The End of 2014

It’s hard to believe that yet another year is about to end and a new one will start in just about an hour.

We are in the UK for the holidays and catching up on the British food that we’ve missed: sausage rolls, crispy duck (OK, this is Chinese, but I am only getting it from the local Chinese take-out here), crumpets, Scottish eggs, pork pies, bacon & egg sandwiches, smoke salmon, pate, fish & chips… All of which are not really good for me in large consumption, so it is a good job that we are here once a couple years. Of course, we are getting treated to the nice UK weather, pure coldness. Sam really misses the snow and we  were hoping for a white Christmas, but that did not happen. It snowed a little bit on Boxing Day, but it was not enough for the snow to really accumulate.

This is the first time in a very long time that I am not working over my Christmas break in the UK. For so many years, even though I was here for the holidays, I had to work to make sure that we could get the projects out before the year for revenue recognition. I am happy that this year I can relax, so I have been catching up with watching mindless but cheerful Christmas movies with Sam, playing games together, and basically being unproductive.

The other difference this year for me is to be catching up with a lot of my old and new friends in China as well, on WeChat, a Chinese social media platform. It reminds me every day that we are now living a new life there.

Of course, the question we get often is that “how is living in China?” Well, it is still a thing in progress. What comes to mind immediately is that we hate driving in China. This is one of the most dangerous things you can do. We haven’t gotten into any more car accidents after the last one in March, but we see frequently how one can happen quite easily: all those cars cut in and out of you, those mopeds driving at night without lights on and on the opposite directions, those pedestrians just running out from nowhere without looking, those cars stop dead in the middle of an intersection for seemingly no reasons other than to chat or to cause traffic jams…! It is quite puzzling to me why people have such a death wish here. It is perhaps their personal business, but unfortunately, their private death wishes often interfere directly with the safety of those I care. As such, it makes me tense just thinking about driving in China.

We rarely see traffic cops in Zhongshan. Everything seems to be tracked by the ubiquitous traffic cameras. If they think that you have broken the laws, you will get a notification by text messages. We’ve gotten three so far! There is no arguing with the cameras. You just go and pay your fines. However, Gary has pointed out that you can’t really argue your case in America either, only the appearance of being able to do so. You can contest your ticket, but unless you go to court and the cop that has given you the ticket doesn’t show up, you are still on the hook for the fine. Whatever you say (or write) in your defense is just denied by the judge, with no reason given.

There are funny moments with the traffic though. One night around the Moon Festival, we saw this big black Mercedes Benz driving in front of us with emergency lights flashing. We slowed down to be safe, but it seemed to be just driving on and on with normal speed. So Gary had a flash of inspiration, “This must be a guy who has just bought this fancy car and thinks that he’s now a high ranking Chinese cadre, who needs to drive with the emergency lights on in order to announce his importance!” We drove on for a few more minutes, and finally Gary just couldn’t contain himself, and pressed the emergency lights button down, saying, “If you can’t fight them, join them!”

A friend of mine just told us (via WeChat) her close encounter with the police on Boxing Day. She had a little bit of alcohol during lunch but decided she was okay to drive (in China, you are not supposed to drive after drinking ANY alcohol). She got stopped by a police officer soon after. In her panic, she came up with a plan. Rolling down her car window slowly, she pulled out a little booklet from her purse, and asked in an unhurried and uncaring manner to the policeman, “Can you recite the Socialist core values?” The policeman was taken aback, then he collected himself, cleared his throat, and started to recite fluently, “Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony…” My friend nodded, and said, “Ok, not bad!” The policeman responded, “Shouzhang (an honorary title for high-level Chinese officials), I wish you a pleasant time during your unannounced undercover visit!” My friend drove away, and from her rear end mirror, she could see that the policeman was maintaining his salute still… Only in China!

I can go on and on about driving in China, but that will be boring. However, one thing that I do want to say is that it has been very impressive for the Chinese government to build so many highways in such a short time to link the entire country together. We complain how bad people drive here, but often we have forgotten that most of this infrastructure is not here even 20 years ago! The infrastructure has allowed China to grow quickly, linking its people and resources. Everyday we drive on the road, there is always some construction work going on. Hopefully in the next decade, the driving etiquette will become more developed and Chinese drivers become better and safer drivers.

Headaches aside, there are some wonderful things about living in China. First, being able to spend some more time with my parents, being close to them, being able to drop by casually just to say hi or to drop a bag of vegetables off, brings a quiet happiness I haven’t had for years. I like watching Sam interacting with my parents, watching them play like kids, watching them laugh without a care. Then there are the new friends we have made. The thought of them brings a smile to my face. These are people I would have never met if we did not come here.

Giving up everything to start a new life in an unfamiliar place is never an easy thing to do. There are moments of joy, of surprise, of fear and of doubt. These are not good or bad experience for us. They are just part of life.

Our First Moon Festival in Zhongshan

Another year, another Moon Festival (on this past Monday)! This was our second Moon Festival outside of the US, and the first for us in Zhongshan, as a family. I think the last Moon Festival I was in Zhongshan was before we’d immigrated to the U.S. many years ago.

In our housing development (Agile), red lanterns and lights were setup at least a couple weeks beforehand. It always looks pretty when they do the decorations. There were also several parties setup by Agile for the residents to celebrate the festival on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday prior to the actual date. We did not go to any because Gary was afraid of being bitten by the mosquitos, but we could see laser lights and hear the music from our balcony one night for the party taken place by the lake.

On the Moon Festival day, we had lunch with the extended family from my Mom’s side. It was nice to see the relatives again. For dinner, we just had it with my parents. They brought this HUGE mooncake over for us to share, which was probably equivalent to 12 normal size mooncakes. Sam had fun carrying a lantern around at night, and we had fun watching her.

I wonder where we’ll be for the next Moon Festival.

Chiang Mai & Zhongshan Profiles

Exactly a year today we got on a flight and left America, with just three big suitcases and a small suitcase for the three of us! Since then, we have experienced so many new things, but the most precious of all is all the people that we have come across, whom we would have never met!

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is such a beautiful city! I can still see the rolling hills, the green paddy fields, feel the warm sun rays, taste the endless selections of fresh fruit… I miss the unhurried pace of life.

Mr. Li is actually from Zhongshan, but has spent many years in Thailand building a string of successful businesses. He’s now building a new business in the Greater Mekong Subregion. He has been generous with his help since even before our arrival in Thailand, having never met us in person before! He and Mrs. Li and their son are all so nice. What touched me the most, is that when I felt stupid for being conned ¥10,000 (~$1,600) shortly after our arrival in China, he told me that I shouldn’t feel stupid, but instead I should continue to treasure and protect that pureness of heart.

R. is the manager of the spa resort during our first few weeks in Thailand. He was professional cyclist from the U.K., then a personal trainer, then a penniless yogi in India. On one of his trips back to Thailand, he met this beautiful woman in a train station whom he married later. Now they live with their son in Chiang Mai. He is so laid back!

P. is a Thai lady that is in charge of PTIS’ restaurants, hotels, spa, and properties. She lived in Australia for many years and used to manage the hotels there. She is such a nice lady and she is smitten with Sam.

L. is the tennis coach in PTIS. He is from a minority tribe in Myanmar. When the missionary left his area as a kid, all he was left with was an old tennis racket. From there, he managed to become the national tennis champion in Myanmar, with his entire tribe’s support who pooled money to help him. He ended up receiving more training in Japan and has devoted his life to tennis.

D. is a veterinarian who’s been devoting her life to wildlife animals. Every month, she seems to be somewhere in Nepal, in Singapore, in somewhere dealing with some wild tigers etc. Her husband D. retired after having spent many years in Hong Kong working in international finance. They came to Chiang Mai (from Montana), around the same time we did. Their kids went to PTIS and Sam got along with them well.

Jim left U.K. at the age of 53, after many years working in financial services, and went to South Africa. He is now semi-retired, in Chiang Mai (see his blog: http://jamoroki.com). He is sweet, gentle, and young at heart!

Zhongshan, China

Zhongshan is such a sleepy little city by Chinese standards (its population is around 2 millions by official counts). There are about 5,000 foreigners living here, with the majority being Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese from Hong Kong and Taiwan. With big cities like Shanghai and Beijing, you don’t think twice about seeing a foreigner. With a third-tier city like Zhongshan, I always wonder how these people end up there. Their stories fascinate me.

J. and M. are sisters from Russia. They run the little cafe close to us where a lot of foreigners from our development go and hang out. They are very friendly, and always full of information whenever we ask a question, everything from taxi drivers to international schools. They have made our transition to China a lot easier! They are now opening a second restaurant close by.

M. and C. are Mr. Li’s friends. They live in Kaiyin as well. They are retired and they have given us numerous help during our first few months in Zhongshan. They ran us everywhere, from the local Notary to the car dealerships, to the Immigration bureau, and countless others. They are gentle, good-natured, generous, patient. Their son E. went to the same school as Sam, and now they are ready to start their own adventure! Actually, M. went to Seattle a few weeks ago, and C. and E. are going to leave in just a few days so that E. can go to high school in America! Adjusting to America for them is probably a little easier than adjusting to Zhongshan for us, but nonetheless, it takes a lot of courage. Best of luck to them.

C. is the daughter of M. & C.. She used to study in a boarding high school in Atlanta in America. After 9/11, she completed her studies in China, and now works for a hotel in Macau. Her boyfriend J. is an international business lawyer in Macau who came from Portugal originally. When we visited Macau weeks ago, they showed us the ultimate yummy Portuguese egg tarts, the disappearing harbor, and the quaint little cafe with the best coffee in Macau!

P. and R. are from Singapore. R. is in charge of a marina-building residential project in Zhongshan and will be here for a few years. Their son and daughter go to the same school as Sam. The two girls just love to play with each other and constantly ask for playdates.

N. came from the ghetto is America, but managed to pull himself together, and ended up teaching English in Zhongshan, and selling specialized signs online. He is married a Chinese girl. They have a 3-year old daughter. He’s now managing a party popper manufacturing company, but still sells his signs and does private tutoring. He is one hard-working man!

H. is Sam’s tennis coach. He was born in Taiwan but moved to Texas since he was 4. He studied computer science and worked in that industry for a while, but his passion is tennis, so he’s been in Zhongshan for the last ten years building his tennis coaching business. He’s very much tied into the pro-tennis circuit and works extremely hard (too hard).

S. is one of H.’s coaches, also from Texas. He used to coach Andy Roddick since Andy was a kid. A few years ago, it came to him in a dream that he should moved to China, so he got hook up with H. and moved here. He coached Sam for quite a few sessions and the two got along really well. They talked everything from tennis to rock and roll. Unfortunately, he’s now back in the U.S. for an operation. Hopefully, we’ll see him back here soon.

G. sold a successful business in the U.K. and now owns a 3-D prototyping company in Zhongshan. I never quite got the story of how he ended up here.

P. is from the same area in U.K. as Gary. He worked in a cruise ship before, then went to West Africa, met a Chinese girl M. (from Guangzhou), and a week later, they got married! They lived in the U.K. for many years, and now they are in Zhongshan with their young son. They own a software company with their partner S.

S. was born in Zhongshan but left for Australia since he was 4. Now many years later, he’s married to V. from Hong Kong, whom he met when she was studying in Australia. They also spent some years living in the U.K. but have moved to Zhongshan for the last few years. S. can speak Chinese but not read, so he’s managed to memorize the character for beef in Chinese. Whenever he’s in a restaurant by himself, he would look for something with “beef” in it because the waitresses would otherwise be very impatient with him as they expect him to read the menu himself and not ask questions on what’s available.

J. and D. are from Huntsville, Alabama. D. used to work in the company finance area. A few years ago, they adopted a girl from China, and that just changed their world completely! They have since been devoting their lives to running this non-profit foster home, first in Beijing, and now in Zhongshan. Every day, they try to save sick and disabled orphans, and try to find them a good family for adoption. They are very special people.

The stories are endless. Years ago when I was a little kid, I read this book by a famous Chinese writer called 艺海拾贝, which roughly translates to picking up seashells (or treasures) from the sea of literature. I feel like that we have been transported to brand new beaches, discovering beautiful seashells in these new seas of people. Happy Anniversary to us!