Weekends and Being Sick…

Past Weekend

Since moving into my apartment, I have not cooked in my kitchen. The other night, I decided to do something simple before Momo headed back to Hong Kong. I figured I couldn’t go wrong with instant noodles,  dumplings, a tomato, and a couple of eggs…

The following morning at 7:30am I called into work. Tethered to my bathroom for the day, I did not get outside (not like I had much energy to do so anyways). I did however, have plenty of time to write post cards and letters home.

I’m still not sure what it was that caused the sickness, but I am now scarred from using a kitchen that I was already hesitant to walk into…

Not all was bad this weekend though. Momo and I saw “Inception” and loved it! Also started doing some phone shopping. Which in my book, anytime you go shopping for techno-awesome items is sure to be a good time. I think I am going to go for a HTC Legend/Hero/Desire/Aria over an iPhone 4…

This Week at Work

Auditors from Hong Kong have arrived to perform the annual task of telling us that everything is OK. Hong Kong people aren’t exactly known for their proficiency in Mandarin pronunciation, and I think its safe to say that mine (pronunciation) is better than theirs!

This Weekend

I am really looking forward to this weekend. Momo and I are going hiking over  a mountain range, and taking a trail that will lead us to a secluded beach. The beach has one little Mom & Pop restaurant that serves up fresh food and plenty o’ beer. We will spend the night there either crashing on the beach, or renting a tent. In the morning, we will make the hike back. We are going with a large group of people from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Should be a good time.

I’ll try to post pics soon. I just can’t stand the upload rate when going through the proxy connection. That means it will be a Hong Kong task…

First Post from Shenzhen

It’s been three months back in China and this marks my first post since my return (not off to a great start-blogging wise). I would like to be able to say that I am settled, but there are still major things that need to happen before I can consider myself nestled in. I have however got my apartment all set up, and work is becoming more of a routine. In this regard, I have a grip on the day to day stuff.

Time spent these past few months has largely been occupied with weekend trips to Hong Kong where I am happy to visit Momo and Aunt Janet and Uncle Pat and the kids.

Momo has finally become a big girl and moved off campus to a closet of an apartment in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong where she lives with an old roommate (which now that I think about it, still sounds like she’s in a college dorm… hehe). While waiting for her college graduation ceremony in November, she has already begun training as a financial consultant, and from the looks of it she is doing quite well. Already she is outpacing her peers with the number of client meetings she is able to set up! Go Momo!

Although we closed the distance gap from 8,000 miles and 12 time zones to a mere 30 miles and the same time zone, Momo and I are still feeling the elements of a LDR. Still separated by a border and work obligations, we only get to see each other on the weekends. And given that on some weekends, one or the other may have some sort of activity, it could be two weeks’ time before another meeting. While I try not to take for granted that the amazing has happened for us, it can be lonely from time to time, especially on my end where I still do not have a friend base (save the employees from the noodle shop below my apartment) or a roommate, to help occupy the in between time.

Aunt Janet, Uncle Pat, and the kids have recently returned from summer vacation back in Massachusetts, and they are back into the full swing of things over here. Besides growing like a beanstalk, Kate is also on swim team for the first time. Ethan’s baseball season is starting up, and he will be a senior member of the team. I will be trying to get down to HK often enough to help out as an assistant practice coach. Johnny is taking up rugby again this year. Although, last Sunday when practice was cancelled due to rain (hey, hey, even rugby players need to be wary of catching colds!) it is rumored by his mom that he clenched his fists, and for a 5 year old, gave a heck of a fist pump.

Work

Work has been a ride. I spent my initial weeks here as a translator which helped me to catch up on a lot of what the business is all about. From there, I moved on to going on business trips with the CEO and meeting the CFO from America. Altogether, I have gotten my hands dirty with financial modeling, human resource disputes, legal matters, and of course learning how to run a business (in China!). It’s been challenging and humiliating at times. But in the end, I know it is all a part of obtaining a priceless experience.

Parting Words

So as I sign off here, I want to extend my thanks and warm wishes to everyone back home (and even those who happen find this page while looking for pictures of Mulan!)

I aim to keep it updated more regularly than my first trip to China, with shorter entries. I am however at the mercy of the Chinese government. I can sometimes access wordpress.com, and other times I must wait to enter Hong Kong before I can speak my mind freely-something about the CCP and a lack of human rights?? I’m not sure what it’s all about… But along with word press, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are all blocked. What does that mean for you and me? That means I won’t be able to see when you can’t wait for the weekend, or when Facebook tells me you are now single (when you have been all along). Nor can I stay up to date with the hottest virals out there. So those of you who have been enjoying double rainbow guy for some time now… I just learned of him the other day – and yes “double rainbow, full on… man.”

If you do wish to contact me more efficiently, go for any of the below methods. Hope this reaches the shores of Merrimack and beyond.

John

Cell: (86) 13510338918

Email: gallagherjo.p(at)gmail(dot)com

Job, Move, Blog?

Hello there – anyone still reading??

I don’t blame you if you aren’t, there have not been many updates since returning stateside. But, that does not mean nothing has been going on. There is a large piece of news here that has got me thinking about pumping some life back into this blog.

I have recently accepted a job in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. I will be moving there in June indefinitely. I’m thinkign about using this space to communicate my new experiences as an employed foreigner in China. If you are still listening, shoot me a message.

– John

Just In Time…

Friends & Family,

If you are still reading this, than I appreciate you sticking it out till the end. I will be back home in just over a week, and I finally get access to my blog reinstated… go figure.

Lots has happened since I last posted. I’ve been out and about in Beijing visiting the Russian quarter. Made a blitz for the Hong Kong/Shenzhen border one night, where I was detained for overstaying in China 1 day. Upon release made a mad dash to renter the country the same night. Visited Momo. Even attended a wedding and a funeral.

First I have to mention that in the time I was away, my cousin Kelly and her husband Mike had a baby boy (Sean Michael Wall), making him the first of a new generation on the Gallagher side! Congratulations!

The Russian quarter was something special. Went with friends to a Russian

Another Russian Oddity

restaurant. I don’t recall if Russians are known for their cooking (or music). But my guess is no. I now believe every Russian recipe calls for 1 part “something” 3 parts salt! There was a dance floor with a live “band” who performed what I assumed to be Russian standards. It was my second dip into Russian culture since being here in China (first time being in Harbin back in January), and I am left with the image that Russia is the saddest, saltiest country in the world. After dinner, we continued on to a club down the street where they had another live band (thankfully this one played a more international setlist), go-go dancers, drag queens, and midgets. Should I have expected anything less?

The border blitz was exciting and tense. The border closes at 12pm. I took off from Beijing at 6. Landed in Shenzhen at 915. Took a bus to the border. Got dropped off in an unfamiliar place at at 1050. Found my way to the border, got detained leaving China. Released and back in Hong Kong by 1115. Took the subway down one stop and back. Recrossed the border back into Shenzhen. Safely back in China at 1145 phheww…. Met Momo on the other side. Bargained down a black taxi to take us another 1.5 hrs north to Guangzhou. Finally, in the hotel by 3am.

Table Setting at a Chinese Wedding

Momo was a bridesmaid for her friend’s wedding while we were there. I had a great time having the opportunity to take part in such a rich cultural activity like a wedding. Lots of great moments. This wedding wasn’t entirely traditional, but there

Momo and I at the Guangzhou Ritz-Carlton

were plenty of opportunities to take a deeper look into Chinese culture.

Back in Beijing, I was walking through my apartment complex one Sunday afternoon when I heard the echo of drums coming from down the street. Curiously, I headed in to check it all out. I walked into a funeral being held for the passing of an elderly man who lived in the complex. There was a hired band playing traditional Chinese music, a pair of chefs spinning up dish after dish, and a parade. It sounds more like an all out party, and it was… but there were also moments of grief and somber respect for the departed.

I will sign off here. I’m not home just yet,  so the blog remains open. Assuming I don’t get banned again, I will try to make a few more posts.

Miss you and can’t wait to see everyone soon!

John

The Beijing Beat: #1

Daily life in China is full of interesting cultural curiosities, oddities, and plain old whatchyacallits. They are there every day to see if you open your eyes. Sometimes, they just happen to you. Some are worthy of a rich description, but others I just want to tell you guys in a few short blurbs. That is why I have decided to post time to time a list of things that I witness or happen to me in my day to day scene that stop me in my tracks on pure absurdity, confounder, and awesomeness.

The past few weeks…

1. Walked into a Wal-Mart (familiar right?), saw a live turtle get its head and limbs cut off and dissected(not!)
2. Ate mule, pig and chicken liver, and a decent club sandwich (hey, a good sandwich is not easy to come by!)
3. While at karaoke… after a good hour of singing patriotic Chinese songs, there was a request for me to sing  American Rap. I performed Eminem’s Lose Yourself in front of my boss and coworkers. I am never being invited out to karaoke again…ever…
4. Ran the pool table for over 2 hours with the largest, friendliest, pool sharking South African diplomat I have ever met. *Big-ups Jeffrey!*(seriously though, we are talking well over 3 bills… but man, what a player)
5. One night in a small restaurant… talked for hours with a Chinese man who knew nothing but the Blues.

JohnyG

Contact Information

You can contact me via the following:

Phone: 011-86-10-15101099694

Address (English):

Dong Wangzhuang Xiaoqu
#35, Door 6, Room 302
Wangzhuang Road
Hai Dian District
Beijing 100083
CHINA

Address (Chinese):

北京市海淀区东王庄小区

35# 6门  302室

北京 100083

中国

新的项目来了！A New Project Has Arrived!

There is a buzz in the air at work today… what could it be? An added vacation day? Raises? An extra hot water thermos in this mornings delivery!? All good guesses, but the source of today’s excitement is the new project that is starting. It is a consulting project for Beijing Television (BTV 北京电视台). The details will be known at a later time, but what’s important is that I am on board as a “Junior International Consultant.” WOW, what a title! And it doesn’t stop there either. There’s been an order made for my very own set of business cards! Both English and Chinese, and a title to boot… now where are all those free drawings I’ve missed out on all these years?

Bejing Television (Chinese Only)

Beijing, round 二!

Beijing!

If you are privy to the post below this one, you know I am now situated in Beijing (and with that, goes the integrity of my [previous] blog title…). Its only been a month, but its one that will not be forgotten easily. Upon arriving, I was greeted by a mutual contact, who helped me find my internship in the first place. Honestly, without his help I would have had a month long headache. Professor Liu, is a part time teacher at 人民大学 (People’s University) and full-time saint. Like I said, he took care of me from the very beginning. He picked me up from the airport (which was only the first time we met!), let me stay in his university apartment for a week, fed me, and helped me find an apartment. So for all the self-less help, big-ups to 刘老师 (Liu Laoshi).

Looking back, it seems the first month progressed weekly, so I’ll break it down for you.

第一个星期

I arrive in Beijing, and spend most time either with Professor Liu, or checking out the sights. Living on campus is fun, since I can use their facilities, food is dirt cheap, and there are plenty of people my age around.

第二个星期

Work starts. I am working at a Chinese Management Consulting firm. I am the only foreigner, and as much as I’d like to think my Chinese has improved, its obvious I could not survive as an actual employee in a Chinese office. The language limitations strangle my opportunities for helping them out. However, I can still edit their English web page! On top of that, I can compare it to the Chinese one at the same time. So, in essence I am actually getting paid to study Chinese in an office setting! Not so bad. Also at this time, I need to start moving out into my own apartment. With the help of Professor Liu, I find a place for about $150 USD a month. Move.

第三个星期

Work continues, may it be slowly. My flatmates are two Chinese about my age.

Me at the Birthday Dinner w/ my Original Roommates

They are recent grads who are working on their own start-up company. They are super-friendly with helping me settle in, and in line with typical Chinese culture, treat me out to dinner at any chance they get. In fact, on the first night of living their, I was invited to attend one of their friends birthday parties. The birthday girl was from 新疆 (Xinjiang) and we ate Uighur food. Delicious! And what a great group of friends to fall into. Unfortunately as the week goes on, and I return to my grimy apartment day after day, I realize I have been ignoring a feeling of loneliness that I have had for a little bit now. Even with meeting hospitable and friendly Chinese people, there is still the void of relating with people from your own culture that needs a fill. So in this third week, I am starting to feel like this whole China trip has run its course. Maybe its time to head

新疆人 People from Xinjiang don't always look Chinese!

home. On top of that, I find out the desk in my room is a cockroach nest. I spend multiple nights in a  row killing 10+ roaches each night… Now, I knew when I moved in, I wasn’t moving into the Belmont, Fairview, or even the Lowell Housing Authority. I draw the line when I start having phantom visions of cockroaches though. I can only react to so many black specs of dirt a day before I call it quits!

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St. Patrick Day

I will make a special entry for this day. For this is the day where everything I have told you so far, will no longer apply. I forgot to mention that besides the blatant filth of my apartment, the location was actually really cool. I would go days with being the only foreigner (which is kinda neat), lots of good Chinese food, and a 5 minute walk to one of Beijing’s worst business plans, but best pizza house… The Kros Nest! Fortunately, The Kros Nest takes its pizza seriously, and its purely American holidays even more so. They had an entire week of 10 kuai ($1.5 USD) Guinness. Amidst my loneliness on longing for familiarity (this should tell you how easy I was able to get along in Hong Kong as I spent 6 months ther and never felt this feeling so strongly… its been 1 month in Beijing)  I donned my finest greens and headed over. It just so happened that it was a Tuesday, and those who know in Beijing, know that every Tuesday at 6pm SHARP the Kros Nest opens a new keg of Tsingtao, and serves it up free until its dry. Try and tell me there is no God! As I sat there eating my pizza, enjoying my Guinness and finally reading “On the Road,” I started a conversation with the table of foreigners across from me. Turns out they were a bunch of Americans taking part in their culture too. The night took off from there and ended in me waking up sleeping cabby’s for a ride home from a house party. Since then, I’ve broken into the foreigner scene here, and boy is it a good time.

第四个星期

In my fourth week, with my loneliness vanquished, I moved to a new apartment. Just a bit more each month than the previous, but no cockroaches, and… 24 hr hot water, which you would learn is not a right, but a privilege here in China. The new location is in the middle of a couple universities as well, so there is a small night life here. Needless to say, I’m no longer the token foreigner in the neighborhood. In exchange, I get convenience, western dining options, and easy subway access. Oh yea, and cleanliness!

…the present

Everything in Beijing has been worth it so far. Even the down moments. I can truly say I love it here. From what I can see, the city has a unique way of bringing people (mostly talking about foreigners here) together. It’s not uncommon to run into the same people in different places from time to time. This makes networking (the lifeblood of business in China) so intuitive.

These past two weeks have taught me that no matter how dedicated I want to be to becoming fluent in the language, I can’t ostracize the ex-pat community and expect to get along just fine. Because,hey… it feels good when you can relate.

Gone are the feelings of wishing the months would pass faster than an angry Chinese woman on a motorized three wheeler! Beijing has decided to take care of me, and I’m glad. Don’t fret though. Nothing could change how excited I am to “see the faces that remember my own.”

Approved!

Hey there… I feel like I should do a double take to make sure that this post is real. You see, it’s because I have been in Mainland China for a month now, and last I checked, I could not access my blog through China’s “Great Firewall.” It would appear that they have deemed me as a non-threat. Which, I would have to agree with…

Anywho, now that I am back to having access to my blog, I will update you guys on whats been happening for the past month. Real quickly… I moved to Beijing, and I am interning here. It is amazing!

Advancing on the Army…

Statue of the Qin Emperor (with a bit of stylized editing)

Ed and I left Beijing on the doorstep of Chinese New year. We boarded a train headed for Xi’An. Because of demand, we were only able to purchase a “hard seater” for the ensuing 12 hour ride. As I may have mentioned before, Chinese New Year is the one time of the year that every migrant worker in China boards planes, trains, and buses to make the pilgrimage home to see their family for a week, then go back to work for another 51 weeks. Well… we were smack dab in the middle of this mass exodus. Great experience… did it, don’t need to do it again and here’s why: First of all, the seating was 3 to a bench. Every two benches faced each other with a small table in the middle. The table didn’t do much except take up leg room, which was already limited since you’ve got another set of legs coming at you from the bench across already. What’s more is they oversold the train, so when ever you got up from your seat, someone sleeping in the middle of the aisle would snag it for as long as they could. They were good about moving once you got back, but still something you wouldn’t get back home, that’s for sure. It really wasn’t so bad for the first 5 hours or so. As we hit hour 8, I was ready to get off. Little did I know what was in store for us when we did…

We arrived in Xi’An at 7am. The train station was buzzing, and it took us a bit to figure out which direction to head. Ed pinted us in the right direction of
“Bob’s Guest House” and we started walking. What we found was a boarded up guest house corpse. Bob was no longer accepting guests. So we found a nearby place that was cheap enough.

We only planned to stay in Xi’An for about 24 hours , so we got going early.

Xi’an(西安) is the capital of Shaanxi Province, China and is one the country’s oldest cities. Throughout China’s long standing history, Xi’an has been the capital city for many of China’s most important dynasties. Nowadays, the city is home to China’s space program and many research facilities. For tourist concerns, Xi’an is where the Terracotta Army is located.

The Main Tomb

The Terracotta Army was discovered in 1974 by local farmers digging a well about a an hour outside Xi’an proper. The site is in fact a mausoleum for the first Qin Emperor. The clay soldiers date back to 210 BC, and there are estimates that there were originally up to 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 120 cavalry horses. [Source: Wikipedia]   I couldn’t help but feel that they were a strong inspiration for the animators of the Disney film Mulan.

Terracotta Warrior

Mulan...see any similarities?

Our visit to the standing army was a bit short lived as Ed was beginning to feel some effects of the day’s first meal. After arriving back in the city, Ed had to take the rest of the day off. We figured he must have gotten some dirty food, but it didn’t make sense that I was feeling fine…for now. I took some time to walk around the city until dark came. I made friends with a PLA soldier who was currently not in service. He was working in an appliance store where he engaged me to practice his English. Soon enough I was enclosed by a small crowd of employees all speaking English/Chinese and praising Obama! The soldier was an amazingly nice person who helped me buy an voltage converter at a nearby “mom and pop shop,” as well as get a cab back to where I needed to be!

As for the rest of the city I saw, I did not see much that you wouldn’t be able to find in other Chinese cities. The pollution was heavier there in Xi’an too. Overall, the city seemed a little too dirty (though it reminds you that China is still very much a developing country). I would not recommend more than 24 hours in

KFC... Food fit for an army!

Xi’an. Get in, see the Terracotta warriors and get out. Oh, and eat Mickey D’s or KFC. Take a lesson from Ed… and soon to be, me!

JohnyG