Love in all languages

I had the most interesting dinner tonight with my co-worker and his friends.  I basically was the 5th wheel but I didn't mind.  On my left sat an American-born Chinese with his Chinese-born Canadian girlfriend of 7 months.  And on my right sat a Chinese-fluent African American girl with her all-Chinese boyfriend of 1.5 years.  I was in awe.  The couple on my left communicated in mostly Chinglish, and the couple on my right communicated in all Chinese.

It occurred to me that love really transcends all languages.  More specifically...chemistry is chemistry.  I never fully realized this until coming to China.  'Cause in America, you get spoiled expecting EVERYONE to speak English.  Right?  But in China, sometimes your only common language may be a sprinkle of Chinese.  My other co-worker (a blonde girl from the States) told me about a Korean guy she used to date who didn't speak a lick of English.  Their only mode of communication was broken Chinese.

So in the end, fate is fate, love is love, regardless of culture, religion, ethnicity, or language.

Question about China's educational system

I recently did a story comparing 3rd grade math problems in the U.S. and in China.  The thing is, I was doing complex multiplication when I left China in the 3rd grade, and arrived in a 3rd classroom in the U.S. in the middle of learning addition, still.  I've been also frustrated with lack of time with my 7th grade cousin, Taylor (her English name this year, she went by Kelly in previous years).  She wakes up around 5am, gets to school by 6:30am, comes home around 6 or 7, eats for 2 minutes, then does homework until she falls asleep.  Then, repeat.  And during holidays and weekends, her teachers assign her EXTRA homework, so kids "don't waste their time."

There's no question that kids in China learn hell of a lot more theories, vocab, and just overall knowledge than in the U.S.  Suicide rates among school children are always high, and the main cause?  Pressure from school.  Also, getting into a decent college in China may be harder than getting a cow to reproduce with a fish.  Seriously.  The acceptance rate at Peking University and Xsinghua University are lower that that of Harvard.

BUT, I wonder...why have Chinese universities never placed in the Top 10, but American schools always dominate world rankings.  For example, my aunt recently showed me an article that had my alma mater (Berkeley) ranked as #5 in the world and Xsinghua ranked at 35.

If the educational system in China is SO strict and SO advanced, why can't it be recognized more positively in the world?  Where's the glitch?  Or is there a general discrimination against Chinese universities in the world rankings - a flaw that comes with negative consensus about China's education?

I'm lovin' it. No really.

I just completed one month at my new job and I can't believe I'm going to say this: I love it.  Despite waking up before the sun every morning so I could record my show before everyone comes into work, I have to say I absolutely love what I do.  The topics I've been researching on the show have been EXACTLY what I've been tinkering with on Hot Wontons.  Now, I have another venue to voice my observations about Eastern and Western social patterns.

Some of the recent topics I covered were: educational systems, policies for corruption, dangerous professions, made-up heroes, and my favorite so far: the ideal image of beauty.  You can watch the segment here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lpYQPcCh80&list=UUGZDd_x4EhozjgRCzSEWqEA&index=8&feature=plcp

I am also proud for using my sociology background combined with my on-air experience.  I feel like I have a million thoughts running through my head every day.  And did I mention that I'm choreographing a dance for a major Chinese pop star's music video?  HOW RANDOM CAN LIFE BE?!

My other grand idea is to visit North Korea since I am so close.  I mean, why not...right?

What I love and hate about Beijing

I've been in Beijing for exactly 2 months now and just finished my 3rd week at work.  Here are somethings I love and hate about living here:

What I Hate:

- Overly crowded transportation.  It's a daily battle just to get on and off the subways every day during rush hour.  And you also get squeezed into awkward positions.  For example, this morning, I got smushed face-to-face with a woman my height.  We tried so hard not to look at each other but our noses were practically touching.  And of course I had to spot the one creeper staring from afar.  And then yesterday, someone farted.  I don't think I had been that angry in years!  I couldn't understand why someone just couldn't hold it for just a little while.  I mean, there are like a million people crowded into on tiny subway without an escape plan.  I vowed to create a fart detector app so I could find the culprit next time and slap him/her!

- Clubbing.  Seems like the "hip" clubs are also where Euro trash hangs out.  A month ago I went to Mixx with a couple new friends.  I hated going clubbing in NY so I don't know what I was thinking.  As soon as I walked in, my body had adverse reaction.  Like it was pulling me out the door.  The smoke was choking me and the music made me dizzy.  I stayed for a hot second, before getting an overpriced drink.  Then last weekend, I went to the hot new club Spark with some coworkers.  First of all, the cover is ridiculous.  It's about $30USD for guys and $15 for girls.  Now I've seen places in NYC charge cover but not even that much.  And you also have to take into account how much Chinese people make...so yeah, ridiculous.  Thank goodness my coworker had a hookup.  Spark was like one of those bad Night at the Roxbury movies.  Tacky women and tacky dancing.  Also a ton of wanna-be hipster men with long hair cut to different lengths, as if someone handed a monkey a pair of scissors.  And then, you have the few arrogant American consultants.  How do I know?  They're screaming (literally): "I am a consultant and I am here on business.  Let's party!"  I gave them the evil eye, not that they'd care, because they were already surrounded by a million slutty local girls trying to have sex with foreign guys.  No joke.  There's a certain group of women here who find it...this is the word they use..."fashionable" to sleep with foreigners.  STD's are a huge problem in Beijing.  But I'll save that for another post.

- Food.  Don't get me wrong, I love home cooked Chinese food.  But eating out is a whole different animal.  There's been various food scandals and sanitation problems making it really hard to just pick a random place to eat out.  Also, restaurants LOOOOVE MSG here.  So you gotta remember to say, "No MSG, please."  And follow it up with, "Seriously, no MSG.  I'm allergic and if I eat it, I'll die."  No joke on that one either.

- Dating.  I haven't dated in Beijing because frankly, I'm afraid to.  The expat community here is dirrrrtay.  They sleep around and they'll sleep around with anything.  Also, the locals here are poorly educated about sex.  Thus, the whole STD problem.  BUt other than that, the dating scene is chaotic.  Monogamous relationships seem to be thrown out the door.  People cheat as often as they shit.  And if they're caught, they act like it's not a big deal.  I've only been here 2 months and I've already met 5 girls who've told me the same story: I was living with my boyfriend and found out he was cheating on me with his coworker.  And for that, I am OK not dating in Beijing.  

Let's move on to the good stuff.

What I Love:

- People.  Beijing is becoming very international so I've gotten the chance to meet with all types of people.  But besides the foreigners, the locals are super interesting too.  It seems that the older and younger generations live in their own separate bubbles.  Regardless of their differences, they're equally as blunt and authentic as New Yorkers, if not more.  They all have their own opinions and are adamant about their views.  But at the same time, they're super curious about other people's perspectives, too.  Never a dull moment.

- Energy.  How I feel about Beijing is exactly how I first felt about New York.  It's thriving.  It's hustling.  It's moving.  Everyone has an idea.  Everyone is doing something.  Everyone is excited about SOMETHING.  Opportunities are flowing and things happen fast.  It makes me wanna live every moment to the fullest.

- Family.  I am surrounded by family here and I haven't felt this kind of support in...over 20 years?  I mean, it feels good to know that every neighborhood I end up in, I'm able to call up a family member and grab dinner with them.  It makes me feel not so alone.  And also, I'm never go hungry!

- Shopping.  It's not so much what I am able to buy here, but it's more how many options there are to buy!  Beijing is full of "stuff."  You get a really nice selection of every style and price point.  Also, I am in love with TaoBao.com, which is like a non-auction-style Ebay.  You can see that Beijing is greatly influenced by American, Europe, Japan and Korea.  So, it's always fun to see what's trending in the moment.

- My job.  Like I said before, I haven't had a full time job in over 6 years and I didn't know how I would handle this new schedule.  But I really love my job right now.  I'm hosting a daily 30 minute show called Microblog Buzz, which looks at all the trending topics on China's version of Twitter, as it pertains to the U.S.  So I cover a mixture of hard news and fun stuff.  The show is challenging since I tape in the morning, then I write my script for the rest of the day for the following morning's show.  Also, I have to really dig deep into these topics, like "why would a Chinese person think this way vs. an American person?"  But that is also why I love it.  As a true Chinese-American myself, I feel like this show encompasses what I've been blogging about on Hot Wontons for years now.  If you wanna check it out, go to this link: http://bon.tv/Microblog-Buzz.  You can also watch it on Time Warner and Dish Network.  Leave me comments!

- My dance job.  Hahah yup, I'm also teaching dance.  I first approached a dance studio to inquire about classes and then they suggested I teach some instead.  So now I teach dance 4 nights a week, and it's a great way for me to combine working out and networking.  Tiring, yes.  But rewarding as well.

Alright, I really gotta go to bed but I'm glad I got a chance to post this.  2012 has been so fascinating and I want to make sure I document every moment of it.  

The biggest detour of my life (so far)

I'm now living and working in Beijing.  WTF?  How did this happen?  Let me start at the beginning:

After 7 years in NYC, I was getting the 7-year-itch.  I made plans to move to Los Angeles starting February 1st, but also decided to spend the holidays in China with my family.  I was getting antsy doing nothing so within 2 weeks of being Beijing, I started casually looking for freelance work in the entertainment industry.  I was also curious what it would be like to work as an on-air talent in China.

I guess sometimes life serves you interesting options - options you find hard to say no to.  I was hired on the spot during an interview at an independent TV station called Blue Ocean Network.  They offered me a full time position to host my own show based around inflation in China as compared to the US.  Everything's in English as it's for the US audience.  I've always fantasized about having a Mary Tyler Moore-esque life and here was my chance.  I figured, why the hell not.

So here I am, on my 4th day at work and due to confidentiality reasons, I can't write much more about my job or my new company.  But I can tell you that not hopping on that flight back to the US was one of the toughest but also liberating decisions I've ever made.  Imagine how my friends reacted when I posted the FB message: "I've decided to stay in Beijing and will not be returning to the US anytime soon."

I would've never been ready for this opportunity a year ago, or even 6 months ago.  But look at me now, living out of one suitcase and battling the rush hour subway traffic everyday like a Chinese native.

Oh BTW, this would be my first full time job in almost 6 years.  That in itself takes a while getting used to.

Cheapest thing in China: Human labor

The prices of goods in China are terribly inflated, quickly surpassing prices in the U.S.; however, one thing remains abundant and cheap: human labor.  

Today I went for a little stroll with my mom and ran into several "beauty stations" where you could get your nails and makeup done.  You could even get your makeup tattooed, but I would't dare to do something so permanent at one of these temporary set-ups.  But get this, my mom and I both got our eyebrows done for roughly $0.80 each.  80 cents!

Then before headed out to dinner, we decided to get our hair blown out.  This is kind of a ritual for NYC women, a ritual I never understood or participated in.  However, it was roughly $1.50!  Yes one dollar and fifty cents.  How could you say no?  And the best part, the stylist was super skilled and efficient.  He did all my curls with just the tip of his fingers.  No curling iron and no round brushes.  I was in and out in 15 minutes.

Now, let's compare these prices with some other stuff:

Eyebrow shaping: $0.80

Hair blowout: $1.50

Live-in nanny: $400/month

Mid-grade cell phone: $700

Cappuccino: $4.00

Move ticket: $10-$20

Rent for a one bedroom in a big city: $700/month

Average income for college grads: $500/month

So to put it in perspective, as a working college grad, you won't be able to afford rent or a cell phone, but you sure can have a live-in nanny and still have money left over to get your hair blown out 66 times/month.

Lost in translation: Lady parts

West Lake, Hangzhou

My mom and I decided to take a quick trip out to West Lake (Xihu),  Hangzhou.  We took the bullet train and it was about a 2 hour trip.  I didn't know what to expect except for a big lake (obvi), but upon arrival, Xihu is one of the most beautiful, scenic places I've ever witnessed.

The lake it self is encompassed by willow trees.  The water is abundant and calm with reflections of faraway mountains.  It is not surprise that this is a place of "poetic inspiration."

Tee city of Hangzhou also houses many Buddhist temples and landmarks.  The climate is moderate which allows for everything to stay so lush and green!

I would describe this city as serene, inspiring, creative, and romantic.  A perfect vacation for a 2nd honeymoon or anniversary.

"Excuse me, pretty woman." The evolution of how women are viewed in China

I took a very attractive picture at lunch today.  That's me, with a giant fish eye in my mouth.  Hot, I know.

As I was walking to the gym tonight, this woman stopped me and said, "Excuse me, pretty woman, where is Bai Cao Yuan."  I was 1) impressed that I knew where to direct her and 2) thrilled that she called me a "pretty woman."

Turns out, I could've had one eye and missing teeth and she still wouldn't called me "pretty woman."  Here's an evolution of how strangers address each other in China.  I find it quite profound.

During the Cultural Revolution and even years after, everyone was addressed as "comrade [tong zhi]," no matter male or female.  Very telling of such a time of Communism and everyone seen as an equal.

In modern years, as in the years I grew in China, women were addressed as "miss [xiao jie]."  It was polite to say, "Excuse miss, can you tell me..."  Pretty normal, right?  And I would say pretty much on par with the rest of the world.

Well, in recent years, it's now a trend to address women as "pretty woman [mei nu]" and men as "handsome brother [shuai ge er]."  It's a flattering way to address anyone, but it is extremely reflective of Chinese society today: vanity.  Chinese citizens now have money, status and freedom, so they spend a lot of energy on improving themselves.  Makeup.  Clothes.  Gym.  Plastic surgery.  Personal consumption in general is at a peak.  For years, the Chinese people did not pamper themselves like Westerners do, and now they are quickly making up for those unselfish years.

I think this trend is also very relevant to what's going on in Beijing right now, since I can only speak with enough knowledge about that city.  There's simply a shortage of women my age.  And what's my age?  The marrying age.  I think this is definitely because of the former one child policy and traditional male favoritism that led to a lot of suspected female abortions.  But that's another topic all together.  Now, because there's more men than women, men have to have EXTREME favorable conditions to attract any female.  That means owning an apartment, a car, having a good job, and knowing how to pamper the wife by handling domestic duties!  So, I predict that my generation may churn out offsprings consisting of spoiled females.  What a major flip flop in Chinese culture and traditions.  I am excited to watch my predictions come true.  Holla!

One of my favorite moments in China: public dancing

It's no secret that I love to dance.  What I love even more is dancing in public.  Surrounded by old people.

One of my favorite moments would have to be witnessing and participating in public dancing.  Trust me, flashmobs have been around in China for YEARS.  I was reminded of this favorite moment when mom and I walked back from the gym and were greeted with blaring synthesized ballroom music at the front gate of the apartment village.  All of a sudden, everyone (the young, the old, the pretty, the ugly) becomes professional ballroom dancers, gingerly galloping around an imaginary stage.  Some are couples, some are same-sex friends, and some are just alone dancing with thin air.  It's in this moment that nobody gives a shit what others think of them.

Public dancing can be found pretty much anywhere throughout China and it's usually organically organized by the apartment village.  I believe the apartment association even funds the sound system and music.  ME LIKEY!

And that would be the dentist...right behind the butcher shop

I would like a leg of lamb and a root canal please.

MANHOOD

I joined a gym in Changzhou because I'm going to be here for a while and there's not much to do around here.  The gym is the only one available in the area, and it's called, I shit you not, Manhood.  The Chinese name for it loosely translates to "a place for fitness," but Manhood?  Not sure where that came from.

The gym is quite small but has all the necessary equipment.  They offer some fun (and funny) classes at night including yoga, belly dance, step, aerobics, and my favorite, "traditional Chinese dance" where we literally fanned out our fingers for a good 10 minutes.

The people are the gym are pretty interesting, too.  They're all young professionals.  The guys swarm the weights section and the women are on treadmills...in turtleneck sweaters.  I'm not sure if they're trying to pass out from heat exhaustion.

And the price?  Pricier than a regular 24 Hour Fitness or Crunch.  I'm not sure how they're able to get away  with it considering every class I've been to has been no more than 5 people.

What I do love about the place is that the room for group classes is extremely ideal for dancing.  I've already talked them into letting me use it during the day for my own stuff.  I've been working on some choreography that I plan on teaching either here or back in the U.S., so I'm excited to have the space to do that!

Lost in translation: I love my seafood fashionable

Kim Jong Il; Chairman Mao

A friend on Facebook posted the above video of North Koreans crying hysterically over the death of their leader, Kim Jong Il.  Watching the video reminded me of stories my parents told me about the death of Chariman Mao.  I  had to ask them again; they vividly remembered that day as everyone weeped uncontrollably when they found out about Mao's death.  My mom described it as if a family member had passed away.  She said one of the sayings they repeated in school was, "There's your mom's love, there's dad's love, but no love compares to Chariman Mao's love."  Talk about a dictatorship!

In light of today's technology and social media, I find it much easier to influence the masses because as a public figure (i.e. celebrity), you can choose to be deeply woven into everyone's lives even if you don't know them, through Twitter, Facebook, etc.  People develop connections with figures who they can relate to or who have changed their life in some way (I'm thinking of Steve Jobs here).  However, in the era of Chairman Mao, there was no such thing as social media, or advanced technology.  There were fear tactics, concealing the truth...but how was he able to create actual feelings?  Somehow, Chinese citizens welcomed him as a beloved family member.  Dictatorship aside, I still find what he accomplished pretty damn impressive.

[Disclaimer: I am not a Communist.]

Lost in translation: That's why I love the taste of this tea

What happens to a fish fugitive?

It's the first to be slaughtered, duh.

[NOT PETA-FRIENDLY]

The great thing about being in Changzhou is the plethora of fresh seafood.  We can literally buy live fish right downstairs from the apartment building.

Name that fruit!

Lost in translation: Where does the bad go?

Lost in translation: Pretty sure that's not espresso

Lost in translation: Frozen bugs?