Okay, okay, okay...I KNOW...it's a family blog...foul language is inappropriate. But please read my story before you judge me.
Today was one of those frustrating days that seem to happen from time to time. I left work in a foul mood and things didn't appear to be headed to a happy place. As I'm walking up the path to my apartment building then who should come waddling up opposite me but a Chinese woman I estimate to be in her late 30's with a face that made it clear she hasn't laughed in at least two decades wearing a black t-shirt with big white lettering saying "I'm Fucking Awesome". Classic Chinese...wearing shirts that are in English and they have no idea what they say. I started laughing out loud, I'm a bit ashamed to admit, right at her. I think she probably won't smile again for at least another decade because of me. But it did cheer me up!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Bye Shanghai
So I'm back from my 'field trip' to Shanghai and the World Expo. It was a-mazing! First Shanghai; the skyline is incredible...it must rival any city in the world. I had a bit of time to walk up and down Nanjing Street which is the commercial street in Shanghai. It begins at a Madame Tussauds (my first time visiting a wax museum!) and ends at the Huang Pu river. The river cuts the city in two and on one side is this super modern skyline and on the other side are a collection of beautiful European style architecture buildings built in the first half of the 1900's when Shanghai was first emerging as an international financial center. It's stunningly beautiful.
The Expo was an experience I'm really glad I got to have. I spent three full days with my students checking out the different pavilions and still missed a good portion of it. That said, by the end of 3 10 hour days I was plenty ready to be done with the Expo. The pavilions were mostly really good and some were brilliant. For those of you who don't know (like me a month ago), each country sets up a building and a display inside the building. In theory each country presents the best of itself whether it be science, arts, vision, history, culture or some combination. Canada held it's own, in my opinion...but the real stunners were the Czech Republic, Italy, UK and a number of smaller countries that I really had no expectations for...like Uzbekistan, for example. Really poorly done were Australia and Israel. I was really disappointed in Israel after a LONG wait there just wasn't much content. Nobody held a candle to North Korea however. Stunningly bad. They would have been better off leaving it empty to provide the illusion that they were just slow in getting set up.
Check out the pics at: www.flickr.com/photos/44196127@N04/
The Expo was an experience I'm really glad I got to have. I spent three full days with my students checking out the different pavilions and still missed a good portion of it. That said, by the end of 3 10 hour days I was plenty ready to be done with the Expo. The pavilions were mostly really good and some were brilliant. For those of you who don't know (like me a month ago), each country sets up a building and a display inside the building. In theory each country presents the best of itself whether it be science, arts, vision, history, culture or some combination. Canada held it's own, in my opinion...but the real stunners were the Czech Republic, Italy, UK and a number of smaller countries that I really had no expectations for...like Uzbekistan, for example. Really poorly done were Australia and Israel. I was really disappointed in Israel after a LONG wait there just wasn't much content. Nobody held a candle to North Korea however. Stunningly bad. They would have been better off leaving it empty to provide the illusion that they were just slow in getting set up.
Check out the pics at: www.flickr.com/photos/44196127@N04/
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Mystifying Things Ch. 2
Growing up in the '80s I can remember when seatbelt laws came into effect in Nova Scotia...or at least I think I do...perhaps this is a false memory that I have somehow superimposed onto my life but regardless I THINK I remember it. This being the case I seem to have a bit of a fetish for seatbelts. Wearing them. Not wearing them. Whatever. The point is, I REALLY notice seatbelts. I don't really care what people choose to do and sometimes I choose not to wear one myself because I feel very rebellious and free when not doing so (surely this is a measure of how boring a person I am).
So what does this have to do with China? Well, these Chinese people here in Jilin are really good at doing things that don't make ANY sense. In just about every car that I've been in...mostly cabs, but a few personally owned ones...the seatbelts are inaccessible. The cars are all built with seatbelts but most backseats are covered by, well, a seat cover. And you can't get at the seatbelt. So you can't wear one even if you want to. In the front seat you can use the seatbelt (when it's functional which is not always because many of them are broken out of disuse) but nearly every time I try to, the cab driver gets visibly nervous and tries to talk me out of it. I'm serious, they get upset. Why? Seriously though...why would you try to talk someone out of using a seatbelt? You gain nothing from it...and it costs you nothing to allow it. What possible reason is there for trying to prevent this? And why don't the seat cover manufacturers just cut a little hole in the seat covers so that the seatbelt buckle can fit through? Seriously? Why not? I can understand choosing not to use a seat belt...as mentioned before, it's thrilling...but why would you try to stop someone else?
So what does this have to do with China? Well, these Chinese people here in Jilin are really good at doing things that don't make ANY sense. In just about every car that I've been in...mostly cabs, but a few personally owned ones...the seatbelts are inaccessible. The cars are all built with seatbelts but most backseats are covered by, well, a seat cover. And you can't get at the seatbelt. So you can't wear one even if you want to. In the front seat you can use the seatbelt (when it's functional which is not always because many of them are broken out of disuse) but nearly every time I try to, the cab driver gets visibly nervous and tries to talk me out of it. I'm serious, they get upset. Why? Seriously though...why would you try to talk someone out of using a seatbelt? You gain nothing from it...and it costs you nothing to allow it. What possible reason is there for trying to prevent this? And why don't the seat cover manufacturers just cut a little hole in the seat covers so that the seatbelt buckle can fit through? Seriously? Why not? I can understand choosing not to use a seat belt...as mentioned before, it's thrilling...but why would you try to stop someone else?
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