Chinese Jordan

2012-01-22T13:28:00.001-08:00

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Madame metro

2010-04-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I was heading out of the metro and walked past a guitarist who was packing up her stuff for the evening. "Are you free on Saturday," I asked, "I'm having a house party and we need to some live entertainment." So, we exchanged contact info and made the plans for her to come play for an hour at my party.

Saturday, 10 pm. With the lights dimmed and candles setup around the room, she began to play for the 20 or so people who came to my party. Her voice was strong and we all wondered how someone of her size projected her voice so powerfully. As she was playing, I sat back and thought about the randomness of hiring a metro musician. Is it typical to invite a metro musician to entertain? No, but why not try it?

The past two years, between living in China and New York, have been the most consistently happy and fulfilling time of my life. Now I'm starting to understand that "why not try it" has been driving a lot of that life satisfaction.

Why not pack up everything and pursue my dreams of living abroad in China and seeing the Great Wall? In the 18 months in China, I learned about an ancient culture and language, tasted wonderful food, traveled to 10 Chinese cities, got firsthand accounts of the nations recent and tumultuous history; and generally transformed my mindset into a truly international one.

Why not try out CouchSurfing? Now that I've tried it in Beijing, Sichuan, and Hong Kong, I can say that it was one of the most fulfilling things I've ever done in that I got to interact with people who have such open and trusting spirits.

Why not move to New York and try out investment banking? The first three months were risky: no insurance, no apartment, $1,500 per month, and no guarantee of a full time position. Taking the risk was worth it, however, and now I'm full time and having a wonderful experience learning how cross-border, mid-market mergers and acquisitions works.

We need to know that our friends and loved ones will be there for us, we need to know where our next meal will come from, we need some level of predictability and stability. Yet, as these past couple of years have reinforced, we must have variety, spontaneity and a little spice in our lives.

NYC and Me

2010-01-31T17:12:00.000-08:00

April 2009 was my last posting. Damn. It's interesting what happens to one's desire to blog when the Chinese government goes Commi on you and shuts down your blog. I digress.

NYC has been my new home since the first week of December when I landed here from the Pearl of the East. Simply put, New York is salsa. It's alive with spice and zest. The streets overflow with restaurants, cafes, and bars. It's alive at sunrise and it sizzles at sunset.

Dinner with government officials

2009-04-23T00:11:00.000-07:00

Late last year, I had the opportunity to coach some people that worked for the XuHui district office of the Association of Industry and Commerce--China's regulatory body for business. They were participating in a city-wide English competition with about 20 other district offices, and they took first pace. So, they invited me and four other people from EnglishFirst to attend a celebration dinner.

"This is going to be expensive" was one of the first things to cross my mind when entering the restaurant. As we walked to our private room, we passed chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, formally dressed hosts, and remarkably clean halls (without cigarette stains covering the floor--a rare sight). Our dining room was fully furnished with a TV, two couches, and a private, Western-styled bathroom. We then sat down into the cushy seats at the table for 15 and the waiters began pouring wine.

Based on the amount poured, I thought that these people are either uber-light-weights or there wasn't enough wine to go around. My curiosity was soon satisfied. One of the government leaders raised his glass, said a word or two, then everyone drank. This was only the beginning. One after another, someone would get up from their seat, and walk to a powerful or respected person to toast with them. This went on for about 45 minutes, and, needless to say, I requested that subsequent wine refills match the amount of my fellow diners.

To do business in China, colloquially speaking, you need to drink. It doesn't really matter whether or not you enjoy or hold your alcohol, it's socially compulsory. My friend from the AIC, who sat right next to me, is a case-in-point. He hates drinking, and even threw up some wine into his napkin, but he kept drinking because he needed to conform with the culture.

Winning business in China is mostly done at the dinner table, not aftering discussing actual business, but after you bond with the decision maker through endless toasts. It's about establishing (perceived) trust and credibility here.

Equally interesting was how the people were seated at the table. The most powerful man faced the room's entrance, and then people were seated according to power and respect.

Although the dinner was quite nice and I'm thankful for the opportunity, I am nevertheless confronted with the fact that the dinner was a waste of taxpayer money. Sure, it was cool for them to win an English competition, but did it necessitate spending over 2,000 RMB on dinner and 1,000 RMB on silk scarves for the EF people (of which I had no use). If these officials wine-and-dine for a (relatively) pointless event, what kind of waste happens at higher-levels of government. But, hey, why should the government care? There's really nothing for them to fear in terms of accountability to the people. The futility of the dinner was highlighted when I walked past beggars in the streets on the way home.

Putting this aside, I enjoyed the food, the chance to listen to Chinese for 2 hours, and the cultural experience. And next time I'm out at a Chinese business dinner, I'll be sure to go easy with the first round of wine.

Trip to Beijing

2009-04-17T02:50:00.000-07:00

Day 1: Monday
When I first arrived to Beijing and started walking the streets on Monday afternoon, I was surprised at some of the differences between Shanghai and Beijing. In Beijing, people are generally taller and more kind, the roads are bigger roads and city layout is more spacious, and the air is cleaner! Everyday last week, in fact, the sky was blue in the mornings and afternoons. It was a fabulous week for traveling.

After getting picked up at the metro station by a fellow couchsurfer who was staying a the same host’s apartment, we walked around a little bit until we met up with our host later that evening. When I first entered the host’s apartment, I was startled to see a huge-wooden-penis ashtray on the table. Brandon and I looked at each other with the kind of face that says, “Well, to each their own.”

My host, Alain, is flamboyantly gay and he’s very open about his lifestyle, which was admittedly awkward at first. After speaking with Alain over the 4 days I couchsurfed with him, I really came to appreciate him. He’s hosted over 30 couchsurfers and he was an incredible host who connected me with other people CSing in Beijing, told what places to see and where to eat, and he has an impeccably clean apartment, all of which made for an incredible first CouchSurf. Hanging out with Alain made me realize what CSing is all about: trusting that people are generally good and meeting a diversity of individuals.

Day 2: Tuesday
Policemen, surveillance cameras, and tons of tourists are how I can characterize Tian’anmen Square, which is simply a huge and unimpressive square of stones with a monument in the middle. What is impressive, however, is the entrance to the Forbidden City where Chairman Mao gave a speech on October 1, 1949, to commemorate the founding of the People’s Republic of China. With the flags gloriously waving in the wind, it really hit me that I was in China and at the country’s cultural and political heart.

Before entering the Forbidden City, however, I wanted to see the location of China’s rubber-stamp congress at the Great Hall of the People. I will spare you from the boring details and simply state that the 30 RMB I paid was wasted.

Not to be deterred, my hopes were still high to see the sights Beijing had to offer, so I entered the Forbidden City (aka, the Palace Museum). This palace took over 15 years to build and I could see why. The grounds are huge and it was a great way to get a feel for how the emperor’s lavishly lived.

Heading the advice of other Couchsurfers, I soon walked north of the FC to climb to the top of Jingshan Park because the view of the Forbidden City is picturesque.

Beihai Park, to the northwest of the Forbidden City, was next of the list of sights. Upon entering the park, I stopped in my tracks to witness the beauty of the day and how majestic it made the park feel. Walking around the center island, I heard the sound of a flute play along with traditional Chinese music, and I eventually found an old man jamming out by himself with a small sound system he brought to the park.

Tuesday night was a time to meet up with more Couchsurfers, and I went to the college part of town (Wudaokou) to meet up with about 7 people, coming from England, the Netherlands, France, China, and Russia.

Day 3: Wednesday
When the sun rose early in the morning, I was still snoring the morning away. When I did awake, however, my fellow CSer and I headed to Military museum near the city-center. Filled with Communist propaganda, this 5-story museum did a pretty good job of showing the history of Chinese war.

Day 4: Thursday
Ring…ring, “Wei, ni hao.” It was 4:15 in the morning and a driver was coming to the apartment to pick me up. On a good day, my Chinese is somewhat intelligible when accompanied with sign language, but at 4:15 AM, my Chinese is horrendous. I’m still wondering how the heck the driver found me.

I opened the car door, piled into the seat, and we were off to pick up 3 more Chinese people (because I was on a Chinese tour to the Great Wall). Once they stepped into the car, I received this look that said, “What’s he doing here?” Undeterred, and with my electronic dictionary in hand, I started chatting with them to mitigate the awkwardness of ride we had left together.

We arrived in Tian’an Men Square around 6:10 AM to see the flag raising. About 1,000 people packed around the flagpole to see the color guards patiently and methodically pace out of the Meridian Gate and into the Square. The flag rose, a song played, and then it was over. Despite the simplicity, it was interesting to witness the culture and observe the observers.

The ride to the Great Wall was quick because I was counting Chinese characters in my sleep—the 4:15 wake up was catching up to me. I was awoken by the sound of the tour guide’s voice rambling on about the Great Wall, of which I understood a little. And then we approached the Great Wall—my energy levels began to increase.

Like cattle walking through a bottleneck, we eagerly exited the bus and prepared to head to the Wall for the climb. The Great Wall challenges visitors with a climb up its daunting steps from the very beginning. And from the look of the smoothed steps, millions of people have been here. It took a while to climb to the top, where a Communist-red flag waved in the wind, but upon reaching the peak, my breath was taken away.

For about 4 years, I’ve carried a piece of paper in my wallet with a list of my dreams. One of those was to see the Great Wall. Timely as it was, I pulled out the list and ceremonially checked off and dated the dream.

Climbing the Great Wall is about more than witnessing humanity’s ability to construct awe-inspiring structures. For me, standing atop the Wall was one of those reality-checking moments. It made me stop and realize that I was not only fulfilling my dreams by living in a foreign country and seeing the Wall, but that my life was significantly different from one year ago.

Later that evening, as I was about to open the apartment door, I heard people singing next door. Being the insatiably curious cat that I am, I knocked on the door to find people singing Karaoke to the TV and found my fellow Couchsurfer joining the fun. We sang a couple of numbers, then headed back to the apartment.

We didn’t want the fun to stop, so it was time for a little movie making. Dressed with rainbow wigs on our heads, we decided to make a pseudo-infomercial for Couchsurfing. Needless to say, we won’t be airing the infomercial.

Day 5: Friday
It was time to switch hosts because my host and fellow CSer were heading out of town, so I backed my bags and headed to a coffee shop early in the morning, waiting for a good time to head to my new host’s house.

My new host was 27 years old and co-owned a carbon-credit trading business that had about 5 employees. Her apartment, like my previous host’s, was spacious and clean. We talked for a little bit, then she handed me the spare key before she went to her office.

It’s worth noting the ease with which she handed me a key to her private residence despite knowing relatively nothing about me. It was one example of what Couchsurfing truly represents. The whole CS idea is predicated on the notion that people are essentially good and trustworthy. It took a tremendous amount of good faith for her to open her home to me and it reassured me that there are plenty of good, trustworthy people on this earth.

Around 6:30 it was BBQ time! Beijing CSers were having a BBQ on the roof of a bar that overlooked a beautiful lake. Forty-or-so people joined the party that night and it was good to meet people who either lived in Beijing or were CSing.

With beer and BBQ in the belly, I needed to lose a couple of calories, so I went salsa dancing with a group of people around 10:30.

Day 6: Saturday
Early (aka 8:30 am) the next morning, I took the metro to see the Beijing Capital Museum and met up with my buddy Kai with whom I went to the Great Wall. The museum did a great job of showing the history of Beijing and it showed how and why the capital of China has changed over time.

Being cooped up a little too long inside the museum on a beautiful, we need to get outside and enjoy the day, so we headed to the famous Summer Palace. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones with that brilliant idea because the place was packed with foreigners and Chinese. It was a fabulous day to walk around the lake and the palace grounds.

My host had a break in her busy schedule, so later on that evening we had a chance to sit down, eating chocolate and drinking a bottle of wine for a couple of hours.

Day 7: Sunday
It was time to get on the plane back to Shanghai after a long week of meeting new people and wearing in my new sneakers walking around Beijing. In many ways, I think Beijing is a better city than Shanghai, but I feel that Shanghai would be a better home for me in the next 2 years as I study Chinese and try to continue working here in the People’s Republic of China.

CouchSurfing Video Request

2009-03-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

中文介绍

CouchSurfing Request (English version)

Teacher photo!

2009-03-18T01:56:00.000-07:00

Nine months have passed since I left the sunny shores of a San Diego for the ever-changing environment of Communist China. Here's a picture of the teaching staff I've shared these months with.

Zhouzhuang Day Trip

2009-03-05T18:36:00.000-08:00

Every now and then it is necessary to vacate the noisy, polluted environment of Shanghai (上海). Yesterday, despite the cold, cloudy, and damp day, we travelled to the nearby town of Zhouzhuang. With over 900 years of history, this town epitomizes the Chinese the canal town, with waterways weaving through and defining the town, and Buddhist temples displaying hundreds of years of religious tradition. To my surprise, about 60% of the houses were built during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, 1368-1644 and 1644-1911, respectively. Selling art, assorted candies, "pearl" necklaces, hair brushes, and Maoist memorabilia, the variety of goods sold paralleled the racial diversity of Utah.

When you see one temple or Qing dynasty home, you see them all. So, that part of the trip was a little boring because I've already been exposed to those in Suzhou and Hangzhou. However, it was good to walk about the and experience a Chinese canal town.

The Karaoke Experience

2009-03-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Chinese people love karaoke, or KTV as it is called here, and I felt like it was time to hit the mic again, so I arranged a group of people this past weekend to go singing. We had a great mix of Westerners and Chinese people, 21 in all, and we went to "Party World," which felt more like a luxury hotel with the marble floors and columns.

After filing into the room, we went into the buffet area for food and drinks to have before our version Chinese-Expat Idol commenced. My Chinese friends and students kicked-off the night with a number of contemporary and traditional songs. Unlike my Western friends and me who should have handed out ear plugs, my Chinese friends could all sing well. What happens is that one person stands and sings while everyone else is quiet and basically admires how well that person sings--and rightfully so because they have great voices. Once the song is complete, everyone claps and then its the next persons turn.

Westerners, as my Chinese friend commented, experience KTV a little differently. For us, it's about singing together and making it a group activity with singing and dancing. During one of the numerous Backstreet Boys songs we regrettably sang (OK, I enjoyed it), we all tried huddling around the 2 mics to join in the harmony.

A little later, I thought it was time to put my Chinese to the test, so I got two of my Chinese friends to sing a Chinese song with me that I had been practicing for the past week.

After 4 hours, 5 cases of beer, and too many BSB songs later, it was time to head home 回家. The interesting thing about that night was witnessing how each culture experienced KTV and how we express ourselves in various ways. My vocal chords were shot the next day, but I had a great time with my friends bonding over ballads such as Sweet Home Alabama.

Inspiration

2009-02-02T07:15:00.000-08:00

We all have times of doubt and despair, but things should always be kept in perspective.

And the fireworks continue...

2009-01-29T22:16:00.000-08:00

Last night seemed to be a futile attempt to speak with my mother over Skype. No, there were no technical problems; there was a small fireworks display outside my apartment. No, actually, Shanghai was lighting up once again with fireworks. The whole city skyline was covered with flashes and bangs. I couldn't even hear my mom through the computer without headphones and I had to turn the volume up on the TV to hear the movie--it was ridiculous.

Chinese New Year's Eve

2009-01-25T20:33:00.000-08:00

War zone. Last night was the closest thing to what I can imagine a war zone sounding like. Although they were sporadically being set off throughout the day, the firework frequency really picked up around 6:30. Because I was having friends over to celebrate Chinese New Year, I had to walk to a nearby restaurant to pick up food. Every street that I walked on had people setting off fireworks. You could really feel the festive spirit when walking into the local fruit store, for example.

As the night worked it's way towards midnight, the war zone started heating up. The flashes and bangs outside became so loud that our conversation at the dinner table was interrupted, so we went upstairs to the room that had a great panoramic view. For about 30 minutes, our eyes were glued to the window as the Shanghai skyline lighted up with fireworks. I've never seen anything like it--4th of July celebrations can't hold a firework to how the Chinese celebrate New Year. The moment was truly amazing to witness!

Now, one would think the city's firework supplies would be thoroughly depleted after the display we saw at midnight, yet people continued to set them off all morning. Seriously, I awoke at 7 am to the sound of fireworks going off. Throughout the day on Monday, you could hear fireworks and firecrackers randomly going off, and this is supposed to continue all week! The story behind the celebrations is basically that the smoke and loud noise is supposed to scare away evil spirits. So, people, especially businesses, will use lots of fireworks so that they will have good luck in the new year.

Chinese New Year Celebrations

2009-01-23T02:30:00.000-08:00

This Thursday I had the honor of joining my friend's family for dinner to celebrate Chinese New Year, which based on the Lunar calendar. After sitting down at the table, the family started to file into the room that had two, large, circular tables. Aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins, grandparents, and parents (20 in all) gathered together today for the Chinese equivalent of Christmas. Initially, the tables were segregated by generations. Almost all of the men and elders sat at a table, while the women and children sat at another table (I was at this one).

We began dinner with cold dishes, then moved onto the hot dishes. The room was filled with babies crying, mothers soothing them, and family members talking. Surprisingly, there were three people who spoke quite good English, of which one was an elder uncle who wanted to talk with me about politics and business. It could have been because of the baijo he drank, but he was quite emphatic and passionate when describing his opinion on the Chinese political system. After our discussion, he pulled me over to the elders table because he wanted me to opine about Obama becoming President, which made for interesting conversation.

I feel lucky to be invited to join my friend's family for dinner on such a family occasion, and it was great to experience how they celebrate their most important national holiday.

Praying at a Buddhist Temple before dinner.

Out with Friends (a.k.a. expat family)

2009-01-11T05:23:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things to do is organizing groups to meet for drinks and socializing. Over the past 7 months, meeting with friends at a bar on a Friday or Saturday night has led to some of the most interesting conversations, and it has been a good way to bond with the other expats who usually come out for drinks. We've gone dancing together, had Thanksgiving dinner, and consumed copious amounts of inebriating substances. Sometimes we share in the occasional miseries of living abroad in China, while sometimes we have in-depth conversations about politics and business. Most fascinating, however, has been to witness the networking effect. One friend will bring another friend, who brings another friend to the next meet up, and the effect continues to compound. The relationships between expats, moreover, seem to be catalyzed by our shared expat status. Of the many shared experiences and emotions we expats have, one of the most common threads is the sense of uncertainty and unpredictability about our futures, in terms of careers, relationships, homes, etc. All in all, these meet-ups over the previous months have been truly fulfilling to me and I am glad that "the group" continues to grow in size and in the strength of friendships.

Spring Festival Concert & Random Factoids

2009-01-09T06:40:00.000-08:00

Spring Festival Concert

Today I was lucky to receive a random invite to a concert in Shanghai's premier concert hall and auditorium to see a government-sponsored concert celebrating foreign experts in China (of which I am oddly enough considered as an English teacher). It was a variety show for the performing arts, with performances from a classical orchestra, dancers, acrobats, a pop singer, opera singers, a Peking opera group, and many others. Aside from the astounding acrobatic performance, in particular, I simply liked getting the exposure to the various traditional forms of music and dance.

Random Factoids

-University students are uber-controlled and treated like children: When nighttime rolls around on campus, uni students must be in their dorms (around 11 PM) or else they'll find themselves sleeping outside for the night. At some universities, they even take roll of the dorm residents and shut off the electricity to force the students to stay inside and sleep.

-Trash on the streets: Whether it is a taxi driver, a child, or a random pedestrian, people tend to litter here and the streets show it.

-Marriage traditions: I'll preface this by saying that traditions vary by city and province, but I learned the other day about a marriage tradition here in China. On the night before a wedding, the bride and groom each sleep at their respective parents homes. When wedding day arrives, the husband-to-be drives over to the bride's parents' home. He knocks on the door, waits a while, then must knock again until a child (usually) opens the door, after which the groom must pay money to the little extortionist before allowing him to pass. Then the bride and groom eat together at the table, before heading to the hotel for the wedding party (there usually aren't Christian-style wedding ceremonies), and at the party, friends bring red envelopes stuffed with money to help pay for the wedding costs and buy things for their new home.

Suzhou Day Trip

2009-01-08T04:55:00.000-08:00

It may come as a surprise considering that I've been in China for almost 7 months, but today was the second time that I have ventured outside of Shanghai to see the country. Today's jaunt took us to the nearby city of Suzhou (Jiangsu province), which has about 2.7 million people. One of the things Suzhou is famous for is "The Humble Administrator's Garden," which epitomizes a Southern Chinese Garden. The garden is huge, with bridges connecting little houses that were built throughout the pond area, and we walked around the paths seeing various rock art and garden designs. Afterwards, Alison and I went into the city where the main shopping street is so that we could sample local food, see temples, and pay a visit to the local KFC for coffee.

To end our day trip, we took at taxi over to Tiger Hill to see the water canals and the Pagoda. This was my favorite part of the excursion to Suzhou. Making our way to the hilltop, we wandered the multitude of pathways that led to ancient tea houses, courtyards, and huts overlooking the valley below. Upon reaching the summit of Tiger Hill (as if it was a grueling hike), the "Leaning Tower of Tiger Hill" awaited us in all its Buddhist-Pagoda glory.

Taking a day to travel to another nearby city was well worth the time and 200 RMB. On the short train ride over there, additionally, I learned more about Chinese culture from Alison--my co-worker （同事）, Chinese teacher, tour-guide extraordinaire, and friend （朋友）。It was a great time and I look forward to taking my longer trips throughout China this March and April.

Year-in-Review & New Year's Eve

2008-12-31T19:03:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-25T08:12:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-19T07:05:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-06T04:39:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-22T08:01:00.000-08:00

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"

2008-11-11T04:52:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-08T07:45:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-06T23:34:00.000-08:00

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

2008-10-31T06:47:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-19T00:07:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-14T01:26:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-10T19:24:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-08T19:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-23T19:22:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-22T00:22:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-17T07:57:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-08-16T03:39:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-09T11:16:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-08T01:22:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-07-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-05T07:26:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-02T03:44:00.000-07:00

"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...

2008-06-29T01:11:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-26T20:25:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-21T18:32:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-06-18T16:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-17T23:17:00.000-07:00

U.S. Open 2008 - Torrey Pines

2008-06-14T22:19:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

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.

San Diego

2008-06-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

A NEW CHAPTER IN LIFE BEGINS

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN' - MISSION BEACH

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME!

INTERNSHIP AT SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL

Sometimes City Council can get heated...

And sometimes public comment period can be interesting...

Last week I drove Jim to Fashion Valley Mall for a press conference with Governor Schwarzenegger, where they discussed Proposition 1B (a $3.6 billion bond measure passed by California voters in 2006). The $3.6 billion topic was interesting; however, the thing that really grabbed my attention was the 3-inch lifts Arnold sported (2 inch heels, plus 1 inch inside his boots). Putting that aside, the man is huge. His hands could probably mold steel.