Bargaining

Today mom took me to Gubei section of Shanghai to do some shopping. But before spending we had to eat. We dined on this small street next to a big parking structure, and all of the restaurants were frequented by foreigners, i.e. Westerners. It reminded me of the casualness of Pasadena Old Town. Godmother decided to have some tapas at this Spanish restaurant (that was owned by a Filipino), and the set meal we ordered was both affordable and delicious.

Inside the shopping plaza there were many designer knock-off brands and American mall standards. I was both impressed and embarrassed by some of the very good and very awful knock-offs. My godmother was excellent at bargaining, she got 2 shirts for me that cost originally 75 RMB each to 90 RMB for both. I know, wasn't that something? Well, it turned out, she was just an OK negotiator. I saw one European lady who spoke good Chinese and she bargained down one bathrobe from 300 RMB to 100 RMB. I was both surprised by her language + negotiation skills and how much the stores there could mark up for a profit.

We came back to rest a bit and later went to my godmother's apartment for dinner. She cooked lots so I ate lots, more than I should. She commented on how much weight I'd gained. Well, eating like a pig everyday and getting no exercise whatsoever would make anyone bigger. Time to hit the gym again when I get back next week. 

Wow. Just 3 more days, and I'm back on the La La Land.

Ripped off

We took a trip to Hangzhou today. It was my first time taking the train leaving from Shanghai and it was fantastic. The ride was clean, quiet and comfortable. I was very impressed. Once we arrived in Hangzhou, we found a taxi to take us to Xihu. He was a loud and seemingly friendly guy who offered to be our tour guide. We first started at the outskirt of the lake then we drove into the hillside to visit tea farms and a Longjing Tea tasting house. We tried and bought some of this very expensive tea - supposedly it was the No. 1 tea in China. I thought it was good, but I wouldn't know if it was truly the best tea I had ever tasted. Whatever. This was the time we figured out our taxi driver was working with the local business to get commissions if we made a purchase. Next stop our driver took us to the silk house to see if we would spend more, but we walked out without buying anything. He  literally did a 180 on us, turned silent, and said he must leave us at some intersection. He wouldn't even take us to where we wished to be dropped off. He made up some excuse to just take off - I thought what he did was extremely inconsiderate and rude. 

We had lunch at this cutesy Taiwanese + Chinese fusion restaurant by the lake. It was trendy and the food was pretty tasty. We visited my uncle's sister's antique jewelry store and browsed the antique shops on a this long street next to the lake. Finally, around 4 we went back to the main Xihu area to get on a boat and go on one of the most beautiful cruise I'd ever experienced. It was serene, beautiful and emotional. I loved it. Of course, the boat handler ripped us off too. We didn't even get a full 1 hour cruise and we had to pay more than the usual rate. I am beginning to believe that except for dining out in a restaurant, each time we go out and purchase anything while traveling in China, we can expect to get ripped off for sure. It's just HOW much we get ripped off. Sometimes the experience makes up for it, sometimes it just ruins it.

We came back around 10 riding on the train again. It was another wonderful trip :)

Selling myself

I feel funny today after coming back from a job interview my mom set up for me. It was an excellent company with great room to learn. However, the job's pay is one fifth's of what I was getting, and the position I was offered wasn't one with actual future prospects. It was a silent, pausing "hmm" experience. Mom was visibly disappointed and later turned upset. I could see she really wanted me to stay and work in Shanghai. I would like to as well, but this job wasn't the right fit at all.

I start to think about my entry yesterday, where I wrote about that pay wasn't important. Then again, it IS something to consider if I am going to move half across the world for. Also, this was going to be another designer job, I mean, seriously? If I wasn't good enough for the Director position, perhaps the Supervisor? 7 - 8 years in the business meant nothing? Perhaps I didn't sell myself well to Chinese hiring managers. Whatever. Because I spoke to them today, I learned a few things about the marketing industry in China, and that was something I got to keep for myself.

Shanghai Surprise

I woke up early this morning, started thinking about the job situation, and was unable to fall back to sleep. 2 weeks have passed and many fleeting thoughts after, I have gained a clearer - or perhaps I should say - less clouded perspective on where I will stand once my vacation is over. Certainly I will continue to search for jobs when I return. That part won't change. What changes is that I am open to work in a different state, maybe even in a different country. 

Right now I am thinking about this year's premiere episode of Ugly Betty, where Betty comes back from her trip and decides she is relocating to a bigger city. That daring move caused her lots of headache and losing of a close friend. I don't want to say that my life suddenly mirrors the show, but it does come pretty close. 

During one of the rides in Hubei a strange, unexpected sadness ran through me. I eerily sensed that I will leave Dave... soon. Tears started to form around my eyes and I had to wipe them off quickly. I have been so very close to Dave and the thought of losing that closeness and support scares and saddens me. Is this merely a ghost of my imagination or some kind of a foreshadowing of what is to come? I can't say. 

I have grown more and more intrigued, even fascinated by China - particularly Shanghai -each day I get to spend here. This wasn't exactly what I expected when I planned my trip. The city, the people, the opportunities, and the possibilities excite and ignite my tired and weary spirit. When I walk on the street or look outside the apartment window, I see a side of life and energy that I haven't experienced in a long time. Yes, some fragments of this excitement are the new surroundings, things that I have never felt, touched, smelled, or seen before. I can't deny the fact that simply being in the newness enthralls me.

Then again, the job opportunities and career potentials in China indeed seem healthier, for me anyways. Mom's right, for my desired industry and paths forward, my specific qualifications and skillset in LA might have been fine, but in Shanghai they are almost excellent. If I can find a better job in a different city across the globe or country - and I don't mean a job with a better pay - but with a better career outlook and more rewarding work experience, this might just be the real goal and push that I have been looking for since the day I received my green card.

Thinking about the future, especially one that shines brightly, keeps my eyes wide open. I have to admit, I had anticipated this to happen AFTER the trip, certainly not DURING it! Today I am awaken gradually. I will accept and embrace the new, even if it means that I will face heartaches and tears. I tell myself, if I find the right job and relocation must take place, the leave will be temporary. I don't want to and can't be away from Dave too far and too long. However, I need and crave a better career. And I will take on any necessary fight to get there.

Back in Shanghai

I am back. Shanghai is colder than I remember - Lots of big clouds and chilling breezes have replaced light, misty rain and cool, delicate temperature.

Wuhan was a pleasant and rapidly developed city, much like Shanghai, but with a slightly slower, perhaps easier pace. My grand uncle took us on several remarkable trips across Hubei province / region. One of the most impressive city we visited was Shiyan, which was where the spectacular and amazing Wudang Mountain located. The sight was truly stoic and magnificent. First I was amazed by the stairs that led us up to the temples, not only were they stretched far in distance, they were also built both steep and narrow. It turned out to be quite a workout physically, and for me mentally as well... Because I had a fear for heights - so it was challenge to stay focused just on the stairs nothing else. The temples and sights alone were nothing to write home about, but considering that these were constructed all the way up in this freakishly tall and immense mountain hundreds and hundreds of years ago, they were nothing less than incredible. Those Taoists still practiced and worked in one of the main temples today. Unfortunately we didn't have time to visit that specific temple. I'm saving that trip for the next time.

Another major trip we took was to Xiangfan. We visited the famed Zhuge-Liang site where some of very popular stories about him originated and perhaps re-imagined just for tourists. I didn't study Chinese histories very well and I knew very little of him, so this part of our journey was kind of "oh-really" for me. Luckily our tour guide was super fun and lively, she joked about each distinctive site and gave us a tongue-in-cheek story as well as a perfect reference to current newsmakers and events, that helped keep me interested throughout the entire visit.

When we were staying at my grand uncle's big apartment dad corrected on one of the trips we took. I thought the trip to Jingzhou was to visit Zhuge-Liang and the fortress, I was only half right. Besides the fortress, it was mostly for the kind of creepy Xiongjiazhong tomb. We first saw the silk work ancient Chinese people created and the fashion designs. We then saw the famed corps / mummy... Yes, Chinese people did have real mummies, and they were much much much more exciting than ones in the craptacular sequel starring Jet Li.

A couple of things I noticed while dining out like a true pig on my trips: 1. A lot more people smoked here than in LA, and I meant A LOT. It was refreshing to see Chinese guys just lit one up before and after a meal. Inside or outside the restaurant made no difference. It was sort of a national men sport. No I didn't like second-hand smoke, but smoking was accepted almost everywhere and by everyone. It was freeing. 2. In a big, multi-plate meal extravaganza, rice came last, always. I was used to having rice come with the first dish, but here, if you were participating a 20+ dishes lunch or dinner, rice came second to last or very last on the schedule. Yep... a bit strange, but hey low carb diet rules right? So after eating all that meat and fish and veges, having very little room for rice or skipping rice altogether doesn't sound that bad.

I didn't get to sleep very much when I was in Wuhan and going on different trips. So I am going to try to catch some tonight.

Wuhan

I'm writing in from a public PC in my Wuhan hotel today. How I miss internet access LOL. I found out Obama was elected, but Prop 8 got passed too. You just can't have everything worked out in your favor, sigh.

When I arrived on Sunday I didn't know what to expect. Back in 1993, everything was moving forward, but I couldn't remember much other than having to wait for hot water at my grand uncle's house. Today the city was busy and crowded, cars and people everywhere, it was like Shanghai, but with about 1/2 less high rise buildings and designer stores.

First day here I visited my aunt's house. The apartment was roomy but I really disliked how much those energy light bulbs got used here. The entire room looked pale and lifeless. That deadnes-like glow was felt in my hotel bathroom, and almost everywhere in my aunt's apartment building, from her lobby to her living room. I thought they invented one that was more warmer in tone? I really don't like this grey everywhere most of the time when I'm indoors.

Another thing I didn't think I would see again was the on the ground lavatory unit. I don't know how to call it properly. Unlike a toilet where you get to sit and do your business, this type you are required to squat down and... you know. Perhaps I'm just not used to this, it's feels so bare. When I saw it in my aunt's restroom I was stunned. I remember using it when I was in elementary school growing up in Taiwan and back in 1993 when I last visited. Now it was back in my face I had to re-orient myself to get stuff done LOL. It's more smelly too. There's no cover to hide anything. That's another aspect I don't like about this on the ground open-wide "toilet."

Ever since I got to Wuhan, every meal except for one has been a 20+ course extravaganza. My grand uncle used to be a government official and he still has lots of newer and up-and-comers who respect him. When we go out to eat, there's this group who wanted to take care of the lunch and that company that wanted to pay for the dinner. When the plates started, they never really ended until the table ran out of space for them. 24 dishes were typical. I am not even counting the drinks and soups. Yes soups, there were always more than 3 soups to each meal. How could that be? I felt so indulgent, and yes, wasteful to eat that much and still not being able to finish. I knew and know I'm very fortunate to enjoy such overwhelming Chinese food each time we dine out, but I can't help but feel disappointed to see a lot of food goes to waste. My dad said the restaurants just feed them to the pigs. I hope so.

One of the major trips we took so far was to see the 3 Gorges Dam in Yichang. It was a stunning sight. The project was ambitious and the result was overwhelming. I knew it was a controversial task to take on, but I thought the benefits outweighed the drawbacks. We also went to the Jingzhou fortress where many of the great Chinese battles held. Speaking of historical buildings, we also visited the famed Yellow Crane Tower the day before I left for the dam trip. How the ancient people figured out how to build something that magnificent and intricate was awe-inspiring to me. Later this afternoon we will be leaving for Wudang mountain for a couple of days. When I come back I will write more :)

Halloween

I didn't get on the flight to Wuhan today. I got to the airport 20 minutes too late and the only option I had was to delay my schedule another day. I looked at it as my practice run. This was also my first time on the bus on my own to and back from the airport. When I came back to the apartment my uncle was watching the TV show Supernatural and mom was trying to nap. Yay! Another day in Shanghai! And I better get my act together tomorrow and get on that plane :)

Yesterday was Halloween. I didn't think there would be any kind of festivities here. I was half wrong. We were at Xintiandi last night, which was an equivalent to a unique combination of Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade and Pasadena Old Town and Universal City Walk and The Grove with a dash of historical Chinese landmark buildings and structures. Even though there weren't trick-or-treating kids or candies being given or exchanged, there were many staffs who worked at the bars and restaurants dressing up to be taken pictures with the crowds. And speaking of crowds, wow, they just kept on coming. Hundreds and hundreds of people. After having a big meal at Ding Tai Fung (yes it's that very popular Taiwanese dumpling house franchise), we went people watching and latte-ing at Coffee Beans & Tea Leaf (yes another big franchise). The street lamps were decorated with Halloween theme shades, the windows and trees had corps and props hanging over and spiderwebs spreading over as well. There were foreigners taking pictures, and of course regular Chinese folks doing the same. My godmother's daughter was sort of dressed to the night, wearing a red cape with a free witch hat from the stores. People took pictures of her too. It was a festive evening, but I wondered if anyone there knew what Halloween was about. I mean, even I don't know the story exactly.