBA game tonight to watch the Shanghai Sharks play another professional Chinese team. It wasn't like watching an NBA or college game by any means, but it was quite enjoyable. Another interesting thing to see was the Chinese players interacting with the foreign players on their team (a max of 2 are allowed per team), and to see how they communicated with each other.

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was unique and I have a lot for which to be thankful. It was the first time that I spent a major holiday away from family. Without family in town or country, I've found that friendships between foreigners tend to develop quite rapidly, and I've realized how much I depend on my friends here in China. So, I wanted to get a group together of foreigners and Chinese to share in the occasion. 

Although we didn't have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner by any means, the fourteen of us had a great time over the three hours that we ate together. Laughs filled the air, stomachs were stuffed, and good times were had.

What am I thankful for?

a roof over my head and a bed in which to sleep, loving family & friends, a job that provides an excellent living  by Chinese standards, the opportunity to travel the world, great health, and many more things

Salsa Dancing

For the past couple of months now, I've been teaching salsa classes on Tuesdays at EF and we always have a blast. My knowledge of salsa, however, is quite limited, so I wanted to arrange a group lesson for my friends and students with my roommate June (Shanghai salsa class), who just opened her third dance studio.

After class ended at 7:30 tonight, I rallied the troops in the EF lobby, then 20 of us marched together to the dance studio. For an hour-and-a-half, we twirled-around in the studio, trying to transition from robotic dancers into genuine, hip-swiveling, Latin sensations...and we still have a long way to go.

"No Money, No Honey"

If a Chinese man wants to marry, a cultural prerequisite is buying an apartment--and they don't come cheap! I've learned recently through talking with friends that the parents of women very rarely allow their daughters to marry a man who does not own a home.

From a parents perspective, I can understand not wanting to let your only child, your baby girl marry someone who does not have financial security. After all, women are in a premium position here in Shanghai where there is an abundant supply of men and a relatively lower supply of women. This, however, highlights another fascinating aspect of Chinese culture: intrusive parents.

Parents have an extraordinary involvement with their kids lives--to the point of deciding marriages--and they typically live with their kids when they get older. As a result, I've noticed many women lack autonomy in making decisions, and this is compounded by the fact that many young women still live with their parents to keep costs down.

This is only the tip of the iceberg regarding parental involvement in children's lives, and it gives me an appreciation for the tremendous pressure Chinese men have to earn money so that they can buy a home, and then get married.

Karaoke

One of the things I enjoy about Chinese culture is Karaoke (a.k.a. KTV). Imagine walking into a place with 20-30 sound-proof rooms, in which there are U-shaped sofas that seat 15 people and people sing to each other for hours. Alcohol was drained, pistachios were eaten, and eardrums were broken because of my bad voice. On the other hand, the Chinese friends that I've sang with tend to have beautiful voices, probably because their language is tonal and they have tuned-in ears. 

Singing, I have found, is a beautiful form of self-expression. Some people dance, some people paint, and some people sing. And this highlights one of the fascinating things about living abroad in China, which is the opportunity to see how other express themselves. At times, to be honest, it's been frustrating because Chinese are generally more reserved, making it difficult to make meaningful connection with my friends. It takes more time, generally, to get close with my Chinese friends and to get them to open up. Yet, it's proven worthwhile because of the quality of friendships.

AIC Training, American Constitutional Law, Vivaldi Concert

The day began with AIC training. The AIC is responsible for approving and regulating all businesses in China, basically, and I decided to take on the job to coach them for an upcoming speech contest they have against 19 other offices in Shanghai.

Working with the XuHui office contestants has truly been fun. For two hours each meeting, we practice the co-written speech and how to deliver it persuasively. It is like directing an orchestra, at times. When we work on dissecting a particular paragraph, for example, we focus on the rhythm, pronunciation, and intonation to make the speech persuasive. Although I know nothing about music theory, I know that public speakers often use a musical rhythm to make their speeches effective, so we work on that kind of thing. There was one point today when the student's words were desert-dry and lacking any emotion, so I grabbed his hands and in a sympathetic tone, I recited the line from the speech so that he understood the necessary emotion. Needless to say, that made for an awkward, yet entertaining moment for the group.

Law Group. For the second week, I gathered some law students to meet at Starbucks to discuss American law. We are focusing on Constitutional at present 

Vivaldi Concert. One of the things that is very important to me is getting people together to have a good time. In the past, we've met for conversation at Starbucks, cut a rug Salsa dancing (tiao sha sha wu) or went for drinks at various entertainment districts. This week I wanted to get some culture, so I organized a group of 9 people to hear a strings concert in Pudong.

The orchestra played Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" concerto, which was nothing short of sensational. Each of the seasons had distinctive characteristics that summoned images of the seasons' respective weather and emotions. As the orchestra played, I could see people throughout the auditorium with their eyes closed and hands moving in-sync with the music like a director. You could see the sense of peace that they felt. To be honest, this was the first classical music (gu dian de yin yue) concert that I've attended, and I really enjoyed the change of pace.

Comparing Legal Systems

Disclosure: The views expressed herein are that of a young, eager, green-thumbed American male that is probably experiencing culture shock and who seeks to explore and understand the world. I reserve the right to void any exaggerations, misstatements, ambiguities, and anything else that could help in accomplishing future self-serving pursuits (no sarcasm intended).

Law Group. Today I met with 3 Chinese law students, of which 2 attend EF, and our discussion topic was the American jury system, which is quite unique in the world. In China, like many other countries in the world, there is not an adversarial judicial system pitting the prosecution against the defense. Judges in China, if my friends recall correctly, are both the “judge and jury,” yet they are not the final say because they are accountable to the Communist Party officials whose authority reigns supreme.

This was fascinating to learn about and it highlighted one of my key arguments for the jury system: that is helps to maintain a balance of power between governors and the governed, a cornerstone of democratic ideals. China doesn’t adopt this system for a variety of obvious reasons, one of which is the impracticality of putting others’ fate in the hands of peasant farmers who makeup a large portion of the 700 million people living in China’s rural areas.

Another key piece of the puzzle has to do with thousands of years of developing a culture that frowns upon direct argumentation and one that has a detached parent-child relationship with government. Civic participation, in the Western sense, is basically non-existent and people having neither the interest nor the ability to do so. As a result, there appears to be a large focus on materialism—or perhaps I am just living within the isolating and consumption-focused confines of Shanghai’s complex urbanatomy.

The two hours we spent debating legal systems flew by quickly and my friends’ perspectives were enlightening. This is what I live for! Meaningful and intellectual conversations where I feel connected with others remind me why life is worth living.

On a related note, the discussions I’ve had with these friends and my friend Palmer, who is a senior partner at a corporate law firm, are inspiring me to explore a law degree and perhaps a career in the field. Palmer, for example, has taught me about the evolution of corporate law in China and about his case history involving mergers & acquisitions, equity disputes between multi-national business partners, privatization of state-owned enterprises, corporate structuring and governance problems, IPOs, contract disputes and many other fascinating topics.

I’ve been turned-off to law in the past, frankly, because I wrongfully thought it was mundane and unfulfilling. Like most things in life, however, I learned that it depends on what area of law you practice. So, in addition to study for the GMAT that I take in February, I will also aim to take the LSAT in June. I will obviously be busy, but some sacrifices in life are necessary in order to have the options you want in the future.

Salsa Classes

Playing board games can get boring sometimes, so I decided to spice things up a little bit in my games Life Club at EF and I started teaching a salsa class (inspired by my roommate, Shanghai dance class). The past couple of weeks have been a blast and a constant source of humor as students break the ice and cut a rug together.

As I clap my hands together, "1,2,3...5,6,7," the class of 16 people start shaking their hips and moving their feet -- sometimes in sync and sometimes not. The music's beat and mass movement of bodies draws onlookers to the glass windows that shape the room. Perhaps their jealous of the smooth moves, or perhaps they just pity our collective ineptitude at dancing. Either way, after 50 minutes of cultural adventure into Latin culture, we leave the room sweaty and smiling!

Consulting Case Study Class

Although it was a difficult decision, I decided that it was best to shift the focus of my Life Club away from entrepreneurship to consulting case studies about business. The fact is that it's difficult for the students to consistently attend the same classes every week; thus, it was difficult to have any continuity with the course content for the entrepreneurship class.

The change to consulting case studies has been a great success! In a typical class, I will present a case about pricing strategy or profitability, for example, and I will have the students break into 3 teams of 5-6 people to crack the case together. The language is difficult--sometimes using MBA-level concepts--but the students are truly engaging the material, absorbing both the language and concepts. What I found is that the students have accelerated learning of new vocabulary when 1) they are focusing on a business problem instead of the words, and 2) they are doing activities that are relevant to their interests, require intellectual thinking and creativity, and encourage teamwork.

Teaching is the best way of learning for me. So, by teaching classes on consulting case studies, it helps me to learn analytical frameworks, for example, and to prepare for the consulting interviews that I hope to have within the next 6 months.

Overall, this class seems to be a breath of fresh air for a lot of students and it allows me to engage the students in more quality discussions than we have in other class formats.

Thoughts on the November election and Sarah Palin

Ever since I was able to vote, I have supported the Republican Party. Things may be different for me during this election, however. I vote for the whole package, simply, and part of the McCain-Palin package is severely lacking.

After watching the two prime-time interviews on TV and the vice-presidential debate, my impression of Palin is that she lacks the experience and, most importantly, the knowledge to lead this country at the national level.

Supreme Court decisions. She couldn't articulate a coherent thought about Roe v. Wade, and lacked the knowledge of any significant SC decisions.

Foreign Policy. No explanation is necessary. Watch the video and see what I mean.

Bailout Package. After reading the transcript to her answer and watching the clip numerous times, I'm still confused about what she is trying to say.

Publications. When Katie Kouric threw a soft-ball question, "what newspapers and magazines did you regularly read before you were tapped for this [position] to stay informed and understand the world." She did not name one publication.

Any intelligent individual plugged into the greater-American reality could have said New York Times, The Economist, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, or at least USA Today. But, seriously, not one publication? Ridiculous.

She spins her answers to tough questions not because she has a bad record to spin-off, but because she does not have the appropriate knowledge or experience. A conservative columnist, Kathleen Parker, wrote on the National Review's website, "My cringe reflex is exhausted," and "If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself." I could not have said it better myself.

Moreover, Palin is unable to articulate a coherent thought when she is not rehearsing a Pavlovian-conditioned soundbite; her answers to tough questions remind me of the spin I dislike in politics and they make me feel uneasy; she has no legitimate experience on the national scene; and she lacks an understanding of the fundamental issues important to sustaining America's success both today and in the future.

I vote for someone because 1) I agree with them on a majority of the issues that are important to me, and 2) because I trust in their ability to lead. Although she may have been successful governing Alaska, Palin is not ready for the position of Vice President of the United States of America. I think I should repeat that title again, Vice President of the United States of America.

The bottom line: I am not voting for the McCain-Palin ticket and I must decide whether to vote for Obama or abstain from voting.

Business Proposal & Entrepreneurship Class

A student came into the teacher's office today and approached me with an interesting proposal. In return for compensation, she asked me to attend her boyfriend's business opening tomorrow. I would not have to do anything except talk with guests and say that I worked with the owner. This PR stunt is intended to give the impression that an English-speaking foreigner works at the business. Apparently, this allows Chinese businesses to charge more for their products and services by improving their image of quality.

This was not the first time I was asked to do this. Last night, in fact, another friend asked me to do the same for her interior-designer friend.

Although I admire the PR ingenuity and leveraging of foreigners, I wonder whether or not they considered the ethics behind being intentionally deceptive and misleading.

Entrepreneurship Life Club. Weeks into the course, today we jumped into the wonderful world of marketing. The task I gave the students was to join 3 teams of 6 and develop a marketing strategy to introduce tanning salons and women's razor blades into China.

First, I had to explain to them the cultural difference that American women, generally, see tan skin as beauty, which is completely opposite of Chinese culture where pale skin is beautiful.

Second, students learned that American women shave their legs and armpits. It's the opposite for a vast majority women here, once again.

With the cultural lesson completed, it was time to tackle the case study. Students divided into groups and they had to elect a project manager to delegate work and manage their limited time. It was a blast to see them work together, creating strategies for pricing, placement, and promotion. One group suggested that they should hold a PR event at a large mall in Shanghai, where beautiful women would model how to shave one's legs, and then onlookers could come close and touch the silky-smooth legs of a Goddess. Needless to say, we were on the verge of tears from laughing so hard at their wild promotion ideas.

Why I Love My Job

Over the past months working at EnglishFirst, I've had the opportunity to interact and learn about a wide array of people. From accountants and doctors, to software engineers and factory managers, I feel lucky to be connected with my students.

One of my students is a senior partner at a corporate law firm, where he specializes in M&A, private equity, contracts, and privatization of state-owned enterprises. During our weekly conversations, I teach him English through natural conversation and, in return, I learn about the Chinese business and legal landscape. We've also talked about personal matters.

Growing up in rural Communist China as a child, his family of 6 never got enough food rationed from the government and consistently lived with a half-empty stomach. Times were tough and he wanted a better life, so he packed his bags and moved to the big city to study at China's top law school in Beijing.

In June of 1989 his life changed; he was there the day of June 3rd when Tienanmen Square became highlighted on the map to the Western world. Because he was there, furthermore, the government restricted him from leaving the country for 10 years. Knowledge of that event is scare, particularly among younger people because it's been systematically erased from the collective memory of the people. With that said, however, I must (temporarily) give kudos to the government because I could search (in English) for pictures and articles online about it, even opening the Wikipedia webpage.

It's through conversations where I learn about these type of personal histories that make this job fulfilling. Each day I'm gaining a greater appreciation for how China is changing and growing.

Weekend in Hangzhou & Elena visits from America

Day 1, Hangzhou: We arrived late-morning in Hangzhou and took a bus into town to find our hostel. After settling down into the lackluster sleeping quarters, which had beds that made sleeping on pavement feel comfortable, we hit the road and started walking around Xi Hu (West Lake). Something was different from about this city of 1.69 million--it was quiet. Although there were cars around Xi Hu, there was an absence of jackhammers pounding away, people yelling, and cars honking. It was peaceful.

We quickly found the nearest bike-rental place, and armed with a hot-pink bike and an impotent ringing-bell to alert pedestrians, my spirits were high for the bike ride to come. Onward! We traveled across a long land bridge that connected the lake, peddling up-and-over bridges, weaving through pedestrian traffic as if we were Olympic snow-skiers brushing past the gates. After a couple of hours, we handed over our beastly bicycles to the proper authorities in search of another activity.

Map of Hangzhou

A view of Xi Hu (West Lake)

Hailing a taxi to Longjing mountain village that day was about as likely as finding the free press here in China. So, my friend, Frey, called one of his customers in the area and he was kind enough to pick us up at a hotel we found. I didn't know exactly what was happening, but on the trip up the mountain into the serene forest area, I learnt that his customer's parents own a tea house and field.

We pulled into the village and a sense of relief overcame me, "This is what I've been looking for in China!" With big smiles, the parents waved from the porch of the tea house, greeting the foreign travelers. We sat down at a table on the porch, and quickly had local tea and food brought out to us. The bare-chested father pointed at me saying (in Chinese), "He is very young and handsome." Pointing to the half-naked, jolly fellow, I asked my friend to reply, "No, you are very young and handsome."

After a tea tasting the quaint Longjing Village

We eventually made our way down the mountain and back to the hostel after having dinner in town and walking around the local outdoor bazaar. Elena, Frey, and I went to the pirate-themed bar next door for a brewski, while Sunshine hit the sack. With a mini-keg of beer sitting on the table, we played a drinking game that was new to me and that allowed us to disproportionately share the beer. And after a couple of beers, I asked Frey to see if I could join the band for a song. Elena was outside, sadly, and could not here me butcher an inebriated version of "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra with my Chinese cohorts on stage. On the upside, nobody understood the words coming out of my mouth...and neither did I.

We soon departed for our beds and upon touching the room's door handle, Frey and I looked at each other with a silent-stare that said, "We haven't had enough to drink." We (slowly) made our way back down the stairs and into the other bar next door, which felt like a library in a way. Going nowhere with the small talk and sign language at the bar, I turned my attention to the pianist, who happened to be playing a familiar tune called "Home," from my favorite singer Michael Buble. I quickly approched the man after his number and requested a duet. With his blessing, we were to sing "Fly Me to the Moon"...I needed redemption. This time things went great and we sang a fun and entertaining duet!

Tea tasting

On the train home from Hangzhou.

It's popular to sing in the parks.

Food poisoning & toe trouble

As if the toe trouble wasn't enough, yesterday I got food poisoning and I began feeling the unpleasant effects at work (which I will spare you from). Now, I'm on a balanced diet of water and bread without oils or butter. Perhaps the diamond in the rough is that this situation has motivated me to learn Chinese at a faster pace because I realized how dependent I am on others for translation and because it's frustrating to be incapable of expressing my basic needs.

On a better note, I've seen the depth of friendships in the past week as students, co-workers, and friends have gone out of their way to help out. Whether it's my roommate who helped when I was sick at home, the student who's a doctor and helped translate at the hospital, co-workers hailing a taxi ride home, or students just calling to check up, my friends have been amazing.

I've also learned the importance of staying positive and finding the humor in things. Month three in China is coming up on the 19th, and studies show that people typically begin entering the homesick phase of living abroad during months 3-5. Events during the past weeks could be the catalyst to enter that phase, but I just need to keep things in perspective and be patient.

Toe Trouble

Ingrown toenails are quite the inconvenience to say the least. After a month of walking on a sensitive and painful toe, I decided to pay a visit to the hospital. One of my students is an ER doctor, and he was kind enough to take me to the hospital's podiatrist who happens to be his best friend.

After discussing potential treatments, a solemn look became painted across the podiatrist's face, which was a little disconcerting--he suggested complete toenail removal. Needless to say, this shocked me and I begged for mercy to have partial toenail removal. The painful parts of the ordeal have been 1) the injection, 2) the first 5 minutes of surgery, and 3) having the bandage changed.

Putting the gruesome details aside, this experience has taught me a lot about the importance of building friendships and a network. I feel very lucky and honored that my student took the time to help me on his days off.

Costs:
Taxi fare to/from: CNY 22
Pain killers: CNY 8
Medical treatment: free because the student knows the podiatrist
Hobbling around Shanghai attracting inquisitive stares: priceless

Tianzifang

Tianzifang: Finding little pockets of peace where one can escape the sights and sounds of Shanghai can be a difficult task at times. Last night a friend and I found one of those rare areas in a historic district called Tianzifang. Imagine a large square-shaped area, filled with modern boutiques, art galleries, and small cafes serving cuisines from all over the world. As you walk through the maze of paths, overhead you will see the traditional two-story Chinese buildings, each with some small business within its walls. Should you decide to stroll into a boutique you will typically find a relaxed store owner waiting to speak with you; last night we met Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese, Koreans, etc. It was a great chance to relax and enjoy an environment that fused historic Chinese architecture with modern boutiques.

San Diego Friends

Before I left for China, I spent one month living with family in San Diego. I randomly decided to attend a local Christian Chinese church one Sunday morning, and I met a nice couple who said they would visit Shanghai in August. This week I received a call from them and we had a chance to meet for lunch Thursday at Duck-King, a restaurant that serves fabulous Peking Duck. The interesting thing about the whole experience is the randomness of the who set of events. I randomly decide to attend church one morning, meet a random couple of happens to be travelling to Shanghai in two months, and then we reconnect half-way around the world.

Entrepreneurship Class

Entrepreneurship Life Club (Class 2): The kick-off class last week drew 41 people, which is significant considering that the life club classes are typically limited to 15 people. Despite the hot and sweaty conditions caused by packing so many bodies into a small space, the first class went successfully as we discussed Peter Drucker's Seven Sources of Innovation.

The second class had 21 students, fortunately, which made it much easier to have quality teaching and discussion about the topic of "Opportunity Recognition and Industry Analysis." Although the vocabulary is quite difficult, I think the students are motivated to learn the material quicker because the material is relevant and interesting.

On another topic, I'm feeling overwhelmed because I'm trying to do too much at once: teaching full time, preparing the material for the entrepreneurship class (usually an additional 10 hours per week), daily professional development (i.e. Grammar), working out 3 times per week, trying to find time to learn Chinese, meeting with friends, staying in consistent contact with my family and close friends, studying business, and trying to find a business to start next year if I decide to stay in China. I'm in a perplexing situation. On one hand, doing so many things at once spreads me thin. On the other hand, I'm energized by the opportunity to pursue so many things that interest me. Yes, I feel energy that I have not had for a long time, but I also feel like it's hard to relax sometimes. Perhaps that's just life in the big city, in the bustling metropolis of Shanghai; perhaps I'm starting to appreciate what young people feel here: like they're always working, always on the move, always trying to stay ahead of the competition.

Teaching Porter's Five Forces (ok...this was taken after class)

Students working in groups to solve a problem

National Identification: What does it mean to be Chinese?

When should an area be allowed to separate to form its own country? Given the recent conflict between Georgia and Russia, it has made me ponder the question of national identity. Do South Ossetia and Abkhazia have the right to separate from Georgia? What about Kurdistan and Iraq? What exactly defines national identity? A common race, religion, political philosophy, or a common history? During two of my classes today, we had a chance to explore this topic and the Georgian-Russian Conflict. Eventually, the discussion naturally gravitated towards a matter that strikes closer to home for my students (which shall remain nameless so this blog isn't black-listed). Anyways, we had a spirited intellectual exercise in a pseudo-state-run market of ideas about the philosophy and practicality of drawing country lines of a map.

Working Late & Olympic Party

Working Late. It's 2:15 am. I just finished the final touches on my entrepreneurship class that I will teach tomorrow, kicking off an 11-week exploration into the wild world of starting your own business. I've advertised this class for the past couple of weeks. It's fully booked and students said they are standing by to try and get a seat. I'm really excited about this course and I can feel the energy that the students have about the topic.

The late nights are becoming common. In fact, it's rare for me to leave before 11:30 pm because I usually stay late to prepare for this entrepreneurship class or read about business. For the first time in my working life, which is admittedly short, I truly enjoy what I do and I feel "in the zone" at work.
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Olympic Party. Last night was the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing. I didn't have any plans set in stone, so I decided at the last minute to throw a party at the flat. Twenty people packed into the flat and surrounded the TV. Beer was consumed, Olympics were watched, salsa was danced, and hang-overs were had. All in all, a fabulous night with friends!

Favorite Websites

Top Three
1) TED.org lectures ("Once upon a school," a personal favorite)
2) FRONTLINE documentaries ("The Persuaders," my favorite by far)
3) Positive Psychology (a lecture series that has influenced my life)

University
Harvard Business School's Working Knowledge: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/
MIT's OpenCourseWare: http://ocw.mit.edu
Stanford's Entrepreneurship Corner: http://edcorner.stanford.edu/
Knowledge@Wharton: http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/
www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu
Positive Psychology lectures by Tal Ben-Shahar: http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k14790&pageid=icb.page69189

News & Business
www.bloomberg.com
www.businessweek.com
www.economist.com
www.nytimes.com
www.chinadaily.cn
www.chinastakes.com
FRONTLINE: PBS documentaries about a wide variety of topics: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/

Random:
Scribd: world's largest document sharing community: http://www.scribd.com/
Stock.xchng: free stock photos: http://www.sxc.hu/index.phtml
TED - 25-minute lectures from the world's most brilliant thinkers gather each year to discuss ideas that will change the world: www.TED.org
Zamzar: free online file conversion: http://www.zamzar.com

Please email your suggestions to jjselleck@gmail.com.

Karaoke: How to Win Friends and Deafen People

Karaoke. A friend and I ventured out tonight to grab some curry cuisine and as we strolled down the road together, she pointed to our right and said, "Karaoke! Do you want to try it?" We walked into this open park area (about the size of a small football field) where tons of Chinese were spread out. In one area, people were dancing to the music of salsa, ballroom, and other genres. In another two areas, groups of 20 to 30 people were gathered around TV sets, listening to someone sing Karaoke. Only the street lights above and the TV's light allowed people to comb through the song book in search of a popular tune to carry for the crowd.

My friend spoke Chinese, so she helped me find the book with English songs. One by one, my number came up the wait list, and I finally had the microphone in hand. The beers I had recently consumed did help to quell some nerves, but my hands still shook and my voice still trembled as I serenaded my date with "Night and Day." The song quickly ended, I turned off the mic, and then the crowd cheered and started yelling something to me. "What are they saying?" I asked my friend, "they want you to sing again." Talk about rubbing salt in the wound. I lost enough dignity with the first tune, and now they want a second?

Quickly, I grabbed the song book and eventually came across a song that I knew well, "Joy to the World"...yeah, the one from Forest Gump. With a little more power in the belly, I was actually not nervous this time and I got into it. Near the end of the song, I put my arms around some lady and I got some people in the crowd to join me in the fun. I retired the mic, then promptly exited stage-left to the sound of applause--probably the kind you give a little kid when they try something and fail miserably.

We left the Karaoke area and went the dancing area to join the older folks as we salsa-danced the night away.

Key Takeaway: It's okay to karaoke, just make sure to drink more prior to doing so.

Humble Pie...mmmm, tasty

Humble Pie. My roommate, Cici, invited me to have dinner with her friend the other night. We walked around a little bit trying to find a restaurant and finally went into one Italian place that was apparently going to open the next day. We walked past the construction workers to go upstairs where we could see people eating. As we entered the main room, the manager said that the place was going to open tomorrow, but that we could sit and eat anyways for free. Cici, her friend, and I talked for a while and I eventually found out that he worked for Accenture. Naturally, this excited me. We talked about business, politics, and other topics. Eventually, I asked if he managed a team of people because he mentioned that he's worked with Accenture for over 10 years and he also said he was "small potatoes." Both he and Cici chuckled--I had no clue why. It turns out that he's the President of BPO for Accenture in China. Mmmmmm...an adult-sized portion of humble pie...tasty.

Entrepreneurship class. Over the past weeks, I've talked a lot with my students about why they are studying English and one of the things many of them say is that they want to start a business. EF provides great class content, but one of the things that they've missed is teaching business English that is relevant to entrepreneurship. So, I asked my bosses if I could design an 11-week course and they gave the go-ahead. My first class is August 10th. In the course, we're going to cover opportunity recognition, writing business plans, barriers to business in China, marketing, sales, finance, etc. I'm really looking forward to learning and teaching everything.

Feeling the Flow. Positive psychology professors Marty Seligman (TED talk link) and Tal Ben-Sahar (link to Harvard lectures) talk about the idea of flow, in which we are "so completely absorbed in a task that we barely notice the passage of time," and how important this feeling is to our happiness. Have you ever had that feeling? What did you feel like?

When I am in the class room teaching a 24-student lecture class, for example, I consistently feel the flow. I have never taught before, but I feel in my element when lecturing. The classes flow naturally, the students laugh and learn, and positive (yang) energy fills the room.

Hot Pots, Papa Johns, & Pimps.

HOT POTS. One of the teachers had her birthday last week at a restaurant where they serve food family-style. Each restaurant-goer is given a bowl of boiling chicken broth, typically filled with leeks, a red "man's" fruit, and some type of oil; underneath the bowl is a Sterno flame. Meats, tofu, vegetables, dumplings, and all sorts of wonderful foods are put in front of you to dip into the boiling concoction.

I made my rounds to the surrounding tables filled with teachers, students, and friends. Arriving at one table, a student stood up, extended his half-filled glass of beer and exclaimed "gang bei." The other men at the table quickly arose, as if being called to attention by a drill instructor. Considering that 50% of Asians have lactose intolerance (i.e. lacking the lactase enzyme to breakdown the alcohol), you would expect at least half the men at the table to not have alcohol. However, a vast majority had beers in hand and proceeded to go toe-to-toe with me in a chugging contest. Seriously? How do they think I developed my well-rounded figure? This didn't happen overnight; it took dedication and focus to stay on a balanced diet of cheap beer, cheap wine, fast food, and over-sized portions. As predicted, a lobster-red skin tone slowly crept across their faces.

Papa Johns...Deluxe Edition. I strolled down the paths of a nearby mall in search of food with my coworkers, and we came across a Papa Johns. When I fist walked inside, I knew this had a different feeling to it. The store was a sit-down restaurant with a full menu of tasty food. From salads and coffee, to pizza and ice cream. It felt kind of classy, if I might be so bold to say.

Pimps & Prostitutes. Whenever I stay late at work, I am approached by pimps and prostitutes when I walk past this one corner on the way home. Last week, in fact, I was walking past some shops, and I see a woman point at me and I hear her exclaim "laowai" (foreigner) to her teammate. They came rushing out the door, at which time I decided to pick up my pace. Eventually, she made an offer, I made a counter-offer...juuuuust kidding. I blurted out some nonsense in French and kept walking on home.

How to lose weight...quickly

181 POUNDS. That's how much I weighed before coming to China. Now, a little over 2 weeks later, I've lost 12 pounds. Why? I've been asking myself the same question and I've come up with the following reasons: 1) Chinese people walk or ride bikes all the time and I walk 25 minutes to work everyday, 2) food portions here are smaller than the US, 3) the heat and humidity are ridiculous and I probably sweat-off 1 pound each day, 4) chopsticks are frustrating to use and I don't have the patience to finish my meal.

When frustration levels peak....

Things that are different:

1) Spitting. Men & women spit on the street all the time...it's just normal.
2) Cutting in line. Actually, forming lines is rare...even at McDonalds.
3) Personal bubbles really don't exist. In America, we have that sacred foot-and-a-half of personal-bubble real estate, but you're lucky to have 6 inches of space in the subway and at restaurants.
4) Sanitation is poor. In general, bathrooms have no TP or soap, people smoke in them, and many bathrooms only have a hole over which to squat. It's hard to watch a restaurant cook walk in and out of the bathroom next to you.
5) Chinese people talk loudly, in general.
6) Air pollution. I've developed a cough recently and my roommate's boyfriend said that it is common to have a smoker's cough. The doctor that gave me a medical check, in fact, had a cigarette in mouth. According to National Geographic, 57% of male doctors in China smoke!
7) Things are cheap here. A large bottle of Coke, for example, costs around .40
8) No tipping--even at restaurants.
9) Pedestrians don't have the right-of-way...seriously.
10) The internet sucks here.

4th of July Party for Expats: American soil may be thousands of miles away, but a group of expats decided to get together throw a party for the 4th. We packed into a small apartment for the celebrations and even decided to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.

Living a Dream. Coming to China was one of the most difficult decisions that I've made in recent memory. I've separated from my family, my friends, and my comfort zone. Frequently, I get this feeling of isolation when walking about the city. I can walk to work and not see any other foreigners; the language barrier can be frustrating; and the culture is incredibly different from the Western world--even here in Shanghai. With all that said, I'm living my dream to live in a foreign country for at least a year.

Reality is slowly starting to set in as well...that life is truly changing. Living so close to family, friends, and UNC after school, I felt as if my life as an alumni was still pretty similar to the college days. My best friends were within a reasonable driving distance and it provided a safety net, which I used to isolate myself from growing into the next life stage. Now, however, friends are beginning to separate across the world, new friendships are forming, and my sense of identity is...evolving.

My father's death, over 3 years ago, highlighted the importance of pursuing dreams. That means finding adventure for me. Reflecting upon my new life here in Shanghai, I'm reminded of his life and the spirit he had for adventure. I don't know what the future has in store for me. I may live another year, or another 70 years. There are a lot of things that are unsure. When I rest in bed, however, I can honestly say to myself that I've taken a step in the right direction.

My first ultrasound

"IS IT A BOY?" In order to get a Z visa, you must have a medcal examination, which includes blood tests, an x-ray, and an ultrasound, among other things. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was being processed...like a piece of meat. The system put together by this hospital puts the Toyota manufacturing process to shame. Patients, or perhaps drones, were moved in and out of the inspection stations with cold-hearted efficiency. One of my last stops in the processing line was the ultrasound station. Without looking at her next nervous drone, the inspector sternly slapped her hand on the table, signaling me to recline for inspection. SQUIRT. Out came the cold gel onto my hairy stomach, a sight to which she was probably not accustomed. "Is it boy or a girl," I asked her in jest. No reply. Now, if having an ultrasound wasn't awkward enough, this only added to the fun. She moved the device across my belly and over the side of my ribcage, which made me laugh. Was this her idea of fun? Toying with her drone before it was sent to the retail stores? In the end, it turns out I'm not pregnant.

Teaching, EuroCup 2008, and more...

Internationalism. By just walking around this metropolis, you can feel the international presence; however, it wasn't until I went to a rooftop party the other night that truly saw the reality of how diverse the city is. I had this moment at the party when I "zoomed out" of my discussion and realized that I was listening to people speaking Chinese, Spanish, French, Japanese, and Italian. Being in that moment made me realize how much my life has changed and that I was actually living my dream. "I'm in f***ing Shanghai," frequently passes through my mind and I have to pinch myself to wake up.

Teaching. I've always heard the statistics that non-verbal language makes up a majority of our communications, but I didn't realize it until now. After teaching some classes now, I realize how dynamic human communication is and how important hand gestures and facial expressions are, for example, in language transmission and meaning formation. It's truly fascinating to work with the Chinese students because you become acutely aware of your movements, voice tone, intonation, and articulation.

EuroCup 2008. Football is not exactly my favorite sport, but it was worth it to stay up until 2:45 am to watch the kick-off of the EuroCup. My friends and I went into an expat bar around 10 pm to find the place sparsely populated. That all changed, however, around 2:15 am when the place became packed with face-painted zealots from Germany and Spain. "Oleeeeeee....ooooole....ole, ole," filled the air after Spain scored their first and the games only goal, and the fans went crazy. I had got my fill, so I headed out around 3:30 to catch some zzz's.

Cici and I ventured to Starbucks to brainstorm about business ideas.

A fellow teacher and I
Salsa dancing!

Korean dinner with Cici's classmate and family

Apartment Living & the First Days at Work

A week has past since I first arrived in Shanghai and I think this may be my new home for years to come (just kidding, mom). Honestly, this city is amazing and I am really enjoying the culture, the language, the food (except pig feet) and the pace of life here in this metropolis.

My roommates. For some reason, the stars aligned and I came across an incredible apartment situation. Within 20-minutes (by foot) from my work, my apartment is located in the Xujiahui district of western Shanghai, which is an upscale part of the city with large malls, hotels, a university, the French district, and tons of businesses.

One of my roommates is completing her executive MBA this year and we get along fantastically. Last night I cooked Mexican food for dinner and we sat around the dinner table talking about business ideas for an hour. Her dream is to own a business, and I got even more excited when she showed me 3 of her books from the Rich Dad Poor Dad series.

Guanxi (connections) is everything here in the business and political realms, as Cici has explained. It can make the difference between paying customs or not, getting things approved, and much more. Apparently, Cici has a lot of Guanxi with executives that she's met through the e-MBA, and we're going to setup some dinners with her friends.

My other roommate, June, owns a Shanghai dance studio in the French district called Soul Dancing (http://www.souldancing.cn/), where she and her teachers instruct everything from Salsa and ballet, to hip-hop and pole dancing. Needless to say, I'm excited about living with a salsa teacher, yet I think I'll stay away from the pole dancing lessons (unless it will help with guanxi).

EnglishFirst. Yesterday was the first day at my new office in Xujiahui. There are about 15 teachers that work here and this office is known for being a close-knit family that has a lot of fun, which quickly became apparent at our staff meeting. The first class that I will teach is this Sunday and I can't wait to teach it. Students here are so dedicated to learning the language; many of them quit their jobs just to learn English here everyday for a year or two--and they pay a lot of money to do so. Even though I've only been in the offices a couple of days, I've had a chance to see what the teachers do and I've interacted a lot with the students. My intuition is telling me that this is going to be an incredible experience. Unlike the first days at Sageworks and Merrill Lynch, I have genuine excitement about this job. Whether it is teaching a group of 24 students about American culture, working in small groups to practice debating, or working face-to-face to practice interview skills, it seems as if this is going to meet my three criteria of an ideal job: 1) apply my skills, 2) bring me pleasure, and 3) allow me to pursue a purpose. I hope this job exceeds my expectations and I am looking forward to jumping into the job!

Day 2: A wild, fun, and humbling day

Expensive Fruit. While I strolled down Nanjing Lu Sunday, a Chinese woman said, "hello, can I practice English." Having a great experience on Saturday, I didn't think anything of it and started talking with her. We found our way into a (very) nice cafe. After we ordered our drinks, I clarified that I was only paying for my coffee, to which she nodded in (supposed) agreement. She then spoke something in Chinese to the waitress and made a hang-gesture that resembled a plate...something smelled fishy, and it wasn't my shirt from walking in the outdoor market. Ten minutes passed, then the waitress came to the table with fresh fruit, then popcorn, then french fries. I quickly saw the big picture. Based on her abnormally big (in Chinese standards), well-fed figure, I surmised that she had done this before and had been successful. Quickly, I signaled the waitress to the table. I pointed to my bill and said that I would only pay for the coffee and fruit, which came out to a splendid $32 (yes, that is $USD). In a twisted sense, I kind of admire that cunning women. And, in an effort to justify my stupidity, I paid $32 for a lesson in vigilance.


Private Equity. How can you find a tourist? Look for the people with maps spread out and a blank look on their face. I found a fellow, young traveler sitting on the sidewalk with a map, so I asked if he was lost and if he would like to hang out together. I found out that he was a financial analyst for an American-based private equity firm, and that his company sent him here to work with a bottling company that they were buying. Sounded like a cool job for a 24-year old.


Acrobats, Salsa, and Techno Club. Andrew and I met up later to see the Shanghai Acrobats, which was definitely worth the time and money. I did not know the extent to which the human body could be twisted until that night. With a sufficient buzz from the Tsingtao beer, we exited the building and quickly met these two Chinese women who asked us, in broken English, where the salsa club was. Seriously? Was this actually happening? Salsa dancing is like soul food to me, so I was intent on finding this club with them.

For a quick-hour, we danced, drank, and did our share to heat up the floor with friction. They didn't exactly know how to take the Kamikaze shots, as they sipped them carefully like fine wine. So, Andrew and I had no problem being models, downing a couple of shots.

The night was young and we needed to satisfy our disco desires; therefore, the M-Factory was the next stop. Descending down the stairs into the cellar-style club, we bet on how many people were actually going to be there on a Sunday night. It was surprisingly busy. Once we got our $8 beers, we came up to a table where people were playing a drinking game with Yahtzee...we had to join in. One of the people spoke a little English, so he taught the rules and "GANG BEI," we were off to the dance floor to embarrass ourselves. I then got the bright idea, due to high levels of intoxication, to join the girls dancing on the stage in front of the DJ. Being the inclusive guy that I am, my hand reached out to people on the floor, and the stage quickly became packed. I don't know exactly how I --a white American, with shorts and a tucked in polo shirt, and less-than-admirable dance moves--managed to get that fiesta going, but it happened for some reason. In the absence of an ability to use the language, Andrew and I found another way to communicate and relate with our fellow disco-goers. The energy was amazing.

Touring the EnglishFirst Facility. Our TLC representative, Melinda, met another teacher and me at the hotel the next morning to take us to the HQ downtown. The EF facility takes up three floors of the building. With bright colors on every wall, new computers and flatscreen TVs, and a San Fransico-style, metropolitan architecture, this place is state-of-the-art. Tons of Chinese students run around the place from class to class, frequently coming up to English speakers to strike up a conversation. I can't wait to start the job this week!

The First Days in Shanghai

Misty and muggy were my first impressions of Shanghai. It's summer, it rains everyday, and I question the necessity of showers. Although my luggage was left in Canada, I was happy to see that an EF Greeter was there and was a pleasure to speak with. On a side note, I did not have a change of clothes with me (a cardinal sin for travelers), which meant that was the 4th day of wearing the same clothes (ewwww). Having slept from 6 pm yesterday until 5 am today, I was eager to explore the city. Armed with my umbrella and backpack (and smelly clothes), I hit the streets to find food. The food of choice for breakfast is a crepe-looking meal called danbin, which ran about $.80.
Mother, hemp, horse, scold. Depending on your tone of voice, "ma" can be any one of those words. Romance languages seem so simple compared to Chinese.
Friendly people. Later on in the morning, I walked downtown to the Shanghai History Museum at People's Park, and I was approached by a young-Chinese couple here on vacation. They invited me to tour the city with them for the day, so I kindly accepted. We had a blast! We toured The Bund (Shanghai's most famous street), Yuyuan Gardens, Nanjing Road (the main shopping area), and downtown.
After we parted, I was approached by another Chinese-man that was in the city on business from Beijing. We walked together down Nanjing Rd. and found a Starbucks, and he was kind enough to buy the drinks so we could practice English.
The Szechuan Experience. Fortunately, a Szechuan-style restaurant is next to my hotel, so I ventured into that for dinner tonight. With a surprised look, the waitress approached my table, then more 3 giggling waitresses soon joined us. The attention was flattering as they teamed-up to interpret my sign-languaged food order, but they were probably gathering to witness my lack-luster attempts at Chinese. The food had tons of bones in it...because I was eating chicken feet. I don't know what it is, but apparently "I'm American, come talk to me" was on my forehead because I was soon joined by a drunk Chinese man who poured himself some beer, gave me a cigarette, and proceeded to mumble Shanghainese. Awkward would be an appropriate description of our five-minute bonding experience. So, I wanted to break the ice. "Gang bei," I initially exclaimed, after which I recited (ok, yelled) the cheers for "The Man Show," "ziggy-zaggy, ziggy-zaggy, hoy, hoy, hoy." He obviously had no clue what this intriguing white man was saying, but he joined in the fun.
Overall, I am very impressed with Shanghai. And to warn you all, my charades skills are improving with every moment that passes, although it comes at the price of my slowly deterioratign self-dignity.

YuYuan Gardens

Foggy, Rainy, and Muggy

And I'm off...

It's minutes before I get off work here at City Hall to embark on the Oriental Express. Last night, to be honest, I got a little anxious about the upcoming adventure. Although I will meet someone at the airport on Friday, Saturday and Sunday are wide-open and I have no clue what I will be doing--and no cell phone.

Speaking of cell phones, I strolled down to the local FedEx office today to drop off my phone and camera. Within minutes of doing so, I began experiencing withdrawal symptoms from not having my Crackberry. My hands began shaking uncontrollably and I found myself reaching for the phone on my hip, only to be disappointed by its absence. How will my life continue? I no longer have information at my fingertips. I can no longer check my email 100 times per day to see if someone, by chance, has written me. I feel helpless.

Despite the cell-phone withdrawal symptoms, however, my spirits are high because I've eaten carne asada burritos for the past two days. There is light at the end of the tunnel!

Well, this quick note must come to an end. I'm off to LAX to find a comfortable chair to sleep in while I wait for my flight tomorrow morning at 7 am.

----

Within hours (ok, 13 hours), we will be landing in Shanghai. It's impossible to ignore the gravity of the new life that awaits me and it's really starting to sink-in. I don't speak or read the language; I don't know anyone; the culture is completely unfamiliar; I don't have a computer or cell phone; I'm starting a new job; and I'm half-a-world away from family and friends. Anxiety levels, however, are stabilizing. All of these challenges excite me, actually. This time away will be an incredible opportunity for personal growth and reflection upon my values, culture, and life, in general.

Visiting Family

U.S. Open 2008 - Torrey Pines

It was a foggy and windy at the US Open today, but thousands of people crowded the course at the Torrey Pines North. This was my first experience at a major PGA event and I was impressed. In order to get a glimpse of Tiger, my group went three holes ahead of him and we found a nice spot on a hill. As the minutes passed, the intermittent cheers from the distance grew louder and louder, and I finally saw the swarm. Hundreds of people formed an impenetrable barrier next to the rope lines surrounding the fairway as Tiger walked towards his ball. The energy created by his very presence is inescapable; he has this super-magnetic force that attracts crowds in seconds.

After Tiger finished the hole, it seemed like a ghost town at the 5th, so we headed out. I strolled out to the driving range to rest on the bleachers and was surprised to see The Masters and PGA Championship winner, Vijay Singh, hitting balls. One after another, he drove the balls down range. I was in awe of his talent!

Conversation with Betsy Flanagan

Today, I spoke with Betsy Flannagan (founder of StartupStudio.com) for an hour about my "Game Plan" and business ideas. After graduating from Harvard with a degree in anthropology and getting her MBA at UVA, she built and sold businesses and developed StartupStudio.com, which features interviews with many successful entrepreneurs. Our conversation went great! She was fabulous to speak with and she offered valuable insight into my career path, business ideas, and my life.

"By 11:59 PM on the 31st day of December 2018, when I am 34 years old, I will own a business that does $1,000,000 in revenue," I wrote in my Game Plan. She responded, "You should think bigger!" I was trying to be "realistic" with my goals, but her advice reminds me of a quote, "Whether you think you can or cannot, either way, you are correct." The reality of our goals, it seems, is largely structured by our frame of mind.

I am very thankful that she took the time out of her Friday afternoon to speak with someone she did not know for an hour. Her example taught me a valuable lesson in giving to others and taking the time to invest in the future of others.

This experience also showed me that people are usually willing to help and advise, you just have to reach out and ask for it.