Happy Birthday to me! Yep. Today I am 38 years old. Hmmph. When did that happen? Oh lordy.
Don't have any plans for today. Nobody here in Jiaxing knows its my birthday. I have been sick in bed for two days (ate something bad) and couldn't "remind" anyone. Plus, I want to go to the gym anyway. All my foreigner friends are out of town already. So I will spend it alone, but this weekend I will par-tay!! Oh Yeah!! I won't let geography get in the way of having a good time.
Tomorrow my dearest Sam is becoming a US Citizen! Woo hoo!! He will take the oath and become an official American. And his bid on a condo was accepted yesterday. YEAH!! So now he is a property-owning citizen. Good times are upon us!
I finished my semester yesterday, but in true Chinese weirdness I must stay around until the end of the month. Why? Dunno. I don't have class to go to, but I can't leave school. So I guess I will just hang and surf the net. Boring! This town is not boring enough? Now they force me to do nothing here! Argh! I will be going to the gym everyday for sure.
The last three years has been the busiest time for me - full time school, full time work, full time relationship and sobriety. I woke up running and went to sleep planning the next day. And I liked it. I liked being scheduled and structured. Now in China, I have very little to do and its driving me crazy! I have to figure out how to occupy myself and not waste the day away. But its not easy for me. I am the kind of person who likes to be given tasks. I have a hard time creating my own path. It is more important to be of use to others than to myself. If I do something I want accolades and appreciation. Doing stuff for myself does not get attention quick enough. I guess I need to have patience. I need a big dose of patience!!
OK, enough venting. I'm gonna go eat.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
I should be tired...but I'm not!!
The first weeks of 2007 have been packed full of life. I celebrated 7 continuous years in recovery - whoa! My dear Uncle Eddie died suddenly - huh? My birthday is January 17th - hint, hint! Sam is becoming a US citizen on January 18th - hooray!! I have been giving my final exams this week - ugh. My friend Kelly in NYC is planning a trip to visit me - whoopee! Matt and I are trying to go to a beach somewhere - maybe Vietnam - hmm. I have decided it's too cold to go snowboarding in Harbin (-20 Celcius) - brrr, so I went boarding in Shanghai. Indoor snowboarding - awesome! 
All this activity has energized me. I usually sit around, watch movies and hang with friends in Shanghai. And kinda feel bored. Well, that hasn't changed much except now I have begun to steer my life towards being involved. I know I don't control "Things", but I am trying to become more open and available for interesting and new things to come into my life. My New Year's resolution is to be more proactive in getting what I want. I know I may not get it, but as long as I have tried I will be satisfied. (Oo, that rhymed! I'm a poet, and didn't even realize it. Uh-oh. Short-lived - wah wah.)
One thing I am trying to do more of is speak Chinese. I am always pleased with myself after I have attempted a conversation in Chinese. The other person may feel frustrated at me or even dismiss me altogether. But I don't care, I am learning as fast as I can. And if that upsets others, well, they chose to be upset. Once I get more comfortable with the language, I can make more Chinese friends. For example, I have yet to visit a Buddhist temple as a pilgrim. I have been to many, but only as a tourist. I want to change that. But I don't know what to do in a temple. I need someone to show me around and teach me what to do and when to do it. And in China, this can be accomplished much easier if I speak Chinese. Once I am able to communicate effectively, I figure the world will open up to me. I will feel included and less isolated. People will not dismiss me and walk away. I will get a truly great bargain at the fake markets!! Gosh, I want to get the Chinese price! And the moment to which I am most looking forward is telling a rude Chinese guy who thinks I don't understand him while he makes fun of me with his friends that I can indeed speak Chinese. I heard everything he said and I think he should go eat a cricket. All in Chinese! That will be an beautiful moment.
All this activity has energized me. I usually sit around, watch movies and hang with friends in Shanghai. And kinda feel bored. Well, that hasn't changed much except now I have begun to steer my life towards being involved. I know I don't control "Things", but I am trying to become more open and available for interesting and new things to come into my life. My New Year's resolution is to be more proactive in getting what I want. I know I may not get it, but as long as I have tried I will be satisfied. (Oo, that rhymed! I'm a poet, and didn't even realize it. Uh-oh. Short-lived - wah wah.)
One thing I am trying to do more of is speak Chinese. I am always pleased with myself after I have attempted a conversation in Chinese. The other person may feel frustrated at me or even dismiss me altogether. But I don't care, I am learning as fast as I can. And if that upsets others, well, they chose to be upset. Once I get more comfortable with the language, I can make more Chinese friends. For example, I have yet to visit a Buddhist temple as a pilgrim. I have been to many, but only as a tourist. I want to change that. But I don't know what to do in a temple. I need someone to show me around and teach me what to do and when to do it. And in China, this can be accomplished much easier if I speak Chinese. Once I am able to communicate effectively, I figure the world will open up to me. I will feel included and less isolated. People will not dismiss me and walk away. I will get a truly great bargain at the fake markets!! Gosh, I want to get the Chinese price! And the moment to which I am most looking forward is telling a rude Chinese guy who thinks I don't understand him while he makes fun of me with his friends that I can indeed speak Chinese. I heard everything he said and I think he should go eat a cricket. All in Chinese! That will be an beautiful moment.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Shanghai - International Destination!
Even though the end of the year holiday season in Shanghai is pervasive and obvious, it does not rival the USA's dedication to materialistic showdowns between friends and family members. The Chinese see it as a foreigners' party. It seems to me that the Chinese believe since the laowai are in China, the Chinese must act as hosts. They do a marvelous job of pseudo-creating the Xmas vibe - shopping sales and promotions, modern Xmas trees made of chrome and flashing lights, and English language Xmas music in all the stores and restaurants. I never heard a Chinese cover of "Santa Baby" or "Grandma got run over...". Maybe next year. Here's hoping!
New Year's Eve, too, does not carry the same significance for the Chinese as it does for the ex-pat community. While the majority of ex-pats were getting drunk, most of the Chinese watched with curious eyes - "Why are these foreign people so happy about January?" Come Chinese New Year (Feb. 18) I am sure I will see a different story. Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) is the most important holiday in China. I have been told that Dec 31 is not the new year, February 18 is. That simple. And that sweet. No apologies and no negotiations. Here in Shanghai, the Chinese culture is stronger than any outside one, and the Shanghainese are the ultimate Chinese people (according to, well, them). So they do not see the need, except to be gracious hosts, for all the hoopla. They do go all out for us though, which makes me feel special. And who doesn't like to feel special? The Chinese are extremely skilled at making their guests feel at home.
So, with all this Chinese culture at my feet, my German friend Sissi and I went to a coffee bar for Italian food which is owned by a Kiwi (New Zealand), and then listened to some elevator jazz at the Ritz Carlton, then we went to a Turkish lounge for Perrier and Sheesha (hookah pipe) while we listened to an American DJ spin Drum and Bass. How Chinese!! But it actually is - because it all happened here in Shanghai! Allowing all this international flavor to exist in one city makes the Chinese great hosts!
Xinnian Kuai Le! (Happy New Year!)
New Year's Eve, too, does not carry the same significance for the Chinese as it does for the ex-pat community. While the majority of ex-pats were getting drunk, most of the Chinese watched with curious eyes - "Why are these foreign people so happy about January?" Come Chinese New Year (Feb. 18) I am sure I will see a different story. Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) is the most important holiday in China. I have been told that Dec 31 is not the new year, February 18 is. That simple. And that sweet. No apologies and no negotiations. Here in Shanghai, the Chinese culture is stronger than any outside one, and the Shanghainese are the ultimate Chinese people (according to, well, them). So they do not see the need, except to be gracious hosts, for all the hoopla. They do go all out for us though, which makes me feel special. And who doesn't like to feel special? The Chinese are extremely skilled at making their guests feel at home.
So, with all this Chinese culture at my feet, my German friend Sissi and I went to a coffee bar for Italian food which is owned by a Kiwi (New Zealand), and then listened to some elevator jazz at the Ritz Carlton, then we went to a Turkish lounge for Perrier and Sheesha (hookah pipe) while we listened to an American DJ spin Drum and Bass. How Chinese!! But it actually is - because it all happened here in Shanghai! Allowing all this international flavor to exist in one city makes the Chinese great hosts!
Xinnian Kuai Le! (Happy New Year!)
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