This is what my street looks like without all the crazy drilling

What are they doing to my street?!

That is a big slab of concrete

A nice day and interesting sites at the Cool Dock 老码头

Just one more ridiculous thing that can be transported on a bike

Sleeping on the job

A Chinese Jew!

I could be the only person who that this was funny. He had very curly hair that looked natural. If you are offended there are people who care and will listen. However, I am not one of those people.

Have a pleasant day!

Sh¡ts and g¡ggles

Since the last post involved dealing with untimely situations, I decided that I should divulge a tragic event that I experienced in Shenzhen.

I was eating at a Chinese restaurant and I was engorged from the ridiculous amounts of food I ate.After awhile I noticed my stomach was tingling. I had a momentary panic attack in the restaurant because I had just recovered from my monthly blast off of 拉肚子 (Lādùzi). I also detest the idea of using a public restroom. The tingling decided that it was going to kick it up a notch from tropical depression to a category three hurricane.

At this point I decided to excuse myself from the table and go to the restroom. The restroom was located on the second story. I was completely relieved because it was after lunch time and no one was eating on the second level. That happiness was short lived as I discovered the toilets were squatters. I quickly got over this because that brewing category three was pushing its way to a category four. Just when I thought the end was in sight I realized there was no toilet paper. Of all the times I have used a public restroom why did this have to be the time there was no toilet paper? By this time Hurricane Katrina was making landfall and there was not much more I could so, so I took my place over the throne and popped a squat. Levees broke, gale force winds were ablowin', and sewage was floating everywhere. On a lighter note...I felt...lighter!

Oh! You want to know what I did to wipe, right? Well, I remained squatted for a few minutes longer because I had no idea what to do next. The only thing I knew was that someone up in the sky hated me by creating such a perfect storm or my problem solving creativity was being tested for Olympic caliber.

Stepping out of the doorless stall I walked into the upstairs dininer area hoping there would be napkins. Again, someone hated me because there was not even a shrivel of paper available. Then, I look to my left and I see two rags used for cleaning tables. I cringed a bit and then I thought about the horrid things my buns were about to introduce to these rags.

I wiped with the first rag and realized I was not being efficient. Who in the world would ever have to think about efficiently using a rag to wipe their tush? I decided that the rag had enough smattering of intestinal after birth. I now implemented the wipe, wipe, rinse method. After a few moments of my new and improved method for wiping the tush and praying no one would com into the bathroom, I was finally done.

I think I spent 15 - 20 minutes in the bathroom. I sincerely hope everyone has an experience just like this. Every moment was just as colorful, if not more, as I have described.


I hope this brings new meaning to the expression, 'shits and giggles.'

Clean that sh*t up!

What to do when you have a serious case of 拉肚子 (Lādùzi), or diarrhea, the person who visited the stall before seems to have suffered the same gastrointestinal fate, and left behind a smudged present on the toilet lid? Well, I will tell you! First, you use #1 to rinse off #2. Then, you get a wad of toilet paper and wipe away any remaining yummies that do not suit your taste. You are now clear for landing.

This may seem a bit crazy and unhygienic, but never question what you will do in order to handle business (in the broad sense of the word).

Religion in China

This was originally written August 16, 2011.

The other night I had a discussion about religion. I found it interesting because the guys I was speaking with said many people in China are inclined to do 'bad things' or pursue immoral behavior because there is no religion.  I asked them for examples and they mentioned a case from 2008 when powder baby formula for babies caused babies to fall ill in China. Some babies died as a result. They feel that if there was a sense of morality in China, then situations like this would not occur. This is just one case and I am sure there are many more.

I mentioned to them that many countries have killed and persecuted in the name of religion. I also mentioned the idea of reinstilling Buddhist and Confucian values into Chinese society since much of this was wiped clean from the Chinese psyche after 1949.

I found this little topic interesting and I will have to think about it more. For my religious readers, namely Christians, this does not mean that you have found one more place for you to proselytize and irritate the masses one door knock at a time in the name of your perceived truth through Jesus H. Christ.

More to come on this topic. One of the guys gave me his number and told me to call him if I ever needed anything. One more contact in the Rolodex.

Subway faux pas

Why did she have to bring her pizza on board?

I wish the Shanghai Metro Authority would make a commercial for this. I hate smelling people's food. It is bad enough I have to smell body odor during rush hour. This is bu hao...next time eat your pizza before you subject us to the smells of fake cheese.

There is always someone doing something that disregards the space of others. Bad odor, bags hitting you because they aren't paying attention, pushing, screaming on the telephone, or the worst of them all...a line has formed in order to be orderly, but there is that one ignoramus that must push past everyone getting off while the rest of us are waiting patiently. 

Zao shang hao Shanghai!!! (Good morning Shanghai)

My neighbor

 Every morning my neighbor is out there washing dishes in his under-roos! He is a nice man and now says "ni hao" to me. I am the honorary foreigner in my little corridor of lane houses.

How do you clean your windows?

Just tie a rope around your waist and then jump off the side!

I can't imagine what it would look like if that rope snapped

Working at Web International

I am amazed by the amount of people that are coming into the center to sign up for classes. I think from the American perspective many people would think it is a waste of money, but I think it is a good business. There are many people who are paying a lot of money to learn English with the hopes of bettering their careers. I think this could be a good business model for a similar operation in the US. The only problem is that the cost would be extremely high to bring native Chinese speakers to the US. This would include paying for visas, a wage that allows them to be able to afford rent and other living expenses, and transportation. I think Chinese is a very important language for the future since many companies are looking and will be looking to do business in China. There are 1.3 billion people consumers in China and the Chinese government plans to turn the country into a consumer nation much like the United States. This means that there are 1.3 billion people I can promote a product to. Sounds like there is a lot of potential for America to make money.

Not everything has to be doom and gloom. When China can consume like the United States there will be many opportunities for small and large businesses to make money. If the United States can continue to innovate as it traditionally has then there is room to make money. Ideas can be made in the United States and they can be sold in China. This can be simple as selling produce or meat to a patented piece of technology. There will come a time that China will not be able to produce enough food for its own people and this will provide an opportunity for countries with a surpluss of food to sell to this behouth of a country.

China still has a long way to go, but it has come a long way. There are many things that they have learned from us as a nation and there are many things that Americans can learn from China. I do believe the United States economy will shrink as a means to correct the overspending and over zealous life styles of most Americans. There is an opportunity for great change and I think more young people will make their voices heard and they will begin to be entrepreneurs rather than slaves to a system that is caught up in an old American system.

I'm ready to make money. Are YOU? I see China as an opporunity to utilize a seventh of the world's population to fill my pockets with some dinero!

I’m going, going…back, back…to Shanghai, hai.

 It is back to the Chinese grind. Nothing has changed in Shanghai except my one month absence. I was having emotional moments, dealing with reverse culture shock as I returned home. I would not say Shanghai has a faster pace than Southern California, but I would say that the average Chinese or those residing in Shanghai are much more aggressive. At times, the level of aggressiveness felt like barbarism. Then, I came home and there was an order that my life had lacked for ten months. No one is cutting in line, no one is pushing their way onto an elevator as others are exiting, taxis, scooters, and buses are not about to collide with pedestrians, and life overall is not as chaotic.

All of these cultural contrasts makes me wonder if China is truly barbaric and uneducated, or that we, Americans, have a system of civility that only hides our superficial, bigoted, and, many times, xenophobic ways. It is well known by Westerners and Chinese alike that presentation is everything in China. Presentation and quality are two independent factors and they seem to be mutually exclusive in China. While I can say and feel that Chinese are uncivil and lack manners, I must wonder if we Americans are not kidding ourselves. We are a multicultural and multiethnic society that is filled with a past and present history of racism and discrimination. Beyond that, much of our racism is systemic and many would like to believe that we have learned and evolved to not behave in such ways. However, this is what believed in the minds of many and practiced by the few. I think Americans are also concerned with image rather than fixing the core or root of where such problems stem (Ex. The debate of the debt ceiling, cutting budgets, and lowering the deficit).

So I wonder, are we any better? We might have a polite society on the surface, but are we truly polite people? I am beginning to look at Chinese as a diamond in the rough. It is a valuable gem that has yet to be polished and we can see this rough exterior by how people behave in public, but one-on-one these people are quite warm and truly are interested in learning from foreigners and care for their well-being (to an extent).

In other news

I am beginning to get settled in my new apartment and my new job. It is weird because I feel a little lonely being in Shanghai. Not many people are currently present in Shanghai, so it is just me! I went to an art showing last week with a couple of my old coworkers from Jin Cai. Nadine, the art teacher from Jin Cai, presented three of her works in the art showing. That was an interesting experience. I felt like I was the hybrid child of the avant-garde and poor college graduate. I will just continue to believe I am amongst the upper echelons of the vanguard making a way for the young intelligentsia.

Anyhow, back on topic, I am getting reacclimated to my Shanghainese expat life. I have made a few goals for this year and they are as follows:

1.       Continue to learn Chinese and be able to have basic conversations in everyday topics.

2.       Chinese and international networking. Develop and nurture these connections.

3.       Save at least $10,000.   

4.       Get back into shape.

Most of these goals are self-explanatory, but the “get back into shape” goal is not. Working out can feel like a chore from time to time, but I have learnt that it is a great way to deal with the emotions of being in a foreign country that is 180 degree different than everything I know.

I will post more about my work and my living condition soon.

A little vide

 Here was my last assignment for one of my classes. It was supposed to be something creative and fun. This is what I made.

Enjoy!

Last day...

Today is the last day and I am stressed to the max. I have tentatively been offered jobs at two locations. One is at Disney English and the other is at Web International. They both pay about the same. Disney pays a little more, but it also requires more work and working with young children. Web English is bout 14,040RMB per month. This is a great salary for Shanghai and I am sure that I can save quite a bit of money. This oils also offer me n opportunity to study Chinese.

A new friend

I have made a new Chinese friend here in shanghai. He is from a province called Guizhou. He has spent the last 3 years in the United Sates studying in Oklahoma. Itches been entertaining to talk to him.

He loves  his country but he has had reverse culture shock. He has grown accustomed to he way of life jn te United States. Especially the style of customer service, work ethic, and overall system of manners. What makes his opinions and comments interesting is that he is Chinese and he understands the culture, but because he I educated he has grown to expect certain ways of life.

All of his frustrations are the same as mine, which I find interesting. It is truly amazing how the communist party has rendered an ancient culture void of anything that it once was. There are relics of the 5,000 years of culture still present, but nothing like it once was.

China is truly a behemoth that lacks lacks culture that would be evident in its system of manners. Anyone who has waited in line, rode the metro, or simply tried to walk down the street will know exactly what I am talking about.

Alas, there is a point where you must choose your battles. Some things are worth causing a raucous over and there even more things that are better to let go  because they will only change Chinese nationals have had enough or realize that they are more chaotic than functional.

tick tock tick tock

And so it is...the clock is ticking and I draw closer to the moment of boarding a plane destined for LAX. I have been an emotional wreck trying to decide if I should stay in China or return to the United States. I change my mind on a daily basis, literally. One day I am ready to go home and attack the job market then the next morning I realize how much I love shanghai and the friends I have made here.

Ultimately, I want to learn Chinese and experience the culture. There is no argument that this is an unforgettable and invaluable experience. The unfortunate note of such a positive experience is that for me to gain work experience in the fields I wish to pursue a career I must speak Chinese while residing in China. I do not like teaching, but there is a unique opportunity to practice skills in public speaking, organization, leadership, and command presence. all of which are necessary in any job.

I think the most frustrating or emotionally perplexing thing is that I must make a decision that will have a positive outcome for my future. I have no desire to waste time and delaying my career, but I also do not want to tie myself down to non-stop working in an unfulfilling, low wage job. I feel like my thoughts are endless and it is beyond frightening to make a decision that will affect the "adult" me.

I think the most important thing in the end is that I trust myself and know that there is a wealth of support for my decisions. One can only be a failure if they choose not to learn from their shortcomings and utilize the knowledge afforded by unique situations.

Ladybois and corruption

I am very fortunate to have a tutoring gig that allows me to interact with a Chinese student as well as earn money just by sitting around an having a conversation. Yesterday I was chatting with my tutee and he told me that he thinks Thai women are the most beautiful women in eastern Asia. He then told me that there are a lot of "Yao ren" there. This is the Chinese term for what many of us know as ladyboys, or ladybois if you want to put a little wordazzle on it.

Then we focused on Shanghai and an area called Zhongshan Park. My tutee, who goes by the English name of Dom, said that he has seen many girls holding hands and kissing other girls. He has also seen boys doing the same. He then told me, "it is so sexy to see two pretty girls kissing, but makes me feel disgusting when I see two guys." Being true to my nature I decided I would teach him what devil's advocate means by barraging him with questions using his words and logic. I asked him if two guys were kissing and they were sexy would he like it since he would like two girls. He told me "no." this made me laugh a bit and then he started to ask me about gays in the United States. He told me he thinks there is nothing wrong with being gay, but he was not gay...only girls.

The other topic we discussed was corruption and connections. How these two words are extremely similar, yet we behave as if they are worlds apart. The only difference is one is illegal favoritism.
Corruption is everywhere in China and if you come from an affluent family and/or a family with the proper connections than anything is possible in China. My tutee thinks that this is not fair, but it is necessary if he wants to be successful. Ultimately, it sucks for poorer Chinese, but he does not care much because he needs to do whatever is necessary for him to get good grades (assisted or not) and go to a good university.

'Twas an interesting conversation with a Chinese person for an hour of tutoring, which included 200RMB and dinner.

Conflicted and confused

As I complete my final weeks here in Shanghai I cannot help, but to feel conflicted and confused. A lot has changed and I do not have a concrete reason to return to California just yet. My ultimate reasons for staying in China are to learn Chinese and not being ready to return home.

The benefits of knowing Chinese are undeniable. They might not have immediate benefits when I return home, but they will provide me with job security because I will be able to communicate in a language of an economy that will soon be the largest consumer in the world. However, there are other moments where I do not care about speaking Chinese. I want to just return home and find a job. To add to the stress I must be able to earn enough money here in Shanghai to be able to live and pay my student loans. I am sure it is more than possible, but I wish to be prudent rather than foolish.

Another option for learning Chinese it to take an intensive coarse for two semesters. I found one that is 30 hours per week and another is 36 hours per week. They cost 28,000 RMB and 30,000RMB (little less than $5,000) per year. I do not know where I am going to get this money and I would still have to be able to provide for my living. I have some money saved up, but I will fall short somewhere. I do not want to work if I am going to take 36 hours of class a week. That is a lot of studying! 

I have much to think about in the last five weeks of my stay here in Shanghai. I am going to speak to Jin Cai tomorrow and see what positions they have left. I may continue to work and do tutoring on the side. I could use that as supplemental income.

Forgive my jumbled ramblings. This is not a lot to think about, but I must consider how it will affect my future and THAT is very daunting.

Only time will tell!

oh, How I will miss China

Everyday I see something you do not see everyday.

I will have to capture more moments like this. I have become very accustomed to this that I forget to take pictures.

A brief Chinese lesson

Here is a little lesson in Chinese.

你好 ni hao － hello

早上好 zao shang hao － good morning

晚安 wan an － good night

再见 zaijian － bye，see you later

我很累 wo hen lei － I'm tired

我很冷 wo hen leng － I'm cold

我很热 wo hen re － I'm hot

这是什么 zhe shi shenme － what is this？

我要这个 wo yao zhege － I want this

我不要 wo bu yao － I don’t want it

这个 zhege － this

多少钱 duoshao qian – how much does it cost?

不要欺骗我 bu yao qipian wo － don’t cheat me

太贵了 tai gui le － too expensive

我是美国人 wo shi meiguoren － I’m American。

机场 jichang － airport

中国 zhongguo － China

上海 shanghai － Shanghai

浦西 puxi － west section of Shanghai

浦东 pudong － east section of Shanghai

北京 beijing － Beijing

美国 meiguo － US （beautiful country）

日本 riben  － Japan

韩国 hanguo － Korea

Colors：

红色 hong se

成色 cheng se

黄色 huang se

绿色 lu se

蓝色 lan se

紫色 zi se

黑色 hei se

白色 bai se

Fruit:

苹果 pingguo － apple

成子 chengzi － orange

樱桃 yingtao － cherry

葡萄 putao － grape

橡胶 xiangjiao － banana

西瓜 xigua －  watermelon

Family:

妈妈 mama － mom

爸爸 baba － dad

哥哥 gege － older brother

弟弟 didi － younger brother

姐姐 jiejie － older sister

妹妹 meimei － younger sister

from here it gets more complex. Chinese have words for every member in a family and their position (maternal or paternal).

Numbers:

一yi - 1

二er - 2

三san - 3

四si - 4

五wu - 5

六liu - 6

七qi - 7

八ba - 8

九jiu - 9

十shi - 10

十一shiyi - 11

十二shier - 12

二十ershi 20

二十一ershiyi - 21

百bai - 100

Alright, here is your survival Chinese language course.

You didn’t hear? This is China!

During my trip in Thailand I could not help, but to make comparisons with China. It was almost like night and day. I also realized I have not fully described many of the amazing differences in China. Since I live in Shanghai and I am at a point where I am either used to a behavior or I have just accepted it in order to make my life easy. This has led me to forget to report these differences.

The two most important rules in China:

1.     The only rule is that there are no rules.

2.     Money buys anything!

When in China…

-Do bring tissues, napkins, and toilet paper with you. Most restaurants do not provide napkins for their customers. If they do offer napkins you should expect to pay at least 1-3元. You should always keep toilet paper with you as well because many public restrooms do not carry toilet paper. It would be a tragic event if you had to run to the toilet to relieve yourself and realize that there is nothing there to use to wipe your rear. I have not seen this be a problem in western-like places, but one can never be too safe.

-Do not use too much toilet paper because it is likely that it wont make it to the sewer. Instead, the Chinese prefer that you put soiled paper in the “rubbish bin.” I never follow this rule, but I do implore you to use one or two sheets at a time and flush FREQUENTLY! Apparently, Chinese plumbing is delicate.

-Do watch traffic always because pedestrians do not have the right of way. It goes from biggest to smallest. I have seen people get hit because they were not paying attention.

-Do pay attention because Chinese people do not.

-Do not drink water from the sink because no one knows what is in the water. It is not a case of microbes, but rather metals, chemicals, and everything else that should not be coupled with water. Go out and buy water bottles!

-Do not be upset if you are riding a bike in the correct direction and someone decides they want to go the wrong direction. It can be rush hour for bikes and there will always be one braniac who finds it more convenient to inconvenience everyone else. This rule hold true for just about everything in China.

-Do not be afraid to push people in the metro or bus…because they will definitely be pushing you out of their way. China does not have civility when it comes to right of way and just about…everything else.

-Do not be upset if people stare. Chinese people have lived in a closed society for the last few generations. People will try to take pictures and have no problem with gawking. Blond hair, red hair, blue eyes, and black people be warned.

-Do not be afraid to be a little rude by western standards. You will need this to survive in China. If you need to get a little loud to get a point across, so be it.

-Do not be upset if people cut. Chinese have no concept of lines, or they do but they try to get away with not getting in a line. Let them know it is not cool and lay the smack down.

-Do say “ni hao你好,” “qing wen请问,” “xiexie谢谢,” and “dui bu qi对不起” because these are probably the only Chinese words you will learn as a tourist and they can help you get a response or smile out of the Chinese person you are dealing with. I mean, who doesn’t like to hear a foreign attempt to speak their language?

-Do not be confused when people say kuai and not renmenbi or yuan. All are correct, but everyone calls the money kuai.

- Do not be alarmed if you see a parent running with a leaky baby. They are probably trying to find a trash can for their baby to pee in. Diapers are not widely used and you will see young children pee and poop outside on the corner.

-Do not question the cleanliness of a Chinese restaurant. Sometimes it is just better to not ask than to find out. You may never eat Chinese food. Don’t ask, don’t tell.

- Do not worry if you cannot find a dryer. Most people do not own dryers and just hang their clothes to dry.

-Do not be surprised if you see a car that you think is a Toyota, VW, Hyundai, or anything recognizable to the western eye because China has many faux car brands.

-Do not buy your dvd for 5 kuai…it should be 4 kuai.

- Do not worry about it being real or fake. You will spend more time figuring it out than the actual product will last.

-Do buy street food because it is cheaper an more delicious than Western restaurants. This includes sweets potatoes cooked in oil barrels, roasted nuts, noodles and rice of the carts at 11pm, and tons of fruit.

-Do speak to people, even in English. Many young people have some level of English. They cannot understand rapid speech, but they know enough to get by. Chinese people are very friendly and you just might find yourself a new friend or a free tour guide. Also, some Chinese people have seen foreigners if they live in Shanghai or Beijing, but the majority have not and a very few have had the chance to actually converse and have a cultural exchange. Americans fascinate many Chinese. My experiences have been positive.

- Do not be shocked if it is summer time and you see men outside hanging out in their underwear.

- Do not be shocked when you go to the gym locker room and people are naked and having a debate over some Chinese topic. Seems that conversations don’t begin until everyone is equally naked. The shower in the locker room is like the watering hole for gossip.

-Do not be upset if you are at the gym and Chinese people are just sitting on a machine reading, talking on the phone, applying makeup and perfume, or they aren’t beating their kid for being on a machine. Many Chinese people really have no experience with Western concepts of fitness; therefore, they have not developed the same manners system.

There are more, but I am tired of writing…as I think of them I will post.

Thailand is an amazing place

Thailand…what a country!

I think I have fallen in love with another country. Despite the hot, humid summers I think that I would love to live there. The people are amazingly kind. Everyone smiles even if they do not know you and seem to always be willing to help out. The first time I really encountered anything Thai was with my students. My one student Gig would always write in his essays, “Thailand, a land of smiles.” I never knew what this meant and figured it was some type of slogan he applied to Thailand. This past week has shown me exactly what this “land of smiles” truly is. And it turns out “land of smiles” is an actual expression used for Thailand.

Bangkok is a wonderful and reminded much of home. It is just like any other large city that is full of concrete, large buildings, and traffic. The city is spread out quite far and it is hard to get to a centralized location. I arrived at 1am and I made it to YHA Hostel at 2am. What a better introduction to Thailand than to see a group of young Thais eating at a street vendor. Of course, you know one of them was a tranny! I also noticed a Western guy trying to “holla at a shawty” aka prostitute. If I were to see this in Los Angeles or New York I might be turned off, but there was a sense of charm in this as Thailand is known for many things and its diverse population is no exception.

Transportation:

Bangkok has a sky train that links from the airport through most of the major areas. There was a subway, but I did not have the chance to experience it. The subway system is not that extensive and not very handy. There were taxis, but not much needs to be mentioned there. The base fair is 35 Baht. Many of the taxis are hot pink or yellow and green. You can also get around by motorcycle taxis. This is very convenient if you don’t have bags or luggage. Last, there are tuktuks. No experience of Thailand is complete if you have not been on a tuktuk. I used a tuktuk a few times to get around when I was visiting the national palace and many of the temples around it. It is kind of hard to explain a tuktuk, so I will just add a picture. These little death on wheels are kind of like motorcycles that have a space in the back that can hold up to three people. They are small so they move quickly in and out of traffic. All I can say is…craziness!

The People:

Trannies, temples, and tuktuks, oh my! Thailand is such a diverse country. The skin complexions are all over the place. You have Thais who are lighter and maybe appear more “typical” to the Western eye. In the southern part of Thailand the skin complexions are much darker and some even resemble Filipinos or Samoans. I believe Austronesian peoples inhabited the southern part of the peninsula, which is why there is a drastic difference in appearance from those of northern Thailand. 

The language is a tonal language and seems to be much more complicated than Chinese. In addition, the alphabet is quite extensive with many letters, which also include marks that detail sounds and tones.

One of the most stricking things about Thailand is how friendly everyone was. People actually smile. It is a great feeling when a stranger gives you a warm smile. People are very polite and generally do not push other people out of their way, a very stark contrast to China. I used to think certain manners were very Western in belief, but Thailand has made me believe differently.

Another thing that is different than much of the world is Thais are fairly tolerant. Regardless if they believe in something or not they are able to tolerate it. In Thai society you do not have people who gawk at those who are different than them. One of the most obvious examples of this are the lady boys. There are many gay in Thailand and there are always many men who live their lives as women. Many of them you may never know are women until they speak. Although, my first tranny experience was at 7-11 (there are a million in Thailand). The cashier was a feisty lady boy who was bossing everyone around. He, or she, had long hair and what must have been a bra because he had to small little mounds, which I assume were supposed to be boobs. To add a cherry to the whip cream he had…get ready…wait for it…stubble! The nerve of him/her to come to work as a lady, but not shave. It was a hot mess (for those who do not know this expression…He did not look put together). This is very common in Thai culture. Almost every shop, restaurant, hotel, or business had at least one gay guy, lesbian, or lady boy. I think there is a lot to be learned from Thai culture. Last note on lady boys, many of them are biologically men, but they live their lives as women and they do not wish to be eccentric and live on the fringe of society. They dress as women and function as women and do not try to be drag queens or on a float screaming down the street. They live in society as any other person would.

It is just an amazing culture and I recommend it to everyone. I am very happy that I took the opportunity to visit this country. It was also extra special because my student Gig took the time to show me around Bangkok. He told me, “Mr. Josh, just let me do all the talking because you look like Thai from the south. Thais don’t have to pay to get into the temples.” Unfortunately, this only worked a couple of times. I was not dressed appropriately most of the time when we went to the temples. I guess I did not get the memo about not wearing shorts to a Buddhist temple.

Here are some pictures:

Thailand

Snapshot of my living quarters

Shower

Sink, toilet, mirror, and space for toiletries

my personal corner with a mini couch

Simple bed

Curtains that lead to my little patio

larger than avg mini-fridge. Can also see my closet space

[Amost] overview of my room

The entrance and the good luck thing is the door to the bathroom

Decorations for Chinese New Year

It is a small room but it has everything that I need to sustain my life. Less is more! Most of the decorations are for Chinese New Year. It is the year of the rabbit, which is why there are so many decorations of rabbits. I still need to decorate the room more in general to make it feel more like a home, but little by little I will surely arrive to a "homey" residence. I recently added pictures since I was beginning to feel lonely. In the process I realized that I have taken a few amazing pictures of China. I think I will have to start to capture many of the things I encounter everyday like a guy riding a bike with his girlfriend sitting sideways on the back.

再见！！！

China's Absurdities AKA The Differences that exist in China (more PC) #3

The only rule that you need to remember in China is that there are no rules.

Chinese societies is made of many things and Western logic is not one of those things. As I recently read in one of my business books, Chinese society is shame based and American society is guilt based. Consequently, Chinese will not feel guilty for doing the wrong thing or even give it a second thought unless the action is actually brought to attention (i.e. they are caught). Knowing this will save anyone endless grief when living in China. One should not be mad that there is one person riding their bike in the wrong direction and there are 100 scooters and bikes headed straight at them. In the United states we might say that they are dumb and not following the rules of the road. In China, however, they might say, "it was more convenient for that person to be on the wrong side of the road!"


Lesson to be learned: The only rule is there are no rules in China!