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!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
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!
Monday, July 11, 2011
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.
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.
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.
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.
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