US Presential election in Shanghai

What been keep me from writing blogs for the last couple of weeks prior to November 2nd was some events affected me profoundly. Here is the story:

Before the election, the subject on who will become the next president of the United States was so hotly debated. Not on the news but in the Bars, restaurants, and homes here in expat community of Shanghai, half the world away from the US soil, it feels strange, especially when they are not even Americans.

I was in a restaurant one-night having dinner and talking politic with a Canadian friend happen to be away from his homeland for almost 10 years, took on active interests in politics other than his own countries. While our conversation became very interesting, and the voice were raised after I broke my own rule of never talk politics with alcohol.  A lady shown up at the table and handed me her calling card. Being gentlemen I stood up and accept the card. She explains that she and her friend had been ear dropping on our conversation all night, and found it very interesting; a moment later she invited herself and her friend to sit down on our table while we are still eating dinner. Imagine that happening in the US. When inquired of her profession, she proudly announced that she is a lady of the night. Silent…

The other time a friend from Switzerland accuse the political system of my country is not a democracy because we, in reality, only have two major political parties, and no one else can get in to run for president because they were blocked. I told him to check his facts again. Anyone that were born citizen of the United states can run for the high office, granted if they can generate enough interests, and votes to get them qualify to be on the ballot. If there were not enough votes, rules will not bent because we wish another party could enter the race. That was another wild night in a Japanese restaurant over sake.

It seems to me because of my passion for politic, to my friends I am a challenge, they love to get me involve in conversations on politics. Unfortunately I lost some of my passion due to lack of facts and information. I am not up to date with information to defense any argument.

It gets more interesting, not only the gangs north of our border gang up on me for over a month, the Chinese nationals as well. I am not sure if these girls actually knew what they are talking about, or if they been studying the issue and platform. Perhaps they just love to be cheerleaders. I really do not wanted to know.

My chat box on my mobile was full every day from morning till night even if I ignored them it was non stop. I finally had to turn it off. It started to look like pure harassment. It keeps blinking all hours of the day and the night. The worst was on Election Day and after. My email message was all over loaded.

I save it all as evidence just in case I need to verify the facts on this blog. No exaggerations.

I do not see that kind of passion in American bars, the American seems don’t care. The French don’t care either. And the Brits and the Australian and so forth no one really cares, but the Canadian and the Chinese, they went crazy with it. Why. Please help me to understand, their life is too boring here?

First, the Canadian get no votes on who will be our next presidents. So why they care so much, especially those had no plan to return home ever. Their argument is that because US get involve with every one else’s business so they are concern. Hello, “You are in China.” What does that matter what happen to your home that you have not plans to return to? What do you think?

Secondly. If any policy of the US affected China, they are not residence here, nothing is going to happen to them anyway, unlike most of us Americans, we would be pack on the governments expense, escort to the airport in a flash. That is why it is smart to register with the embassy while living aboard. You do not want to be left behind sweeping the sidewalk if your name is not on the evacuation list.

On the other hand, the Chinese Nationals, why is it matter who became the president of the United States? It does not concern any of them anyway. They can even vote on their own premier?

Enough said. I am back, if I get though the blockage.

Chance Encounter Shanghai

I survived My first National Holiday trip

I survived my first National Holiday like the (July 4^th) plus the mid Autumn Moon festival. However the experience will not be forgotten soon. Once again my experience surpass my expectation, the thrill and the scare, some of it, I should have save it for the Halloween blog.

For starter, I survived my first Chinese hot pot experience, it is an obsession here, people gathering around a pot of hot cooking flavored soup and cook your own food in the boiling soup. It is kind of fun if you had never cook in the kitchen before and wanted to cook your own food rather than being served. You know what I rather choose.

Secondly, I climb the Lupu Bridge that span the Huangpu River that snake thru the heart of Shanghai divided her into two half like many great cities in the world. 360 steps later, I was standing on the platform on top of the second longest arch bridge in the world. For those who are not able to make this climb, I am sorry there is no other way to get up there. But you have my photos instead. The only regret was that they do not open at night. Otherwise it would be awesome.

Third, a trip to Hangzhou, the famous ancient city about three hours from Shanghai with it center piece the West Lake. For century the lake attracted artists and Poets alike for her beauty and the charm of the surrounding hillside. I thought it could be a nice treat to relax in the hillside surrounding the lake, and view the beauty of the slivery moon light reflection on the lake. Unfortunately Romanizing the tranquilly images did not last long.

The huge crowd inside the train station actually forms hazy smog inside if it is going to rain, the noise was unbearable, I got my ticket at lighten speed of 20 minutes consider the long line. 45 minutes later on the high-speed train, I am approaching the City of Hangzhou.

My first impression of the city was: Wow, I really arrived in a real Chinese city. Not much high rises and not much cosmetic. Just street full of people.

Due to the recent economic slow down in China, the government had unveiled massive public project in second tear cities by improving their infrastructure. Hangzhou is getting her new metro system. The whole city is like a war zone, there were dust everywhere, and you can hardly even saw the sky. My god, why am I trading the cool temperature and blue sky for the air polluted dust fill city. My Taxi can’t even get into the driveway of the hotel.

After I settled in, I ask for direction to the lake, then my exodus began, it was like in the Pamplona Bull Run, just follow with the crowd. If everyone crosses the street you did so as well. The road was all dig up and full of mud and dirt, every passing vehicle kick-up more dust. People were pushing. That was not fun it was madness.

Until the first of the glimpse of the West Lake behind the willow tress all my trouble was forgotten. It was magical. The ancient cause way, the rental boats, the willow trees, just like I saw in the Chinese ink paintings, minus the people of course. In the historical photographs, there was only hand full of people on the causeway connected by long arched stone bridges. However what I saw instead was a mountain of ants like people pile on top of the historical bridges. Moving about in both directions.

Moving along the willow trees lined lakeshore, I can’t help to fall into deep thought on how it must had been so beautiful, until I woke by the noise of vehicles and thousands of orange colored ugly rental bikes with riders maneuvering their bikes on the narrow sidewalk. Ran over any one at their will, because were not qualify riders. There is no room for biking here, just get off of it people. No I did not, I minded my manners.

The sun starting to set, I thought perhaps it was time to Taxi to the hotel for a foot message before head out for an evening cocktail on the lake to watch the Sunset over the hazy horizons. What a perfect ending to an adventures filled day.

Life is never perfect, no matter how careful we often thought we had it all planned. I discovered that, I was off the tourist map. A wrong turn while taking my walk hugging the lakeshore in fact put me deep in the inlets. I was desperately seeking a way out before the mountain lion appear under the moonlight and target me as their USDA graded steak dinner.

Many friendly and helpful locals gave me the “round about” directions; Perhaps my limited Chinese skill is not getting me any where, but I have a map baby and I know how to point isn’t that enough?

I finally ran into a couple international tourists they were exploring with their GPS, I had my as well, except I do not know the name of the cross road I entered the lake earlier. Well, I tag along for a little while and exchange travel stories as if we were long lost buddies, until we came to a cross road and they told me that they were going to get in their car to drove down the hill, they point out that all I need to do is to follow the road down.

Come on, shouldn’t they offer me a ride? Well that was no Hollywood or Bollywood endings. I walked alone in the dark.

Eventually I was back on the shoreline after an 8 hours hike, I was exhausted I hailed a taxi, forget about foot message. I need a beer now. After I told him the location, he told me to get out of the taxi, it is just around the corner. After the dust was settled I was left on the sidewalk watch the taxi slip away into the neon filled street.

The beer and meal in this little place was fantastic, I was recharged. Again follow the lakeshore. I was rewarded by a special water show that last for half an hour. By the time I got back to the hotel, I can resist to have a foot and full body message. That night. I slept like a baby.

Hangzhou day 2

I got up early for a head start. The hotel concierge advise me that the best I can do is to take the taxi from the hotel to the most remote temple first then try my luck to go to the second location.

At 7 in the morning, while the rest of the cities were asleep, the road to the temple already experiencing dead lock jams. My taxi trip comes to a full stop that lasted half an hour. My driver took me on a wild ride thru the tunnel, 20 minutes later we arrive at the famous Lingyin temple.

The lines to the ticket office were all long and there were stampede going on at the front. No one care about rule, just try to get to the front. I elbow myself to the window like all others, but I stand tall, and keep cursing them in English. Chinese think that is entertainment, seeing foreigners loosing their cool.

Pilgrimage was never easy my 1^st ticket only got me thru the temple garden. I should have learned by now that “efficiency” is not a Chinese word. I realized that there was another line I had to conquer in order to enter the sacred grounds. This time the line is rather civilize, because a lot of the other locals were not willing to pay for a second ticket to enter the scared ground unless they were true devotees, and wanted to burn incense in the temple while burning a hole in the pocket at the same time. I am saying that is because you cannot bring incenses to the temple, you have to buy them there. How clever.  : )

Lingyin Temple is one of the most significant and beautiful Buddhist monasteries in China. "Ling-yin" means "Soul's Retreat" in Chinese; therefore, the temple's name is commonly literally translated as Temple of the Soul's Retreat.

The entrance to the monastery is lined with hundreds of rock grottos that contain detailed religious rock carvings. The Temple contains an important collection of Buddhist literature together with many other treasures. As a consequence, it is a great storehouse of information for those who wish to study aspects of Chinese Buddhism in detail.

On my way out I was fortunately to find Taxi outside the temple ground. I headed to the Leifend Pagoda

The Leifeng Pagoda was an octagonal, five-story structure built of brick and wood and with a base built out of bricks in 975 AD. During the Ming dynasty, Japanese pirates attacked Hangzhou. Suspecting the pagoda contained weapons; they burned its wooden elements, leaving only the brick skeleton. Later, due to a superstition the bricks from the tower could repel illness or prevent miscarriage, many people stole bricks from the tower to grind into powder. On the afternoon of September 25, 1924, the pagoda finally collapsed due to disrepair, and was finally rebuilt in 2011.
Once again I climbed the 7 stories to the top to take in the vista of the entire west lake. What a sight that was. After an hour of struggle to get a taxi I gave up the idea of lunch on the lake and headed straight to the train station. I had enough of humanities. I need to get back to civilization.
Hangzhou station is a far cry from the Shanghai station. The ticket office is on a separate building with 30 ticket windows, yet the hall was fill to the max; there must be at least 2000 souls inside a place with no air-conditioned. Again, I fight, and elbowed my way to the front, the Chinese have no concept of lines. While the younger generations were a little more polite, the other folks from the countryside or smaller cities would cut in front of you with no apologize needed.
Something I learn for me extended stay in China. I learn that these are the people so resilience, they can accept anything as they come while we foreigner think unacceptable, it is just the norm for them. The other fact is that Money not always works here wither, we can flex our dollar as much as we can, there are thousands of them can afford a lot more that we ever could. A single low-key night out can cost an upward of thousands in USD. And dinner is not included.
Everyday in this foreign land give me a new angle in live, I would otherwise able to experience back home.
Chance Encounter Hangzhou

Are you ready for some fun

Hell“O” all again.

This week, you will read about stories of my experience on bargain hunting.

Everyone come to China thinking they can get huge bargain here, sorry, there is no such term existed, if you are looking for the real mc coy. Any brand name item you may be interested in will cost three times more than you get it from back home. I meant all “Foreign Brand” with made in China label is included.

That does not make sense isn’t it? Isn’t all these items made here should be cheaper? Wrong, that is because there are extra sales taxes imposed on all foreign brands by the government. My word of advice is to buy it in Hong Kong if you want a real bargain discount.

However, if you are interested in something short term, and looks good for once or twice while you wear it, let starts with a trip to the Fabric Market. The famous “Shanghaies tailor made label” will be found missing here. Instead you will only found faceless workers from above the store making your measure to fit orders.

In this experience I found that I could bring any clipping from any magazine the tailors will say no problem they can make it fro you. They all told you that they intern in Italy, and know European cutting by hard. That is exactly what happened to my friend and myself.

These tailors will custom made the fake Italian stitching on the suit, and also added on all the details that you ask for, plus the selection of the highest end materials are all available.

The suite will be fitted in three days, or a week, depends on the time that you have. They can even make it the same day if it is required. While all went well and I get my friend a great price for a custom suit approximately $150 USD, and shirt at $20. You feel like they are really making it work for you.  Don’t be fool. My friend wore his suit for one time and the lining stared to tear, that is a very classic case of workmanship. Unfortunately they do not know we are locals. We came back and demand our suit be fixed they were stunned. Never the less, it is still a bargain.

That is lessoning number one, when you pay a penny for the goods you get a penny worth of merchandise. Don’t expect more than that.

Lesson two: you may just want something that is not custom made, what about Sunglasses, shoes, bags or custom jewelry? For starter, they are all made in China, (same goes to your items back home), the difference is at home, your merchandise is at a better quality, and same size knock off shoes can feel different from the left foot to the right. There is no quality control.

You may even try to fool yourself by thinking if you pay a little higher asking price you will get better quality (let say Sunglasses) it will break in three days for no apparent reasons guaranteed.

Lesson three: Never pay more than 1/3 of the asking price to start, be strong, hold your ground, and be prepared to walk away at any time if the seller do not want to meet your demand. There were more stores with the same merchandise in the same market.

If they do not chasing after you for the minimum price you offer that can means only two things. 1. They made their quota of sale that day, or 2. Your price is below what they can make a profit. Don’t act disappointed. They can sense you are a (sucker from miles away, especially Americans).

Lesson four. Always go to the top of the mall and walk down. The shop at the top of the discount mall get little exposure than the one close to the entrance, they are more eager to make a deal. Does that make sense?

I should be a psychology major instead of Advertising.

Never mind that, it is a little too late to make career change.

Let’s move on. Bargaining is not an art form it is a game.

The next story is also a true story.

First rule, before you enter the mall, you should take about 300RMB about 50 USD and separate it from your pile of monopoly money (The RMB).  

Second Rule, make sure you go bargain with a friend, never alone, unless you are a cold hearted pro like myself.

My game started with a friend she likes to purchase some T-shirts, let call her Miss A. I was not aware of it, since I was in another store looking for knock-off shoes. I heard this loud noise outside the store sounded like some argument or pleading. Turn out it was Miss A looking for me, screaming my name out loud in the middle of the mall.

She was hand locked by an 8 months pregnant store owner, trying to push these worthless T-shirt on her, while all the while she scream, “Ed help me, help me.” At the same time another giant of a friend of mine, 6’5 in height with status of an elephant, trying to pull my poor miss A loose from iron craw of the shopkeeper, I thought they are going to tear miss A in half, like in the Roman times.

Got the picture? She survived, and I got to tell her story for shoppers beware. Bargain hunting is not for the lighthearted.

Next scene, Super Ed to the rescue, I jump in, and Miss A told the shopkeeper, my husband is here, ask him. I was told the asking price I look at miss A and say “No” in front of the storekeeper. The shopkeeper turn around and faced me like a hungry tiger, I ignored her and headed to the door, Miss A to follow, but now, the shopkeeper turn around and focus her next move on me. While Miss A follow me out of the store told the shopkeeper she had no money, I control all the cash, and her husband say no, and that is no deal.

You thought that will be the end of the story, and where is the bargaining you may ask? The story did not end there.

The shopkeeper was rather insistence. She follows us down the mall, and waving the T-shirt behind us. I knew then it was time to bargain. I stop and ask her to give me her bottom line, instead she gave me the same price, and I gave her my bottom line. We went for another round. I turn to Miss A and said, “You really wanted these T-shirts”.

She said, “Yes dear please”. I pull out the money I separated on the one pocket and said. ”This is all we had tonight, either we have dinner with it, or you can have the T-shirts and no dinner tonight.” I also told her that we actually do not have enough to pay for the T-shirts.

At that time, the shopkeeper was watching the exchange unfolding step in and say, All right, I will take what you had”. In the end we all got what we wanted.

As for my other friend, he was speechless.

This game was played out three more times in the same afternoon, with a slightly different version. Are you ready for some fun? If you do, come to Shanghai, let me introduce to the art of bargaining.

Hope you enjoy this experience with me.

Chance Encounter Shanghai.

In tune with presidential elections

My topic is a little political this week.

I am not here to give a lecture on democracy, if you have not already learn it in grade school on what it meant, then god bless America. However I feel we may need a little refreshing on our lesson before I go on, so here you go:

Democracy: There are several variants of democracy exist.

One form of democracy as I know it is direct democracy, in which citizens have direct and active participation in the decision making of the government.

In most modern democracies, the whole body of citizens remains the sovereign power but political power is exercised indirectly through elected representatives; this is representative democracy in which our country practiced.

Is it not all these are democracy, as long as it is true to the core, the power rest on the people?

Does true democracy based only on how many political parties we have? Or does it matter if we have only had two major parties in our country?

So does that means United States; the best democratic power in the world really does not have a real democracy because the other smaller parties never get any real chance to be elected even if they are on the ticket?

Some people in the world think our system prevent the minor parties never have a voice, and the major parties will never allow them to enter the game. I do not have in depth understanding to decided if that is true or false, you can make your own conclusion.

As always around election time there will always be some people think we, Americans are hypocrites to think we live in a democratic society when some other voices were drowned out in the process.

Isn’t it that is democracy as well?  The power processed by the power of votes, no matter which way the wind flows is still the decision of the people? Everyone started out on the same line. If the people decided a certain party is not worth supporting that is nothing anyone else can do anything about it.

I am really surprise on one tire Friday evening after a whole week of torture in the office, thought I would be relaxing for a casual meal out in Shanghai, over a bottle of wine and gourmet Italian food; I broke my own rule of no wine and politics defending the system of my country vigorously to someone from a socialist society, accusing us we are not a true democracy. Then what is one?

Did we shut the door when someone from the green party, libertarian party or Tea party wanted to run for presidency?

They think that if we wanted to be a true democracy, we need to be more like India, anyone wanted to form a party, are welcome into the congress and government. I do not know enough of their political structure to pass any comments, but it certainly looks a mess.

On the other hand did anyone of us don’t think we have the most sound democracy on earth? Perhaps everyone think politicians were so corrupted and politic were a big joke to comment on this?

If you love our country with all it imperfection, embrace it, register and vote, that is how you show the world the voice of the little people on our great country does accounted for.

It is better than those back seat drivers, escapes to another country and divorced their own political system, but critialize others. That is a true hypocrite with a capital “H” in my book, and if they belief that true democracy is base on how many political parties the government had. I don’t think they even beginning to understand democracy is base on majority rules.

This is just my humble opinion, no intention to provoke hateful comments or national debate. Please do not jamb my phone lines it is reserved for debt collectors only.

It is one person’s opinion, and if you don’t like it start your own.

Chance Encounter Shanghai.

Never try to book tickets during any holidays

I had an amazing experience recently, can even consider it frustrating, but the encounter can certainly worth another bookmark on my travel life.

Oct 1^st till Oct 10^th is the china National holiday an important holidays in China. This is also the last “long” holiday until Spring Festival, otherwise known as Chinese New Year. During this extended holidays the affluent travel to distance land to spend their holidays. Although it will never reach the same level of mass migration like the New Year, but it is like open season for money grabbing, it certainly got me frustrated and angry.

I thought having a 10-day holiday, perhaps is a good week to get away from my work to go to Hong Kong to visit my family there. Great idea isn’t it? My families were all excited for my pending visit. That was until I started looking into booking tickets.

Far from being a procrastinator, I started looking for tickets in mid July for early Oct. departure. I thought the ticket price were high when I start my search. I thought perhaps I should look a little harder explore all the options. At least that is what I usually do my search. I started the fare watching, every time I got an alert. It is almost always the flights already sold out. The schedule I prefer either unavailable, or I got one flight and the return flight is either leaving in the middle of the night, or on the next day other than the date I prefer. It got worst, as day passes. The price kept going up rather than down. With those mid night departure and arrival, I may as well book the FedX cargo flights.

After two weeks of searching, with the same result, my patient was at the breaking point. Time to change strategy. I decided to try looking at alternative days on leaving a week later after the National Holidays. I was shock to found that not only the price drop two-third from the peak week, all flights were also available.

Flight availability is understandable at non-peak, but price is two-third less is unthinkable. I travel during Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays before, flights will always available if I book months in advance, plus I believe airlines added flight to accommodates travelers. In China I can’t believe that is the case, all airlines from domestic to foreign were solidly booked. What amazes me is the legal price fixing across the board. For the government that control everything, which they turn a blind eye on the situation. But then it is China. Not everything happened for a reason.

This experience is certainly an eye opener to me. I travel frequently during high season, but I had never experience anything like this in my entirely life. There were other interesting facts I found out during my search for economic flights. I can book a flight to Thailand with an extended stay in HK during the same period, for half the price fly direct to Hong Kong. That is insane, because Thailand is a lot further than going to HK alone. Does that make any sense for you? If I have the time I would took that option. Unfortunately time is not an option for some of us here.

There you have it, just when I thought I explored almost everything here in the mainland. I encountered another surprise.

Chang Encounter Shanghai.

Some thing about Shanghai

It sure does not feels like summer is ending soon, we had a month of sunshine in Shanghai, I will take it at any time in stead of gray and cloudy days. I was being prep by my friends before the summer arrive about how horrible that would be in the summer months, in the end it does not feels any different than the sizzling summer heat in New York, or the windless coast in Turkey. I actually enjoy the UV days a rare treat here indeed. : o

If you read my blog regularly, you may have noticed my transformation from a lonely worm to a social butterfly, blossoming in Shanghai in a little short of 8 months. I am finally settled into my work routine, and figure out a way on how to balance a work life and a social one a little better. At my advance age of 99, social life these days is nothing more than a little wine bar visits, social gathering with friends again in bars and restaurants, lots of dinner parties, a little concert and comedy club in between, and lots of road trips. The nightclub scenes although not totally diminished, but is not my prefer venue. As we age, our entertainment became a lot more creative, as you saw on my many photo journals. I still have lots of fun. A far cry from those foods hunting days when I first arrive in Shanghai. I am not longer a cave man. stuck in my own house.

Two weeks ago, I share with you some of my highlights in the lovely Former French Concession area, and of course the ever-famous People’s square, the beating heart of Shanghai as well.

Shanghai had many concessions, the English, and Italian even American, but they all eventually combined into one huge international concession close to where the Bund is located today. Because of this action, the international concession loose a lot of the distinct architectural style typical of their own country, but the French they held out, and refused to merge. ( WHAT ELSE IS NEW WITH THOE FRENCH RIGHT?) Therefore the French concession remain intact, today it is one of the most sort after address for the affluent.


The lovely former French Concession was where the Good Life once was to be found, along with the lovely old villas and modern apartment houses of those who lived it. I strove down Avenue Petain with my friends we visited the Love house (The Former Residence of Song Meiling & Chiang Kai-Shek). The High art, art deco residence (originally built as the club house of Du Yue-Sheng, China's most powerful syndicate boss). Now the Mansion Hotel. The Old French Concession Street is where the Okura Garden Hotel located. In the picture I send previously, you saw the beautiful formal garden, the house was built originally as the French Club in 1926. It certainly had the French style as soon as you enter the old part of the hotel. The grand stair case lead to the second floor ballroom, I was told that it was the only party place in town, because in the 19th century China, gentlemen and ladies were not allow to be party in the same room, except in the French club. Party with out ladies, what a gay time was that. Ha ha.

The Cathay Theater, Avenue was a movie palace, the main theatre I was told can seat up to a 1000 guest per show. It is still an operating theatre today. We visited some galleries. And tree line streets planted with old trees and full of charming French origin housing blocks and art deco buildings. It is charming area, and not to be missed if you ever visit Shanghai.
As we approaching people Square “again” The former British Royal Jockey Club house as stable was keep in perfect shape. It was located here is because the People Square before it got converted into a park, was once the British Race Track of Shanghai.


The visit to People’s Square is not complete without a trip to the wedding market (again). This is the place where desperate parents try to make a match for their reluctant children. Some of them are desperate as well, so you need to make sure the photo is not retouched, or you will end up with a girlfriend missing two front tooth.

We always have fun there doing the Bargain with them, although none of us are really seriously wanted to cut ties with our family and our own country, but it never hurt to do some bargaining. especially my friends do all the talking I am just sitting pretty. ha ha.

Since I am a tall Chinese with an American passport, you can see the trouble I can cause. Some parents willing to forget the three basic requirements that is the standard of any negotiation (or sell), in exchange for a son in law with a passport to America.

The 3 basic requirements are.
1.    Do you have a house?
2.    How much real money you have in the bank?
3.    Do you have a car?

In the case for the girls that could be different. But it is usually the girls’ parents take the upper hand approach, They are very aggressive. Make sure you still have your two arms intact when you leave the park. The other tips is that if a fight broke out between two parent. Sneak out as soon as you can, or you will end up dating the one daughter of the winning parent. I will take some of my unsuspected visiting “American Friends” there some time. I also had a lot of international helpers is more than happy to make it happen to you.

Age and looks are not deciding matter here, if you pass all three requirements and a passport of any foreign country. You are in the fast track for approval on getting a speedy wife that may leave you the day their Green Card arrived. Unless you are loaded with “Cash” then they may stay until your back account dry up.

The feeling for most Chinese girls is: (I have reference for these saying and I swear I did not make it up).
They rather weep in a Mercedes, than laughing on the back of a bicycle.
Don't you just love those Chinese they are too practical.

Here is another funny one for you, inside joke, my Chinese friends told me this:

Q. What do you call people that speak two languages?
A. Bilingual. (Correct).

Q. What do you call people that speak three languages?
A. Trilingual. (Correct).

Q. What do you call people that speak more than three languages?
A. Multilingual. (Correct).

Q. What do you call people that speak only one languages?
A.  It starts with an A _ _ _ _ _ _ Ns.

Sorry this time the joke is on Y_ _.

Just think if it you are in a comedy club. Every one gets its turns being make fun of. Ha ha.

Chance Encounter Shanghai
 

Another summer week in the city

Another two weeks since I updated my blog been busy working, not much exciting news going on, except visiting a lot of amazing Shanghai clubs, (wait a minute, I may be old, but not restrained yet, I still got a few move left.) ha ha. I also made a bundle of really amazing international friends and established my own united nations.

I went to a comedy club recently, it reminded me of the second city comedy club in Chicago. For 50rmb, being entertained by a group of young comedians for three hours was a steal. Although they are all amateurs, they are very professional and funny. It is kind of a breath of fresh air to found a piece of American apple pie in China. However a lot of the topic were inside jokes, basically is a bunch of Americans, making fun of the French expats and the Chinese live in Shanghai in an
American own bar. Their subjects were daily life that we all find interesting including the price for the maid. I am no kidding, so me of the expat life here for too long they want to bargain with the old maid for a mere 50rmb while they only pay about 300-500 a month for these poor folks to clean the house, buy grocery, cook their meal, walk their dogs, do laundry, and everything else in between. You know they are not slaves you know. The price they got equalvilent to one day worth of work for their maid back home.

Let’s just move on to another subjects. I am sure you all saw the see thru dress shot on the young girls in Shanghai from you tub? I already wrote about the inappropriate dress code when I first got here on the same subject, so that was old news isn’t it. You know I do not miss a beat.

However, summer brought out the worst, I do not know if I should call that sexy or silly. Everyday in the office is like dressing up to go the beach everyday, it progressively going downhill as it approaching the weekend. You will see the conservatively dressed Married female with wraps that looks like a rage wrapping around their shoulder, and colors were not matching anything. For god sake we are in Shanghai, the city where silk merchandizing were everywhere, isn’t it time to get ride of the baby security blanket?

The underwear showing younger sets should really consider wearing something more than swimwear, or belly dancing outfit to the office. Thank God Ballet tutus were out of fashion for the season.

As for the boys, it is almost exclusively shorts and T-shirts. I try to enforce dress code for a while before they show up with thongs, but then after a while I just gave up, since deodarant is not a product widely adopted, plus most Chinese do not believe in washing their hair everyday. It is perhaps the best way to let everyone wear something more airy, while all the foreigners were wearing long pants in this sizzling heat. See, I am rather flexible, and go with the flow. After a while I just got use to it, nothing surprising any more.

Last week, I did a walking tour to some of the lesser know gallery districts and the four grand historic hotels that anchor the Bund. I had to tell you that it was worth all the sweat and burns in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. The amazing architecture from the by gone era were all so lovingly restored. As much as shanghai is famous for tearing down old buildings, around the Bund and some of the historical neighborhoods scattering around town retain a lot of the historic charms.

The expat community over here is so active which is beyond my expectation. Everyone were in their 30’s including myself of course, after many face lift  : ).  Not a word please.  What amazes me is a lot of them came from Europe without the language skill nor and job offer, and yet they keep coming. Every other week at the expat parties, I met new arrivals. In just a few short months, my circle of friends grew from a few close associates to more than 30 souls. I meant these are friends, we call each other on the mobile, we go out to do thing together as a group. Perhaps just a coffee in the afternoon, a very civilize afternoon tea, a walk at the park, a picnic to rowdy evening in the club. We had fun, and the phone keep ringing.  I even have a few friends like to go swim and work out together.

A lot of them even admitted they had never experience this kind of friendship in the home country ever. I suppose everyone here is on the same boat, we are alone, and a strong sense of belongings, a common bond of English as the common languages, gave us the longing of belonging. My experience with all of them some time is funny especially when expressions were lost in translation. We all burst out in laughers at time.

In conclusion of all that,

So far I found the French are really OK, the Germans are not as headstrong as I thought they would be, they are actually very low key. The Italian however were a little dominating, especially the girls, so they are kind of funny, they had no sense of time, if there is a party they will go even if it starts at 2AM on a week night. As for the British they were rather easy going with the stiff upper lips, and a smoke in their hands. The Canadians are surprisingly loud and party monsters as well. They love organizing group outings. Then all the South American and the Spaniards fill in all the gaps. The American except me is basically no existed. But no worry. You are well represented by me alone. I walk in any party I will be sported right away. I am not kidding.

That is why the boys knew if they hang around me they would eventually meet the girls they wanted to talk to because I am a magnet for girls, and they just came out from everywhere. Unfortunately for the girls I am off the market, it is a well knows fact, more opportunities for my other friends. Ha ha.

Funny one of my friend in NY just asked me how could I meet all these girls. I simple do not know, come find out in Shanghai.

But shanghai is not all about parties, there are so much stuff to do here, the venues are different than the life I had in NY, no politics for a change, although I still debate with friends from our northern neighbors, and what in the world they care about out politics any way? Aren’t they too large to be Annex anyway, and I thought the British already try unsuccessfully in the past, sorry.

OK, that is all for this week. I just wanted to provide a little peek into my life here besides getting all those fabulous party pictures from me wonder if I download it from the web and retouch myself in it. Oh boy that could be fun.

Chance Encounter, Shanghai again.