Reminiscing wonderful moments while in china.............a trip down memory lane

From the south to the north of china, I remember there were alot of weird and strange incidents.For instance,in Guangdong Province, Huizhou, I recall the time I was followed by crowds of people as if I were a movie star.Boy, I really got to know how famous people feel like being in a fish bowl!A few people wanted to get up close and personal and assisted me with my shopping.Then going to a Western restaurant in Huizhou really created many misunderstanding's.I was with an Australian woman teacher and we'd ask for butter on the toast and instead cheese came back as a side dish or I'd request my coffee be hotter and the young chinese girl looked puzzled-she poured a glass of cold water.So often the language barrier got in the way throughout my stay in china.Somehow,it reflected the inept education system in regards to learning english, which now by the way is transforming slowly.I know about that fact since I was involved this year with a pilot project in Beijing-March'11 to May '11.Again,I have fond memories of my short lived adventure in Bejing.During my time there,I mustered enough courage to ride a push bike in the chaotic beijing traffic without a helmet.There seemed to be order to the madnes!Once it was raining cats and dogs and taxi's were busy.While standing at the traffic lights,a woman on an electric bike almost abducted me and gave me a lift back to my apartment.Wow, it was madness!Though,she had a hidden agenda.In china,housekeepers are called ai yi's which means aunty.They tend to become very close to foreigners like a ' mother hen'.Another time,down south of china in nantong,I went to a restaurant with a few chinese student's and as they ordered a feast of dishes,lo and behold, the chef popped up holding a bucket.To my horror the green fugitive was desperately jumping to escape its destiny.Then next minute, I was being offered 'to try' a most delicious delicacy.Guess what that was?All I can comment is its not easy being green especially in southern china.It's true most chinese eat anything that moves-even rat's.I've so many tales long and short to tell.Stay tuned anticipating and salivating for more......................seeya Lina:)

Meeting an Indian family on the tram out of the blue.............

Is it serendipity?Funny enough,coming back on the tram from my tiring and repetitive job, I noticed an Indian guy and some frustrated and perhap's drunken guy's babbling to him.The Indian guy captured my attention because he didnt seem to get rattled by all this commotion.He just sat there silently and curiously as a couple of drunks swore about the ways of the world.After the drunks got off,I acknowledged him for being cool, calm and collected.He replied ,"Oh,they're probably tired after a long's day work".I said,"you're a patient man".Then I noticed he and his family stopping at my tram stop.So I thought I'd like to further find out about this intriguing person.We introduced ourselves and to my surprise he said that his daughter was going to teach in China.I replied, "that's great because I taught in China for 4&1/2 years".As soon as I said those magic words this Indian man smiled.He explained how everything is made in China and alluded to the fact that there seemed to be more of a future there than living in India.I was shocked since it's been predicted that both China and India will supersede western power's in 2 to 5 year's.Immediately,I inquired if he knew about the atrocities in Tibet and how ashamed I felt about the Chinese bastardising it's uniqueness!Also I recommended he watch on youtube 'Cry for the snow lion'.I insisted he have a look.Though I understood he was more concerned for his family living into a prosperous future which China currently win's hands down.Since I've already lived there, I know how cheap the cost of living is compared to Oz.By the way ,alot of ex pat's I know wont return to their own country.Sadly,I think  China's stronghold economically has blinded some people's view of what's really going on!China's leader's who are very shrewd businessmen create an image of China's powerful positon and at the same time most Chinese people still live in abject poverty.Though,a middle class is on the rise and the rich are getting filthy rich.Nothing is wrong its just that a whole picture isnt being painted.For instance most Chinese peoples' wages and working condition"s are appalling.Most ordinary worker's are at the whim of bosses.This power trip is very inhuman and a high cost to family life.Often, I had had read articles from my college and working student's how they hardly saw their ma and ba>They were 'alway's working for building a stronger China!This would bring tears to my eyes.Even if their grandparents brought them up, they still felt lonely,abandoned and neglected.Almost like orphan's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!signing off.Lina:)
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Whoops missed my blogger,recovering from my losing at the melbourne cup 'blues'.........

You know I couldn't understand about experiencing culture shock in my own country though now I do!I feel like an outsider looking in.Yep,I'm an alien.Where the hell do I belong.Such crazy thoughts and I'm sure I'm not alone.Only the other day my best Chinese girlfriend e-mailed me.Of course she wanted to lay a guilt trip on me.It went something like this,"Oh,Lina I've missed u your my best friend.Why haven't u contacted me?"Anny is a very astute young Chinese woman.She was my personal assistant all round.Mainly she skillfully organised my lesson plans and buttered up the various students and watched my back if any of her own people would undeniably cheat me.I wouldn't have known what to do without my loyal and true friend like Anny.The first Chinese Spring Festival, I spent at her hometown An qu.I was introduced to her101 relatives who all approved of this funny and strange Foreigner(a term I won't get used to because it sounds like I come from another planet).Anyhow, I'm pretty certain some of the relly's saw me and Anny's father married.Apparently,most of the family despised the step mother.As the story went,she was like a snake in the grass after Anny's real mum died of cancer.Consequently,all Anny's sibling's withdrew from both of them especially Anny.In fact,I think  perhaps I became Anny's surrogate mum.So,we're not so different west and east.One thing I nearly forgot to mention is that I was accepted by the father since I was willing to sit amongst his drunken friends toasting endless glasses of a devilish drink called Ba jiu.We'd shout out 'gum bai' and skull this fiery clear spirit down our throats.Believe me this drink out matches vodka,snapps,tequila,whiskey etc.Two small glasses and I plonked myself  into bed and woke up crying.What an experience-go figure.Chinese people, according to Anny, equate inner strength with how much Ba jiu a person can consume.Here I was the honoured guest reduced to tears.So that was my first initiation into a Chinese clan.Oh just an after thought!Anny's dad made his income as the hometown psychic and feng shui consultant.Signing off Lina:)xoxoxoxo

It's time to get started and tell my story......experiences,observations,feelings ,thoughts and ideas about China.So here it is unedited!

Many people have been curious about my 4@1/2 yr stay in one of the most powerful countries in the world  .So many times I've attempted to put my experiences on paper that I dismally failed.I'd feel scared my writing wasn't good enough!!!!!So now after seeing Richard Branson live, like him i say screw it just do it!I've choosen to do a blog for the following 3 months exploring this incredible journey that I lived through in all it's wild,chaotic and colourful kaleidoscope.This will be my project.Then again,I ask myself what's next?Hmmmm........India.Since Dalai Lama urgently wants his Tibetian monks to learn English and Chinese,I feel a strong calling to go there and be apart of it.It is a worthwhile cause.I felt moved,touched and inspired by the movie-'Tibet's cry of the snow lion'.At the moment I'm saving up to fund myself to go to Dharamasala in February or March 2012.Right now,I've a real sense of urgency.When I was staying in China I had no idea what was truly going on  in Tibet.Having seen that documentary urged me into action.I've personally experienced some Chinese officials ways of shaming and deception.In fact Dalai Lama had to flee Tibet knowing his life was in danger.As I recall him saying he felt he had to be a hypocrite whilst the Chinese violently took over automonous Tibet.So for now signing off Lina:)