I find it entertainingly hilarious how sensitive some of my coworkers are to these things. At the moment, our firm is currently undergoing a remodeling of sorts, and they are tearing down my boss' office and expanding it to form a meeting room of some sort. Granted, we're still in the building, so we hear and smell everything that goes on. As they use turpentine and stuff, one particular coworker was so freaked out about making sure that the door was closed, lest we get cancer from the fumes that wafted over. I always smirk to myself. This is coming from a man who chain smokes every day. If he was so "concerned" about his "health," then he'd quit smoking.
The same thing goes with microwaves. I always stand close to the microwave and monitor the progress of my food's warming (I guess that's who you could phrase that), and they always freak out that I am standing so close. They say "Be careful of the radiation! Stand back!" Honestly, I'm doused with a good bout of radiation each day. Our computers have radiation, cell phones more than we would like to believe, television, and yes, microwaves too all give a steady flow of radiation, and I don't see them concerned about that. It's just funny to me how they're so concerned about these minute aspects, and don't make any changes about their environment or the polluted air that affects them each and every day. I guess they're afraid of death. I've just accepted it. If I am meant to die by radiation poisoning, I will die that way. There is no stopping it.
Another thing that is entertaining is just their mentality. The movie 2012 was a huge hit in Chinese theaters, and nearly everyone has seen it. However, contrary to what you might think, the feeling it evoked was that of apathy. There's nothing we can do about it (the whole world ending bit), so we should just live our lives the best we can. Some though have considered investing in planes as an escape route as the movie had said, but this reveals a lot about the Chinese mind set. They do not think about a solution to the problem. No, they just think of a way out, an escape plan after everything has collapsed in itself. They don't want to fix the problem, because it is too problematic. Everyone simply continues to act how they act, do whatever they want, abuse the system, because no one will stop them. They will use it until it's so overused that it collapses in on itself, giving out from the pressure. No one wants to be the odd one out, and it is a huge problem in my honest opinion. I can understand wanting unity, but being a mindless unit does no one any good.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Relationships
Lately I've been thinking a lot about relationships, whether it is conversations with Kamla or passages in I Corinthians about marriage, it's been something on my mind a lot. Today, as I went to lunch with the intern, we took the opportunity to just walk around since it was the first day in weeks that we've seen the sun. It's just been pouring the past two weeks, bouts of rainstorms and such. So this is definitely a nice reprieve.
One of the very few advantages I have as an American-Chinese in China is that while I blend in the crowds, I am often allowed into the "inner circle" and can see the true face of China. Not to say that the Chinese are superficial, but they typically judge based on looks and trust those with the same "skin" or "face" as it were. It is shocking how easily the Chinese trust one another. If they consider you a friend, it's no holds bar.
Today, as we strolled down the street, the intern bore her soul to me and told me about some of the difficulties she was facing with her relationship. While I won't go in detail, she said essentially that her parents don't want her to see her boyfriend anymore mainly because he does not have the financial ability to support her. She is struggling with this decision, because she likes her boyfriend; he treats her well, and she doesn't want to give up on a relationship like this over an economic consideration.
I think this reveals a stark contrast between American and Chinese culture. As Americans, we are often too emotionally driven. We jump into relationships based on a "feeling." For the Chinese, they are much too practical. In order to marry someone, a man must have a house, a car, and a stable job with a steady income, preferably with education that is slightly higher than the woman's. This just seems too cold, and doesn't consider the individual. Where does happiness come out of all of this?
For the American, although you may like one another, if you do not have the financial capacity to support one another, how can you live happily? You will often get into fights about stupid things, things that you aren't prepared to face together. For the Chinese, how can you be happy if the reason you dove into this marriage was for money? It's much to superficial. Since God is out of the picture here, it seems so silly to me.
While the average American has forgotten or no longer believes, I still believe in the sanctity of marriage. The Lord has brought people together for a reason, and He'll work it out in their lives. I guess what these two lack is balance. If the Chinese would consider people's feelings a little more, marriages wouldn't die so quickly and husbands and wives wouldn't be so distant from one another. If the Americans would use their heads a little and stop thinking elsewhere (as someone would put it as "stop using their downstairs brain and start using their upstairs brain), maybe divorce wouldn't be such a surefire solution to everything. *sigh*
One of the very few advantages I have as an American-Chinese in China is that while I blend in the crowds, I am often allowed into the "inner circle" and can see the true face of China. Not to say that the Chinese are superficial, but they typically judge based on looks and trust those with the same "skin" or "face" as it were. It is shocking how easily the Chinese trust one another. If they consider you a friend, it's no holds bar.
Today, as we strolled down the street, the intern bore her soul to me and told me about some of the difficulties she was facing with her relationship. While I won't go in detail, she said essentially that her parents don't want her to see her boyfriend anymore mainly because he does not have the financial ability to support her. She is struggling with this decision, because she likes her boyfriend; he treats her well, and she doesn't want to give up on a relationship like this over an economic consideration.
I think this reveals a stark contrast between American and Chinese culture. As Americans, we are often too emotionally driven. We jump into relationships based on a "feeling." For the Chinese, they are much too practical. In order to marry someone, a man must have a house, a car, and a stable job with a steady income, preferably with education that is slightly higher than the woman's. This just seems too cold, and doesn't consider the individual. Where does happiness come out of all of this?
For the American, although you may like one another, if you do not have the financial capacity to support one another, how can you live happily? You will often get into fights about stupid things, things that you aren't prepared to face together. For the Chinese, how can you be happy if the reason you dove into this marriage was for money? It's much to superficial. Since God is out of the picture here, it seems so silly to me.
While the average American has forgotten or no longer believes, I still believe in the sanctity of marriage. The Lord has brought people together for a reason, and He'll work it out in their lives. I guess what these two lack is balance. If the Chinese would consider people's feelings a little more, marriages wouldn't die so quickly and husbands and wives wouldn't be so distant from one another. If the Americans would use their heads a little and stop thinking elsewhere (as someone would put it as "stop using their downstairs brain and start using their upstairs brain), maybe divorce wouldn't be such a surefire solution to everything. *sigh*
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
In the mood to write...
Procrastination has hit me rather hard this week, but I think a part of it is just my being fed up with China, or simply my exhaustion. Lately, I have not been sleeping well, and I'm sure I've been having weird dreams, though of what I am not sure.
For the first time in weeks, I slept relatively well last night, and that was only probably due to the fact that I finally turned my heater on in the winter-like weather of late. Some may question my choice of programs to watch right before I go to bed, but I am un-phased by the creepy-crawlies that I see on TV (Supernatural). You would think that it would give me nightmares, but the show typically evokes a "Cool!" from me and then I conk out within minutes.
Maybe it's these naps that I take everyday, but if I don't, I wake up even crankier than the day before. I do not know why I am so irritable as of late, but I am just grumpy. I need to be in a coma-like sleep for a day and just rest up enough for a week, but there's too much to do every weekend. Time is of the essence.
----
One thing that just popped into my mind that reminds me of some things I'm irritated with is just the Chinese and their tendency to compare and be illogical. I don't mean to be negative, but I think I just need to rant what's been boiling inside me lest I pop.
Whenever I go to Kamla's erhu lessons, her teacher always comes up to me to brag and boast about Kamla. Yes, I personally find Kamla extremely talented, but I don't think it's much of the teacher's doing. It just simply irks me to no end that he has to step on others to make himself look better, and this is like a trend in China, as evidenced by the Olympics reporting on CCTV. He always says something along the lines of "I'm such a wonderful teacher aren't I? I really know how to teach people in a short amount of time and jump where needed." He keeps bragging about the rapid pace Kamla's learning the erhu (which in all honesty and fairness is amazing), and then turns to me to ask me about how far I am with the Pipa. The one time my teacher was there, he practically walked all over her, saying stuff like, "What you're not even to that song yet?" Well, I beg your pardon, but I've honestly had less lessons since I started almost 2-3 weeks later. What do you expect?! I think I was annoyed more than anything else, especially since he was kind of rude to my teacher since she was both younger and not as experienced as him. It didn't help that he says this to me every week.
Another thing, as much as I adore Kamla's family, they have exhibited a common trend among Chinese people when making phone calls: calling excessively until you pick up. I've had the experience of having someone call me 15 times because I accidentally left my phone at home and didn't pick up. Since Kamla leaves her phone on silent most of the time, her family often calls me. I'm cool with that, but what I don't understand is this insistence to pop up or talk to someone if they are asleep. I think I've had to wake up Kamla twice because of them over something mediocre, something that could have waited until the next morning, but last night I drew the line. Kamla's uncle called, and he was downstairs (another interesting habit of just showing up without calling in advance, which he really shouldn't considering that Kamla needs to put on her headscarf). I felt bad, but Kamla was sick, from what I'm not sure yet (diagnosis unsuccessful), and he wanted me to wake her up, I think. Or that was the tone I was getting, but for sick people, it is crucial that you get more rest, because during these hours, your body is able to better combat the diseases/germs. As rude as it may have been, I told him I didn't want to wake up Kamla. I don't know if I apologized enough, but I think I'm just tired of this insensitivity to others' needs. I know you want to help, and it's very sweet of you, but this is not the way. Maybe it's just me. When I'm sick, I stay away from others, making sure that I don't spread my germs to other people. I am extremely careful, and exert special precautions say if someone is older or pregnant. I guess not everyone thinks about this, so that is probably why I'm so irritated. I guess I'm just fed up with the way people act in China sometimes. I'm sure it's not just China, but it's just so darn frustrating sometimes.
For the first time in weeks, I slept relatively well last night, and that was only probably due to the fact that I finally turned my heater on in the winter-like weather of late. Some may question my choice of programs to watch right before I go to bed, but I am un-phased by the creepy-crawlies that I see on TV (Supernatural). You would think that it would give me nightmares, but the show typically evokes a "Cool!" from me and then I conk out within minutes.
Maybe it's these naps that I take everyday, but if I don't, I wake up even crankier than the day before. I do not know why I am so irritable as of late, but I am just grumpy. I need to be in a coma-like sleep for a day and just rest up enough for a week, but there's too much to do every weekend. Time is of the essence.
----
One thing that just popped into my mind that reminds me of some things I'm irritated with is just the Chinese and their tendency to compare and be illogical. I don't mean to be negative, but I think I just need to rant what's been boiling inside me lest I pop.
Whenever I go to Kamla's erhu lessons, her teacher always comes up to me to brag and boast about Kamla. Yes, I personally find Kamla extremely talented, but I don't think it's much of the teacher's doing. It just simply irks me to no end that he has to step on others to make himself look better, and this is like a trend in China, as evidenced by the Olympics reporting on CCTV. He always says something along the lines of "I'm such a wonderful teacher aren't I? I really know how to teach people in a short amount of time and jump where needed." He keeps bragging about the rapid pace Kamla's learning the erhu (which in all honesty and fairness is amazing), and then turns to me to ask me about how far I am with the Pipa. The one time my teacher was there, he practically walked all over her, saying stuff like, "What you're not even to that song yet?" Well, I beg your pardon, but I've honestly had less lessons since I started almost 2-3 weeks later. What do you expect?! I think I was annoyed more than anything else, especially since he was kind of rude to my teacher since she was both younger and not as experienced as him. It didn't help that he says this to me every week.
Another thing, as much as I adore Kamla's family, they have exhibited a common trend among Chinese people when making phone calls: calling excessively until you pick up. I've had the experience of having someone call me 15 times because I accidentally left my phone at home and didn't pick up. Since Kamla leaves her phone on silent most of the time, her family often calls me. I'm cool with that, but what I don't understand is this insistence to pop up or talk to someone if they are asleep. I think I've had to wake up Kamla twice because of them over something mediocre, something that could have waited until the next morning, but last night I drew the line. Kamla's uncle called, and he was downstairs (another interesting habit of just showing up without calling in advance, which he really shouldn't considering that Kamla needs to put on her headscarf). I felt bad, but Kamla was sick, from what I'm not sure yet (diagnosis unsuccessful), and he wanted me to wake her up, I think. Or that was the tone I was getting, but for sick people, it is crucial that you get more rest, because during these hours, your body is able to better combat the diseases/germs. As rude as it may have been, I told him I didn't want to wake up Kamla. I don't know if I apologized enough, but I think I'm just tired of this insensitivity to others' needs. I know you want to help, and it's very sweet of you, but this is not the way. Maybe it's just me. When I'm sick, I stay away from others, making sure that I don't spread my germs to other people. I am extremely careful, and exert special precautions say if someone is older or pregnant. I guess not everyone thinks about this, so that is probably why I'm so irritated. I guess I'm just fed up with the way people act in China sometimes. I'm sure it's not just China, but it's just so darn frustrating sometimes.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Restaurant Review: Soul Mate
I know that I have no 资格 to really write any food review of any sort, but if you trust my sense of taste and opinion, it wouldn't hurt to share some of my food experiences in Nanjing.
Soul Mate
China is full of hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and often this can be taken quite literally. But in the midst of all these niches, I alongside Kamla made a recent delightful discovery of a place called, Soul Mate. Supposedly French-owned, or so the sign outside their door claims, Soul Mate is a small cafe-restaurant located down a small alleyway called 南秀村. Serving primarily Western foods, nothing particularly "French" other than the crepes, the prices are reasonably set for what you order.
Food
Bacon Hamburger
I was extremely impressed by the bacon hamburger that I ordered twice at Soul Mate, a testament to its consistency. The attention to detail is worth mentioning, as the chef had lightly toasted sesame buns atop the perfectly grilled patty. A stunningly authentic all-beef patty in a nation bereft of normal beef that isn't dry, the patty was grilled to perfection, juicy but completely done. Paired with a slice of white cheese instead of cheddar, the creamy texture of the cheese mixed with the tangy French mustard sauce is a combination that makes you ask for more. Served with freshly fried up french fries, the dish leaves the American feeling rather satisfied. The french fries are a bit of a disappointment due to their oiliness and perhaps overly crispy shell. However, overall, the dish is certainly full of flavor and is not bland as some Chinese-cooked Western foods tend to be. Though by American standards, this might be a mini-hamburger or a "small" one at that, the portions are reasonable for the average female; the male, not so much.
Vegetable Bacon Soup
Pureed, the soup has a somewhat grainy, fiber-y texture, though it retains some of its creaminess from the cream base. It is reminiscent of the soups that are advertised as do-it-yourself with a blender, such as the VitaMix they sell at Costco. The soup is certainly a nice change of pace from the usual cream of mushroom soup that every Chinese-based Western restaurant serves, and is low-sodium, though a dash of salt adds to the flavor much more. But, overall, there is nothing stunning about this soup, but it is a nice accompaniment on a cold day to a meal.
Coffee
Although a cafe, the coffee is disappointing to say the least. Having ordered a caramel coffee, the presentation was nice with an elaborate dobble of whip cream and is drizzled on top with caramel. However, the coffee itself tastes watered-down and bitter, probably from a combination of poor coffee beans and no flavoring. If you need an immediate caffeine fix, this is an option, but it certainly is not cheap and does not seem worth it.
Atmosphere
A walk into the restaurant, and you are greeted by a barista area. The restaurant is two stories, though most customers frequent the first floor. Cozy, each table seats roughly 2-4 persons with comfortable seats and lighting. The restaurant is delightfully quiet compared to oft-boisterous restaurants, and plays delightfully quiet music, mostly French. The tracks do not repeat, or to my knowledge, they do not unlike most Chinese-owned restaurants, and does well to offer a nice area to chat quietly or study. There is free wi-fi.
Service
A delight, the waitresses are attentive to detail, refilling glasses with water without the customer even asking. While this is to be expected in the states, in China, it is virtually impossible unless you're going to some 5-star hotel restaurant. Extremely polite and full of quiet smiles, the waitresses do not make odd comments about customers behind their backs and respectfully serve customers diligently and efficiently, making the overall experience that much more valuable.
Overall Rating
Overall, I would give Soul Mate a 7.5 out of 10 rating. The food is certainly worth it, delicious and pocket-friendly, though the coffee should best be avoided. A good overall ambiance, for every American missing some good Western food, Soul Mate is a cafe restaurant worth paying a visit to for a relaxing time without the frustration of Chinese "customer service."
Soul Mate
China is full of hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and often this can be taken quite literally. But in the midst of all these niches, I alongside Kamla made a recent delightful discovery of a place called, Soul Mate. Supposedly French-owned, or so the sign outside their door claims, Soul Mate is a small cafe-restaurant located down a small alleyway called 南秀村. Serving primarily Western foods, nothing particularly "French" other than the crepes, the prices are reasonably set for what you order.
Food
Bacon Hamburger
I was extremely impressed by the bacon hamburger that I ordered twice at Soul Mate, a testament to its consistency. The attention to detail is worth mentioning, as the chef had lightly toasted sesame buns atop the perfectly grilled patty. A stunningly authentic all-beef patty in a nation bereft of normal beef that isn't dry, the patty was grilled to perfection, juicy but completely done. Paired with a slice of white cheese instead of cheddar, the creamy texture of the cheese mixed with the tangy French mustard sauce is a combination that makes you ask for more. Served with freshly fried up french fries, the dish leaves the American feeling rather satisfied. The french fries are a bit of a disappointment due to their oiliness and perhaps overly crispy shell. However, overall, the dish is certainly full of flavor and is not bland as some Chinese-cooked Western foods tend to be. Though by American standards, this might be a mini-hamburger or a "small" one at that, the portions are reasonable for the average female; the male, not so much.
Vegetable Bacon Soup
Pureed, the soup has a somewhat grainy, fiber-y texture, though it retains some of its creaminess from the cream base. It is reminiscent of the soups that are advertised as do-it-yourself with a blender, such as the VitaMix they sell at Costco. The soup is certainly a nice change of pace from the usual cream of mushroom soup that every Chinese-based Western restaurant serves, and is low-sodium, though a dash of salt adds to the flavor much more. But, overall, there is nothing stunning about this soup, but it is a nice accompaniment on a cold day to a meal.
Coffee
Although a cafe, the coffee is disappointing to say the least. Having ordered a caramel coffee, the presentation was nice with an elaborate dobble of whip cream and is drizzled on top with caramel. However, the coffee itself tastes watered-down and bitter, probably from a combination of poor coffee beans and no flavoring. If you need an immediate caffeine fix, this is an option, but it certainly is not cheap and does not seem worth it.
Atmosphere
A walk into the restaurant, and you are greeted by a barista area. The restaurant is two stories, though most customers frequent the first floor. Cozy, each table seats roughly 2-4 persons with comfortable seats and lighting. The restaurant is delightfully quiet compared to oft-boisterous restaurants, and plays delightfully quiet music, mostly French. The tracks do not repeat, or to my knowledge, they do not unlike most Chinese-owned restaurants, and does well to offer a nice area to chat quietly or study. There is free wi-fi.
Service
A delight, the waitresses are attentive to detail, refilling glasses with water without the customer even asking. While this is to be expected in the states, in China, it is virtually impossible unless you're going to some 5-star hotel restaurant. Extremely polite and full of quiet smiles, the waitresses do not make odd comments about customers behind their backs and respectfully serve customers diligently and efficiently, making the overall experience that much more valuable.
Overall Rating
Overall, I would give Soul Mate a 7.5 out of 10 rating. The food is certainly worth it, delicious and pocket-friendly, though the coffee should best be avoided. A good overall ambiance, for every American missing some good Western food, Soul Mate is a cafe restaurant worth paying a visit to for a relaxing time without the frustration of Chinese "customer service."
Transportation & Bipolar Weather
When China sets its heart out to do something, it gets done. Take today for example. In preparation for the 2014 Youth Olympics, the city of Nanjing has begun its campaign for what could only be called "civilized" behavior. The Chinese call it "文明," which literally could mean culturally aware or some sort of civilized behavior insight of sorts. You know China has set a goal though when there is a sudden onset of mass behavioral changes.
On a typical morning, I am either chasing after buses, slipping and sliding on the steps of or inside the bus, or being thrown around by the sheer momentum of the breaks being slammed on. Today though, apparently there was a new initiative, and the buses for the first time since I've been in China arrived in an orderly fashion. Instead of buses that sped past one another or cut each other off in traffic lanes (old habits die hard), they actually pulled up to a full stop at each bus stop/station and waited for all passengers to get on. It was particularly shocking/stunning to see it for the first time. Instead of zooming past the stop, causing bus riders to chase after them down the street, it was nice that they all just came to a slow roll into the station. I was amazed at the sudden onset of this change, and this goes to show exactly that when China sets it mind on something, it happens. Granted, bus drivers' old habits of switching in and out of lanes to beat one another to the stop was still a frequent practice, but at the very least, they would pull up to the stop completely, which was nice than being dropped off half a block away when the line to the stop was too long.
China is interesting to say the least.
On another note, China really ought to stop messing with the weather, and shooting up those rockets to cloud seed. It's a bad idea, and our current weather predicament is a perfect testament to that. Nanjing traditionally by this time of year has warmed up into a nice 60-70 range. Though short-lived, it is a nice reprieve right before the summer heat and humidity. However, for the past month, the weather has honestly been bipolar. One day it'll be in the high 60s, and literally the next day, it'll drop down to the 30s. I have never seen weather have a 20 degree difference in one day alone, normally it's maybe a 10 degree difference between the low and high, but this is Nanjing at the moment.
Today for instance, in what should be a lovely April, we saw a bit of hail. The weather dropped from 50 to 20 something. It's ridiculous. I never know how to dress appropriately. I'll either wear too much or too little. Layers is my go-to at the moment, but when it changes so frequently, I have to constantly check the weather forecast. Oddly enough, the weather forecast in China is extremely accurate, and it makes me wonder if this is controlled by the Chinese department on meteorological/weather control. Honestly, enough, China! It's about time that the weather go back to normal. I'm convinced this cloud seeding ought to stop, because weather is best left in mother nature's hands. We're likely to mess it up, as evidence it now proving.
On a typical morning, I am either chasing after buses, slipping and sliding on the steps of or inside the bus, or being thrown around by the sheer momentum of the breaks being slammed on. Today though, apparently there was a new initiative, and the buses for the first time since I've been in China arrived in an orderly fashion. Instead of buses that sped past one another or cut each other off in traffic lanes (old habits die hard), they actually pulled up to a full stop at each bus stop/station and waited for all passengers to get on. It was particularly shocking/stunning to see it for the first time. Instead of zooming past the stop, causing bus riders to chase after them down the street, it was nice that they all just came to a slow roll into the station. I was amazed at the sudden onset of this change, and this goes to show exactly that when China sets it mind on something, it happens. Granted, bus drivers' old habits of switching in and out of lanes to beat one another to the stop was still a frequent practice, but at the very least, they would pull up to the stop completely, which was nice than being dropped off half a block away when the line to the stop was too long.
China is interesting to say the least.
On another note, China really ought to stop messing with the weather, and shooting up those rockets to cloud seed. It's a bad idea, and our current weather predicament is a perfect testament to that. Nanjing traditionally by this time of year has warmed up into a nice 60-70 range. Though short-lived, it is a nice reprieve right before the summer heat and humidity. However, for the past month, the weather has honestly been bipolar. One day it'll be in the high 60s, and literally the next day, it'll drop down to the 30s. I have never seen weather have a 20 degree difference in one day alone, normally it's maybe a 10 degree difference between the low and high, but this is Nanjing at the moment.
Today for instance, in what should be a lovely April, we saw a bit of hail. The weather dropped from 50 to 20 something. It's ridiculous. I never know how to dress appropriately. I'll either wear too much or too little. Layers is my go-to at the moment, but when it changes so frequently, I have to constantly check the weather forecast. Oddly enough, the weather forecast in China is extremely accurate, and it makes me wonder if this is controlled by the Chinese department on meteorological/weather control. Honestly, enough, China! It's about time that the weather go back to normal. I'm convinced this cloud seeding ought to stop, because weather is best left in mother nature's hands. We're likely to mess it up, as evidence it now proving.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Directions
I have often been of the opinion that my sense of fashion (or lack thereof) is distinctly different from the crazy splashes of color, patterns and mix-matched articles of clothing that mainland Chinese so love to adorn themselves with. However, apparently not, because I have completely and utterly blended into and among the local Chinese. One perfect example of this is that I am always asked for directions.
Everyone knows that I honestly should be the last person to ask directions from, as I am directionally challenged. I have no sense of direction and connect/disconnect roads that shouldn't be, so probably a bad idea to ask me; however, I have found that randomly people seem inclined to ask me of all people for directions. When standing at a bus stop full of people, somehow, I am always picked out of the crowd by a total stranger and asked where to go. Just this week, I was asked twice!
Now, I have a theory about all of this. While a truly smart person would walk up and ask the old people, as they honestly know every road and little street you can think of (which in my case would be wise, were it not for the dialect issues), but people tend to always ask the slightly younger female. I think it's because it's less intimidating and women are seen as more "helpful," though most oft I have found that they don't really know where things are. It's a matter of image I think, and the fact that women seem more approachable. Since I fit into those brackets and am full Chinese, I guess I'll just have to accept the fact that people will continue to come up to me and ask me for directions, even though I am a complete foreigner to the city despite living in it for a good 7 months.
Everyone knows that I honestly should be the last person to ask directions from, as I am directionally challenged. I have no sense of direction and connect/disconnect roads that shouldn't be, so probably a bad idea to ask me; however, I have found that randomly people seem inclined to ask me of all people for directions. When standing at a bus stop full of people, somehow, I am always picked out of the crowd by a total stranger and asked where to go. Just this week, I was asked twice!
Now, I have a theory about all of this. While a truly smart person would walk up and ask the old people, as they honestly know every road and little street you can think of (which in my case would be wise, were it not for the dialect issues), but people tend to always ask the slightly younger female. I think it's because it's less intimidating and women are seen as more "helpful," though most oft I have found that they don't really know where things are. It's a matter of image I think, and the fact that women seem more approachable. Since I fit into those brackets and am full Chinese, I guess I'll just have to accept the fact that people will continue to come up to me and ask me for directions, even though I am a complete foreigner to the city despite living in it for a good 7 months.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Mastering the Art of Brevity
So, as of late, I have truly enjoyed browsing other people's blogs, reading the snippets about their lives and enjoying the little golden nuggets of wisdom that they have to offer. In particular, one major thing that struck me was that I honestly do not write concisely enough. My mother has always called me long-winded (quite literally in Chinese), but now I have come to realize that yes, I am not succinct. So instead of my essay-long/book-long messages, I will try a short one for today. See? Succinct.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Alternate Plans
So, as of late, I have had this wild inkling to pursue being a part-time food critic. Haha. How wonderful would it be to go and eat food for a living and just share your experiences, both wonderful and poor with the world (okay, maybe that's too grand, but to your readers)?
I love eating, and I think our family as a whole really have the traditional Chinese value of 食为先. Perhaps a little too much so, but a good portion of our conservations and time is spent on thinking what would be good to eat! Haha, no wonder we all have trouble losing weight in general. But I digress. Anyhow, I may give it a shot just for funzies, but that will be contingent on two things:
1) My ability to write well;
2) A capacity to describe foods well/cooking knowledge.
*sigh* Both are still in the works, so that idea may be in the distant future, but I may try to review a few dishes in the future just to give the idea a shot. =]
I love eating, and I think our family as a whole really have the traditional Chinese value of 食为先. Perhaps a little too much so, but a good portion of our conservations and time is spent on thinking what would be good to eat! Haha, no wonder we all have trouble losing weight in general. But I digress. Anyhow, I may give it a shot just for funzies, but that will be contingent on two things:
1) My ability to write well;
2) A capacity to describe foods well/cooking knowledge.
*sigh* Both are still in the works, so that idea may be in the distant future, but I may try to review a few dishes in the future just to give the idea a shot. =]
Mixed Feelings, Review: Supernatural
I will be the first to admit that I am an avid fan of the TV show Supernatural, previously owned by WB, but the now CW network. When my aunt first showed me the promotional pictures her department was doing for the show, I was a skeptic due to the seemingly dark nature of the show, but after getting past my personal misgivings, I fell in love with the show from the first episode on.
Supernatural is an amazingly well-written show. With gifted minds as Eric Kripke and Ben Edlund behind the scenes, it is startling how far the show went from the monster-hunting debacle to the anti-Apocalypse-driven brethren. Reading back on some quotations, I was startled on the dark path the show had taken. The tone of the show shifted from the snarky bantering duo to two desperate brothers seeking an end, one wanting peace, the other redemption. My family has always found it odd that I am drawn to such dark stories. They call it too 邪, I suppose that would be "evil," but it is not so much the content of it as it is the dynamics. Whereas a majority of television today focus on the superficial relationships, teenagers jumping into bed with one another, this show speaks of the bonds between family members, whether by blood or by circumstance.
With the past 2 season arcs delving into a lot more biblical content, angels, demons, revelations, the apocalypse, I have had mixed feelings about this. While I am indeed not happy with their interpretation of angels as almost fickle, unfeeling creatures, it did bring to light some questions I have always had. How does an angel fall from grace? They too exhibit free will. How then are they governed? And how are they measured for salvation? Watching this show is addicting, and dangerous for those who only blindly follow the lore. It does not do Christianity justice, and if you knew little of Revelations, the smattering of truth here and there could easily confuse you. However, I must say though that it brings to light a lot of things in its reinterpretation of the book of Revelations.
Revelations constantly reminds us to stay alert, and to be on guard for the coming signs of the end times. And yet, these "signs" are often so abstract that we wonder is it just a symbolic representation of what is to come or a prophesy of the actual manifestations of these "signs"? Supernatural does a good job then in that it makes you wonder: are the End Times already here? And with the recent earthquakes, I would say that the signs are manifesting for its onset. I think it then serves as a good reminder that perhaps we are already smack dab in the middle of it, but don't even realize it because these signs are hidden among us. We often put off these warnings as signs way down the line in the future, but if things were as Supernatural puts it, happening in the here and now around us, would we act so nonchalantly? It makes me care more, and to reflect on my actions and priorities in light of what is to come.
This is definitely one of the major pluses of the show for me personally. It is entertaining, but it also serves as a good brain tease, getting me to think and to delve more into my Bible. However, the episode last night, while equally entertaining left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. I am tired of the show's direction in pounding the two main characters with set back after set back, and now that they have found the so-called "mouthpiece of God," the portrayal of God the Father as some deadbeat dad did not sit well with me. That is one of the major negative points of the show, the fact that it portrays God as having forsaken the human race, or as some distant Father. It takes a very dogmatist appeal to it, and I did not like that.
No, the Father is very real, and is with us everyday. He loves us dearly, cares for us, watches over us, and sacrifices for us. To say that God is a "deadbeat dad" was downright offensive. The fact that the writers took liberties with what God's attitude is with towards the Apocalypse downright bothered me. In Season 5 Episode 16, the episode I watched last night, the angel said that God quite frankly doesn't care about the Apocalypse because it had nothing to do with him. But in fact, the Apocalypse has everything to do with Him! It is about Christ's return, of His wrath poured out against those that do not repent, and is of the day when Christ conquers Satan and brings a new heaven and earth for those who believe. It all sounds so cultish or like crazy-talk, but Revelations is really a period of hope, that although we may experience all this temporary pain, peace is to follow. Regardless, the Apocalypse story arc in Supernatural is drawing to a close in the next 5 episodes, or so the writers purport. I still look forward to it, and am hoping that this whole "deadbeat dad" character was merely a ploy to further the story and not how they will actually portray God. As a nation, people have become so entangled with their own lives that they no longer believe in a god of any sort. It's so tragic and hopeless. I hope the writers take a more uplifting note from there and give people some hope of some sort, at least to the fans that are way too obsessed with the lore. They could use some hope.
Supernatural is an amazingly well-written show. With gifted minds as Eric Kripke and Ben Edlund behind the scenes, it is startling how far the show went from the monster-hunting debacle to the anti-Apocalypse-driven brethren. Reading back on some quotations, I was startled on the dark path the show had taken. The tone of the show shifted from the snarky bantering duo to two desperate brothers seeking an end, one wanting peace, the other redemption. My family has always found it odd that I am drawn to such dark stories. They call it too 邪, I suppose that would be "evil," but it is not so much the content of it as it is the dynamics. Whereas a majority of television today focus on the superficial relationships, teenagers jumping into bed with one another, this show speaks of the bonds between family members, whether by blood or by circumstance.
With the past 2 season arcs delving into a lot more biblical content, angels, demons, revelations, the apocalypse, I have had mixed feelings about this. While I am indeed not happy with their interpretation of angels as almost fickle, unfeeling creatures, it did bring to light some questions I have always had. How does an angel fall from grace? They too exhibit free will. How then are they governed? And how are they measured for salvation? Watching this show is addicting, and dangerous for those who only blindly follow the lore. It does not do Christianity justice, and if you knew little of Revelations, the smattering of truth here and there could easily confuse you. However, I must say though that it brings to light a lot of things in its reinterpretation of the book of Revelations.
Revelations constantly reminds us to stay alert, and to be on guard for the coming signs of the end times. And yet, these "signs" are often so abstract that we wonder is it just a symbolic representation of what is to come or a prophesy of the actual manifestations of these "signs"? Supernatural does a good job then in that it makes you wonder: are the End Times already here? And with the recent earthquakes, I would say that the signs are manifesting for its onset. I think it then serves as a good reminder that perhaps we are already smack dab in the middle of it, but don't even realize it because these signs are hidden among us. We often put off these warnings as signs way down the line in the future, but if things were as Supernatural puts it, happening in the here and now around us, would we act so nonchalantly? It makes me care more, and to reflect on my actions and priorities in light of what is to come.
This is definitely one of the major pluses of the show for me personally. It is entertaining, but it also serves as a good brain tease, getting me to think and to delve more into my Bible. However, the episode last night, while equally entertaining left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. I am tired of the show's direction in pounding the two main characters with set back after set back, and now that they have found the so-called "mouthpiece of God," the portrayal of God the Father as some deadbeat dad did not sit well with me. That is one of the major negative points of the show, the fact that it portrays God as having forsaken the human race, or as some distant Father. It takes a very dogmatist appeal to it, and I did not like that.
No, the Father is very real, and is with us everyday. He loves us dearly, cares for us, watches over us, and sacrifices for us. To say that God is a "deadbeat dad" was downright offensive. The fact that the writers took liberties with what God's attitude is with towards the Apocalypse downright bothered me. In Season 5 Episode 16, the episode I watched last night, the angel said that God quite frankly doesn't care about the Apocalypse because it had nothing to do with him. But in fact, the Apocalypse has everything to do with Him! It is about Christ's return, of His wrath poured out against those that do not repent, and is of the day when Christ conquers Satan and brings a new heaven and earth for those who believe. It all sounds so cultish or like crazy-talk, but Revelations is really a period of hope, that although we may experience all this temporary pain, peace is to follow. Regardless, the Apocalypse story arc in Supernatural is drawing to a close in the next 5 episodes, or so the writers purport. I still look forward to it, and am hoping that this whole "deadbeat dad" character was merely a ploy to further the story and not how they will actually portray God. As a nation, people have become so entangled with their own lives that they no longer believe in a god of any sort. It's so tragic and hopeless. I hope the writers take a more uplifting note from there and give people some hope of some sort, at least to the fans that are way too obsessed with the lore. They could use some hope.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
复活节 He has Risen!
I know I've been in China too long if I did not even realize it was Easter. Were it not for the timely reminder of my parents, I may have passed one of the greatest holidays ever with the thought of only 清明 (Chinese Memorial Day).
Sadly, I did not go to an evening service of any sort to celebrate the joyous occasion, but on Good Friday, I read from the latter part of Luke. Today, I read from Mark 13-16, and it covered the final moments leading up until Jesus' death on the cross as well as his ascension back into heaven. I think we are often miffed by the commercialism of Easter, and having heard the story of Christ's crucifixion on the cross one too many times that we forget how great a sacrifice it was that He made on the cross.
Reading through these passages once again at an older age, has given me a greater insight and appreciation of all the Lord had sacrificed in order to save us. Some things that I have never noticed about Jesus' final moments until now is that up until His death, He continued to remember us all. Rather than release His burden, if only emotionally, the Lord spent His final days advising His disciples to stay wary, prophesizing of the times to come when He returns. He not only continued to think only of our welfare as a people, but He also was preparing us as a Body for what is to come. This is such a demonstration of His love for us, so much so that this agape love would lead Him to die for us on the cross.
Also, the selflessness that the Lord demonstrated truly touched me. He did not consider His own needs or His own sorrows as He approached Death. Instead, He thought of us, and how He would save us. When Jesus was praying at Gethsemane, Christ did not pray that the Father would lift this cup from Him out of His own need, but from the will of the Lord. It is indeed awe-inspiring.
Lastly, it breaks my heart as I read these passages to see the suffering the Lord endured. It just makes His sacrifice all the much greater. Mark 15:19-20 "Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him." Jesus was flogged, spat on, mocked, jeered at, criticized. He endured it all without so much as a retort, but accepting it as the will of heaven. I could not imagine being in His shoes, even if I were to merely go through the actions halfheartedly. I doubt I could imitate His submission to the Father's will. And yet what struck me the most was that He was completely innocent. He was neither guilty by Heaven's laws or by the laws of man. Blameless, Jesus was sent to the cross in order that we may have a chance to be redeemed, so that in our righteous state, we might be with Him for eternity.
Indeed, blessed are those who have come to know the Lord and stand on His behalf as witnesses to this world for His message. I am blessed and am grateful for all that He has given me, namely the free gift of salvation as the greatest gift of all.
Easter has always seemed such an inappropriate name. It neglects to mention or at least refer to the wonderfulness of the day that we commemorate. Surprisingly, the Chinese name is better, 复活节, meaning resurrection holiday. It is sad though that even though they have this name, many Chinese have no idea what this day means for them and what a great gift the Lord has given them in His sacrifice... They do not know the true meaning of Easter, and for that I am sad that no one will share my joy today in Nanjing with me. While somewhat depressing, I am still encouraged and rejoice for I know that the Lord has risen and it is a good day indeed!
Sadly, I did not go to an evening service of any sort to celebrate the joyous occasion, but on Good Friday, I read from the latter part of Luke. Today, I read from Mark 13-16, and it covered the final moments leading up until Jesus' death on the cross as well as his ascension back into heaven. I think we are often miffed by the commercialism of Easter, and having heard the story of Christ's crucifixion on the cross one too many times that we forget how great a sacrifice it was that He made on the cross.
Reading through these passages once again at an older age, has given me a greater insight and appreciation of all the Lord had sacrificed in order to save us. Some things that I have never noticed about Jesus' final moments until now is that up until His death, He continued to remember us all. Rather than release His burden, if only emotionally, the Lord spent His final days advising His disciples to stay wary, prophesizing of the times to come when He returns. He not only continued to think only of our welfare as a people, but He also was preparing us as a Body for what is to come. This is such a demonstration of His love for us, so much so that this agape love would lead Him to die for us on the cross.
Also, the selflessness that the Lord demonstrated truly touched me. He did not consider His own needs or His own sorrows as He approached Death. Instead, He thought of us, and how He would save us. When Jesus was praying at Gethsemane, Christ did not pray that the Father would lift this cup from Him out of His own need, but from the will of the Lord. It is indeed awe-inspiring.
Lastly, it breaks my heart as I read these passages to see the suffering the Lord endured. It just makes His sacrifice all the much greater. Mark 15:19-20 "Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him." Jesus was flogged, spat on, mocked, jeered at, criticized. He endured it all without so much as a retort, but accepting it as the will of heaven. I could not imagine being in His shoes, even if I were to merely go through the actions halfheartedly. I doubt I could imitate His submission to the Father's will. And yet what struck me the most was that He was completely innocent. He was neither guilty by Heaven's laws or by the laws of man. Blameless, Jesus was sent to the cross in order that we may have a chance to be redeemed, so that in our righteous state, we might be with Him for eternity.
Indeed, blessed are those who have come to know the Lord and stand on His behalf as witnesses to this world for His message. I am blessed and am grateful for all that He has given me, namely the free gift of salvation as the greatest gift of all.
Easter has always seemed such an inappropriate name. It neglects to mention or at least refer to the wonderfulness of the day that we commemorate. Surprisingly, the Chinese name is better, 复活节, meaning resurrection holiday. It is sad though that even though they have this name, many Chinese have no idea what this day means for them and what a great gift the Lord has given them in His sacrifice... They do not know the true meaning of Easter, and for that I am sad that no one will share my joy today in Nanjing with me. While somewhat depressing, I am still encouraged and rejoice for I know that the Lord has risen and it is a good day indeed!
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