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For Photo Albums from China -Last updated 8/21/2005
These are entries from November thru December 2005
Dec 25, 2005 1:55 PM
To all my friends and family, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I miss you all very much. My Christmas feast was an excellent dish of curry chicken with potatoes. I had a wonderful day yesterday climbing up Xiang Shan, or Fragrant Mountain with a friend to the north of the city. The area is beautiful, lots of trees, small pools and lakes, winding paths, and really cool temples and pavilions. I was able to watch the sun set behind the mountains to the west. I could see the stars, including a familiar constellation Orion. Every time I see Orion, it reminds me of the many other nights in different parts of the world that I looked up and saw Orion overhead.
I stopped at a little snackshop on the road up to the park. There was a neat item there I had never tried before. The cook poured what looked like pancake dough on an iron skillet over a charcoal flame. Once the shell hardened, the cook made a little hole in the top and poured a mix of egg with onions and spices inside. Once it was finished being cooked the cook spread some different sauces on the top and rolled it with some lettuce. For 1 Yuan (or 12 cents) it was a delicious and a good deal!
This morning my heart feels a little heavy. I had an interview with a Japanese company called Howa Textile Industry that builds parts for Japanese car makers including Toyota and Nissan. This company has offices and manufacturing locations in Japan, China and the US. They want someone to work in their international department at their office in Nagoya, Japan. They want a person who can speak Japanese, English, and Chinese. I have interviewed with them twice. The second time they sent a member of their HR, a Japanese speaking Chinese woman, to meet with me in Beijing. They told me they are very interested in me because I have good work experience, have lived in Japan before and speak Japanese fluently as well as conversational Chinese. Most of the staff in their international department are Chinese. It seems like personally and culturally I would probably fit in nicely. I have yet to hear what kind of compensation package they will offer, but I do know that they would provide housing at nearly no cost. They said I would work primarily in Nagoya but sometimes go to China and the US. They have an office or factory in Richmond, Indiana as well, because their major customers, Toyota and Nissan are in Indiana as well. 
Yes, this all sounds very nice. And it would not hurt to have a nice, good paying job with loans etc coming due in a few months. However, I really like China and would like to stay here. I think I can continue to study Chinese if I got that job and even if I lived in Japan. But it would not be the same as living in China. Finally, the job would involve car parts. I think working for a manufacturer would be alright, but I do not feel thrilled about learning the ins and outs of a car door or a sun roof in any language. Also, Nagoya is a nice town, but it is not Tokyo, Shanghai, or Honolulu.
I am still putting together my thoughts, such as if I took this job what would be the positives and negatives. That is why my heart is heavy, taking this job would be a serious life decision.
Dec 19, 2005 4:36 PM
I am sorry to have not written much in awhile.I feel like I have had things to write about then they disappear from my mind. More than anything, its getting near Christmas. I feel like my internal clock is calling on me to start doing something for the season. Its funny to see some of the department stores and buildings around here have Christmas decorations put up. There is even a life sized singing Santa in my dorm building.
I've had many Chinese ask me about Christmas. There are some major misunderstandings. Some thought you are supposed to dress up like a witch or wear black like Zorro. I can not guess how these ideas got into some people's heads, maybe people are confused about Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, and New Years coming right after another or it had something to do with a Hollywood movie. Hollywood movies are like the voice of America. Many Chinese, and I suspect people around the world, see America through Hollywood's lenses.
My English school is going to have a big party tomorrow night. I am scheduled to work, so I will be in a room doing Christmas related tongue-twisters, games, and I will teach the students a Christmas song or two.
Fortunately I get Christmas Eve and day off! No work, so I will sleep in. I may not be so lucky on New Years Day. China's New Year won't be until January 29th I think. It is a major holiday in China. I will have nearly 5 weeks off from January 13th to February 20th for the Winter Holiday. I feel like I could use it. I have started to feel burned out. I would like to feel rejuvenated again and study hard next semester. I also won't need to work so much next semester, because I won't be saving up to pay for another semester.
I went to several department stores to find Christmas cards and went from department to department without much luck. Finally I found some cards that I could send out. They will be late, but they are on their way now.
I felt better about using the post-office in China since I got a card from Grandma and Grandpa. I was hesitant to use the Post Office for a long time because my address was unstable and I didn't even understand which counter to go to at the Post Office. It was just too much trouble. The Post Office looked like mass confusion to me the first time I went in there. My friend from Sweden, Bengt helped me out.
The weather is deceptively cold here. The sun is shining and the sky is blue, there is no snow on the ground, but the high temperature may not rise above zero.
Dec 11, 2005 7:40 PM
Yesterday I went to Silk Street in the Chaoyang District of Beijing. I have been needing some shoes for a long time and have been told a lot of foreigners shop at Silk Street and there should be shoes my size there. Chaoyang District is the more modern and international part of Beijing. I had never been there before because it is on the east side of town and I live in the northwest. As I was going in I saw lots of new, modern looking buildings with names I recognized splashed on the sides such as Microsoft, Price Waterhouse, Toyota etc.
I saw lots of foreigners...some businessmen and some families. I found it interesting to watch other foreigners, the businessmen, older men and women rather than other students like myself, and how they acted around the Chinese.
I was surprised to discover Silk Street is a big building. I hear it used to be a street with lots of shops, but everything was moved indoors. There were five floors packed with little shops. Every shop was manned by one, two or three sales people who called at you. Look, Look! Do you want a new coat? Do you need a sweater? A bag? What do you need? If you stop to look at the products then the staff starts to just put stuff in front of you. They tell you they will give it to you for a cheap price. Some are more aggressive than others, but surely more than in the US, where the most someone might say is "Can I help you find something?"
Finally, if you are interested, then you ask "Duoshao qian?" or how much? But the staff member will first give you some ridiculous price. For example they make ask for 800 RMB (Renminbi, the official name of Chinese currency) for a bag you can buy in another store for 60 RMB. Then when you say not interested for that price, then they ask you for the price you're are willing to pay. Once you say something more realistic, they give you a smirk or a nasty face and say "Ok, let's be serious here" or "stop joking." But in actuality it is them who are trying to rip you off here.
Anyway, you have to evaluate the item yourself and offer a price. This is not easy. And as an American I am used to higher prices. I ended up buying some things for prices I thought were decent in US dollars, but maybe I could have got for even cheaper.
You really have to have guts, a clear head, and a cold heart to get a real deal in that place. But they offer a lot of the things foreigners want so they already have a edge.
Anyway, I got my shoes, a belt, new gloves, and a bag. I forgot to mention they are all name brand goods, but fake. Even regular stores sell fake goods in China so you get used to it. Name brands such as North Face gloves, Timberland shoes, Levi jeans and belts are all copied and sold all over China. Copyrights and protection of brand names is a big giant joke in China. The quality difference can vary, some are very good.
Another thing is one of my American friends showed me a counterfeit 20 RMB bill yesterday. It was given to her somewhere, and we she tried to use it for a purchase the sales person recognized it and told her. I had never seen a actual counterfeit bill in the real world before.
Dec 3, 2005 11:09 AM
Last week my roommate Bengt participated in a soccer match between Renmin University's Korean student soccer team and a team of made up of other international students. In lower than ideal temperatures they squared off in a field half the size of a real soccer field. Bengt's team won 3-2 after three periods. There actually should only be 2 periods, but an extra period was added so everyone could get a chance to play. I stood on the sidelines cheering on my classmates and taking pictures.
Besides that, nothing really exciting has happened recently. I go to school in the mornings, study in the afternoons, go to work at night. Somewhere between those activities I find time to eat, do a little exercise, talk to friends, etc. All the savings from my job will go to paying for another semester at Renmin University. Once that is paid off I plan on cutting back on my work hours. I work 18 hours a week now.
I try to make the time I work teaching English an opportunity for me to learn about how Chinese people think, their cultural beliefs and customs. Like killing two birds with one stone, I can get paid and learn more about China. For example, what holidays are important to Chinese, how do they celebrate them, what foods do they eat and so on.
But we have also discussed very serious issues such as AIDS, the environment, getting a job, privacy rights, and gun ownership. I have had many students compliment me on how I teach English. I rarely use the book and ask everyone for their thoughts and opinions. The students say they have learned a lot from me and are happy for the increased opportunities to speak and express themselves. I hear that many other teachers rely on the book and the students may only speak when reading aloud from the book. But these teachers are not professionals either, most are working part-time to live in China like myself.
A couple of days a go, the temperature in Beijing dropped significantly. For the first time in years I felt that cold chill that penetrates you down to your bones. I ran back to the dorm and put on a pair of long-underwear! As I came home from work last night I saw flecks of snow drift down in the street lights. I heard some Chinese nearby say "Ah, xia xue le!" which means "its snowing!"
I like to eat yejun-mian for dinner on cold nights. It is noodles with fat wild mushrooms and green vegetables in hot soup. It warms up your body for many hours.
Nov 27, 2005 8:27 PM
Happy Thanksgiving! Again, I was reminded by my family, friends and Chinese people about another US holiday. It was business as usual for me. It's hard to imagine everyone in the US sitting down to a lovely meal on Thanksgiving on the other side of the world.
Today, Sunday, I went to a Japanese company career fair. Most of the companies were manufacturers which I had little interest in. However, I did get positive feedback from their HR people. I prefer to be humble, but I will be upfront here. It seems my Japanese ability impressed them. One company said they would like to do a second interview in Tokyo. But that would be hard for me, especially from a visa standpoint. Unlike Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Mexico, where you can get a visa on arrival at the airport, China requires that you have a visa prior to arrival. So any trip out of China would require me to get another visa before returning. I am hearing that Japanese companies are hiring more and the Japanese economy is making a comeback after years of stagnation. I probably could get a job there much easier than ever before, especially now that I have a college degree. But I am set on learning Chinese, at least through next summer.
I saw a movie yesterday on DVD called A View from the Top. It reminded me so much of America, I almost felt like I was there. Then the movie ended and I remembered where I really am, in China surrounded my Chinese people! That is a strange feeling.
There was a terrible environmental disaster in Northeast China recently. A chemical plant spilled 100 tons of Benzene, a toxic chemical, into a large river that supplied water to the major city of Harbin, on to Russia, and finally the Pacific. The spill occurred on January 13th, but the news was not reported until a week ago. Local officials were criticized for not informing the public in a timely manner. The government brought in supplies of drinking water into the city and after four days restored water to city. I read in another article that the authorities had to come clean after the spill left a trail of dead fish on the beaches. All I can say is...scary, and I drink bottled water.
Nov 22, 2005 10:55 PM
This is a picture of my textbook. I think will help everyone get an idea of what it is like to look at Chinese text. There are many characters in Chinese. My knowledge of Japanese helps to know many Chinese characters, but there are still many that are new to me. Also, the Chinese in mainland China have simplified the characters so that they sometimes look a little different than what I have seen before.
I see many Chinese students study very hard everyday. I see many outside every morning when I wake up reciting texts aloud. I see classrooms packed with students late into the night studying by themselves. It seems many students push themselves very hard. Maybe that is all they know. In order to pass the examinations to get into Renmin University, these kids had to eat, drink and sleep study. The competition to get into the best schools is fierce. Going into an elite school is still the most traditional and common of way of becoming successful in China.
Seeing them study so hard has insprired me to work harder and use every available moment to try and get more into my head such as buying a radio to listen to Chinese while I am walking around campus.
November 18, 2005 4:37 PM
I really don't understand what President Bush is trying to do criticizing the Chinese government about freedom, human rights and other sensitive issues days before he arrives in Beijing to meet with Chinese leaders. 
Even I know making people lose face is not a good way to get things done in Asia. Direct public criticism is viewed as a pretty harsh attack here. Moreover, he will soon be meeting with the people he just took a swipe at. I don't get it. Maybe he is trying to appease critics at home or showing everyone his prowess at foreign diplomacy.
Anyway, I had slept restfully during a peaceful Q-u-i-e-t evening last night. In other news, the English school I work for wants to double my hours starting next week. So instead of working 1.5 hours a day, I will work 3. If I do this through January I should be able to save enough to pay for tuition at Renmin for the Spring without adding to my debt. This will give me a full year of studying Chinese at Renmin.
More than a few students here study for free. Their tuition and housing is paid for by the Chinese government. Plus they get about a 1000 Yuan a month for expenses. I am investigating how I could do that. The application is only once a year. Many of the European and African students have come over in this fashion. It bites that I am paying my way though school. Oh well, its too late to cry over spilled milk.
November 17, 2005 9:29 PM
Haha, I moved away from my loud snoring roomate and in with my friend from Sweden named Bengt. I have already learned some things about Sweden I never would have guessed. Like they have a babe for a princess, named Princess Madeleine. Another thing I learned, is that most people in Sweden speak Swedish and English. Bengt's Chinese is also really good. We are in the same Chinese class together and today we practiced Chinese vocabulary that we both have to learn. We also played some Ping Pong and Badminton a few times as well. Though I have yet to win a game from him its very competitive. I feel like John McEnroe vs. Bjorn Borg!
The weather here is getting colder and colder. Did I mention I have always been a fast walker. I noticed that as early as my days in Arizona that I walked faster than other people. I finally think I figured out why. Because I was raised outside of Chicago, I walked fast to get out of the freezing cold and to stay warm!!!
November 15, 2005 1:46 PM
On November 15th, the Beijing energy authority turned on the central heating for the city. All the big metal heaters in most people's houses are controlled by the government and turned on in the middle of November for the cold winter. People can buy electric heaters to supplement the heating or start early. I think it is interesting that the government controls when central heating will start. The heating is completely coal powered. I also hear that the pollution levels jump in the winter because of the burning of coal. They have yellow and red alerts on days when the air quality is so bad people should not be going out.
Last Friday was November 11th. Because all the digits of that date are 1s, the Chinese call it International Singles Day. At least that is what my students told me. Anyway a group of students wanted to take me out for dinner last Friday. That was the first time that has happened, so I took them up on it. We went to a restaurant/bar with a live band. The place was big and had the feel of an American restaurant/bar. They served a fruit plate, popcorn and french fries with ketchup. I ate that and drank some vodka. Uggh. But it was my students treat. Later, they all wanted to go to Karaoke. 
Again, it was their treat and the end of mid-terms, so I didn't refuse. I figured it would not last more than a couple of hours. The place we went to was one of the largest specialty Karaoke centers in the city. A whole building, maybe 8-10 stories tall for Karaoke. Every floor had dozens of rooms of all sizes with music machines, TVs, lights, microphones, sofas etc etc.
The English songs for guys that were available included, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, The Eagles, The Bee Gees, and for those of you who like pop music, the BackStreet Boys. Ehhg! Anyway, after singing all the Bon Jovi songs I could muster, I fell asleep. But they didn't stop singing and dancing in that little Karaoke room until 6:30 AM.
It was interesting for me to listen to Chinese people sing. They sung in Mandarin, Cantonese, and some English. I get a kick out of listening to people speak or sing the language that I am studying so hard. Its amazing they have so much of what I am striving for in their heads, but I can't get it out of them and have it for my own.
For me, going out for Karaoke is fun once in a great while. However Karaoke has really taken off in China. The place our group went to was completely packed from night till day despite being pretty expensive for the average Chinese, no less than 10 US dollars an hour. I hear Chinese say it gives them a chance to express themselves, provides a form of entertainment in a entertainment-scarce city, offers seclusion from other groups that bars and restaurants can't provide, etc.
I did enjoy the fact I could sing in English better than anyone there. The people I went with were very happy to hear me sing in English. Though I may not be considered a great singer in America, in China I could sing and feel like a superstar.
November 11, 2005 2:02 PM
I figured out how to become rich in China. Import brake pads and brake fluid. Wherever I go in China, buses and bicycles screech to a halt at nearly every stop. I cringe walking near them. I really don't know how most people can stand it.
If you really want to get upset, talk with people about politics. People get equally upset over politics in America, but the issues are different here. I actually feel hurt to hear what some people and op-ed/news stories say about America. I feel free to criticize my country and its government, but it can hurt sometimes to hear non-Americans criticize it as well. Americans may be somewhat divided over the war in Iraq, but I have never met a Chinese who had anything good to say about it. Matter of fact, it seems Chinese take it as an indirect threat to their sovereignty. I suppose it works both ways, because I sometimes say unflattering things about China and may be offending some Chinese. I heard President Bush will be coming to Beijing next week.
I really should try harder to be nicer to Chinese and be a real ambassador of my country. I am discovering I am sometimes the first foreigner some Chinese have ever talked with. Take that in for a moment. In America we can talk with people from all over the world, especially in big cities or around universities. Most Americans have spoke with a non-American before and probably don't know when or with whom.
I asked my students in my English class about their first experiences meeting a foreigner. Everyone of them could remember meeting a non-Chinese for the first time, when, who, where, under what conditions,even generally what was said. I meet students at my university who say they have seen foreigners before, but have never ever talked with one until they talked with me. Ever. Even many of the English teachers in China are Chinese.
That tells you something about China then and now, as well as what it is like to be an American.
I may have to change dorm rooms. My roommate snores. This has been a problem for a while. I bought ear plugs and that solved the problem somewhat, except they are a bit uncomfortable to sleep with. At least he doesn't smoke... I thought to myself. But he drinks. And when he drinks he snores so loud that the noise overpowers my ear-plugs. Then finally last night, he came back late to the room after drinking and starting snoring really loud.
It bothered me so much, I yelled at him in English. Then around three in the morning he started throwing up. Fortunately he did it in his own bed. I opened the windows and after he cleaned up his mess I told him he should move out. Later, we found out there are no empty rooms or beds left. My Swedish friend Bengt told me today though, his roommate is moving out and I may be able to move in with him. Hopefully this will work out. For the time being, I went to the store and bought more powerful earplugs. It said they withstand upto 33 decibels. We'll see.
November 7, 2005 2:47 PM
I read an article about a high-end wine dealer from the US who tried to sell his wine in China. Initially, using a Chinese distributor he had connections with, sales were poor. Upon further investigation, he discovered that his Chinese distributors were using bicycles for distribution, leaving the wine in the sun, which damages the taste and even selling the wine at convenience stores. The Americans discovered the Chinese knew little about wine (and the Americans knew little about the Chinese). 
They decided to start from scratch in marketing to China, using the theme "Assume Nothing". The wine maker spent more effort and money on ensuring proper logistics, marketing techniques and consumer research. Eventually, the dealer created a respectable brand image among Chinese wine connoisseurs and was able to sell in upscale restaurants, which led to profits.
I thought the idea of Assume Nothing is a good motto for going to China. Its seems there is nothing you can take for granted here, at least for now. Some toilets are little more than porcelain holes. You can't throw your used TP into the toilets, you have to throw it in the waste bin. You can't get hot water to take a shower whenever you want it. You have to look in 8 directions before crossing the street. 
Don't expect cars or bicycles to stop for you, because it is not widely accepted that pedestrians have the right of way. Don't expect "Thank you" and "You're Welcome" when you expect it. You can't even know what to expect in a friendship. I exchanged my phone number with a Chinese guy who seemed smart and nice enough, and later he text-messaged me a 15 line poem. I thought that was strange, but I think it is a sign of friendship. He was not the first Chinese person to do that to me either. Don't expect to be quoted a fair price, let alone see a price tag. Don't expect stale and expired food to be taken off the shelves.
Don't expect people to understand you, your needs, your country, your beliefs, your values, your govt. anything. And that is just the beginning. Expect the unexpected and be prepared to be expected to know what you may not expect. In other words, Assume Nothing. 
I went to the Hohai area yesterday. Hohai is a little farther north of the Forbidden Palace and is popular with foreigners because it has the distinct flavor of old Beijing. There are some pretty lakes, the nearby residential area still looks about 200 or more years old and the streets are narrow and full of shops. It reminds me of the old Arizona mining towns that became ghost towns and came back to life as upscale art communities. Hohai seems to attract tourists and the newly affluent. I hear the restaurants along the lake are packed every night with foreigners and cosmopolitan Chinese.
I hear and agree that one of the biggest challenges facing China today is the growing gap between rich and poor. It would be bad for China to have very small, very rich group of people and a large poor population. 
It would be better for it to have a large middle class. I am not sure how China will tackle this problem, but I sense this is something to watch in China's development.
November 2, 2005 1:49 PM
I visited the National Science and Technology Museum in Beijing last Saturday. I was struck by a few things. The number of foreign companies funding displays..Intel, BMW, Ford, on and on. As with many things I have seen in China, they may start off with something nice, but the people in charge of running the place seem to let things get worn-out and broken. But everyone tells me things are getting better and better. Hard to imagine how things were before.
My friend from Sweden told me when he visited China about 15 years ago, that there were few cars on the road, few modern buildings and many people still wore clothes that were made fashionable by Mao. He said things have changed alot since then.
I asked some Chinese students what do they think happened after the Cultural Revolution to prompt China to pursue a different path since the 1980s. They said a certain post- Mao leader named Deng Xiao Ping visited the US around that time and was struck by the massive difference between China and the US. Soon after, the Chinese allowed for experimentation with a market economy in special areas of the country. The rest is history. But I imagined what it must have been like for a person who had lived China before it changed, streets crowded with bicycles and no street lights to visit America. It must have been a shock for so many reasons.
I have an address for those who might want to send me something. Please see the Contact Information Page. I have been hesitant to give out an address until I settled in a little and could verify that mail could make its way to me. My roommate was able to get some mail, hand delivered to our room, so I suppose it's safe now.
Last week I did some shopping for warm fall/winter clothes. I bought some nice hooded pullovers with the Renmin University name on them for only 48 yuan (about $6). I think the same items for ASU would go for at least $15. I also bought a winter hat, gloves, and some long underwear! Yes, long underwear! I have not worn those since my days in Indiana years ago, but I know those are a requirement for below freezing temperatures.
Some family members have let me know of their concern about the bird flu. My good friend Lily even canceled her trip to China out of concern. I read that because of China's large poultry industry and sanitation standards there has been concern that any outbreak could be widespread here and potentially mutate into a strain that could infect humans. If that happened I could imagine it would be bad. I don't have an exit plan or escape plan for getting out of the country in an emergency of that magnitude. I did register with the American Embassy in Beijing (See Travel Registration Website) to let them know I am here, and to get me out in case of disaster! Other than that, I do exercises and take my vitamins everyday. And I have some of that multi-purpose Chinese cure-all, Green Tea on the shelf (next to the Peanut Butter).
On another front, I registered at the 2nd Annual Beijing Career Fair for Japanese/ Chinese bilinguals. The career fair invites bilinguals to meet companies from Japan and China for potential employment opportunities. I figured I should check it out.
A question often raised by my Chinese friends is "ni xiang jia ma?" Which literally means "Do you think of your family?", and could be translated to "Do you miss your family?" They use the word xiang, which is the same word used to say "think". In English we say "miss", which really gives me a feeling of loss. I certainly think of/miss my family. Many of the Japanese and Korean students will be going home during the winter break. I just can't afford to go home for a short break, not to mention the hassle of getting a new visa before I am allowed to come back (I have only a single entry, not a multi-entry visa).
Halloween almost passed completely without me even realizing it. A Chinese friend reminded me on October 31st , asking me if I had any plans. I was kind of shocked, yes its Halloween and didn't even recognize it. I heard there were some costume parties around Beijing, mainly at places where foreigners hang out, but I spent the night doing some study. When I thought of how Halloween would be celebrated back in the states, all the kids going out, and the street parties in Tempe, Arizona and on Kalakaua Avenue in Honolulu, Hawaii etc, it struck me in a funny way. Once again, I'm reminded that the atmosphere on one part of the Earth could be so festive, and on another it could be something else at any point in time.
Finally, next week we have mid-terms for Chinese classes, including writing, listening and speaking examinations. I should do fine. I feel like I have made noticable progress, expecially in listening and new vocabulary since I restarted school in September. That is what I hoped for and expected from emersion in Chinese.