Greeting from Shanghai! Surprise!

Ni hao! I am in Shanghai! Finally I have touched the soil of the Middle Kingdom! It has been a long process to get here, but I never gave up and with the support of all of you, I have made my dream come true! Thank you very much, Tai xie xie le!
Saying goodbye to Sam was a little more difficult than I imagined, and for that I am grateful. For if I knew ahead of time how I would be feeling, I am not sure I would have left. Tears galore! But that's the magic of staying in the moment and not looking ahead too much - ya just don't know what's gonna happen, so ya keep movin' forward. The flight was fine, a little unconfortable as I had the middle seat in a row of five. I had to wake up a minimum of two people every time I had "to go". But they were nice and understood, so no tension. One of my neighbors and I got to talking and he had some compelling stories of growing up in Shanghai in the 1960s during the Cultural Revolution. Oh lordy, what a difficult era. But things are different now, and he is happy to be free to visit China whenever he feels he need.
Shanghai is huge! It's bigger than NYC! The skyline it just as impressive - they are currently building the world's tallest skyscraper. Every building it seems is at least 30 stories! Yes, there are short houses like brownstones, but ya can't see 'em from the highrises! I giggled when I saw my first mass bicycle traffic crossing. Just as I imagined - about a hundred people waiting for the light to change - and then it did! Watch out! Get out of they way! So cool. Another giggle was the name of a small clothing boutique in the Jing'an neighborhood(the Soho of Shanghai) - it is called "Red Lady" - how chinese can you get! Love it! Communist and fashionable!
Well, gotta go. I am taking the train to Hangzhou for my training/orientation. It is a two hour ride. I am interested in seeing the suburbs and how spralling they may be, and then the country-side which may or may not look like chinese landscape paintings (I kinda hope they do).
Hope you are well, and send me some e-love.
Evan

Discretion is requested. Aug 4, 2006

So, it has come to my attention by a dear friend that maybe I should wait until I arrive in China to launch my blog. Reasoning is that my sexual orientation may be a hinderence in attaining a work Visa. So just to be safe - from now on - S@m is Samantha. I would appreciate you all going along with this, k? Sexual orientation is not against the law in China, it's just a little uncomfortable for those who think that they are normal and others are not. Communism did a couple things right when it gave women equal treatment and respect and it moved towards enveloping marginalized groups, such as those who have sexual orientation freedom from comforming to the majority. Communism is an egalitarian concept which allows people to be who they are without the fear of opppression or reprisal. So does capitalism and other various -isms - like active alcoholism. I have seen many drunks say whatever they want to their friends and strangers without fear of offending.
As I prepare to go to China, I am reminded that freedom is precious and fragile and that those who think "normal is as normal does" have a specific definition of normal. My definition is normal as well. And Samantha is as normal as they get. I love my normal Sam! Are you normal too?

More photos from Vancouver trip

 

Vancouver, BC and Whislter Mountain - July 2006 photos

 

Preparations are ensuing. Aug 2, 2006

So I have finally purchased my plane ticket after weeks of research and eye-opening bureauocracy. It has come to my attention that round trip tickets must be used within 330 days of each other. But what about those of us who are staying longer? Surely I am not the first person to move to China. Why can't the airlines book RT-tickets for longer than a year? I guess it's a source of revenue because those longer stay tix are really expensive. It always comes down to money, doesn't it. Anyway, I got a sweet deal from a Chinese travel agent - those guys can negotiate anything! - they could negotiate a lease on The White House! Probably not a bad idea - it would be a reality-kick in the arrogant Americans' crotch. But I digress. Duibuqi (Sorry).
So here's my itinerary: I am flying out Friday, August 25, 2006 from Newark to Shanghai. The trip should take about 20 hours in total, but I lose a day by crossing the International Date Line. So I leave in the morning of the 25th and land in the late afternoon of the 26th. Oh boy! But I am not complaining - imagine how long it would take to walk! And it's better than that slow boat to China I've been told about.
In other news - One of the more interesting developments this week was figuring out how to say goodbye to S@m. If he drives me to the airport than we have a very public goodbye moment which neither of us are comfortable with. If we say goodbye at the house,and then he drives me to the airport, both moments will feel false and forced. I do so want to have a genuine feeling of sadness and potential joy simultaneously. I will be sad to not see my boyfriend for a year, but I also will be on an adventure so intense that missing him and anyone else may be a luxury. I do anticipate being extrememly busy while in China. But saying goodbye to S@m will not be an easy thing - and I don't want to poo poo it (one of my mother's favorite phrases) and regress into denial mode. I have worked alot at having my feelings even if they are not "happy", "fine" or "tired." I guess I am trying to control my experience at the airport terminal which is not a good thing. I am not in control of what happens to me. I am only in control of what I do, how I react to my experience.
Oh lordy, I got alot on my mind, don't I? More will be revealed, hopefully.
Till then, please enjoy some photos from our vacation to Vancouver and Whistler Mountain last July. Snowboarding in July - way cool!