We'll the time is flying by...I guess I must be having too much fun. It's almost Chinese New Year!!! Year of the Rat my friends. I guess I'm a year of the Snake guy. So I really don't have any love for this darn Rat business. I don't even know what it means...but neither does anyone else I ask. Some old guys a long time ago set a 12 year rotation and everyone seems sold on the concept. Today was an interesting day f0r me. I went to a Bizarre with Mr. Wong (one of our Chinese sales people). We set up a booth to present our product. Since I'm the new guy they leached the project off to me. I can't say it was a complete waste of time...but...it was a complete waste of time. We had 3 Chinese couples come up and speak Chinese to Mr. Wong. The conversations lasted 30 seconds and than they were on to the next booth. I would ask Mr. Wong what they said...and he would just smile at me and answer Yes. After trying to explain myself and what I really wanted to know I knew is wasn't getting me anywhere but frustrated. So I turned my attention to the 20 something girl selling rugs in the next booth over. She had me at Herrow!!! I almost dropped 400 bucks on a silk rug due to this little vixen...but I played my cards tight. No rug...but a phone number. She's only in town due to being on Summer vacation from her School in Adelie Australia. I guess it won't work out long term :-)
My new life in Beijing has taken on a new twist...I'm starting to attend Hot Yoga classes. I've always known that I might need to shed a few pounds, but motivation has always been lacking. But I found the Holy Grail of motivation. A hot Chinese Yoga teacher. She is friends with my boss's wife Tara who I met at the BBQ at there house last weekend. I have to say...I'm a sucka for some broad who can twist and stretch her way into a million different positions. She makes Inspector Gadget look stiff. If you want to check her out and understand my reasoning...go to her website. www.yh42.com It's in Chinese for the most part, but she's the gal in all the pictures. Her name is Cherry and her Engrish is amazing. Plus she's a sweet girl Mom!!! She owns 3 Yoga studios in town and has her own Villa Dad!!!! Let's just see now if she wants to whip an out of shape fat guy into a lean mean Yoga machine!!! I went with Tara and Gary (our graphic designer) to one class already. Both Tara and Gary dropped out half way through the class. The Chief grounded it out though and struggled all the way to the end. Although my form was sloppy and my stretches didn't quite match the rest of the squad...I have to get some points for my stick to it ness!!! This Ugly American might not understand what's being said during the class, but he sure loved the visuals!!! My plan right now is to start going 2 times a week. I'm mixing that in with language lessons twice a week...so I should be a Native China man by the spring. A quick update for all of you concerned about my fish. Both Mike and Holly joined Rick the fish in the Beijing sewer system. A few hail Mary's and a pull of the string and they were rejoined with there former fishbowl roommate. Bob the fish is still alive and kicking. He's a little bit freaky at times...he just stays in one spot (I always think he's dead) and stares at me. I'm starting to think he might have been planted by the Chinese Communist party to watch my every move. All in all my time is busy and I'm enjoying new experiences each day. I've learned to not ask what I am eating until after I've tried something. The worse thing I think I've digested were the Musk Ox rocky mountain Oysters I had the other day. Once again the new guy gets picked on by his elders. Such is life and the initiation challenges of being the bottom man on the totem pole. They actually tasted pretty good. But pride probably won't allow me to order them again. I'm having fun and that's the important thing....till next time.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Go Dawgs
My slingbox is trying to keep me informed with the Western world while stationed over in the Far East. Yes...my sports addiction is being spoon feed by the greatest invention known to man...Slingbox. What is Slingbox? We'll it's a God send. It's a box top receiver I've set up at my parents house in Bellingham that allows me to watch there tv over the internet any where in the world. I literally have control over the tv and I can watch any of the 5 HBO channels offered by directv along with any other channel. So Sportscenter and FoxSportsNW are easily accessed from Beijing. Oh...by the way. Did anyone else catch the Dawgs putting in work on those dastardly Ducks from Eugene? I'm not sure what it really is...but I truly do hate those guys. They are such a sorry excuse for being a team from the Northwest. I love the fact that they entered into the DawgDen and got there feathers plucked by the boys in Purple. We can lose the rest of our games....but as long as we beat Whoregon, I can keep a smile on my face. I hate those guys...yes...I really do hate those guys. So Go Dawgs...turn this ship around and try and take Lorenzo back to the Dance this March. It will take a serious winning streak for this to become reality...but, hell, I've got enough faith to cover this whole list. So F&*k the Ducks and there puke green uniforms. Did I mention I hate those guys???
Tonight I'm in charge of grilling for a BBQ at my boss's house. I brought over my own special rub...we'll see if I can wow em' American style. If not, I know at least I'll be getting a little taste of home. Hey Mom...I can't call you from my cell phone or my home phone. I just finally think I got an answer...I need to go buy a ID card from China mobile to dial the states. It's gonna have to wait until Monday so I can take one of the Chinese with me. Eventually I'll figure this thing out. I know you can call me, since Steve-o did a few times...but I'll get it worked out.
Go DAWGS!!!!!
Tonight I'm in charge of grilling for a BBQ at my boss's house. I brought over my own special rub...we'll see if I can wow em' American style. If not, I know at least I'll be getting a little taste of home. Hey Mom...I can't call you from my cell phone or my home phone. I just finally think I got an answer...I need to go buy a ID card from China mobile to dial the states. It's gonna have to wait until Monday so I can take one of the Chinese with me. Eventually I'll figure this thing out. I know you can call me, since Steve-o did a few times...but I'll get it worked out.
Go DAWGS!!!!!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
WEEK DEUX
It's a weird feeling being an immigrant in a foreign land. No, I'm not looking for manual labor jobs or trying to sneak my family onto the continent. But I really do have a new appreciation for "Dial 2" for English when utilizing an ATM machine. I'm not sure if it was the 30 minute taxi ride the other day to try and find my apartment...it should have taken 5 minutes...or if it's the blank stares I receive when I try to use my non-verbal communication. It is amazing how ignorant and helpless I feel at times over here. My co-workers have been great. All but two speak English so I do have a safe haven 8 hours a day. It's just the rest of the clock that seem to be kicking my Anglo ass each and every day. My vocabulary is growing slowly...but I can say thank you and hello like it's nobodies business at this point. My first goal is to try and figure out what they call "Taxi language". Turn Left, Turn Right, Go back, stop, straight ahead, and most importantly...I think we're lost. Even if the blood pressure rises at time, I can still find humor in everything I'm doing over here. I've learned that the people over here don't like to use there limited English unless they're talking about money. Something about the ole' Sawbuck seems to be the international language. No, I'm not talking about Ricky's mom from Better off Dead...and the language of love, but the language of Randy Moss...Straight cash Hommie!!! This is the land of cash. I was forced to pay my rent 6 months in advance....all in cash. And yes, the largest bill minted over here is the 100 dollar Mao. Yes, my boy Mao is on every single bill. They call there money Yuan...or RMB....or Quay. This country is great. Beer is cheaper than water though. And the fact that the water in non-potable it makes the Culligan man a very popular guy. I'm settling into my new place and really appreciating Lily the Aiye. She has cooked me a few meals and I've been able to host both my father and Bob and my new sister Holly for a couple of meals. My Aiye Lilly doesn't speak English, she is an amazingly hard worker, and she washes and cleans my place like my Mom is coming over each day. I'd marry her if I didn't think I already have a better deal keeping this strictly business!!!! Why ruin a good thing right????
I was given a house warming gift of a plant and four fish from Holly. Since I'm American I had to name my new pets. I asked Holly what she thought and she decided that since there were four fish, and the four of us (Rick, Holly, Bob, & myself) we'd name the fish after ourselves. After identifying which fish resembled each character of our posse it was easy to settle on. The first night was a good one for the school of fish. But the second day became a day of mourning. After arriving home late from work and dinner with some Communist party members (long story) I discovered that Lily had misunderstood the directions for caring for the the fish. A half of bag of fish food just didn't seem to sit well with the whole team in the fish bowl. I was able to get Mike, Holly, and Bob to safety without too many repercussions. But poor little Rick didn't seem to have his lucky rabbit foot with him that day. Being a Reverend, Rick was in good hands, as his Beijing burial flushed him on his way to the afterlife and the Beijing sewer system. I tried explaining to Lily what happened...but without a translator...I think she thought I might have ate the poor little fella for dessert. If any of the other's make it to February I'll be proud at this point. But now I do feel better about becoming a man of the Cloth!!!! We did get our first snow of my Chinese existence today, so the weather hasn't been ideal, but what can a guy do? As long as I don't have to ride shotgun in a Taxi, or try to navigate my way across a busy Beijing intersection I should last longer here than Rick the fish.
I was given a house warming gift of a plant and four fish from Holly. Since I'm American I had to name my new pets. I asked Holly what she thought and she decided that since there were four fish, and the four of us (Rick, Holly, Bob, & myself) we'd name the fish after ourselves. After identifying which fish resembled each character of our posse it was easy to settle on. The first night was a good one for the school of fish. But the second day became a day of mourning. After arriving home late from work and dinner with some Communist party members (long story) I discovered that Lily had misunderstood the directions for caring for the the fish. A half of bag of fish food just didn't seem to sit well with the whole team in the fish bowl. I was able to get Mike, Holly, and Bob to safety without too many repercussions. But poor little Rick didn't seem to have his lucky rabbit foot with him that day. Being a Reverend, Rick was in good hands, as his Beijing burial flushed him on his way to the afterlife and the Beijing sewer system. I tried explaining to Lily what happened...but without a translator...I think she thought I might have ate the poor little fella for dessert. If any of the other's make it to February I'll be proud at this point. But now I do feel better about becoming a man of the Cloth!!!! We did get our first snow of my Chinese existence today, so the weather hasn't been ideal, but what can a guy do? As long as I don't have to ride shotgun in a Taxi, or try to navigate my way across a busy Beijing intersection I should last longer here than Rick the fish.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Great Fire Wall of China
Alright...outside of being extremely busy trying to organize my life and squeez in a message each night the great Chinese Fire Wall is rearing it's ugly head. I have no ability to access this blog. I guess in theory I can post to it, but I actually can't access it and see it. So it kind of takes the fun out of blogging if you can't appreciate it for yourself. I might have to find another site to do this on. I'll be investigating it this weekend and trying to figure something out.
A quick update to say the least....I've got a brand new apartment...we'll brand new to me anyway. It's not the Taj Mahal let alone a Hilton hotel room, but it will be enough for me to get my feet wet. I was thinking today about my living situation and I started realizing that this will be the first time in my life (@ 30 years old) that I actually live by myself. Growing up in a big family and than always having roommates I've always lived with at least one other person. I guess the fact I've hired an Aiye (IE) will always guarantee that I'll have at least someone around. An Aiye is like a personal assistant who will come to my house three times a week and cook, clean, laundry, and pay my bills for me. It only cost me $100 dollars a month, so after living in a hotel for 10 years, I will once again be encouraging my laziness around the house. But I'll sacrafice and accept that Shao Ping (I'm calling her Lilly) will pick up after me. I've also started work and I'm very busy trying to learn a new job. I really need to start learning the language, so I'm not sure a fool when dealing with Taxi's and waiters. I'm enjoying my time thus far and I really enjoy the Chinese people. They are a happy people who are very welcoming and warm. I'll keep everyone posted on weather or not I change sites with this blog...but it 's like the 10 years in a hotel...I might just accept it for what it is worth at this point. The air pollution is real crappy here, but with my new job that means sales. I hope everyone is doing well.
Chief
A quick update to say the least....I've got a brand new apartment...we'll brand new to me anyway. It's not the Taj Mahal let alone a Hilton hotel room, but it will be enough for me to get my feet wet. I was thinking today about my living situation and I started realizing that this will be the first time in my life (@ 30 years old) that I actually live by myself. Growing up in a big family and than always having roommates I've always lived with at least one other person. I guess the fact I've hired an Aiye (IE) will always guarantee that I'll have at least someone around. An Aiye is like a personal assistant who will come to my house three times a week and cook, clean, laundry, and pay my bills for me. It only cost me $100 dollars a month, so after living in a hotel for 10 years, I will once again be encouraging my laziness around the house. But I'll sacrafice and accept that Shao Ping (I'm calling her Lilly) will pick up after me. I've also started work and I'm very busy trying to learn a new job. I really need to start learning the language, so I'm not sure a fool when dealing with Taxi's and waiters. I'm enjoying my time thus far and I really enjoy the Chinese people. They are a happy people who are very welcoming and warm. I'll keep everyone posted on weather or not I change sites with this blog...but it 's like the 10 years in a hotel...I might just accept it for what it is worth at this point. The air pollution is real crappy here, but with my new job that means sales. I hope everyone is doing well.
Chief
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