Thoughts and Travels

My letter of resignation to Columbus City Schools

2011-06-29T09:28:00.000+08:00

I wanted to share this because I think it articulates some of the reasons I came here to Korea.

***

June 24, 2011

Mrs. Edie Cramer

270 E. State St.

Columbus, OH 43215

Dear Mrs. Cramer,

I write to you to tender my resignation from the Columbus City Schools. I resign not because of dissatisfaction nor from difficulty, but rather out of fear for the future. Going through the 211 process and seeing that I was at the bottom of the totem pole, living through Senate Bill 5 and worrying about its possible implications, seeing the changes being made in STRS, and still not knowing exactly what the state budget will do have caused me to consider working in a teaching environment with more job security.

I know that I will always work in education, but I know that I do not need to be a martyr because of it. I have spoken with several veteran teachers to carefully weigh my options, and the vast majority have agreed that seeking out a teaching position away from the consternation that our profession is undergoing and the budgetary threat that puts not just a young teacher, but a teacher especially in a field considered non-essential (by legislators anyways) like the arts at risk of losing their job.

While it is true that Columbus was able to come up with a great position for me at the end of all of this, the worrying and uncertainty was not lost on me either. I worry that even if I did take the position offered, that I would lose it to another interview round next year, and even if I should happen to retain the position, that one year later, when contract renegotiation comes up, I would find myself still at the bottom of the totem pole.

Perhaps I am being overly pessimistic – I certainly hope I am proven wrong – but in the end, even though it is my life’s mission to serve and teach others, I must also make sure that I am serving and protecting myself. I hate how selfish this sounds but I hate even more that I have been put into this position by the vitriol towards the teaching profession.

It is my hope that my international teaching experience will broaden my teaching credentials and make me an even better educator and education advocate so that when I return to the United States and maybe one day Columbus City Schools, I will have an extraordinary wealth of knowledge and experiences to share with my students.

I thank you and the district so very much for all of the opportunities and support I have been afforded and I wish the district and our state the very best of luck in striking down the anti-education rhetoric and legislation that is dominating our political landscape at the moment.

Sincerely,

Andrew M. Goldie

On the Verge of a New Chapter

2011-06-27T17:24:00.000+08:00

It has been almost an entire year since my last post and much has transpired in the interlude. Most of you reading this blog know me, so I will spare the details, but for those of you who need catching up; I spent this past year teaching instrumental music at Fort Hayes Arts & Academic High School in the Columbus City School district. I landed the position almost by accident and almost didn't take the position because I had an offer in Seoul, South Korea. Fate it seems, is not without a sense of irony.

Fast forward to today - a year later, having lost my position to seniority and finding my very employment at jeopardy from state-wide budget cuts and anti-teacher legislation, I am pursuing the position I had been offered in Seoul. It was an extraordinarily difficult decision to make. I took weeks to decide as new possibilities would come and go in the Columbus area. It's funny - I feel like I've never appreciated and enjoyed all Columbus has to offer as much as I have this year. It's also a shame, because I had really started to develop my network and was highly involved in the music scene making headway with a number of different organizations and ensembles.

But unlike last year's rantings of indecision and uncertainty, I know this is the right decision for me, however difficult the initial transition will be. I know that I will be able to save a lot more, I know that I will be able to live an adventurous lifestyle without going bankrupt, I know that I will be challenged mentally every day living day in and out in a foreign land, I know that I will be able to focus on me - both my mental and physical health, I know that I will be continuing to serve others, I know that I will have job security, and I know that despite the unorthodox manner in which I have begun my professional life, I am still moving the ball forward, albeit in a direction I had not anticipated.

In this respect, I am completely fine, satisfied, excited, relieved, and happy to be heading off into this new stage of my life. In my decision to relocate to Seoul, I have told myself that I am making at least a two-year commitment. Partly because I need to have a year where I'm not moving at all! (Haha!) But also because a move this substantial should necessitate staying for a while. Lord knows I've paid enough between baggage, moving my things from my apartment back home, and all the visa and communication fees - easily over a grand by now.

This level of commitment does not come without cost though, and in this respect, I speak not of money. As with my time in Shanghai, I am sacrificing my friendships and family time - relationships I cherish dearly and will greatly miss. Fortunately my company has a mandatory month-long vacation that is to be taken during my contract period. I'm hoping that I can return for Christmas, but that will remain to be seen.

So what am I going to be doing in the Hermit Kingdom? I will be teaching college students and corporate executives English so that they may either work or study in English speaking countries. My company, Pagoda, was established in 1969 and is the oldest and most well respected private English institution in the country. There are several branches in Seoul of which I will be working in the Jongro district which is in the heart of the city. The Jongro branch is actually the original Pagoda office and continues to have the second highest rate of enrollment after the Gangnam branch, on the South side of the Han river (which intersects Seoul) which is the financial district.

I am hoping to live near an area called Hongdae which is a major university area. I'm not yet completely familiar with the area or the university scene - but I think there are 3-4 universities established in the Hongdae area - I know for certain one is a women's college and the other is an arts school which contributes to a vibrant arts and music scene in the area (the reason for which I want to live there). Fortunately, it seems knowing people has its advantages.

My friend Matt, who I was an RA with in Scott Hall my junior year (his senior year) at Miami married a Korean girl this past December who has family all over Seoul. It turns out her uncle is looking to rent out not just some small dinky apartment which is the vast majority of tenable property in Seoul - but a 4 room house! The price is exceptional since I'm a friend of the family! Matt and I are going to go take a look at it this weekend and see how accessible the house will be to the subway. My understanding is that it is very close to Hongdae (one subway stop away? I don't know since I'm somewhere over North Dakota without access to internet at the moment).

Anyways, I'm one meal and four hours into this 14 hour flight, and looking forward to getting things started. I arrive 4pm local time on Monday and then have training all week long. It will be long, but I'm ready for anything and ready to get started.

Updates and pictures soon.

Until then, 안녕히 계세요! (Annyeonghee Gyeesaeyo! Korean way of saying goodbye meaning "Good bye and Stay in Peace")

***International Flight Critique:

As I boarded the aircraft in Chicago, I looked around in horror at all of the babies and children. Those of you familiar with my other international flight horror stories will appreciate this. As it turns out, I was nowhere near any children or babies! Huzzah! Further more, Asiana has nice seats, great service, and pretty good food. I will definitely be flying this airline again! 11 hours down, 3 to go! Get ready Seoul, cuz here I come...!

***Safe and Sound

In posting this - you now have proof that I am safe and sound in Seoul. Sipping an inced vanilla late and munching on some flat bread pizza while I acclimate myself in Tom n' Tom's (Seoul's Starbucks competitor) in the Hongdae area I described above... Lots of young ladies here from the women's college... it's a rough life so far...

Dragon Boat Festival Vacation

2010-07-11T21:08:00.000+08:00

Here is my trip to Nanning, China; Hanoi, Vietnam; and the Detian Waterfalls in southern China. Enjoy!

What to do?

2010-06-13T00:23:00.000+08:00

Sorry for that little rant last post. I've cooled down a bit, but I'm still just as anxious about what comes next. I think I realize now that my problem is; I still don't know what I want to do yet. I took an online test recently that told me I'm center minded (verses left or right brained). It turns out that this is both a valuable asset and a tragic explanation for my current situation. Being of balanced brain is good for the obvious reason that you can combine creativity and logic relatively easily - thinking outside of the box while also thinking rationally - and look at things from multiple angles.

However, it also gives me insights into the many different directions my future could take which is its greatest weakness - that I am so paralyzed by decision because I can see each of them being equally valuable and/or fallible. So yes - I have created a vast amount of opportunity for myself, but I couldn't possibly begin to decide what to do with it.

I think the biggest problem is, I am thinking four or five steps ahead instead of whats coming next, but I'm such a planner that it is difficult for me to think otherwise - thanks Dad - I'm too calculated now!

I don't know what to do. I think being overseas is actually hurting my job hunt back home because I cannot be immediately reached by phone should an interview come along, but I think being home wouldn't be a lot better. It's hard to tell. I do have a standing offer to teach in Seoul, so that's something.

Another problem: I want more. Not money, though that would be nice and would actually help what I want, so maybe money is what I want... No - what I want more of is knowledge. I want to study international diplomacy, I want to study economics, I want to study law, I want to study more music... I want MORE!

But how can I possibly do that? I'll be in debt forever, but I will feel enlightened and probably have much better job prospects. I think this explains, partially, why eventually I would really like to teach at the University level, so that I can always pursue knowledge - a little self-serving, but I think for the right reasons it's forgivable, right?

Anyways - enough self-analysis. What about travel!?! I will be visiting the capital of the Guangxi Autonomous Region, Nanning, starting on Monday. From there, I will be visiting the Detian Waterfalls, the Chinese version of the leaning tower of Pisa, and on into Vietnam by way of the Pingxiang Friendship Pass. It will be a full week of exploring, and I am very excited. Pictures/youtube video to follow!

Anyways, its way past my bedtime here, so I will sign off here and hope that things are well with you and yours!

Until next time, Zai jian!

Anxiety is an Uncertain Future

2010-05-30T16:24:00.000+08:00

So... It's almost June and I have no idea what the hell I'm doing next year. Great. I've spent an entire year out of college and I still have no direction... I've been sending out lots of applications all over the country (Ohio, Texas, Massachusetts, New York, and Maryland) and all over China and South Korea. As much as China has been great, I'm ready to come home, or at least go somewhere that isn't so backwards. I guess what it all comes down to, is that I'm just frustrated at the world right now.

The job situation is grim at best, I see morons doing jobs I could be doing far better and making 10 times what I make, but I'm stuck in the doldrums because I actually care about someone other than myself, when I do find job openings, the bureaucratic red tape I have to get through is such a long and exhausting process that I am often only ever able to write one or two applications a day (if at all), a recent NY Times article showed that for every teaching position open there are often hundreds (sometimes thousands) of applicants, if I wanted to go back to school I would have to send myself deeper into debt and that's assuming I got into school again, because so many people are trying to go to school to avoid the miserable job market.... AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hate that money has become such a large consideration in my life. I need to start paying off loans in December, and I really need to be saving for the future, whatever that turns out to be. Speaking of which, I'm also tired of being single. It's been three years. I know I'm a little hefty, but come on! I'm reasonably intelligent, can hold a good conversation, cook, appreciate the arts, music, fine wines, I write music, and teach children for a living. So far as I know that's a pretty good list...

So I guess in that respect, I'm kind of sick of the world's bullshit. This world has become so materialistic and fake. I hate that all anybody ever does on the weekend is go out and hit the bars. I feel like its such a waste, but what are my other options? Sure, I could go see some live music, but that always occurs at a bar, and very few people I know are willing to sit down and listen to music. I'm sure there are plenty of things to do in this city, but I feel trapped by language and financial barriers that prevent me from being able to enjoy them. I would love to be able to stay in and cook on the weekend, but without spending a lot of money I can't. I haven't been able to write music for a long time either which is another annoyance and a hindrance to my future.

Do I sound frustrated yet? Sorry to rant, but part of me just can't wait to get the hell out of here. The only problem is, once I do, unless there's a job waiting on the other end, I'm just going to be sitting around. F*&k

May Vacation to Xi'an and Chengdu

2010-05-09T00:17:00.000+08:00

It was an incredible trip! Lots of fun and many sites checked off the list of things to see - hope this gives you an idea of some of what we saw!

Until next time, zai jian!

My gift is my song, and this one's for you...

2010-05-04T22:19:00.002+08:00

This is a piece I wrote for Ethan as a token of thanks and for his time at Miami.

Written in appreciation and thanks to Ethan Sperry. Lyrics from A Bottle and a Friend (1787) by Robert Burns. Written for male chorus in the style of a Glee.

April Showers

2010-04-21T01:13:00.002+08:00

My mother pointed out to me that I have neglected my blog for quite some time. Sorry Mom! Also, I just got an Easter card in the mail from Grandma E. -- so thank you Grandma and thank you for the other cards you have sent as well throughout the year.

Now down to business. Life since March. Aside from the fact that Shanghai is experiencing the coldest Spring since the 1870's, unfortunately (or fortunately as it were) life hasn't changed too much. I'm still just as confused as ever. Although today I made a Pro/Con list of working in the US, China, and Korea to try and help myself make a decision. Life back home sure looks nice...

Speaking of Korea and the job front...

I went to Seoul, South Korea the first weekend in April to visit some friends from Miami. Seoul combines the culture, cuisine, and cheapness of the east with the cleanliness, modernity, high tech, and human rights/civil liberties of the west. It was almost like being in a West Coast city. I found the people to be much more polite and well mannered. It was such a relief not to hear people hocking lugies and shooting snot rockets not to mention old ladies who beat you half to death getting out of subway cars. (I swear if they weren't so old, or ladies, I would have punched one by now...) Anyways it was a good trip and I took several pictures which I will include at the end of this post.

On the job front, I just interviewed with Shanghai High School, one of the more prestigious schools in all of China. The current Vice President is a graduate of SHS. They are looking to build their music program and add an instrumental program - or at least that is what they have told me. I've gotten used to taking anything I'm told over here with a grain of salt (or maybe that should be rice?) since double-speak is so prevalent here (i.e. saying one thing and doing another). I'm staying hopeful but am not banking on it. The job will pay much better than my current position and seems like it will basically put the program in my hands to mold as I see fit which could be HUGE on a resume. We will see.

I think though, if I don't get this position that I will strongly consider coming home. And by home I mean Texas. I have several friends and acquaintances who are now working in Texas. From what I can tell, despite the textbook controversy (don't get me started), Texas is a HUGE supporter of the arts and has a vibrant music community. There is no state income tax, music teachers starting pay is close to or above $50k and they are hiring. Let me repeat this because it is important. THEY ARE HIRING. Big time. I just looked at the TMEA website and it has gone from 20 job postings to over 60 in the last month. I said I wanted to stay in a foreign country... well... Texas is pretty damn foreign, so I might as well.

So I don't know for sure, but I'm starting to feel like this is the direction that I want to take. Wait for SHS and then start seriously looking at applications in Texas.

Looking forward. We've got a vacation coming up next week. I haven't decided for sure yet, but I'm thinking Xian, Chengdu, and Chongqing. Terracota Warriors, Giant Pandas, Sichuan food, and the Three Gorges. I'll probably hoof it backpack style.

A week after that many of my Miami friends will be in China for the Expo and I couldn't be more excited to see them! I will fly up to Beijing to meet them and then meet them up again when they are down in Shanghai. I will be glad to see Ethan as well since he has just announced his resignation from Miami which is both disappointing yet terrific at the same time.

Anyways, it's getting way past my bedtime, and I'm sure you'd much rather look at pictures of Seoul rather than me blather on for another couple of paragraphs.

So enjoy the pictures, and until next time, Zai jian!

The historic center of town

The locks and keys are from couples who go to make vows of loyalty that can never be unbroken because they throw away the key... oops...!

Koreans LOVE side dishes - they come with every meal. Lots of Kimchi, one of the world's most healthy foods and it sure is good!

One of the Imperial Palaces

Imperial Guard Reenactors

Yours truly near the Seoul Tower

Spring is in the Air

2010-03-21T11:36:00.001+08:00

Well, it's the middle of March now and its starting to get warmer. The weather keeps playing tricks on us poor Shanghai'ren though - for a day or two it will be almost 70 degrees, and the next thing you know, it's back down in the 40's and 50's for 4-5 days. When the weather is nice though, it makes me really appreciate Shanghai and how pleasant it can be. In this respect, I feel like I am discovering that I would really like to live in a city for a while - whether that be here in China or elsewhere.

Speaking of China or elsewhere, I'm still having a hard time deciding what to do. I know I can make more money back home, but I feel like if I leave China without having a good command of the language it will have been for not much. Also, I don't think you can really call yourself an expatriate without spending at least two solid years outside of the country. I said to someone that I would be missing out on the cheap travel, but they countered my argument with, "Yea, but wont you be making five times more what you're making now - who cares if its a little more expensive?" I don't know, and with two years in a row with little sense of direction it is really starting to bother me.

I would love to come home, don't get me wrong, but there's something inside me that keeps saying that I should stay out here at least one more year. I don't know - I guess I'll just do what I've done before - send out applications and let others people's decisions guide my direction in life. I don't know why I've gotten like this. I think I'm discovering that fresh out of college might just be the most confusing period in life if you don't have anything to tie you down or a job to start right away.

I know for sure that I want to teach music, but I keep having doubts about the ability to find and keep a job given that California and Illinois both laid off thousands of teachers, no one is willing to spend money on what they consider unimportant or frivolous extracurricular activities, and in fact, in college we spent a good deal of time just talking about how to defend the music program from budget cuts or termination. I should have stuck with a second major outside of music just in case.

All I know is that in a world that seems to have limitless opportunities and possibilities, I continue to find myself in the unique perception of having next to none. Maybe I'm just a pessimist, maybe I worry too much, maybe I should just stop writing this and send out a bunch of resumes? I don't know, but hopefully I will soon.

Until next time, Zai jian!

Tell me what YOU think...

2010-03-07T18:01:00.000+08:00

So I've got half of Phuket written up, but I'm wondering for those of you who follow along - were the vacation videos enough, or would you like me to do a write-up of the rest of my trip as well (like I did for Macau and Cambodia)? Let me know because I'd be happy to write about my vacation but just as happy to talk about all the other things going on in life!

Life update

2010-03-01T02:23:00.001+08:00

I'll take a break from writing about vacation endeavors for a moment and give a little update on my Oriental life.

I just found out that I'm not going to be attending Michigan State next year. I was bummed when I found out, but now that I know, I'm completely fine with it. Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to have gone there, and better yet, would have loved being back home again, but there are so many other options at the moment, that I'm finding the news not as disheartening as I thought.

So, with that news, I have already started looking at next year. I just sent my CV to the KM Conservatory in Chennai, India for an opening for a trumpet teacher. It's a long shot, but I might as well send an application. I have also reapplied to the NYC school system, have a good resource for job openings in Texas schools, and am looking around the different international schools here in Shanghai. I think I will also finish my application to volunteer in the Peace Corps. I've been reading the blog of a friend of a friend who is volunteering in Kazakhstan and find the entire prospect to be very interesting. I will also start looking into taking the Foreign Service Exam (FSE) next year to try to secure a job as a foreign officer (part of the State Department).

After my first real taste of travel, I've already started plotting my next adventures. I'm going to go to Seoul, South Korea in early April, Xi'an (where the terracotta soldiers are) probably in May, and either Osaka, Japan or back to Phuket, Thailand for my week vacation in June. I'm already very excited!

In other news, since I figure I'll probably wind up here next year, I'm starting to look at making myself a little studio. I've already found a great keyboard and hardware on Craigslist, now I just need to save up to buy Logic Studio ($499 - fml). Having this additional hardware and software will enable me to write music easier and faster and start experimenting with some of the latest technology and trends in music composition today. We'll see what happens!

Finally, I've been a little homesick this past week. So many of my friends are getting engaged and getting married and I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it to see them. Also, I just plain miss them, and my family of course. I'm hoping I can come back for a few weeks this summer, but I worry that if and when I come back, I won't want to leave...

Who knows - life goes on and so do I. School starts tomorrow morning. It will be good to get back into a regular schedule and back to hitting the gym regularly (though I still managed to lose weight while on vacation despite eating and drinking like a fiend). I'm teaching a new class this semester to the seniors which I'm calling "Interviewing for Success." Looks like I'll put those Vector Marketing skills to good use after all! I'm also changing up the extra-curricular activities I'm teaching. For starters, the school is finally going to teach us Chinese, which I could definitely use! The other days I will be teaching Songwriting, Politics and Debate, and Jazz Appreciation - I'm looking forward to these!

Anyways, this has kind of been a little long winded, so I'll just say - I miss you and wish I could be there!

Until next time, Zai jian!

My Vacation Part II: Thailand and Hong Kong

2010-02-25T10:43:00.001+08:00

My Vacation Part I: Macau and Siem Reap

2010-02-19T16:19:00.000+08:00

“Good luck and blessings to you and your family!”

2010-02-15T15:52:00.000+08:00

This is the phrase that I heard on many occasions in Cambodia. In all the places I’ve traveled, I have to say that the Thais and Cambodians have to be the most gracious and kind people that I have encountered. Yes they still try to get you to give them as much money as possible (no surprise there) but they do it with such finesse, with such grace, and always with a smile. It’s hard for you to not part with your money when you have land mine victims that give excellent and informative tours of some of the most fantastic sights the world has to offer. Even when money isn’t involved though, people are just plain pleasant people.

Our second leg of our trip into Cambodia via Bangkok started with a bus ride from Macau to the port city in Mainland China of Guangzhou. It started out as a nightmare – the airline claimed our tickets weren’t valid and that we would have to consult with another airline. After about an hour and 5 near heart attacks later we were set to get onto our flight to Bangkok. The flight, however, ended up being delayed about an hour and a half.

When we arrived in Bangkok, we found ourselves in an ultramodern airport that was very nice and well organized. When we walked out we were approached by a kindly old man who turned out to be one of the bus drivers who helped us to figure out how to get to our hotel and train station. As it turns out, the airport is almost an hour outside of Bangkok.

When we finally arrived at the guesthouse next to the train station we were greeted by who I assume is the owner. She was the most gracious and kind host telling us all about Bangkok, the surrounding area, what to see, and was just all around a stellar person. We only had a few hours to sleep before we needed to be up to go across the street to the train station.

We were up at 5 AM in order to get to the train leaving at 5:55 for Aranya Prathet – the Thai town that lies just 7 km (1.2 mi) from the border crossing at Poi Pet, Cambodia. The train took all morning (6 hrs.) to get to the border, but it was worth doing at least once to see the Thai country side and get a feel for life in Thailand – even if it was a wooden seat in 3rd class (there were no other classes on the train!)

We arrived in Aranya Prathet shortly after noon and were directed to a few waiting tuk-tuks. A tuk tuk, depending on your locale, can be anything from a motorcycle with a rickshaw attachment, an all in one small little vehicle, or just about anything else that would allow for a person to ferry people around to make money. After haggling for the price we were off. The driver took us to a shop off the side of the road and insisted that we needed to settle our travel documents and affairs there. Fortunately, I had read up ahead of time about such scams and was quick to decline and insist that we be taken to the border directly.

When we reached the circus of the border, we took care of the necessary paper work and visa clearances. The Thai checkpoint was no real problem, but when we approached the Cambodian border to purchase our visas we were hassled again for more money. Again, this was a scam I was made aware of thanks to the website I had read about the border crossing and we were able to avert paying an unnecessary expediency fine – and I thought corruption in China was bad!

But wait – there’s more. Once we had our documents, we had to walk a little further and stand in yet another line to have our documents examined. However, if you paid a modest fee, you could just jump to the front of the line… It was so hot that by the time we got to the counter Kelly and I almost wished we had paid the fee… As soon as we exited we were accosted by several different people offering to take us to Siem Reap. Knowing again that most of these were scams that would hassle and harass you out of more money, I kept an eye out for the government bus service to the transport hub. When we found it we were relieved, but surprised that many people had the misfortune of trusting the other scammers. Of course, the government had their own motive, they humbly requested that you use Cambodian Riel instead of US Dollars to pay for things in Cambodia. It was ironic however because the same guy that told us we should exchange our money was asked moments later how much a bus ticket was and he promptly gave the amount in dollars without a blink of the eye.

This became a theme in Cambodia – everyone is in business agreements with other people, friends , and family. Taxi drivers bring you to places that they receive commission; guesthouses recommend attractions that they receive kickbacks from. I know that things like this exist in the US, but you should the level that it exists in Cambodia!!

We found a hotel and checked in. The hotel was actually very nice and the location wasn’t too bad either. We spent the evening eating delicious Cambodian food, checking out the night market, and getting harassed by kids selling useless trinkets. To end the night, Kelly and I (or rather Kelly insisted and I went along) and each got four-handed-Khmer-full-body massages (i.e. two people massaging you at once) It was actually pretty nice and I felt pretty relaxed afterwards, but I was hoping they were going to walk on my back or really work on my shoulders which is always the tensest part of my body.

The next morning we woke early to spend the day exploring the temples. WOW. I will have to share the pictures with you because there is no way I can even begin to do exploring these marvels of the ancient world justice by trying to explain them to you. I will post a link or something in the days to come when I get home.

And with that, I will end this already far too long post. Right now I am sitting in the Phuket International Airport getting ready to head back to Bangkok and am looking forward to telling you all about our adventures in this tropical paradise.

Until then Swa dee krap (the Thai version of saying Aloha)

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose… and sometimes it rains…

2010-02-10T00:30:00.002+08:00

My dad loves to quote this line from the baseball movie Bull Durham, and I feel it perfectly describes my trip so far. Allow me to backtrack to the beginning of my trip.

On Monday (Feb 1st) I woke up late – maybe around 10:30 or so. I started packing my new backpack – not just any backpack mind you, but a nice hiking pack that I had bought with this and future hiking trips in mind. After getting lunch, running to the bank to get American currency for Cambodia (where the USD is the unofficial currency, just as I have found that in Macau, that unofficial currency is the Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)), and attempting to get a final load of laundry in, I was finally ready to head over to Pudong (the east side of the river) to meet my travel companion Kelly. I arrived just after 5:30 (it takes a little over an hour to get to the other side of the city using the metro) and we headed over to the MagLev station (Shanghai’s very own bullet train that runs on magnetic levitation – hence – MagLev) which goes directly to the Pudong International Airport. We headed to the check in counter only to find that our flight was actually based out of the Hongqiao International Airport, clear on the other side of Shanghai. We panicked, but fortunately time was on our side. So with time on our side, we jumped into a cab and told the cabby to gun it – and gun it he did. In what should have taken at least an hour or so, our cabby had us at the other airport in just over 20 minutes. We paid him handsomely and checked in with just over an hour to spare – phew!!

The flight left a little behind schedule, but was otherwise a comfortable flight. Towards the end, the man sitting in the seat next to us began chatting with Kelly and I a little. We learned that he was a software engineer/consultant who worked for IBM in Shanghai and Shenzhen. He was very kind and gave us several tips about Shenzhen. As we were leaving we ran into trouble with the cab driver and Markus (the man from IBM) sensing our difficulty insisted that we ride with him. It turns out we were very lucky to wind up with Markus as the hotel I had booked ended up being nowhere near where it had claimed to be. Similarly, in Shenzhen, the people primarily speak Cantonese which both Kelly and I can’t speak. To give you some perspective - Cantonese is to Mandarin like what Portuguese is to Spanish… even though we hadn’t even left the country. So Markus was able to call up the hotel and have them guide the cab driver. While this sounds relatively simple in a retelling and humorous now, it was extremely frustrating and took almost an hour (maybe more) to do.

On our way, Markus told us more about Shenzhen and how it was considered lawless in many ways and how until recently had been run by crime lords and Mafiosos – I had no idea!! He went as far as to suggest that we put a chair in front of our door before we went to sleep – yikes! When we finally got to our hotel and checked in, it didn’t seem too bad, but it certainly not in the location it had promised. Markus insisted on paying the fare since IBM picked up his tab when we insisted on paying. We instead promised to take him out the next time he was in Shanghai.

The next morning, we got breakfast and headed to a Starbucks (yes, they are taking over the world…) where we could access the internet to check on ferry schedules to Macau. After figuring out what we needed, we got a cab and headed for the pier, about a 30 minute trip from where we were. We got our tickets and rode the hour long journey across the Hong Kong bay to Macau, the former Portuguese territory that lies opposite of Hong Kong (a former British territory until 1997 – FYI).

We took a taxi into the city to find our hostel. On the internet, it boasted its excellent location and homeliness. Well, the claim was half right – the location was indeed spectacular, but the conditions inside were substandard at best. We decided to spring a little more money and found a nicer hotel on the island of Taipa which is an island that is part of Macau.

Having finally found a place to put down our bags, we napped for about 2 hours. We woke up and went out to dinner. We found an Indian place near the MGM Grand. Which reminds me – if you didn’t know – Macau is the Vegas of Asia. Australians, according to Markus, come here all the time to gamble as do the Chinese who also love to gamble. Once we finished our delicious (albeit a little pricey) meal, we walked over the the MGM and decided to play a little. My first experience in casino! I played a few slot machines and walked around some. Unfortunately, the only card game it seems that anyone plays around here is Baccarat and Caribbean Stud, neither of which I know how to play (probably for the better). So we wandered into the bar/club area where we met to British girls who were celebrating one of their birthdays. The girls were Kelly’s age – a little older than me and they got along right away.

We ended up spending the rest of the night with Helen and Faye and enjoyed ourselves dancing to the phenomenal band that was playing that night. It turns out that Faye does voiceover work for Skye Networks in the UK and also does traffic reporting on the radio where Helen works just outside of Manchester near London. They were both lots of fun to hang out with but unfortunately we got separated before the evening was over. 

The following morning we woke up got breakfast and hit the sights. Unfortunately it has been overcast and foggy the entire time we’ve been here so the lighting hasn’t been spectacular for pictures, but I still managed to get some pretty decent shots. After another late lunch followed by a late afternoon nap, we set off for the Wynn Hotel and Casino around 8PM. We went to their buffet dinner and were treated to absolutely phenomenal food!!! …and the desserts… sublime!!!!!!!

After dinner, I took out a little money from the ATM and decided to try my luck. One round of BlackJack and 200 HKD (Approx. $20 US) later I found myself with 100 HKD left. Half thinking about leaving I decided to sit down at a slot machine. I inserted 20 HKD and started to play. Well, I must have found my game, because I turned 300 HKD into 3,000 HKD!!! I walked out of the Casino with about 2,500 HKD ($250 USD) figuring it was better to take the money and run.

And now, here I am. It is almost 3 AM. Even though we got back at midnight, I haven’t been able to sleep. A mixture I think of the adrenaline/excitement from winning, and also that huge glass of iced coffee I had with dinner mixed with a sugar rush from the desserts… damnit.

So, with my luck turned around, and hopefully sunnier weather ahead, I am looking forward to catching our flight to Bangkok tomorrow (well, today technically, but you know what I mean) and seeing Cambodia the day afterward!

Pictures, movies, and more updates to come! Cheers and Zai jian!

Big Developments...

2010-01-28T02:26:00.000+08:00

For those of you who read this blog regularly, you may have been able to tell from previous posts that I have been pretty disappointed and discontent with my graduate program. Well, I have brought the issue to a head now. I emailed the administration, my professors, and fellow students about my thoughts. I was pretty damning, but I did not want to sugar coat anything. I have been getting a lot of support from my fellow students for the most part and several other people have spoken up now about the inadequacies of the program. Needless to say, I am now more-or-less no longer a part of the program. I did however opt to finish out the business class for three reasons:

1) It's the best class the program has going for it by miles. It is intellectually stimulating and pragmatic using excellent materials combined with instruction and advice from a many-time multinational CEO who has relevant and in-depth experience.

2) This will (or should - famous last words) keep my loans from demanding immediate repayment.

And 3) I did not want to bail out on my group for the group business plan we were developing

In other developments, I have sent a request to teach a proper full-time course load (I was only 2 hours away anyways) and be paid what I should (approximately 3X my current salary). Fortunately, I have leverage and justification in this department since there are several schools in the area actively looking for music teachers and offering the salary I have requested. I have not actually mentioned change in my salary yet, but I will be pushing for it.

I have had the last few days off because I AM FINALLY ON VACATION!!!! This past Friday was my last day until the end of February. I am leaving on Sunday for my whirlwind tour of Southeast Asia and I couldn't be any more excited or ready to get away. With my bonus for perfect attendance, bonus for an excellent Christmas program, and hopefully my loan money coming in, I should be able to live without a care on vacation and also buy a few things I've been wanting.

I got two new pairs of glasses - correct prescription included, two new watches, a new pair of jeans - custom made, a new pair of dress slacks - custom made, a new sports coat - custom made, 5 new dress shirts - custom made, and tomorrow I'm going to finally get my camera. A little overboard? Yea... but I got great deals on everything so far (Y2,000 (about $300) for everything but the camera) and it's not everyday you get a bonus!

Finally, for those of you who haven't seen me since I left, I have been making some pretty big changes. I am sporting a neatly trimmed beard and have lost over 15 kg (30+ lbs.) I know some relatives contributed to my gym membership for Christmas, and I am happy to tell you that I am going regularly and that it is paying off - thank you! My goal is to lose another 15 kg before the end of my contract (June 30) so that I will be close to what I was Sophomore year in College which I consider to be probably about the best shape I was in. I wasn't very good to myself junior and senior year...

Anyways, hope all is well with you wherever you may be and that you are keeping warm amidst this very cold winter. In the meantime, I will be heading down to the tropical Thai island of Phuket!

Pictures and a vacation recap to come in 3 weeks! Until then, Zai jian!

A new composition - Child's Play

2010-01-22T21:46:00.002+08:00

I wrote this piece this past week. It's a jazz tune which I have entitled Child's Play. The idea is two-fold: 1.) I wrote the piece in between my classes at the elementary school, 2.) the bridge is a repetitive pattern that almost makes one think of a child who incessantly whines for what he wants until he gets it. This is the first copy of the piece. If and when I perform it, it would be for a small jazz group (bass, piano, drums, and trumpet or sax). So what you are hearing is the head (melody) with a bare-bones harmony underneath. This way, I can hand each member of a group a lead sheet that has the chord symbols and melody and be able to solo over the changes after playing the head. Enjoy!

NYE 2010!

2010-01-09T21:11:00.002+08:00

My New Year

Andrew - Kelly - Austin

Words by others...

2010-01-04T18:47:00.000+08:00

Just when I think that I don't have a firm grasp on life or what it means to be a young American professional living abroad, I always seem to find little bits and pieces that tie everything together. I recently came across the blog of an old classmate of mine back at Miami. Her name is Kristen and she is currently in Istanbul, Turkey. As I was reading back through her blog catching up with what she's been doing I found these two paragraphs that seemed to mimic exactly my thoughts and so I thought I would share it with you. Kristen, if you ever read this - thank you!

On that topic, I've realized there are a lot of discontent young people in the world, and I'm trying to figure out why. I talk with my friends working in other cities, all over the world, and no one is really very satisfied with where they are or what they're doing. So many people are bored with their city, hate their jobs, are tired of the same old people, places, offices, weekend nights at the same bars... it's interesting to me, because I'm no different. We all talk, and we say the same things. I want to go somewhere new, meet new people, see new things, I wish I made more money, wish my job was more interesting, wish I could travel more, I need adventure, etc. As I found coming to Istanbul, the perfect city sketched out and dreamt about in my head, you can't find happiness just in a place, or a job, or a lifestyle. But why are none of us really happy where we are for very long? Is it a problem with us, or is it a problem with society? That isn't a question trying to prove some point, I really wonder.

Someone told me once about a year ago that I have "unrealistic expectations of life and people." I was incredibly offended by this comment, especially within the context in which it was said, but it's proven to be one of those things that someone says to you that just sticks in your head. I think that's because it hit very close to home... maybe it's true? I'm not sure if that means I have to be content with just me, becuase it's the only guaranteed consistent thing in my life, so I don't set myself up for disappointment, or if I have to look for satisfaction elsewhere. Happiness comes and goes from my life without telling me where it's coming from or going to. For now, I'm happy. I've made a lot of friends, life is new and interesting, awesome city, I'm busy, I live with like-minded expats, and I feel like I'm learning, going somewhere, and doing something. I don't know how things will be in a month or two or eleven.

I wonder if this really does mean that my generation is becoming another lost generation... I certainly hope not, but it does seem like so many of us are just wandering without any real aim or direction. Maybe one day we will know...

New Years Festivities!

2010-01-03T15:18:00.001+08:00

Happy 2010! There is something wonderful about the New Year. Always a sense of wonder. What will this year bring? So many exciting opportunities and possibilities. I am awaiting word from Michigan State University's School of Music, considering working in India, or an MBA. So many different directions for this year to take me!

This was probably one of the coolest New Years Eve's I have ever celebrated. But first let me back track to a few days before hand. I had been wanting to get some custom made clothing (suits, shirts, etc.) for a while. With pay day coming right between Christmas and New Year, and with several people paying off debts they owed me, I had an abundant amount of cash on hand and it seemed like a good time to go Christmas shopping for myself. So I went to the fabric market on the South Bund. This place is like a candy shop of fashion. Any kind of belt, shirt, shoe, scarf, suit, dress, you name it, they have it! So I carefully chose a vendor to make 4 shirts for me (@ $15 each), chose a different vendor to make a copy of the Tom Ford (a Men's fashion designer from London) overcoat that Daniel Craig wears in the most recent James Bond movies, and had a blue lightly striped 3-piece suit made. Then I picked out some scarves, belts, and ties from various other vendors. When the dust cleared, I had only spent about 1,200 RMB ($175 USD) on all of these custom, tailor-fitted clothes!!! Better yet, it only took 24 hours to make all of it!

If any of you readers want custom clothing, just send me your dimensions, a picture/description of what you want, and some cash and I will hook you up! Or better yet, if you visit, I will take you to the wonderland of fashion!

So, after I had all my clothing, it was time to get ready for the big night. After cleaning the apartment, I got dressed. I'm not by any means a narcissist - but damn - I thought that suit looked really good on me! We had friends over around 8:30. At around 10 we jumped in cabs and headed for the bund - the ritziest part of Shanghai that sits on the bank of the Huangpu River. Glamour, a club that sits on the 6th floor and has outstanding views was hosting a big New Years party that evening. With all of us decked out in suits and dresses, we had little problem getting in, especially when we started flashing 100 RMB notes (this is probably the only time I will feel this rich in my entire life!!!). As we looked out over the town we saw hundreds of red lamp balloons floating away as people made wishes for the new year. Around 1 AM, we headed to Shanghai 1933, a former slaughterhouse built in the art deco fashion. The inside looked like an MC Escher painting (with all the different stairwells going every which way). However when we got there they were experiencing technical problems so we headed to the Shelter - a former bomb shelter underground which is also really cool inside. Got home at around 5 AM. All in all - a GREAT night. I've been spending the rest of the weekend recovering sleep.

Concordia classes start back up this week and I can already feel my blood pressure and anxiety rising. Maybe this is a sign. If I get accepted by Michigan State (should know in 2 weeks - ahhh!) I think I'm going to have to seriously consider whether or not to stay with the Concordia program. Sure, I'll stay here in China for the rest of the year, but I don't know if it's worth my sanity to put up with another semester. On the same end, maybe this semester will be better - I've already adjusted to being here so there wont be the sense of rush as with last semester, I get more break time this semester, so maybe I can actually get work done ahead of time...

Not sure yet. I will stick it out until the beginning of February at the latest (so that I can get my money back if need be). On the other hand, if I drop out, I will have all of that loan money to travel with. Possibilities... I mean - I have the rest of my life to pay off that debt, why not travel and enjoy all that life and the world has to offer while I'm still young and able? We will have to wait and see.

In other news, I have finalized my February travel plans and here is the itinerary:

February 1st: 8PM Fly from Shanghai to Shenzhen. Stay in cheap hotel overnight.
February 2nd: See some of Shenzhen in the morning while waiting for the afternoon ferry to Maccau, the former Portuguese colony opposite of Hong Kong. Stay at the Augsters Lodge ( http://www.augusters.de/ )
February 3rd: Explore Maccau
February 4th: Explore Maccau, catch afternoon ferry to Shenzhen, board 11PM flight to Bangkok, Thailand.
February 5th: 2AM arrive in Bangkok, 6AM board train to Cambodia 1PM arrive at border, 3PM arrive in Siem Reap, home of Angkor Wat. Stay overnight in Cambodia
February 6th: Check out surrounding area
February 7th: Travel back to Bangkok, overnight in Bangkok
February 8th: 8AM flight to Phuket - tropical island in the south - great scuba diving. Check into Bodega ( http://www.bodegaphuket.com/ ) a really neat looking hotel.
February 9-10: Lay on beach/get scuba certification.
February 11th: Lay on beach - check out, fly back to Bangkok. Overnight in Bangkok
February 12th: Explore Bangkok
February 13th: Explore Bangkok, board plane for Shenzhen after midnight (14th)
February 14th: 5am arrive in Shenzhen, take train to Hong Kong. Celebrate Chinese New Year in Hong Kong
February 15th: More Chinese New Year in Hong Kong
February 16th: Return flight to Shanghai

So, I am REALLY EXCITED for this trip! I plan on getting a new camera and taking lots of pictures, so don't worry!

Finally, to wrap up this long post, I finally managed to get my videos loaded onto youtube. The first two videos chronicle my daily commute between the elementary school and high school. I no longer live at those dorms though, so my daily commute now also includes the subway which I will be sure to make a video of and post once I get my new camera (thinking the Canon Powershot S90 - just in case anyone was wondering). Apologies in advance for the sound quality!! Also, I have a video of me walking down a street near the YuYuan gardens just to give you a taste of the sights and sounds. I hope you enjoy them!

Until next time, Zai jian!

Communism and Christmas

2009-12-25T01:37:00.001+08:00

China is an interesting place in many respects. One of these is how they adopt western customs and put their own twist on things. Not very many people have tomorrow off of work to celebrate the "capitalist commercial holiday" which the government here really just uses to promote a winter sales extravaganza which is not completely dissimilar to home, but lacks the true meaning of the holidays. Back home, where people seem to put on their better sides and be genuinely jolly for a few short weeks as we are all caught up in the festive spirit, we all know (even if we don't show or acknowledge it) what is at the heart of Christmas. The birth of a savior. One great gift to all mankind. It is in this giving spirit that many of us (not all) give and receive gifts.

All of this is seemingly lost on the Chinese who go about their Decembers as if it were just another day, week, month. It's depressing really. I feel like Charlie Brown - I am not able to find the holiday joy that is so pervasive in the States (and I imagine other Western (Christian) cultures), and have trouble finding the true meaning. I wish I knew a good church to go to, if for no other reason than to sing the Christmas music and get me in the mood.

Instead, I walk about the city witnessing the hollowed out form of Christmas, complete with hokey decorations, no spirit, and capitalism at its finest (in a communist country...). I hope that even as some Americans lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas, that we never fall into this spiritless Hallmark that seems to surround me.

For what it's worth, I feel I did my part to put Christ in Christmas. I tested the waters of the Communist censor by having my students perform A Charlie Brown Christmas, which, if you will recall, features Linus who reads from Luke:

The kids did great. I wrote and performed a Christmas medley containing What Child Is This (Greensleeves), Silver Bells, and The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting). After the last two weeks, I was exhausted, came home and slept for 6 hours.

It seems like after having lived in the States all my life, that my body knew that it was time for a break, but my job tells me otherwise. I thought I went into teaching for the vacation time! (Not really, but it is a pretty great perk)

Throughout it all, I think what is most dispiriting is not being with family and friends at this time of year. I really miss all of them so very much. Someone pointed out to me that this is the same fate of our soldiers, and it really makes me appreciate their dedication all the more now that I am missing out on so much back home as well.

Here's hoping you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See you in 2010!

********
Christmas morning update:

I woke up this morning to fireworks and firecrackers blowing up all over the place (not like American fireworks - these things sound like bombs) and the workers who have been renovating the apartment next door pounding away with power tools.... so much for sleeping in heavenly peace... Merry Christmas everyone!

The winds of change... they're a blowin...

2009-12-07T21:15:00.001+08:00

Its been a few weeks since I've written anything substantial so, since writing this also serves as procrastination in other less desirable things I have to do (homework, et cetera) I will happily fill you in on the latest.

It seems like everyone back home was complaining about not enough of a break for Thanksgiving. These people need to stop complaining - I had 0 days Thanksgiving break, but that didnt stop me from having three fantastic feasts! On Thursday, the day of Thanksgiving, I went out with Kelly, a girl from my program and some of her colleagues to eat a 4-course Thanksgiving meal at a western restaurant run by a Canadian. On Friday, our school treated the American and Canadian teachers to an elegant feast at Malone's - a nice pub near our school. They served whole turkeys and legs of ham complete with all the fixings (except the cornbread pudding :'-( ).

The wine flowed free but I wasn't drinking much that night because I had my first paid gig at the JZ jazz club in Shanghai. I played with the club's salsa band. It was sooo much fun and it was hard to believe there are so many latinos in China! I would post pictures, but alas, one of the guys lost my camera (the second camera lost in China!). Fortunately, I've been promised a replacement. The gig paid well and I thought I played pretty well. I got my phone number out to some of the guys in the band and look forward to my next sub job!

The following night, the dean of our program had us over to his house for dinner. The dinner was good and it was even better to see some of my friends who hold teaching positions in Hangzhou (a city 2 hours by train south of Shanghai known for its lakes)

This past weekend I made a big change. I moved from the east side of the river over to the west side of the river to where more of the nightlife is. This move has also had the mission of separating my personal life from my work life which I feel may allow me to unwind a little more. Better still, the neighborhood is fantastic, the commute is negligible (10 min walk, 20 min subway, 5 min walk), our view is great, and this apartment (excuse my French) is the SHIT!

We've only been here 3 nights now, but my living situation has vastly improved and I think my mental (and perhaps physical) health will be the better for it. Speaking of health, there are also several gyms nearby (which I have yet to see or find - but I'll be looking this week) and I look forward to joining one soon. I decided that part of my making something out of 23 is getting back into shape. I was in pretty good shape after my sophomore year and I bet with hard work and dedication, I can get back to looking the way I did then.

However, even if I do start getting better exercise, it's hard to eat right here I think. I mean, I don't really eat fried food, but everything - and I mean everything - is cooked in oil. Add in the fact that the Chinese love to put MSG in everything and you have a recipe for a poor diet. I'd hate to see what my sodium levels are like right now... :-/

Anyways, this is getting a little long winded so I will stop there. Hopefully I will have a new camera soon and I will be able to show you some of the new neighborhood and the apartment.

Until then, Zai jian!

Cornbread Pudding where art thou?

2009-11-27T01:12:00.000+08:00

Well, it had to be done. Despite the normal complaining I do on here, it would be remiss of me not to write about what I am thankful for on this, the day of Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for so many friends from so many places and so many different ways that I know and love you.

For troops who pay the ultimate sacrifice as we sit idly by. For their courage, bravery, and tenacity. They fight to preserve the freedoms I cannot enjoy in a land outside of my own.

I am thankful to be blessed with opportunity and fortune but also good health.

I am thankful for a God who is merciful and just and who now keeps company with Grandpa. Maybe they go fishing...

But most of all, I am so thankful for a loving and caring family. For parents who love and believe in me. For a younger brother whom we love and believe in. For extended family and for their continued health.

I wish I could be home so that I could cherish all that I truly have to be thankful for.

Here's wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving

Two Months in the Orient

2009-11-12T00:11:00.000+08:00

Well, its probably closer to about 75 days, but I'm not really sure. I haven't really been keeping track. So after spending this time so far, I thought I'd share some observations and quips.

1. The Chinese have no sense of self-awareness.

This has become my biggest pet peeve about the Chinese (aside from perhaps the spitting). When I was riding my bike back from work today, I almost ran over a gentleman who leaped out in front of my bike causing me to slam on my brakes. This occurs probably 3-4 times a day. Fellow bikers tend to swerve and go about there way seemingly unaware of who or what is around them. I understand why Chinese use their horns so much now. But it would all be avoided if these people just used some common sense and common courtesy, but I suppose those things aren't important in a collectivist society - after all, one roadkill pedestrian is just replaced by a newborn at probably the same instant - and there are 1.4 billion more...

In this same vein of self-awareness, the Chinese people are probably the loudest people I have ever encountered. I suppose when there are so many you have to shout to have any say...

2. Things that would cause lawsuits in the US are of little concern to the Chinese

Examples: Sending children to attend a school that is still under construction (and as far as I know still not inspected), sending students to school when there is no power across the city, using smoke bombs, fire pits and chemical sprayers to demonstrate fire safety in a highly politicized and flashy fire safety spectacle (I wish I had known ahead of time so that I could have taken pictures!).

3. The Chinese LOVE children

One aspect that I have found to be redeeming of the Chinese collectivist culture is the love that is lavished upon children here. Sometimes when I am on the subway and someone brings a young child with them, many people want to hold them, they coo them and talk to them, I have seen some give little treats. It is very endearing to watch actually. This generally happens to children under four I would say. There is something about young Asian children though, they sure are cute. (Refer back to my older post with pictures of the students)

4. Shanghai needs to move to 24hr Subway service

Even just going over to the other side of the river twice a week is costing me around Y 80 - 200 each week! By the end of the month, it ends up being one of my chief expenses. Step it up metro!

5. No, I do not want to buy your )(&#@%!)& watch, bag, or laser - for the millionth time!

I can certainly appreciate China's acceptance and move to a more capitalistic and entrepreneurial economic system, but the overabundance and constant badgering of street vendors is working against themselves. Do they realize that they are undercutting each other by selling the exact same product. I can make the vendors bid on a lowest price. Some vendors collude on price setting (thanks MicroEcon!) but there's always one that doesn't - you just have to look. All said and done, if you're on a budget (aka - you make a Chinese salary) and looking for something in Shanghai, it's a hassle and a half to find good prices. Perhaps their strategy is to wear you down so much that you eventually just give in and buy... if this is the case, they may just be winning...

6. To keep people employed, the government creates meaningless, mundane, and generally useless projects/jobs to keep workers busy.

Examples - tear up an entire street that is in no need of maintenance and then repave it, pick up all of the bricks in a sidewalk and rearrange them, sweep the streets (by dust pan and broom), pick plastic bottles out of the trashcans, stand at street corners to make sure people know when it is okay to cross - even though there are clearly labeled street lights, and guards for every single building in the entire city (who spend most of their time sleeping) just to name a few...

7. The government likes to be irrational.

Tomorrow the entire district of Pudong - the largest district in Shanghai, with a population of well over 3 million - will have its power shut off from 5AM-7PM for seemingly no reason (at least none that I've been given).

8. It aint Kansas...

...but in some strange way, I kind of like it here. I suppose this is good considering the abysmal job market back home. I just hope that next year I can find a job that pays a competitive wage (i.e. more than double what I currently make) and is more similar to where my expertise lies - or maybe even something completely different like working for a local multinational.

Despite troubling news back home, I think things might be starting to look up a little here - but I don't want to get too ahead of myself...

So, until next time - zai jian!

What do you want to be when you grow up...?

2009-11-04T21:54:00.000+08:00

Is it frightening that I still don't know the answer to that question? Sure, I have a few different jobs that I think I might find illuminating, but I need a career soon - not a job. In this respect I envy my father. If I'm not mistaken, he has been with PWC for 30+ years now, and of that 30 I think he's coming up on 20 years as a partner (I think). To be honest, while I could never see myself working in a corporate environment, I've noticed more and more the benefits and perks Dad has gotten through work over the past five years or so and realized that they are things that I can never expect to get in any of the lines of work I might one day hope to do.

I guess thats the problem with having a mind for social justice. I know that whatever I wind up doing it will be dedicated to service or working for the betterment of others. Teaching, government service, the arts, working for non-profits... these are all relatively low paying thankless jobs, most of which I recently saw on CNN's most high-stressed under-paying jobs ( http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/pf/0910/gallery.stressful_jobs/15.html ). Why am I such a glutton for punishment?

But even though I know this is the general area I want to go, there are so many different avenues. I recently started looking at MBA's again thinking maybe I could work in arts management. But maybe I want to teach some more. But then again, maybe I should stay in one place for awhile. I love writing music and I've been told I'm good, but how will I reconcile all of the debt I will accumulate? Writing music only makes decent wages at the upper echelons. I think of course I would want to teach (and this would be the best route to write and teach), but if you think jobs are easy to come by right now, you havent read Paul Krugman's recent op-ed in the NY Times ( http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/02/opinion/02krugman.html?_r=3&ref=opinion ). Another job-seeking friend (and I have Oh-so-many right now) told me that they heard the figure of 6 job seeking Americans for each currently available job... Am I even going to be able to come back to the states anytime soon?

Maybe I'm being a pessimist, maybe I'm being a realist, I dont know. I know I'm furthering my education at the moment (or at least I'm paying for a piece of paper that says that I am), and that's gotta count for something right? My fear is that I stay in school, accumulate too much debt, have no practical real-world experience and find myself working in a dead end job just to make ends meet. The problem is that the opportunities to negate this problem are few and far between at the moment absent of staying abroad.

The world really is a small world after all. I don't think I ever imagined growing up, that I would have to seek employment outside of my own native land in order to ensure my eventual success, but it seems to me right now, that I will probably have to spend quite some time abroad before I can make a return. Most would see this as an opportunity - and they are of course right. But an opportunity wrought at the hands of necessity is not the kind of opportunistic world in which I would have preferred to live in.

Here's hoping for a better tomorrow.

Until next time, Zai jian.

Thoughts on 23

2009-10-27T10:27:00.000+08:00

So I'm 23 now. Wow. When my parents were this age they were married. So were my moms parents. So are some of my friends. This is weird.

With this and my last birthday, I've come to realize why birthdays become less and less a big deal to "grown-ups" which I guess I am now - they just get more and more depressing. I mean, I guess I have 25 to look forward to... less car insurance premiums, being able to rent a car, and being able to run for congress. Oh, and being a quarter-of-a-century old.

My age keeps becoming more and more apparent as I make references to things that were common-culture and widely known in my generation to my classrooms, to which I receive blank stares. Some of my first graders were born in 2004. F&@%!

Now, I know as my parents and grandparents read this they will probably be chuckling to themselves and saying "You think you're old!?" but truth be told, I do, and I don't know how I feel about it. I mean, we always dream of going off on our own, and now that I'm on the other side of the world, I suppose I really took that to an extreme, but it takes special occasions like your birthday, and like Thanksgiving coming up when you realize that you've completely left the nest and that you have to create your own world and reality. That's why I feel so old and at the same time a little lost and confused.

It seems like there is an infinite number of possibilities (which is certainly not a bad thing) and an infinite number of directions I could go. I need to find direction. I've been too complacent this past year. My goal for 23 is to truly figure out my priorities and try to find a wind to set my sail to, at least for a little while.

I guess I better learn how to sail...

Until next time, Zai jian!

A Chinese Tea Party

2009-10-26T17:54:00.001+08:00

This past weekend I went to the Yuyuan Gardens. This secluded area in Shanghai is over 600 years old and is absolutely gorgeous. (Don't worry, I took pictures) It was nice to walk around and just take in the sights. What I really went there for though, was the good tea shops.

Let me tell you about buying tea in China. It is an adventure! As you walk in, you are shown the different teas that the store has. You look at and smell the different varieties that interest you, choose a few and then sit down with the shop owner who is typically a tea connoisseur. He has many pots and cups and all sorts of tea making and brewing devices between the two of you and he moves all of them around with such finesse. In no time flat, he serves you a sample of each type of tea you have shown interest in. Then you sit and enjoy each cup meanwhile discussing what you like about it. It's almost like a wine tasting. I'm really not doing this experience justice though, I will have to take some pictures the next time I go.

I wound up selecting some oolong tea which is very famous in China and some litchi black tea. The oolong (which is a white variety) has a very nice subtle sweet aftertaste that you dont realize until after you have swallowed the tea. It is also said to be very good for you (not as many antioxidants as green teas, but has better cardiovascular effects). The litchi black tea smells amazing! It is a bolder, stronger tea that has a little more bite and some caffeine. If you don't know, a litchi (pronounced lee-chee) is a kind of fruit that is grown over here that tastes similar to a tangerine.

To finalize my tea adventure, I bought a special 3-part tea cup. I will try my best to describe the cup. It consists of the cup itself, a tea strainer/holder that fits inside the cup, and a lid to place ontop while the tea is brewing in your cup. The lid comes off, flips over, and holds the strainer so that you can re-brew the same leaves again (Chinese tea is brewed 3-5 times before it loses flavor - good tea is best on its 3rd soak). It's pretty cool.

So, since I am away from my wines, and since I am always striving to find and cultivate the finer things in life, I think I may have found a new (and healthier) thing to enjoy while I'm here in China. But wait, it gets better! All this tea and my cup barely cost me $35. Can't get too much better than that!

More about other things later - until then - Zai jian

The Promenade

Fascinating architecture

Busy even on a slow day...

Modern China... Ancient China

Through the corridors...

Getting ready for the Expo!

Ponderances

2009-10-21T20:02:00.001+08:00

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. Thinking about what to do next year, the next couple of years, my life... I don't know. I think I'm going to wait another year before I seriously try to apply for graduate work in music composition. The reasoning behind this is two-fold. 1.) I don't have an orchestral piece 2.) For some of the schools, I don't have 7 pieces that I think are strong enough to make it.

This has lead me to consider where I might want to teach next year. A.R. Rahman's KM Conservatory has an opening for a western trumpet teacher, and I sort of have an in with Srini and Ethan. Korea pays better than China and I know people over there. I found a jazz school here in Shanghai that I might be interviewing with sometime soon that if lucrative enough might convince me to stick around. And then there's returning to the states.

Things have an interesting way of working out it seems. Last week, the New York City Department of Education's hiring office contacted me to see if I would be interested in a job in Brooklyn. I can't say that I would say no if they offered it to me - even if they wanted me to start right away. But what, might you ask - what about my masters program?

While it's true that I've now paid for about half of it, at this point, I'd be willing to walk away. Truth be told, I am not impressed by this program. While it is great that I am living here in China, teaching music, and earning my masters all the same time, the quality of the classes is something to be desired. For example, the man "teaching" the education practicum (which is like a repeat of my student teaching) has less experience and knowledge about formal education than I do. Additionally, he requires that I write lesson plans for classes that I do not actually teach and has a penchant for quantity instead of quality when doing weekly write-ups. I don't want to say it's a complete waste of my time.... but it is.

The business class is good, but the professor is very nit-picky. And then we have a research class that seems more like busy work more than actual research (all we do is replicate studies someone conducted 10-15 years ago - hardly the same validity). If I sound frustrated, I am. I feel like I'm just paying money to get a piece of paper. At the risk of sounding arrogant - for the most part; the work is below me.

So - Mom and Dad - if New York offers me the job, I might be home for Christmas. If not, I'll suck it up and stick it out.

On a lighter note - I made a video of my daily ride to the high school - I will try to find a way to get this up if not here on the blog, then on youtube...

Until next time - Zai jian!

Miami Press Release

2009-10-15T22:21:00.000+08:00

The link above is to the Miami press release regarding the "Legacy Fest" Homecoming concert in which my piece Quest Forth: A Bicentennial Fanfare will be performed.

I am so very excited - I only wish that they would telecast this or stream it on the internet. I mean, if they telecast the Bicentennial Charter Day Ball, then surely they would telecast something of this much artistic merit... right....?

I might as well be in Germany...

2009-10-09T00:40:00.000+08:00

Just got back from vacationing in Nanjing with Austin. For those of you who don't know (i.e. if you don't care skip to the next paragraph), Nanjing is located about 300km due West/Northwest from Shanghai. (About a 2 1/2 hour train ride) It was capital of China during the Nationalist period (1911-1949) and was also a significant city dating back to Ming dynasty times (1300's). It is also the place where Sun Yat Sen, leader of the nationalist rebellion against the the Qing Dynasty (the last dynasty), is buried. During the lead up to WWII, the Japanese invaded China and took over Nanjing. While in Nanjing, the Japanese massacred over 300,000 Chinese people, pillaged and burned the town, and raped tens of thousands of women and girls. This is one of the many reasons that the Chinese hate the Japanese.

Yet, despite all of this Chinese history surrounding me, I managed to find Oktoberfest. Under a tent donned in traditional Bavarian blue and white and with oompa band adorned in traditional lederhosen and wanderlust hats it was as if I had walked through a portal into a beer garden in Munich! We were sitting with Germans, speaking with Germans, eating German food, drinking good German beer...! Sind wir in China oder Deutschland!?! A good night was had by all, but unfortunately cameras did not accompany us so no one will be able to witness my spectacular alp-horn playing (long story).

Other than our random night in Germany, we spent the rest of our time seeing all the sites, relaxing, and taking advantage of the "food streets" in Nanjing. I'll include some pictures below.

In other news, my piece that I wrote for the bicentennial of Miami University's founding looks like it will almost certainly be performed! If this happens, it will be my second significant piece that has been performed by a large ensemble, and will look better on future music school applications. What's more is that my piece is being premiered along side of pieces by my professors and three other very reputable names in the composing world (Steve Reinicke, Dave Shaffer, and Benny Golson!!!) To be included among my mentors and among such outstanding composers is truly an honor and a privilege!

But here and for now its back to work and business as usual. I don't know how I'm going to fare with only 2 more days off until our long break in February (one for Christmas and the other for New Years), but I'm trying to prepare myself for the long haul. I'm finding that I'm staring to miss America some and wish I could be closer to my friends, but I was glad to see that Collegiate Chorale is now definitely committed to coming here to China in May.

Until next time, Zai jian! (or should I start saying Auf wiedersehen!?!?)

A food street

Our hotel

Sun Yat Sen's Mauseleum - the flowers have 60 written in them to celebrate the 60th year of the PRC (communism)

Yours truly Liggua Pagoda

View of Nanjing from top of Pagoda

Pretty

Market street

Beginning to feel like a true Shanghaian

2009-09-29T15:46:00.003+08:00

It always takes some time getting used to something new - especially when its in a foreign country, but alas, I am finally starting to feel used to my new home. I am able to find my way around more and more remembering streets I've taken here and there and subway lines and stations that go this way and that. I'm also becoming more aggressive on my bike (read: like a crazy Asian driver) and am able to get places quicker and with less hassle. I'm starting to drown out some of the goofy quirks of the Chinese as they become less unusual and more a part of what I am learning to expect from people. My body is also getting used to the different kinds of food (though I still manage to find something to disagree with it at least weekly).

My Chinese, while still not that great, is slowly improving and I am able to manage in restaurants and simple requests. My biggest accomplishment in this respect came last week when I had the day off because the students were on a fieldtrip. After Skyping with Dad, I went and got lunch at the Muslim resturaunt (this is what the Chinese call it - the people are of the Uighur minority (pronounced wee-ger) from out west near Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, etc.) The food there is good, and consists of noodle dishes that are specific to this region that they hand make and prepare fresh for each dish. Next time I go, I will try to remember to bring my camera so that you can see what I mean. Afterward, I walked over to the hair salon that is just down the street from the dorm. Between hand signals, broken Chinese, and broken English I managed to get a half way decent hair cut! Next time I go, I hope to be able to communicate with the hair dresser better.

The day after the students were off for a field trip, the students had sports day - an entire day devoted to sports and competition. I took this opportunity to snap some pictures of some of my elementary students - I have included some of the better ones below. (You can click on them to see them full size)

The mid-autumn festival starts this week on Wednesday afternoon which means I have the next week and a half off. Originally I was trying to travel, but so is over half the country (hundreds of millions of people), so not only is travel way more expensive during this time, but its near impossible to find trains planes and automobiles to get anywhere. For a little while it looked like we might be able to take a ferry over to Japan, but the schedules didnt work out. :-( So, I have decided to save my money and wait for the long break in February. I will probably try to take a few short day trips to closer cities (Nanjing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, etc.) and explore some more of Shanghai.

This will also allow me to start working some activities into my life outside of just work as well. I have made contact with some jazz groups in town and also a local rugby team so that I can find some social outlets. I have also started apartment hunting. While the dorm is nice, its kind of like college, the sooner you can move off campus the better. I would still be able to take advantage of free breakfast and lunch at the school and I could rake in the extra RMB leftover after paying rent (which is cheap!) Living off campus could potentially save me up to 1200 RMB a month (approx. $180). So we will see what happens.

Speaking of finding places to live, I finally have my residency permit/visa (kind of like a green card) which now means I am a legal citizen of the PRC. I also have my Foreign Expert ID which makes me feel all official and everything. I can now come and go in and out of China as I please which is pretty fantastic, and takes a little bit of pressure off.

With any luck I will be able to have a curriculum in place for the elementary after the break which should make that anxiety in my life a lot less overarching. I am really enjoying teaching my high school seniors (if there was any doubt before, clearly, I should be teaching older students), and despite a few troublemakers, generally enjoy my music ESL kids. Other than that, things are still going well.

Hope all is well with you wherever you are! Until next time, Zai jian!

This is me not doing my homework or lesson planning...

2009-09-21T11:54:00.002+08:00

Well, we're heading into week four here in Shanghai and things are starting to look up. To make things easier I am going to categorize this post by areas of interest:

Planes, Trains, and Electric Scooters

I recently bought an electric scooter (lookout Shanghai!) which is my main means of transportation when going between the elementary and high schools. It is gray, kind of small (my knees stick out when I ride it), and tops out at around a hot 40 kph! (just shy of 25 mph). At around 2,100 RMB ($300) this has been (and other than travel, will be) my biggest purchase. Needless to say, I'm very protective and lock it up as much as I can everywhere I go. One downside is that, on days like today when its raining - it can be a real pain in the ass getting around (read: getting soaked = not fun).

When I go anywhere else in the city its either by subway or taxi. Annoyingly, the subways close down around 10:30 here (to keep the bums from living there permanently) which means when you are out on the weekends, you have to cab it back across the river. Which, for those of you out there who don't know, I live in Pudong on the east side of the Hangpu River, but all of the clubs, and mostly anything interesting is in Puxi, the westt side. This results in anywhere from 30-80 RMB per cab ride ($4-11 USD), a large sum of money for a lowly teachers salary.

Shanghai, einen Stadt internationale

I have met so many people from so many sides of the world... it's uncanny and incredible. Who knew that German fluency would come in handy in China of all places. I have spoken the following languages in the last week: German, Italian, French, English (duh), Chinese, Russian, and Spanish! Truly, there cannot be a more international city than here. What's more, I've already run into a Glee Clubber here when I was at a club the other night - how small (or flat as it were) the world has become!

Teaching the Dolce & Gabbana Children of Shanghai

While I am pretty content with teaching my high school classes, my elementary classes continue to pose the greatest challenge to me. It is difficult planning for children with short attention spans and the inability to understand complex directions or abstract concepts. The biggest problem for me is having to have every last second planned or else the kids get antsy and quickly become disengaged. There's a reason I wanted to teach high school... I feel like I am beginning to make progress in my planning for the elementary students, but it continues to be an area of frustration and mental anxiety. Furthermore, I feel like I am at odds with the school - I keep asking for resources and don't receive them, yet at the same time, I am expected to produce an exceptional music program. I am trying my best, but I feel like my best is simply not adequate - again - my source of mental anxiety.

The Social Scene

Shanghai continues to prove to be a city with endless entertainment. There are many different clubs, bars, concert halls, restaurants, etc, etc, etc. I am looking forward, for instance, to seeing the Shanghai Orchestra play Shostakovich's Festive Overture, Cello Concerto No.1, Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet Overture, and Symphony #4 in a few weeks!! And better yet, tickets are only 100 RMB (about $15)!! I try to find a new club each week and see what all the nightlife has to offer. This week, my mission is to scope out a few jazz clubs and check out the live music scene.

Travel Plans

Still trying to decide where to travel to for the mid-autumn festival holiday (first week of October) thoughts are on Thailand, Hong Kong/Maccau, Sanya, and Japan. If we go to Thailand or Sanya, I plan on getting my SCUBA certification (way cheaper than in the US, and in much better diving spots!). Budgeting about 2/3 of my first paycheck for this since I wont be able to do any other major travel until the Spring Festival (all of February). For that, I'm thinking SE Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and maybe the Philippines/Singapore) or taking the train out to Yunan province, into Tibet, up Mt. Everest (as far as they let me), and into India. We'll see what cost looks like and what all is feasible.

Life in General

Other than that, life continues on, and I just try and hang on for the ride. The Concordia courses seem like busy work for the most part, so that's annoying to me, but I am enjoying the business course reading, so I suppose that has to count for something. I'm continuing to enjoy the company of new friends while trying to keep in touch with others back home by spending far too much time on facebook. I make sure to watch the Daily Show and Colbert Report online every weeknight to stay current on whats going on in America while getting my daily dose of American culture (to keep me from getting too homesick). I am generally happy with my new Chinese life despite some of the hardships and am looking forward to trying to make the most out of my time here. So before I sign off, here are some more pictures. Some come from a picnic, others just looking around campus and the nearby area, and also some from the High School campus.

Until next time, Zai jian!

Oh the places you will go...

2009-09-13T12:53:00.000+08:00

That's the name of a Dr. Seuss Book isn't it? Last night I met some Germans at the club we were at and I was speaking to them in German and it kind of hit me. I have become a man of the world. With the exception of Australia and Africa, I've hit the inhabited continents (and believe me, one of those is getting visited this year), seen much of Europe (although there is so much more to see!), been to most of the states, been on the opposite side of the world, and accomplished most of the things many people have only dreamed of such as climbing the Great Wall of China, seeing the Grand Canyon, hiking through the Hawaiian volcanoes...

Sometimes we take for granted all that we are able to do, so forgive me readers, but this is my concerted effort to take a moment, sit back, and appreciate what I've been blessed with. The opportunity of travel and to be educated in a way that only interaction with another culture can bring is something, I think, needs to be experienced by more Americans. Fortunately, this is becoming more and more a reality as international travel continues to cheapen (my one-way ticket from Dayton-Shanghai for example was only $450), and I think institutions of learning are encouraging students more and more to spend time living abroad to expand their horizons.

I wonder however, if people do this with an open mind, or if they are like some of the expats I've met who try to bring a little piece of their country to wherever it is they happen to be and remain (as much as possible) ignorant of the culture and people amongst whom they live. This is my fear. That in an age of globalization, when we should become more cognizant of each others unique qualities and traits, that we will become more secularized and refuse to open our minds to what else is out there. It's already happening - I see it living in this city of expatriates (the largest expat population in the world, if I've been told right).

Does this mean that we need to institute a global education or rather make global appreciation/anthropology a standard part of what is taught in schools? As an anthropological aficionado, I would say yes, but I would be curious to hear some other people's takes.

Anyways, enough reminiscing for now - I need to be lesson/curriculum planning. I'll give an update on my life sometime soon - hopefully with new pictures!

Until then, Zai jian!

First Week in Review

2009-09-06T00:00:00.000+08:00

My first week in China has been an interesting one full of small trials and triumphs. Let's recap:

Had an organizational meeting Tuesday morning that was supposed to start at 9:00 AM. Actual starting time: 9:34

Went to tour new facility and get textbooks. Actuality: School still under construction - my textbook should arrive in 1-3 months. Great.

Wasn't allowed to eat anything after 11:00 AM due to health examination that didn't start until 4:00 PM. Fat kid - food = unhappy camper.

Said health exam took over an hour in which I was given the following tests: ultrasound, vision, EKG, blood, vitals (height, weight, blood pressure, etc.), and chest x-ray just to name a few...

After being poked, prodded, and told I have a fatty liver we drove back across Shanghai to get dinner. By 8:00, when we finally arrived we were ravenous with hunger (I had joked earlier to Jess that when people in America talk about the starving children in China - they are referring to us). Austin and I both had the misfortune to order questionable meals. Mine was crab that was unshelled (i.e. I had to eat the whole crab and spit out the shell - not worth it) and his was chicken with more bone marrow then either of us would have cared to see (plus it was cold). Solution - Papa Johns. Extraordinary!

Thursday I was led around the local school and introduced to all the students and staff there only to find out later in the day that I wasn't going to teach there after all. So much awkwardness for nothing... dammit...

27 changes later, I am slated to teach 10 periods of elementary general (I knew I should have taken Dr. Edwards General Music class...) 2 periods of AP Music Theory, an ESL Music course (?), and I'm starting a band and choir program from scratch... Piece of Cake. (This is me rolling my eyes and wondering when I get to ask for a higher salary)

It will be nice when everything is set - but until then I continue not knowing what the hell is going on most of the time.

I have to go in tomorrow and set up my cubicle and write up lesson plans / rules / etc. Registration is on Monday and first day of classes is Tuesday. It's going to be a hectic next couple of days!

Speaking of school - I had the displeasure of hearing about the most recent piece of idiocy courtesy of Fox News regarding Obama's upcoming speech to school children. All I can say (without starting to use four-letter words and elevating my blood pressure) is that it is completely mad and unconscionable. And people wonder why I'm living in China...

Welp - gotta be at the office early tomorrow - so its off to bed for me. Too bad I can't stay up and find somewhere to watch some college football... Go USC, go Blue, and go Redhawks!

My Letter to the Editor Over Dublin's Decision to Ban President Obama's Speech

2009-09-05T23:34:00.000+08:00

I hate finding out about things like this while I'm on the other side of the world, but I'm not about to sit back and let democracy die. Here is the letter to the editor I sent to the Dispatch and also sent to Dublin superintendent, Dave Axner.

As a Columbus native, as an educator, and as a recent expatriate, I could not be more ashamed of my alma matter, my hometown, and my country than I am right now. I just finished reading Bill Bush's article "Schools to skip Obama's Speech" and I was sadly unsurprised, yet found myself in shock nonetheless. How can a school (which if public is a government entity itself) deny students the right to hear their president speak to them on the importance and privilege of education. Furthermore, how can such censorship be tolerated by enlightened professionals who teach far more objectionable content in their day-to-day classes? How does a speech from a Harvard-educated man about the importance of striving for a better life through continued learning earn the black-list when such controversial topics as evolution, sex education, and the writings of Jack Kerouac are approved? I have to be honest, the mindless squalor and the move to a practice of ignorant objection with regard to politics is one of the many reasons I find myself on the other side of the world teaching the children of Shanghai, China who are (despite a Communist government) far more willing to be reasonable and tolerant of dissenting viewpoints. I think the parents and school districts who are calling for President Obama's speech not to be shown need to reexamine their priorities. As for me - my students here in China will be viewing the speech. I hope, come Tuesday evening, I can say the same of the Dublin City Schools of which I am (until recently) a proud graduate.

Andrew M. Goldie

1289 Dingxiang Rd.
Pudong, Shanghai 200135
China
+15102163478

8193 Crossgate Ct. N.
Dublin, OH 43017
USA
614-325-3056

Fredrick Charles Edwing

2009-09-01T10:55:00.000+08:00

R.I.P. Grandpa

August 12, 1931 - August 28, 2009

The First 100 hours..

2009-09-01T09:30:00.001+08:00

There's something terrifying yet strangely magical about finding yourself seemingly alone in a country where everyone is a foot shorter, of different skin pigmentation, and speaks, at most, a few choice words in your native tongue. Ahhh, China.

Upon my (un)glorious return to the Middle Kingdom I found myself somewhat timid and confused (shell shocked). I was met and picked up at the airport by one of the schools young secretaries and one of the school's (disgruntled) drivers. On the ride to the school I sat in silence and just took in all the sights and tried to comprehend just what it was that I had gotten myself into.

As we drove into Jin Cai High School I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me as I saw signs of ongoing construction all around the campus. I was shown into my room, which though spacious, is showing its age, or rather its dilapidation. There are cracks and marks all over the walls. Yet, despite all this - it is rather comfortable. I have my own desk, office chair, queen bed, tv w/ dvd player, shelving, cabinets, full bathroom (shower only), futon, and fridge. It is air conditioned and has a small porch outside. From what I've heard, this is one of the best living situations for teachers in China. Though I was skeptical at first, I've come to really appreciate and enjoy my little apartment.

After bringing all of my belongings into the apartment, I quickly realized that I was going to need some toilet paper and other basic essentials. This led me to my first experience with Carrefour - the French equivalent of Walmart. Oh what a sight I must have been. I spent most of the time just gazing around myself stupidly trying to comprehend the influx of far too much stimuli for my jet lagged and under-rested mind to take. This led to the following humorous situation. In a moment of desperation after not being able to find toilet paper, I finally saw someone rolling a cart along with said TP inside and I quickly went up to this unsuspecting woman and pointed at her TP and said Nali, nali!? (Where, where!?) Taken aback at first, the women realized my predicament, smiled, and pointed me in the right direction. I'm sure I was the humorous topic of dinner conversation that evening... After another hour or so, I had grabbed enough bare essentials to qualify for a successful trip and decided to make my way home.

As I entered the gate to Jin Cai, I heard someone call my name. Shocked and confused, I spun around to see a girl walking up to me. This mystery person soon introduced herself as Jess. I had emailed Jess several times about what to bring, advice, and these sorts of things so it was nice to put a name to a face. Jess is teaching here for her second year after having finished her first with the Concordia MAIS (Master of Arts in International Studies (International Business Focus)) program. She invited me to dinner at an authentic Mexican food joint. I gladly accepted her invite and spent the evening with her and two other teachers.

On Saturday, I got up around noon (after sleeping for over 13 hours!) and met up with Chantear (from my MAIS cohort) and Jess to get some lunch. While Jess and I were waiting for Chantear to finish getting ready, I met another teacher who was also on his way to lunch. Austin Rahn from Savannah, Georgia has quickly become one of my best friends here. We are of a similar mind on many different issues and generally enjoy many of the same things. After going to lunch, Austin, Chantear, and I hit the Carrefour again for some more things for the apartment.

I finished unpacking and setting up the apartment that afternoon. Austin and I then caught the subway to the other side of the river to get dinner. We found a Thai restaurant on West Nanjing Rd. The food was good and not too expensive.

The next morning, Melanie (also from my cohort) and I grabbed breakfast at a bread place inside Carrefour that makes really good rolls and pastries. Later that afternoon, I took Austin to East Nanjing Rd. where all the shopping is and where I knew of a knockoff market. While we were inside the knockoff market, we ran into a girl from Stuttgart that was trying to bargain for a jacket. Since the Chinese know English and not German, I began telling her that she should not pay over a certain amount for the jacket. Surprised to here me speaking to her in German, we struck up a conversation. She asked me if I was from Switzerland, which I took as a compliment on my German fluency. She was very surprised when I told her I was from the States. She was cute - I should have thought to ask for her name and number... oh well...

Speaking in German must have gotten my mind on German food, because I realized that the Paulener restaurant that Glee Club went to last year was nearby. After being taken into an art gallery by visiting art students (thats a whole other story in itself) we managed to get ourselves to the restaraunt and enjoyed great German food and beer.

When we got back, we found that Megan had recently arrived! I spent parts of yesterday showing her around the area, trying to find a China Mobile store with Austin, and hanging around the apartment complex.

That brings me today. I've got a meeting later this afternoon about teaching and things like that (I think?). This was a pretty long post - I'll try to keep them shorter in the future - unless of course someone reading this actually cares for this much detail? Does anyone read these things? If nothing else its therapeutic for me I guess.

Until next time, Zai jian!

International Flights – Always One Helluva Journey

2009-08-28T16:57:00.000+08:00

When did international airfare become the new neo-natal ward? When did we as a society decide that we should all collectively bring our infant children onto far reaching aircraft and into the lives of sorry sons-of-bitches going on less than the prescribed amount of sleep? I mean – I can understand one or two people with children – but I am literally surrounded by new parents toting their screaming bundles of joy… interrupting my hopes for just a few measly hours of sleep. Should we start creating infant airways? The nursery if you will of the air? Should they place an age restriction on when a child is allowed to fly if for no other reason than the sanity of the other passengers? I’m writing this post in the middle of my 15 hour voyage over the North Pole, so if I don’t sound exactly cheery at this moment, forgive me.

However, on the plus side, free booze, cheap tickets, and they didn’t charge me for my excessively over packed piece of luggage or additional carry-on.

Having just written this I must bite my tongue – the toddler who has been squirming all over and kicking me for the last 7 hours just spilled his noodles all over my shoes and narrowly avoided my macbook… ahhh international travel…

4 hrs later… A caveat to my previous post: It seems that before even getting off the plane I have already had my first cultural misunderstanding. Deciding I could not take screaming infants and kicking toddlers any longer (and aside from the fact that it was about time for a good stretch anyways…) I spoke with one of the flight attendants in the rear bulkhead. According to him, this is the time of year when most parents return their children to the mainland to be taken care of and reared by their elders so that their parents can concentrate on working full time. This makes complete sense as I remember back to watching the PBS video on migrant workers and discussions on cultural practices. It seems no matter how prepared you feel you are for these things (and once it dawned on me it seemed so plainly obvious and clear) that there are so many surprises in store for me that I cannot even yet begin to comprehend.

Having said all of that, the screaming infants and terrible twosomethings are no less irritating to me right now… It’s that last few hours of the flight when you’d kill just to get off of this godforsaken plane and I’m trying to weather it the best I can.

Hopefully there will actually be someone there to pick me up!

America in a Nutshell (...or 2 weeks)

2009-08-26T12:40:00.010+08:00

Well, let me tell you something, imaginary audience... the last two weeks have been freakin' sweet to quote Family Guy's Peter Griffin.

Allow me to recap:

Drove across country through some of the most beautiful (and also some of the most boring) country this great land has to offer with Joe - from the OC back to the OH.

Went down to Oxford to see friends. Started off at Jack Keegan's for an excellent dinner coupled with (what else) fantastic wines. I brought over my 2003 Schillinger Gewurtztraminer that I had been saving since I was in Alsace in 2006. I figured it was probably peaking. Wow was I wrong! It was great but it probably still could have sat for another few years and gotten even more complexity and shed some of the sugar but you never know with good wine!

Afterwards headed over to Erika's place and met up with the old gang. Wound up spending the night there instead of over at AGleePi - mostly because a.) the couch was so comfy, b.) there was air conditioning, and c.) avoiding OPD is too stressful.

Got lunch with Speck and had a great talk reminding me of why I continue to have the utmost respect and admiration for him.

Went to one last karaoke night... (Need I say more?)

Woke up Tuesday and wandered around Miami one last time taking pictures and investigated the new business school. Can I just say that this place is OBSCENE! Leather couches, flat screens, and lounges with rich mahogany are something students should look forward to as members of Fortune 500 boards, not as douche bag business majors. But you decide for yourself - check out a few pictures.

Anyways - that's just a taste - I've got more up on facebook if you're interested. My only point is this - I don't know how anyone can consider something this grandiose as an appropriate place for students to learn business practices (or ethics for that matter) when we give them a Taj Mahal that most private enterprises have only dreamed of. This kind of dream world is going to leave future Miami business grads sorely dissapointed when they leave the bubble (which just got a hell of a lot bigger) and enter the hard-working struggle of the real world.

But enough about ridiculous business schools and on to the Big Apple!

Flew out to Newark Thursday afternoon and met up with Markus, my foreign exchange student from high school who now works for the WFUNA-Youth (World Federation of the United Nations)
on a rooftop party on the lower east side. It was sehr fantastiche! Then headed uptown past Harlem on the A-Train to stay with Jono

Friday I journeyed to the Chinese Consulate to apply for my work visa. It was actually very easy and relatively painless. I was in there little more than an hour. Afterwards, I wandered around Times Square a little and then headed back up to Washington Heights for a cat-nap. Friday night, Jono and I went and saw legendary jazz percussionist Roy Haynes and then hit the town winding up at Fat Cats down in the village where they had Magic Hat on tap!

Saturday day was pretty uneventful - after staying out until 4AM, Jono and I slept until sometime after the crack of noon. Grabbed an awesome meal deal at Dallas BBQ for lunch and then headed downtown to times Square to meet up with Cameron. We went and pestered Nick Pearson at his new job at the Heartland Chophouse. He gave us probably one of the best servers I've ever had in my entire life (needless to say he was tipped very well).

From there Cameron and I headed down to the east village to celebrate a house warming party hosted by Miamians Beth and Kate. It never ceases to amuse me how no matter how big the world may seem - it really is a small place!

From there it was off to another night of internationals at a French Crepe party hosted by a friend of Markus' who also worked for the UN. From there we took a cab to the west side to a bar to meet with yet more Miamians (craziness!). All in all a good night was had and much use of the flux capacitor ensued.

Sunday, Jono and I decided to be lazy and get away from the heat by going to see District 9 and Inglorious Bastards. Both films were PHENOMENAL! I would highly recommend both!

Monday was spent retrieving my passport with Chinese visa attached, eating a good sushi lunch, reading the New York periodicals while listening to an impromptu jazz concert on Columbus Circle, and then wandering around Central Park (which I had strangely never done before!) before heading uptown to change to meet Beth for the Dan Nimmer Trio playing at Dizzy's.

After what would otherwise be described as the perfect way to kick off going to China, I had to suffer something equally American... #@)$-ing Delta's terrible customer service. They wouldn't let me take my carry-on on - charged me for it - were delayed over an hour causing me to miss my connecting flight - which made me wait another 3 hours with no meal voucher, crabby attitudes, and misplacing luggage.....AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

But now I'm home - and have napped off the frustration. There is now only tomorrow that stands between me and China. I better be the super efficient tomorrow because I haven't even begun to pack.... Oops....

I imagine the next time I write I will be on the other side of the world...

Until then! Zai jian!

On the verge of a new adventure...

2009-08-16T09:23:00.000+08:00

12 Days.

In just a dozen days I will be somewhere over the North Pole on my way to teach the Dolce & Gabana children of Shanghai, China my supposed "Foreign Expert" knowledge of the English language. There are so many different things on my mind - excitement, anxiousness, and an open mind just to name a few.

I know I'm going to overpack - it's just in my nature. Even though it's been years since I've been in boyscouts, the "always be prepared" mentality never seems to go away. Thus necessitating the need to pack for any and every contingency and social situation - man, I feel like a woman...

I'm really glad that I've decided to visit with friends back in Oxford and out in NYC before I go. I'm looking forward to seeing them and spending time with them one last time before I head off on my journey. With any luck I will get a chance to see many of my friends in Miami's Collegiate Chorale in May during their tour to sing at the World Expo which is literally blocks (from what I can tell) from where I am going to live.

Shanghai seems like it's going to be a great place to live! I'm already excited to join the local rugby club (http://www.shanghaifootballclub.com/), check out all the live music venues I've been scoping out, and just wandering around in a city that is both ancient and ultra modern at the same time

I'm not really sure at this point how often I will update this blog, but I will make it my goal to try to write once a week once I'm in China to detail my journeys, explorations, and discoveries.

Until next time, Zai jian!