I am outraged. If you will kindly take the time to view the comments attached to my last post "The Day After" you will see that FCPG is, in fact, trying to sell its stock through my blog. As a security company, they see their stocks rising after the 7/7 attacks and are trying to get others to make money off fear and terrorist attacks.
Used... that's how I feel. My previous post was supposed to extend words of solidarity and sorrow to the people of London, not pitch some security company who likes chasing ambulances.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Saturday, July 09, 2005
The Day After
Last night, before boarding a plane to London, I was shocked. Six timed bombs had been detinated in the central district of London. The death toll was not announced. It was too soon to tell.
Terrible scenarios ran through my imagination. What if something happened to my friend, Jen? What if there are more attacks when I am there? What if my plane is directly effected? Not the kind of questions that help one sleep for 13 hours on a Boeing 767.
We touched down in London a half hour early. 5:06am. I was releived to learn that public transportation was limited and delayed, but that it remained mostly operational. Closed circut tvs (previously installed) monitor movement on buses and subway (tube) cars. Central London underground is closed for recovery and security purposes, but London life treads on. For most, at least.
Jen was fine and had stayed at a friend's flat as to avoid transit directly after the attacks. With some guidance from underground crew and a dash of creativity I navigated the bruised system to Jen's stop and we met.
Currently, the BBC reports that at least 50 people from different countries are dead. May they be at peace. In reaction, Blair echoed the post 9/11 sentiments of Bush and Guliani in saying that the British will remain vigilant and continue their lives as usual... any major disruptions would be a concession to terrorism.
The death of those victims is tragic, but it was timed as to be a moment of global solidarity for world leaders during the G8 summit. If the terrorists hoped to effect policy, like they did in Spain on 3/11, they were rudely mistaken. Now with the whole world looking on, the resolve of the G8 will only strengthen.
more to come later.
love and prayers.
paul.
Terrible scenarios ran through my imagination. What if something happened to my friend, Jen? What if there are more attacks when I am there? What if my plane is directly effected? Not the kind of questions that help one sleep for 13 hours on a Boeing 767.
We touched down in London a half hour early. 5:06am. I was releived to learn that public transportation was limited and delayed, but that it remained mostly operational. Closed circut tvs (previously installed) monitor movement on buses and subway (tube) cars. Central London underground is closed for recovery and security purposes, but London life treads on. For most, at least.
Jen was fine and had stayed at a friend's flat as to avoid transit directly after the attacks. With some guidance from underground crew and a dash of creativity I navigated the bruised system to Jen's stop and we met.
Currently, the BBC reports that at least 50 people from different countries are dead. May they be at peace. In reaction, Blair echoed the post 9/11 sentiments of Bush and Guliani in saying that the British will remain vigilant and continue their lives as usual... any major disruptions would be a concession to terrorism.
The death of those victims is tragic, but it was timed as to be a moment of global solidarity for world leaders during the G8 summit. If the terrorists hoped to effect policy, like they did in Spain on 3/11, they were rudely mistaken. Now with the whole world looking on, the resolve of the G8 will only strengthen.
more to come later.
love and prayers.
paul.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
A German, a Moroccan and an American walk into a bar…
By Paul Wegerson
Printed June 19, 2005
“Sometimes you gotta go! / Where everybody knows your name / and they’re always glad you came.” So goes the theme song to a classic American TV show, Cheers. The setting for the show is a local bar in Boston where the lives of its patrons are intertwined and the punch lines flow as freely as the pints.
Bars like this conjure a rare feeling of togetherness that likens patrons to family members. In Boston, they had Cheers bar. In Zhongshan, we’ve got Friends Bar.
Owned an operated since 1998 by Canadian, Hong Kong and Chinese men, Friends Bar offers the expatriate community a place to unwind and have a normal conversation over a pint of imported beer. American classic rock wails through the speakers and the walls are covered with posters of James Dean, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley and Mohammad Ali.
While Friends Bar has all the character and TV sets reminiscent of an American sports bar, the clientele is as international as the bottle selection. On any given weekend, one can find: Moroccan, German, Canadian, British, Italian, Romanian, Polish, Brazilian, American and Chinese nationals sharing a bucket of Tsing Tao, locked in an English conversation.
“In the beginning, it was a rougher crowd,“ says Canadian Gary Keeling, part owner and founder of Friends bar, “but in the past 3-4 years there’s been a shift. Eh? More foreigners came, we’ve got some great Chinese customers who introduced their business customers and more English teachers too.”
Friends Bar is a large center for expatriate activity, but many other restaurants and coffee houses offer authentic foreign cuisine. Papponi’s Ristorante imports cheeses, wines and other ingredients to make fresh pasta dishes and hearth oven pizzas. Masala Indian restaurant serves authentic Indian dishes and Just Coffee provides a quiet cup of java.
At these local joints, foreigners discuss international politics or life in China while they swap books or travel tips. These places offer refuge to members of the foreign community, but it is the local community that makes it possible. Zhongshan is unique in this aspect.
Keeling says that Friends Bar is thinking about expansion, but few Guangdong communities are ready for the concept. “The Zhongshan people are worldly wise and sophisticated enough to be open to it. They like to meet new people and get a taste of something different,” he said.
Zhongshan native Jessy Yang is a salesperson in a garment exporting company and has been going to Friends Bar for 5 years. “More foreigners have come [to Friends] recently, but also more Chinese. Many of my Chinese friends like to go there because the people are so easy to communicate with. It’s easy to make new friends and practice my English. Other Chinese bars are too dark and too loud to make that possible,” she said.
Zhongshan is becoming a cultural mixed salad; Friends Bar is Cheers. It’s a place where everyone knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.
## This article is the property of Paul Wegerson and Zhongshan Daily. It may not be reproduced or reprinted without written consent of the owners. Don't cheat... Jiambi! ##
Printed June 19, 2005
“Sometimes you gotta go! / Where everybody knows your name / and they’re always glad you came.” So goes the theme song to a classic American TV show, Cheers. The setting for the show is a local bar in Boston where the lives of its patrons are intertwined and the punch lines flow as freely as the pints.
Bars like this conjure a rare feeling of togetherness that likens patrons to family members. In Boston, they had Cheers bar. In Zhongshan, we’ve got Friends Bar.
Owned an operated since 1998 by Canadian, Hong Kong and Chinese men, Friends Bar offers the expatriate community a place to unwind and have a normal conversation over a pint of imported beer. American classic rock wails through the speakers and the walls are covered with posters of James Dean, Johnny Cash, Bob Marley and Mohammad Ali.
While Friends Bar has all the character and TV sets reminiscent of an American sports bar, the clientele is as international as the bottle selection. On any given weekend, one can find: Moroccan, German, Canadian, British, Italian, Romanian, Polish, Brazilian, American and Chinese nationals sharing a bucket of Tsing Tao, locked in an English conversation.
“In the beginning, it was a rougher crowd,“ says Canadian Gary Keeling, part owner and founder of Friends bar, “but in the past 3-4 years there’s been a shift. Eh? More foreigners came, we’ve got some great Chinese customers who introduced their business customers and more English teachers too.”
Friends Bar is a large center for expatriate activity, but many other restaurants and coffee houses offer authentic foreign cuisine. Papponi’s Ristorante imports cheeses, wines and other ingredients to make fresh pasta dishes and hearth oven pizzas. Masala Indian restaurant serves authentic Indian dishes and Just Coffee provides a quiet cup of java.
At these local joints, foreigners discuss international politics or life in China while they swap books or travel tips. These places offer refuge to members of the foreign community, but it is the local community that makes it possible. Zhongshan is unique in this aspect.
Keeling says that Friends Bar is thinking about expansion, but few Guangdong communities are ready for the concept. “The Zhongshan people are worldly wise and sophisticated enough to be open to it. They like to meet new people and get a taste of something different,” he said.
Zhongshan native Jessy Yang is a salesperson in a garment exporting company and has been going to Friends Bar for 5 years. “More foreigners have come [to Friends] recently, but also more Chinese. Many of my Chinese friends like to go there because the people are so easy to communicate with. It’s easy to make new friends and practice my English. Other Chinese bars are too dark and too loud to make that possible,” she said.
Zhongshan is becoming a cultural mixed salad; Friends Bar is Cheers. It’s a place where everyone knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.
## This article is the property of Paul Wegerson and Zhongshan Daily. It may not be reproduced or reprinted without written consent of the owners. Don't cheat... Jiambi! ##
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Exit Polls
This was probably my most fun class. Many days, all I'd have to do is give them an assignment and they would run with it, laughing all the way.
Well, today was my last day of classes. I suppose that this is as good a time as any to reflect upon my year.
I still remember the first day. Clutching my opening lesson plan - Introductions - I was excited and nervous to get in front of a class. Plus, i knew nothing about their English level or their confidence.
The result was mixed. Some were clearly more confident than others, and of those brave souls, only a further fragment had the ability to back it up. Still, the first day rolled by and my fear was unfounded.
One student, Xiang, didn't have an English name and slept most of the class. As I asked him during the break if he'd like to choose an English name from a list I had brought, another student had to translate what i was saying into Cantonese for him. He chose Sean (phonetically the same as his Chinese name) which reminded me of my cousin. A good name.
Last Wednesday, after our final class, Sean came up to me and was laughing, joking and making eye contact with me as he spoke. His English is still no where near the top of his class, but he feels comfortable speaking with me. I was so proud.
Of course, I humbly cannot take credit for their ability. I did little to build their vocabulary. What my class did provide was a way to make English accessable, alive and (get this!) fun.
Through offering students an avenue to practice what they studied and to have a few laughs in the process, they were able to find it in themselves to become more comfortable with hearing their voices in a foreign language and well, just more comfortable.
Sean is one story of many. However, there were many students who failed first and second semester after 'promising' me to make a stronger effort. These I could not help. No one could. Yet, it's the maturation, or blooming, from shyness to confidence that was most spectacular for me.
From China with Love, paul.
Well, today was my last day of classes. I suppose that this is as good a time as any to reflect upon my year.
I still remember the first day. Clutching my opening lesson plan - Introductions - I was excited and nervous to get in front of a class. Plus, i knew nothing about their English level or their confidence.
The result was mixed. Some were clearly more confident than others, and of those brave souls, only a further fragment had the ability to back it up. Still, the first day rolled by and my fear was unfounded.
One student, Xiang, didn't have an English name and slept most of the class. As I asked him during the break if he'd like to choose an English name from a list I had brought, another student had to translate what i was saying into Cantonese for him. He chose Sean (phonetically the same as his Chinese name) which reminded me of my cousin. A good name.
Last Wednesday, after our final class, Sean came up to me and was laughing, joking and making eye contact with me as he spoke. His English is still no where near the top of his class, but he feels comfortable speaking with me. I was so proud.
Of course, I humbly cannot take credit for their ability. I did little to build their vocabulary. What my class did provide was a way to make English accessable, alive and (get this!) fun.
Through offering students an avenue to practice what they studied and to have a few laughs in the process, they were able to find it in themselves to become more comfortable with hearing their voices in a foreign language and well, just more comfortable.
Sean is one story of many. However, there were many students who failed first and second semester after 'promising' me to make a stronger effort. These I could not help. No one could. Yet, it's the maturation, or blooming, from shyness to confidence that was most spectacular for me.
From China with Love, paul.
Band AIDS
There is an interesting NYTimes article on the webpage today about a city in the impoverished Yunnan province who has begun the difficult battle against AIDS. The article shows one city as a model for how the central government hopes to combat AIDS and the HIV virus.
The government rightly deserves positive press for this city-case study, but it's only one band aid on a broken system. For years they failed to address the problem because their public sentiment has been: "if people have free condoms or needle exchange programs, that means that people do drugs, have sex and possibly have AIDS. That's not possible. No one in China has AIDS or does drugs."
Frequently, as my students believe, they are told that only certain cities have AIDS. Many of these cities are in Yunnan province, where the income and economic output are the lowest in the country. My students made it sound like the 'bad seed' theory and that one poor province shouldn't ruin China's 'great' reputation.
Furthermore, the sex industry is rarely hidden in Asian markets... it's jokingly disguised. Go down my street to the Lian Xing Hotel. On the 4th floor they offer massages. By 'massages' they mean sex. It is more expensive to USE a condom in these places than to NOT USE one.
Granted, for an uneducated woman who moved from a central farm to the eastern coasts and big cities (the greatest movement of people anywhere, ever) there is good, easy money to be made in the skin trade. But, employees and customers alike share the same danger. This statement, posed in the article is way too true:
"She said the center's workers were trying to get infected prostitutes out of the sex business or at least to use condoms. But prostitution, often in karaoke clubs, frequently is the highest paying work available to women, so prostitutes with H.I.V. sometimes keep their condition a secret."
While the government has stepped up rhetoric and supported it with photo ops on World AIDS day, their commitment to prevention needs to start earlier, with kids. It was shocking for me to discover that when I addressed HIV/AIDS in my classes it was the first time that they had ever openly discussed it in a classroom. Sure, they knew about it and had talked about sex, drugs and HIV with their friends, but there was no room for proper education about the topic.
Armed with figures and statistics, I talked with them. They listened, asked intelligent questions and then sat and reflected on the matter. One student, a trouble maker, even pulled a condom out of his pocket when I got to the prevention side. Students giggled like 4th graders, but knew what it was. For an hour and a half we talked about the problem and the 'if I tell you 30 students, and you each tell 5 students and they each tell 5 students...' empowerment speech.
At the end of my lesson, I returned the condom to my student and said, "Here you go. You'll probably use this sooner than me." To which he replied, "Thanks, but I don't use them. It feels uncomfortable."
So much for breaking down the great wall...
From China with Love. paul.
The government rightly deserves positive press for this city-case study, but it's only one band aid on a broken system. For years they failed to address the problem because their public sentiment has been: "if people have free condoms or needle exchange programs, that means that people do drugs, have sex and possibly have AIDS. That's not possible. No one in China has AIDS or does drugs."
Frequently, as my students believe, they are told that only certain cities have AIDS. Many of these cities are in Yunnan province, where the income and economic output are the lowest in the country. My students made it sound like the 'bad seed' theory and that one poor province shouldn't ruin China's 'great' reputation.
Furthermore, the sex industry is rarely hidden in Asian markets... it's jokingly disguised. Go down my street to the Lian Xing Hotel. On the 4th floor they offer massages. By 'massages' they mean sex. It is more expensive to USE a condom in these places than to NOT USE one.
Granted, for an uneducated woman who moved from a central farm to the eastern coasts and big cities (the greatest movement of people anywhere, ever) there is good, easy money to be made in the skin trade. But, employees and customers alike share the same danger. This statement, posed in the article is way too true:
"She said the center's workers were trying to get infected prostitutes out of the sex business or at least to use condoms. But prostitution, often in karaoke clubs, frequently is the highest paying work available to women, so prostitutes with H.I.V. sometimes keep their condition a secret."
While the government has stepped up rhetoric and supported it with photo ops on World AIDS day, their commitment to prevention needs to start earlier, with kids. It was shocking for me to discover that when I addressed HIV/AIDS in my classes it was the first time that they had ever openly discussed it in a classroom. Sure, they knew about it and had talked about sex, drugs and HIV with their friends, but there was no room for proper education about the topic.
Armed with figures and statistics, I talked with them. They listened, asked intelligent questions and then sat and reflected on the matter. One student, a trouble maker, even pulled a condom out of his pocket when I got to the prevention side. Students giggled like 4th graders, but knew what it was. For an hour and a half we talked about the problem and the 'if I tell you 30 students, and you each tell 5 students and they each tell 5 students...' empowerment speech.
At the end of my lesson, I returned the condom to my student and said, "Here you go. You'll probably use this sooner than me." To which he replied, "Thanks, but I don't use them. It feels uncomfortable."
So much for breaking down the great wall...
From China with Love. paul.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
June 13, 2005.
I woke up at 7:37 and flipped on CBS evening news. Man they keep shuffling people around which only adds to my mad mad frustration with network news. See also: 60 Minutes (Mike Wallace still takes notes in charcoal on the backs of shovels. Too bad about his brother, Ug ... falling into a tar pit is a rough way to go.). Then I was too lazy to take a full shower - it's not like my students do... ever - so I washed just my shaggy head of hair and brushed my teeth with extra whitening paste.
Filling my water bottle from the Culligan sized jug in my kitchen, I grab a notebook and class list and prepare to say goodbye. This is finals week. I've had the same students for a whole year and today is their last class. They're good kids... well, enough of them are, at least. The final? In groups of 4: Invent a NEW product that people need but is not yet been created. Then, perform a 5-minute commercial telling all about the product and selling it to the class. Class: listen closely as you must ask 2 questions about the product after the commercial.
Some skits were good, some were marginal. Ex: Super Chair 2005! (a lazy-boy recliner with tank wheels and: tv, mp3 player, umbrella, storage space and a fish tank. why? EVERY chair needs a fish tank. THAT's why.) Others were mobile phones that are also face shavers, Super Umbrella, Smart Watch, Magic Shoes and Incredible Clothes! They all made poppa proud. Very proud considering they could bearly peep during the first week!
Then I went to a coffee shop and drank coffee, ate a bacon and egg sandwich (with mayonnase... we're going to have a 'to mayo or not to mayo talk tomorrow) and talked with some other foreign teachers. After that, I walked to a Muslim restaurant for hand pulled noodles. Mmm... la mian... mmmm. Best 6 kuai in town!
After lunch I had another final class. My English majors are really cute (90% women, too) and their English is good. Here, we learned about the Magical Hat, All-purpose Pen and the Universal Mobile Phone (with A/C). Sweet. My favorite was the "Egana: 'It's a case? No, it's a skateboard! No, it's a stool! No, it's a deck chair! You're all right! You'll be alright with Egana!" They rule and we took a grip of pictures after class. I'll post those online soon!
Then I spaced out and watched a movie called Slim Till Dead, from Hong Kong. It was alright, nothing special though. Ryan, my Chinese friend Benson and I went to a restaurant for dinner (I splurged for 20 kuai ~$2.50). After returning home, game 2 Spurs vs. Pistons was on. I knew the outcome but still got mad when DetRIOT lost.
At 8:30 a friend picked me up to do some voice-over work for Bella Sewing Company, Ltd. They make thinner trimming machines. I have NO idea was I was talking about; a bunch of really poor English and technical knowledge that not even a living sewing machine would know. It was like reading a trouble-shooting manual on the radio. Thrilling. It took 2 hours to record about 4 minutes - because the script was soooo poor. My favorite line was: 'Maybe change carbon cartridge every three month . If no to do this may , result in circuits of the shortageing out and by it on fire . " Note: 'Maybe' and 'if no... by it on fire.'
I got home, changed my carbon cartridge and decided to tell you about every 10 minutes of my day.
Loving, missing. paul.
Filling my water bottle from the Culligan sized jug in my kitchen, I grab a notebook and class list and prepare to say goodbye. This is finals week. I've had the same students for a whole year and today is their last class. They're good kids... well, enough of them are, at least. The final? In groups of 4: Invent a NEW product that people need but is not yet been created. Then, perform a 5-minute commercial telling all about the product and selling it to the class. Class: listen closely as you must ask 2 questions about the product after the commercial.
Some skits were good, some were marginal. Ex: Super Chair 2005! (a lazy-boy recliner with tank wheels and: tv, mp3 player, umbrella, storage space and a fish tank. why? EVERY chair needs a fish tank. THAT's why.) Others were mobile phones that are also face shavers, Super Umbrella, Smart Watch, Magic Shoes and Incredible Clothes! They all made poppa proud. Very proud considering they could bearly peep during the first week!
Then I went to a coffee shop and drank coffee, ate a bacon and egg sandwich (with mayonnase... we're going to have a 'to mayo or not to mayo talk tomorrow) and talked with some other foreign teachers. After that, I walked to a Muslim restaurant for hand pulled noodles. Mmm... la mian... mmmm. Best 6 kuai in town!
After lunch I had another final class. My English majors are really cute (90% women, too) and their English is good. Here, we learned about the Magical Hat, All-purpose Pen and the Universal Mobile Phone (with A/C). Sweet. My favorite was the "Egana: 'It's a case? No, it's a skateboard! No, it's a stool! No, it's a deck chair! You're all right! You'll be alright with Egana!" They rule and we took a grip of pictures after class. I'll post those online soon!
Then I spaced out and watched a movie called Slim Till Dead, from Hong Kong. It was alright, nothing special though. Ryan, my Chinese friend Benson and I went to a restaurant for dinner (I splurged for 20 kuai ~$2.50). After returning home, game 2 Spurs vs. Pistons was on. I knew the outcome but still got mad when DetRIOT lost.
At 8:30 a friend picked me up to do some voice-over work for Bella Sewing Company, Ltd. They make thinner trimming machines. I have NO idea was I was talking about; a bunch of really poor English and technical knowledge that not even a living sewing machine would know. It was like reading a trouble-shooting manual on the radio. Thrilling. It took 2 hours to record about 4 minutes - because the script was soooo poor. My favorite line was: 'Maybe change carbon cartridge every three month . If no to do this may , result in circuits of the shortageing out and by it on fire . " Note: 'Maybe' and 'if no... by it on fire.'
I got home, changed my carbon cartridge and decided to tell you about every 10 minutes of my day.
Loving, missing. paul.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
The Typhoon and the Aftermath
Well, the tropical storm named LSAT has passed. I apologize for not blogging more as of late, but I've been quite preoccupied. Let me comprise the last 2-3 weeks for you in a few brief paragraphs.
May 20 - CSB/SJU Alumni Dinner, Hong Kong
Ryan and I went to HK to absorb some English and some Johnnie pride. This lavish dinner was presented by Canning Fok (SJU '76) who is No. 2 to the wealthiest man in Asia, Li Kai-Shing. It was classy. C-L-A-S-S-Y. Classy. Crab, lobster, steak, curry and white rice. Wow. I was able to meet many many Alumni from HK (about 50 were in attendance). All very nice people who were happy to talk. After the dinner, Dave, Kevin (friends through Maryknoll) and I stayed around to have a talk with Bro. Deitrich, President of SJU. Of course, his main mission was to get these 'lost alumni' to make generous contributions to SJU. Despite Deitrich's speed about how many pennies he needs the HK alum to contribute, it was overall a very nice night.
I was also able to finalize my travels to London and MN this summer. A HK SJU alum who manages Priceline.com.hk hooked me up PHat. He is a nice guy. See me in MN on July 11, ya'll. It will be keen.
May 22-26 - Hank and H.J. Shea visit HK, Zhongshan.
It was very special to have my uncle and cousin come to visit me and de-mystify Zhongshan and China. They were very impressed and shocked to find out that I was not, in fact, teaching in the boondocks of rural China, but in a wonderful city with malls and electricity and all. They acted as teachers in my classes, which was a nice break for me and a great thing for they and my students to engage in. I have a feeling that they learned as much as they taught.
We also hoofed all over the city and took in some of Zhongshan's beauty while having deep converstations with my friends and students. Again, it was great to see them and I hope that they genuinely enjoyed their stay in ZS and in China.
Flash ahead to June 7 - The LSAT, HK
The good people at Maryknoll were invaluable to helping me get to the test that I've been stressing about and studying for over a month for. The testing crowd was very interesting. There were a handful of teachers or young ex-pats living and working in China like myself. Then there were the super-driven Chinese and Hong Kong people who's parents have whispered "Harvard Law... Harvard Law" in their ears everynight before bed since they were 2 months old. Interesting.
I believe the test went well, but it's hard to tell. There were some sections that felt really good - I was firmly in 'the zone.' Other sections were challenging to finish in 35 minutes. I felt prepaired and nervous, yet confident going into the test, so I believe that I tried my best. We'll find out in 2-3 weeks if this is the case.
Today, June 11 - Zhongshan.
I had to check the date on my computer because it totally evaded me. Such is the life now. I woke up at noon. I smell terribly. No more LSAT to prep for. Final exams all week. There is little to consume my time other than reading, writing and watching Star Wars in it's entirety. Then watching Lord of the Rings in it's entirety. Then watching Back to the Future, in it's entire glory. "Marty, don't! You'll tear the fabric of space -time continuum!" Freakin' sweet. Expect a few blogs devoted to how poor B2F Part II is... it's the Pearl Harbor of the trilogy. Yup, it's really that bad.
Some might say that this is laziness and sloth in it's prime. I say, you bet.
And you better believe that I've earned it.
take care ya'll. peace. paul.e.s.wegerson, esq.
May 20 - CSB/SJU Alumni Dinner, Hong Kong
Ryan and I went to HK to absorb some English and some Johnnie pride. This lavish dinner was presented by Canning Fok (SJU '76) who is No. 2 to the wealthiest man in Asia, Li Kai-Shing. It was classy. C-L-A-S-S-Y. Classy. Crab, lobster, steak, curry and white rice. Wow. I was able to meet many many Alumni from HK (about 50 were in attendance). All very nice people who were happy to talk. After the dinner, Dave, Kevin (friends through Maryknoll) and I stayed around to have a talk with Bro. Deitrich, President of SJU. Of course, his main mission was to get these 'lost alumni' to make generous contributions to SJU. Despite Deitrich's speed about how many pennies he needs the HK alum to contribute, it was overall a very nice night.
I was also able to finalize my travels to London and MN this summer. A HK SJU alum who manages Priceline.com.hk hooked me up PHat. He is a nice guy. See me in MN on July 11, ya'll. It will be keen.
May 22-26 - Hank and H.J. Shea visit HK, Zhongshan.
It was very special to have my uncle and cousin come to visit me and de-mystify Zhongshan and China. They were very impressed and shocked to find out that I was not, in fact, teaching in the boondocks of rural China, but in a wonderful city with malls and electricity and all. They acted as teachers in my classes, which was a nice break for me and a great thing for they and my students to engage in. I have a feeling that they learned as much as they taught.
We also hoofed all over the city and took in some of Zhongshan's beauty while having deep converstations with my friends and students. Again, it was great to see them and I hope that they genuinely enjoyed their stay in ZS and in China.
Flash ahead to June 7 - The LSAT, HK
The good people at Maryknoll were invaluable to helping me get to the test that I've been stressing about and studying for over a month for. The testing crowd was very interesting. There were a handful of teachers or young ex-pats living and working in China like myself. Then there were the super-driven Chinese and Hong Kong people who's parents have whispered "Harvard Law... Harvard Law" in their ears everynight before bed since they were 2 months old. Interesting.
I believe the test went well, but it's hard to tell. There were some sections that felt really good - I was firmly in 'the zone.' Other sections were challenging to finish in 35 minutes. I felt prepaired and nervous, yet confident going into the test, so I believe that I tried my best. We'll find out in 2-3 weeks if this is the case.
Today, June 11 - Zhongshan.
I had to check the date on my computer because it totally evaded me. Such is the life now. I woke up at noon. I smell terribly. No more LSAT to prep for. Final exams all week. There is little to consume my time other than reading, writing and watching Star Wars in it's entirety. Then watching Lord of the Rings in it's entirety. Then watching Back to the Future, in it's entire glory. "Marty, don't! You'll tear the fabric of space -time continuum!" Freakin' sweet. Expect a few blogs devoted to how poor B2F Part II is... it's the Pearl Harbor of the trilogy. Yup, it's really that bad.
Some might say that this is laziness and sloth in it's prime. I say, you bet.
And you better believe that I've earned it.
take care ya'll. peace. paul.e.s.wegerson, esq.
Monday, May 23, 2005
The Plan
Since high school, the indie rock giants Built to Spill have been on constant rotation in my playlist. One song in particular struck me as fitting as pieces of my life come into greater focus...
"The Plan keeps coming up again. The plan won't accomplish anything that's not implemented." -Doug Martch, Built to Spill
You can have a plan, but it won't accomplish anything unless you do it. Do it. So, as more opportunities arise for me here in China I have chosen to stick around to accomplish them. My original plan in coming to Asia was to hone my writing skills and pursue a career in international journalism. Writing for the Zhongshan Daily has been a great experience, one that I hope to continue, and it has opened more opportunities for me to enjoy my working time here.
A group of ex-pats - mostly Germans - are longing for an avenue to connect the ex-pat community and keep them informed of things to do and social gatherings. The result? I will be writing an ex-pat newsletter as well as an English guide to Zhongshan for the ex-pats of the present and future. It will be sort of like an interactive Lonely Planet and will include: emergency contact info, a list of doctors and health professionals who can offer advice in clear English terms, restaruant guide, maps, etc. A single location for these important things is lacking, so I will help to bring it all together.
Along with this, the college has agreed to reduce my hours, increase my salary and allow me to have more control over my course load. So, when I return to Zhongshan college next fall I will hopefully be teaching some oral English as well as English Composition and an American film class. I think this will be pretty awesome, so I am happy and confident in my decision.
Before year two - something completely different!! I WILL be returning to the United States for a month this summer. My flight will arrive in MSP on July 11 and I will depart again for Hong Kong on August 9. I can't wait to see you all and be back with the people I love and miss in the city that I love and miss!!!!
much love. peace. paul.
"The Plan keeps coming up again. The plan won't accomplish anything that's not implemented." -Doug Martch, Built to Spill
You can have a plan, but it won't accomplish anything unless you do it. Do it. So, as more opportunities arise for me here in China I have chosen to stick around to accomplish them. My original plan in coming to Asia was to hone my writing skills and pursue a career in international journalism. Writing for the Zhongshan Daily has been a great experience, one that I hope to continue, and it has opened more opportunities for me to enjoy my working time here.
A group of ex-pats - mostly Germans - are longing for an avenue to connect the ex-pat community and keep them informed of things to do and social gatherings. The result? I will be writing an ex-pat newsletter as well as an English guide to Zhongshan for the ex-pats of the present and future. It will be sort of like an interactive Lonely Planet and will include: emergency contact info, a list of doctors and health professionals who can offer advice in clear English terms, restaruant guide, maps, etc. A single location for these important things is lacking, so I will help to bring it all together.
Along with this, the college has agreed to reduce my hours, increase my salary and allow me to have more control over my course load. So, when I return to Zhongshan college next fall I will hopefully be teaching some oral English as well as English Composition and an American film class. I think this will be pretty awesome, so I am happy and confident in my decision.
Before year two - something completely different!! I WILL be returning to the United States for a month this summer. My flight will arrive in MSP on July 11 and I will depart again for Hong Kong on August 9. I can't wait to see you all and be back with the people I love and miss in the city that I love and miss!!!!
much love. peace. paul.
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Canton Cuisine
Published May 22, 2005
Zhongshan Ribao
“The Cantonese people will eat: anything that moves except a car, anything that swims except a boat and anything that flies except a plane.” This quote from my students offers a humorously accurate take on Cantonese cuisine. While the Chinese palate may extend farther into the animal kingdom than most Westerners would care to go, the variety of dishes is refreshingly different.
Each Chinese province or city is famous for some variety of food. Beijing is famous for its duck wraps, or ‘Peking duck.’ The food in Sichuan Province, such as ‘hot pot,’ is notoriously spicy due to the hot peppers and aniseed capers commonly found in dishes.
Zhongshan’s specialty is fried pigeon. In the United States, pigeons are often found in public parks, being fattened up with breadcrumbs by park visitors. I’m becoming curious about the pigeon’s migration habits…
Other local favorites are barbequed snakes, cat soup and dog meat steaks. This sounded pretty strange to me at first, but these are just cultural differences. Despite not having come across any vacant leashes in the central Shiqi district, the village of Xiaolan is rumored to have some fantastic Labrador.
Aside from the different nature of Chinese dishes, the true difference is in the preparation. In Chinese cooking, the heads, bones, skin and fins are presented in an artistic fashion to accompany the dish. This represents the wholeness of the animal and the spirit of we who eat it.
When I asked a Chinese colleague of mine why her favorite part of the fish was the tail, she said it was because it requires the most work. Her satisfaction derives not only from the food but from also from the accomplishment. I replied, “I want to eat my food, not disassemble it like a shrimp jigsaw puzzle.”
This ‘peel your own’ concept was difficult for me. Western food removes the consumer from the much of the preparation process. At first, my stomach was queasy to see exactly what I was eating. After a few months, I’ve learned how to surgically dissect a shrimp with my fingernails and my stomach has learned to how handle it.
With this ‘eat all’ food philosophy, it seems to me that the Chinese cooks are far less wasteful than Western cooks. Common orders that include chicken are given hips and joints with plenty of meat on them. In Western cooking the bones are rarely, if ever, included. (Steaks, ribs and fried chicken come to mind as exceptions to this rule.)
Dinner table etiquette in the United States is quite formal. Rules like: no elbows on the table, chew with your mouth closed and fold your napkin in your lap have been instilled in me since I graduated from of the high chair.
The excess bones in Chinese cooking have to go somewhere, so why hide them? Here, the sign of a good restaurant is the presence of bones and debris on the floor. The more mess, the better the business.
Each style has its merits. In Zhongshan, western restaurants serving imported food are available for a needed break. Pigeon and green tea is delicious, but pizza and beer will remain my comfort food.
##### END #####
*This article is the intellectual property of Paul Wegerson and may not be reproduced or syndicated without express written consent of Paul Wegerson or Zhongshan Ribao. Think fo yoself foo!
Zhongshan Ribao
“The Cantonese people will eat: anything that moves except a car, anything that swims except a boat and anything that flies except a plane.” This quote from my students offers a humorously accurate take on Cantonese cuisine. While the Chinese palate may extend farther into the animal kingdom than most Westerners would care to go, the variety of dishes is refreshingly different.
Each Chinese province or city is famous for some variety of food. Beijing is famous for its duck wraps, or ‘Peking duck.’ The food in Sichuan Province, such as ‘hot pot,’ is notoriously spicy due to the hot peppers and aniseed capers commonly found in dishes.
Zhongshan’s specialty is fried pigeon. In the United States, pigeons are often found in public parks, being fattened up with breadcrumbs by park visitors. I’m becoming curious about the pigeon’s migration habits…
Other local favorites are barbequed snakes, cat soup and dog meat steaks. This sounded pretty strange to me at first, but these are just cultural differences. Despite not having come across any vacant leashes in the central Shiqi district, the village of Xiaolan is rumored to have some fantastic Labrador.
Aside from the different nature of Chinese dishes, the true difference is in the preparation. In Chinese cooking, the heads, bones, skin and fins are presented in an artistic fashion to accompany the dish. This represents the wholeness of the animal and the spirit of we who eat it.
When I asked a Chinese colleague of mine why her favorite part of the fish was the tail, she said it was because it requires the most work. Her satisfaction derives not only from the food but from also from the accomplishment. I replied, “I want to eat my food, not disassemble it like a shrimp jigsaw puzzle.”
This ‘peel your own’ concept was difficult for me. Western food removes the consumer from the much of the preparation process. At first, my stomach was queasy to see exactly what I was eating. After a few months, I’ve learned how to surgically dissect a shrimp with my fingernails and my stomach has learned to how handle it.
With this ‘eat all’ food philosophy, it seems to me that the Chinese cooks are far less wasteful than Western cooks. Common orders that include chicken are given hips and joints with plenty of meat on them. In Western cooking the bones are rarely, if ever, included. (Steaks, ribs and fried chicken come to mind as exceptions to this rule.)
Dinner table etiquette in the United States is quite formal. Rules like: no elbows on the table, chew with your mouth closed and fold your napkin in your lap have been instilled in me since I graduated from of the high chair.
The excess bones in Chinese cooking have to go somewhere, so why hide them? Here, the sign of a good restaurant is the presence of bones and debris on the floor. The more mess, the better the business.
Each style has its merits. In Zhongshan, western restaurants serving imported food are available for a needed break. Pigeon and green tea is delicious, but pizza and beer will remain my comfort food.
##### END #####
*This article is the intellectual property of Paul Wegerson and may not be reproduced or syndicated without express written consent of Paul Wegerson or Zhongshan Ribao. Think fo yoself foo!
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
The Great China Road Trip
As more Chinese buy personal cars, it becomes eaiser for this emerging class to travel during the May 1 Labor Day holiday. While they are learning to drive, they are beginning to enjoy the age old tradition of the family road trip.
I was invited by my good friend Harry to accompany his family on the 2.5 hour drive from Zhongshan to Shenzhen. Reminicent of all the great road trips I've taken though the US, I accepted the offer without hesitation. Harry has only been driving for 4 months and this trip tested his stamina as well as his confidence behind the wheel. Lucky for him, he had an experienced co-pilot.
This Delta area is so highly developed with joint venture companies and hundreds of factories, that it felt like one huge city. Sprawling cities bleed together in this area and I was at a loss to find where one city ended and the next began. So, there was little variety in our games of 'I Spy.' "Hmm. I spy something big," I said. "A factory?" Harry asked. "Yup. Next one, I spy something bright," I said. "A hotel next to a factory?" Harry said. "Yup. I spy something ...." Interesting, but it got old fast.
Usually, the most important part of the trip is the soundtrack. Harry put on some Chinese songs and one English CD - complete with Celine Dion, Pink and Avril Lavigne - which he said was for me. I would have preferred The Shins or the Grateful Dead, but "Sk8er Boy" and "My Heart Will Go On" seemed to soothe Harry's driving nerves so I demured.
Due to the swelling number of cars and the slow creation of infastructure the traffic was heavy and ruthless. As we rounded the Pearl River Delta in Harry's Nissan we passed toll booth after toll booth and accident after accident. On China's highways, just like its city streets, the lane lines serve only as suggestions. Without checking their blind spots, drivers coast from side to side and jostle for pole position. It was like a slapstick scene where 5 people try to walk though a door at the same time, but get stuck in the process.
With few snags we made it to Shenzhen, the L.A. of China, and to Harry's sister's apartment. It felt good to be on the 'open road,' even if we weren't alone.
Take care ya'll. peace. paul.
I was invited by my good friend Harry to accompany his family on the 2.5 hour drive from Zhongshan to Shenzhen. Reminicent of all the great road trips I've taken though the US, I accepted the offer without hesitation. Harry has only been driving for 4 months and this trip tested his stamina as well as his confidence behind the wheel. Lucky for him, he had an experienced co-pilot.
This Delta area is so highly developed with joint venture companies and hundreds of factories, that it felt like one huge city. Sprawling cities bleed together in this area and I was at a loss to find where one city ended and the next began. So, there was little variety in our games of 'I Spy.' "Hmm. I spy something big," I said. "A factory?" Harry asked. "Yup. Next one, I spy something bright," I said. "A hotel next to a factory?" Harry said. "Yup. I spy something ...." Interesting, but it got old fast.
Usually, the most important part of the trip is the soundtrack. Harry put on some Chinese songs and one English CD - complete with Celine Dion, Pink and Avril Lavigne - which he said was for me. I would have preferred The Shins or the Grateful Dead, but "Sk8er Boy" and "My Heart Will Go On" seemed to soothe Harry's driving nerves so I demured.
Due to the swelling number of cars and the slow creation of infastructure the traffic was heavy and ruthless. As we rounded the Pearl River Delta in Harry's Nissan we passed toll booth after toll booth and accident after accident. On China's highways, just like its city streets, the lane lines serve only as suggestions. Without checking their blind spots, drivers coast from side to side and jostle for pole position. It was like a slapstick scene where 5 people try to walk though a door at the same time, but get stuck in the process.
With few snags we made it to Shenzhen, the L.A. of China, and to Harry's sister's apartment. It felt good to be on the 'open road,' even if we weren't alone.
Take care ya'll. peace. paul.
Handlebars to Hubcaps
By Paul Wegerson
Zhongshan Ribao English Edition
Growing up, I was a huge fan of the basic video game Frogger. In this game, the player is a frog that is trying to cross a busy street without getting squished by a bus, bike or steamroller.
In China, I’m brought back to my Frogger days each time I try to cross the road. With the increase of cars on the roads, the stakes are greater than only having to get up and hit the reset button. Once called the ‘Bicycle Kingdom,’ people are trading handlebars for hubcaps, and the personal car is driving China into the 21st century.
My mother, the saint that she is, always told me to look both ways before crossing the street. Taking her advice vigilantly, my neck is more sore than that of a chair umpire at Wimbledon as I scan traffic and Frogger my way through the bikes, motorbikes, cars, trucks and buses that race down China’s roads.
Due to traffic around the Da Fu Yuan it’s no surprise that even the typically calm green pedestrian light shows a character sprinting across the street.
Standing on the yellow median as buses stream by, I’ll often wait for a group before striding on. Typically a brave pedestrian, I’ve been known to shelf my pride and hide behind a 6 year old or a 66 year old who is a more experienced jaywalker than myself. It’s as if they say, “Hey sonny! Can I help you cross the street?” What a role reversal!
While 60 percent of China’s personal cars are registered in Guangdong province, Zhongshan has remained free of many of the negative externalities of this surge. The horn-free zone in the downtown Shiqi District (时期) has reduced noise pollution, and minor traffic jams only occur for a brief half-hour at the end of the workday. In contrast, major cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen are being crippled by stagnant traffic and smoked out by air pollution.
Zhongshan’s high standard of living is putting more people in the driver’s seat. Just outside of downtown there are many car dealerships selling a range of foreign cars like Italy’s Fiat and the French Peugeot. The emerging wealthy class can purchase German luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.
With much competition from foreign joint ventures, the Chinese domestic auto industry is finding a domestic niche. Over the past few years, prices for Wuling, Changan and other major manufacturers have dropped. This allows more of China’s growing middle class to buy a family car. Connections with the financing industry have even allowed these new drivers to buy on credit.
Although there are more commuters and leisure drivers, the city remains manageable enough to trek on bicycle or foot. I’ve considered splurging on a bike, but with expert handling and a variety of colors, a solid pair of New Balance shoes will remain the only rubber between the road and me. When I want a sunroof in the summer, I can always switch to Birkenstock sandals. ###
This article is property of Paul Wegerson 韦保罗 and the Zhongshan Daily. Protected by CreatveCommons.org, this article may not be reproduced or republished without the express written consent of the author. Do your own work!
Zhongshan Ribao English Edition
Growing up, I was a huge fan of the basic video game Frogger. In this game, the player is a frog that is trying to cross a busy street without getting squished by a bus, bike or steamroller.
In China, I’m brought back to my Frogger days each time I try to cross the road. With the increase of cars on the roads, the stakes are greater than only having to get up and hit the reset button. Once called the ‘Bicycle Kingdom,’ people are trading handlebars for hubcaps, and the personal car is driving China into the 21st century.
My mother, the saint that she is, always told me to look both ways before crossing the street. Taking her advice vigilantly, my neck is more sore than that of a chair umpire at Wimbledon as I scan traffic and Frogger my way through the bikes, motorbikes, cars, trucks and buses that race down China’s roads.
Due to traffic around the Da Fu Yuan it’s no surprise that even the typically calm green pedestrian light shows a character sprinting across the street.
Standing on the yellow median as buses stream by, I’ll often wait for a group before striding on. Typically a brave pedestrian, I’ve been known to shelf my pride and hide behind a 6 year old or a 66 year old who is a more experienced jaywalker than myself. It’s as if they say, “Hey sonny! Can I help you cross the street?” What a role reversal!
While 60 percent of China’s personal cars are registered in Guangdong province, Zhongshan has remained free of many of the negative externalities of this surge. The horn-free zone in the downtown Shiqi District (时期) has reduced noise pollution, and minor traffic jams only occur for a brief half-hour at the end of the workday. In contrast, major cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen are being crippled by stagnant traffic and smoked out by air pollution.
Zhongshan’s high standard of living is putting more people in the driver’s seat. Just outside of downtown there are many car dealerships selling a range of foreign cars like Italy’s Fiat and the French Peugeot. The emerging wealthy class can purchase German luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen.
With much competition from foreign joint ventures, the Chinese domestic auto industry is finding a domestic niche. Over the past few years, prices for Wuling, Changan and other major manufacturers have dropped. This allows more of China’s growing middle class to buy a family car. Connections with the financing industry have even allowed these new drivers to buy on credit.
Although there are more commuters and leisure drivers, the city remains manageable enough to trek on bicycle or foot. I’ve considered splurging on a bike, but with expert handling and a variety of colors, a solid pair of New Balance shoes will remain the only rubber between the road and me. When I want a sunroof in the summer, I can always switch to Birkenstock sandals. ###
This article is property of Paul Wegerson 韦保罗 and the Zhongshan Daily. Protected by CreatveCommons.org, this article may not be reproduced or republished without the express written consent of the author. Do your own work!
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Movies' Mad Libs
I'm a film fan. Well, I'll be more accurate - a film crazed psycopath who's insatiable need for new motion pictures keeps me up at night. Literally. One of my favorite genres is both near to my apartment and my heart, in Hong Kong cinemas. When I was growing up, my favorite thing to do was watch Bruce Lee films from Hong Kong and laugh at the terrible English over-dubbing of the original Cantonese.
Flash to college. Working for the radio station, we found creative ways to over-dub Carlin's Seven Dirty words when they appeared in songs. We thought it clever to add a shout out for the station whenever these dilemmas posed themselves. So, we'd add our call letters, KJNB, wherever the FCC would want us to. For example: DJ Shadow's Walkie Talkie became "I'm a badass mother "KJNB" DJ!" Or on Ben Fold's Song for the Dumped, it became " Well, 'KJNB' you too! Give me my money back/ Give me my money back, you 'KJNB.' " Not all of them were this graceful, but you get the picture.
It was kind of like musical mad libs where certain words are underlined with 'expletive' written underneath.
I was just reading an article in The Rake Magazine, which is becoming my favorite free Mpls zine, about the dubbing on in-flight films. Namely, the use of 'Ashcroft' in place of 'asshole' when the film Sideways is shown on Northwest Airlines. The article offers an interesting insight to the world of over (as in too much) over-dubbing for captive audiences of all ages. It's a quick read and pretty 'darn' funny. If you think I'm trying to 'bullhonkey' you, check it out for your 'rootin' tootin' self.
Flash to college. Working for the radio station, we found creative ways to over-dub Carlin's Seven Dirty words when they appeared in songs. We thought it clever to add a shout out for the station whenever these dilemmas posed themselves. So, we'd add our call letters, KJNB, wherever the FCC would want us to. For example: DJ Shadow's Walkie Talkie became "I'm a badass mother "KJNB" DJ!" Or on Ben Fold's Song for the Dumped, it became " Well, 'KJNB' you too! Give me my money back/ Give me my money back, you 'KJNB.' " Not all of them were this graceful, but you get the picture.
It was kind of like musical mad libs where certain words are underlined with 'expletive' written underneath.
I was just reading an article in The Rake Magazine, which is becoming my favorite free Mpls zine, about the dubbing on in-flight films. Namely, the use of 'Ashcroft' in place of 'asshole' when the film Sideways is shown on Northwest Airlines. The article offers an interesting insight to the world of over (as in too much) over-dubbing for captive audiences of all ages. It's a quick read and pretty 'darn' funny. If you think I'm trying to 'bullhonkey' you, check it out for your 'rootin' tootin' self.
paul is the new fred
paul is an awesome two
paul is wack
paul is at best lukewarm about the usa patriot act
paul is a good host city for the
paul is the newest hummer accessory
paul is the third lady topper to recieve honors this season
paul is second favourite to win big brother click here to post a question for Liz Warner
paul is a bad trader
paul is a 27 year old Australian who loves technology
paul is a 'pop billionare'
paul is putting his career back into shape case study saturday may 21
paul is the author of over a dozen books about windows
paul is walking with his eyes closed
i is $37
Ok, paul is not an ego maniac. paul is not a poet. Paul DID just discover googlism.com and paul is likeing it. Things are funny in different contexts.
Enter your name and see what google thinks of you.
paul is safe and well
you is or is you ain't my editor?
you is likely spam
paul is wack
paul is at best lukewarm about the usa patriot act
paul is a good host city for the
paul is the newest hummer accessory
paul is the third lady topper to recieve honors this season
paul is second favourite to win big brother click here to post a question for Liz Warner
paul is a bad trader
paul is a 27 year old Australian who loves technology
paul is a 'pop billionare'
paul is putting his career back into shape case study saturday may 21
paul is the author of over a dozen books about windows
paul is walking with his eyes closed
i is $37
Ok, paul is not an ego maniac. paul is not a poet. Paul DID just discover googlism.com and paul is likeing it. Things are funny in different contexts.
Enter your name and see what google thinks of you.
paul is safe and well
you is or is you ain't my editor?
you is likely spam
Sunday, April 17, 2005
300k R.I.P.
The Memorial Hall for the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders - Nanjing, Jiangsu
In the name of these 300,000 lives lost during WWII, thousands of Chinese have protested a new Japanese textbook which downplays the event.
With government support and Japanese pride, these wounds have never healed.
PEACE. paul.
In the name of these 300,000 lives lost during WWII, thousands of Chinese have protested a new Japanese textbook which downplays the event.
With government support and Japanese pride, these wounds have never healed.
PEACE. paul.
You say you want a Revolution? Please fill out this form and we'll process your request
This weekend 20,000 Shanghai people turned out in organized anger towards the Japanese government. Relations between the two countries have never been that solid, despite their regional dependence on each other. These relations have come to a head as the Japanese government released a new edition of their history textbook, which the Chinese claim downplays atrocities committed by the Japanese during WWII.
During the 'Rape of Nanjing,' 300,000 citizens were humiliated and killed in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province. The wounds have never healed, and it appears that the Japanese have not been completely honest or forthcoming with the political atonement for these sins. As the Chinese saying goes: "A kneeling Germany is taller than a standing Japan."
Over the past few weeks, relations have been deteriorating and 'unregistered' protests have sprung up in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing. Professors at my college sent mass e-mails and mass text messages reiterating the need for harmony, and advising them 'not to do anything stupid as to get their faces in the newspapers.'
The English mouthpiece of the Xinhua News Agency, The China Daily, ran a story today about the protest. The story reads like a government press release, which it no doubt was, but it speaks volumes about the Chinese Law on Assemblies, Processions and Demonstrations.
What strikes me about this protest, however, was the fact that it had to be registered in advance with the People's Government. SO, while they say that people have the 'freedom of assembly,' demonstrations still must be approved and therefore cannot display an image of 'disunity.'
It also means that hating the Japanese is an 'approved activity' which the government seems eager to endorse. While I think the Japanese should be more sensitive towards their neighbors (S. Korea has held protests as well), the Chinese need to do some serious reflecting themselves.
During the 'Rape of Nanjing,' 300,000 citizens were humiliated and killed in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province. The wounds have never healed, and it appears that the Japanese have not been completely honest or forthcoming with the political atonement for these sins. As the Chinese saying goes: "A kneeling Germany is taller than a standing Japan."
Over the past few weeks, relations have been deteriorating and 'unregistered' protests have sprung up in Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing. Professors at my college sent mass e-mails and mass text messages reiterating the need for harmony, and advising them 'not to do anything stupid as to get their faces in the newspapers.'
The English mouthpiece of the Xinhua News Agency, The China Daily, ran a story today about the protest. The story reads like a government press release, which it no doubt was, but it speaks volumes about the Chinese Law on Assemblies, Processions and Demonstrations.
What strikes me about this protest, however, was the fact that it had to be registered in advance with the People's Government. SO, while they say that people have the 'freedom of assembly,' demonstrations still must be approved and therefore cannot display an image of 'disunity.'
It also means that hating the Japanese is an 'approved activity' which the government seems eager to endorse. While I think the Japanese should be more sensitive towards their neighbors (S. Korea has held protests as well), the Chinese need to do some serious reflecting themselves.
Friday, April 15, 2005
The Keyboard vs. The Pen
Here is my column for this week. Enjoy!
Note: The following article is property of Paul Wegerson (韦保罗）and the Zhongshan Ribao （中山日报.) It may not be re-printed without expressed written consent of either party.
April 15, 2005
Zhongshan Ribao English Edition
The pen is -and will always be- mightier than the sword. Yet in this age of technology, perhaps this common cliché could use an upgrade.
Modern students are writing with pinyin (拼音) based keyboards and mobile phones more often than with pens. Studies have shown that typing stimulates the memory far less than writing does. As a result some students are forgetting how to write certain Chinese words. This trend -‘computer dyslexia’- is creating new problems for students and for the Chinese language. Does this mean that the keyboard is mightier than the pen?
‘Computer dyslexia’ affects many of my college students when they must write an essay or take notes in class. They turn to their computers or mobiles when they can’t find the right word. Due to lack of practice, students even say that their handwriting is sloppy and ‘unreadable.’
A survey jointly conducted by the China Youth Daily and Sina.com showed that 67 percent of participants admit that they occasionally forget how to write Chinese characters.
Westerners who come to China bring with them a fascination and curiosity for the beautiful Chinese script. Each character reads like a pictogram of the time when the character was first written. Thousands of years of traditional culture were united to create each character in Chinese calligraphy. However, the computerized age of globalization appears to be erasing this tradition.
Many of my students are ambivalent to ‘computer dyslexia.’ They say that using technology to your advantage –using keyboards not pens- is important for today’s business world. This hurried, ‘just-in-time’ attitude is spilling over into daily life as well.
In 2004, 220 billion text messages were sent over mobile phones in China. This, coupled with the increase of instant messaging services like MSN, QQ and ICQ, means that more communication in China is through this pinyin based system or abbreviations.
Often, students will type ‘88’ (ba ba 八八) to say ‘bye-bye’ or type ‘3166’ (san yi liu liu 三一六六) to say ‘Sayonara,’ which is goodbye in Japanese. Lovers will type ‘520’ (wo er ling 五二另) to each other, which sounds like ‘Wo ai ni’ (我爱你) and means ‘I love you’ in Putonghua. Now, romance is just a short and encoded text message away. Chivalry is not dead after all. It just needed to re-charge.
Short cuts erode our attention to detail. I value my native tongue and try to place this respect for my language above convenience. Language reflects values. Those who study different languages have a broad worldview and a thirst for cultural insight. Increasingly, the diffusion of technological resources and the shrinking ‘scope’ of the world is challenging those values.
Today, the challenge facing China is to reward those who adapt without abandoning tradition. Pinyin is the Chinese phonetic alphabet, but to wholly rely on it dilutes the artistic heritage of the language. Calligraphy is an art form, typing is not. I believe the true test of a culture is how people assimilate with these changes.
Note: This article is property of Paul Wegerson (韦保罗）and the Zhongshan Ribao （中山日报.) It may not be re-printed without expressed written consent of either party.
########
Note: The following article is property of Paul Wegerson (韦保罗）and the Zhongshan Ribao （中山日报.) It may not be re-printed without expressed written consent of either party.
April 15, 2005
Zhongshan Ribao English Edition
The pen is -and will always be- mightier than the sword. Yet in this age of technology, perhaps this common cliché could use an upgrade.
Modern students are writing with pinyin (拼音) based keyboards and mobile phones more often than with pens. Studies have shown that typing stimulates the memory far less than writing does. As a result some students are forgetting how to write certain Chinese words. This trend -‘computer dyslexia’- is creating new problems for students and for the Chinese language. Does this mean that the keyboard is mightier than the pen?
‘Computer dyslexia’ affects many of my college students when they must write an essay or take notes in class. They turn to their computers or mobiles when they can’t find the right word. Due to lack of practice, students even say that their handwriting is sloppy and ‘unreadable.’
A survey jointly conducted by the China Youth Daily and Sina.com showed that 67 percent of participants admit that they occasionally forget how to write Chinese characters.
Westerners who come to China bring with them a fascination and curiosity for the beautiful Chinese script. Each character reads like a pictogram of the time when the character was first written. Thousands of years of traditional culture were united to create each character in Chinese calligraphy. However, the computerized age of globalization appears to be erasing this tradition.
Many of my students are ambivalent to ‘computer dyslexia.’ They say that using technology to your advantage –using keyboards not pens- is important for today’s business world. This hurried, ‘just-in-time’ attitude is spilling over into daily life as well.
In 2004, 220 billion text messages were sent over mobile phones in China. This, coupled with the increase of instant messaging services like MSN, QQ and ICQ, means that more communication in China is through this pinyin based system or abbreviations.
Often, students will type ‘88’ (ba ba 八八) to say ‘bye-bye’ or type ‘3166’ (san yi liu liu 三一六六) to say ‘Sayonara,’ which is goodbye in Japanese. Lovers will type ‘520’ (wo er ling 五二另) to each other, which sounds like ‘Wo ai ni’ (我爱你) and means ‘I love you’ in Putonghua. Now, romance is just a short and encoded text message away. Chivalry is not dead after all. It just needed to re-charge.
Short cuts erode our attention to detail. I value my native tongue and try to place this respect for my language above convenience. Language reflects values. Those who study different languages have a broad worldview and a thirst for cultural insight. Increasingly, the diffusion of technological resources and the shrinking ‘scope’ of the world is challenging those values.
Today, the challenge facing China is to reward those who adapt without abandoning tradition. Pinyin is the Chinese phonetic alphabet, but to wholly rely on it dilutes the artistic heritage of the language. Calligraphy is an art form, typing is not. I believe the true test of a culture is how people assimilate with these changes.
Note: This article is property of Paul Wegerson (韦保罗）and the Zhongshan Ribao （中山日报.) It may not be re-printed without expressed written consent of either party.
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Friday, April 08, 2005
Globalization and its Contents
I'm not always as quick as Sydney or Ryan (my fellow teachers) to condemn the foreign investment in China. Sure, it's quite lopsided and favors the coastal cities with easy access to sea ports but little things can distract me from these big issues. Like a baby in a crib, show me something shiny or something goofy and I'll probably giggle and become a shopper at your store.
Yi Ja Yi or 1+1 Supermarket is from Zhongshan. I used to buy everything from pillows to peanuts at Yi Ja Yi while my bananas and oranges came fresh from the street markets. Now, with a Park n' Shop from Hong Kong opening at about the same distance as Yi Ja Yi, I've begun to re-evaluate my consumer discriminations.
Within the past 5 years or so Zhongshan and China have changed considerably. The night markets and street markets are still availbable for the budget shopper who wants inexpensive goods and fresh local produce. These markets are great for many things, but not that great for a blender or a DVD player or for Kellogg's Corn Flakes.
Filling this gap in consumer demand are an international blend of superstores which offer a wide range of products and where faulty products can be returned if not up to standard. Of these foreign giants, Carrefore is from France, Fu Mart, JustCo and Trust Mart are from Japan and Park n' Shop is from Hong Kong.
This is because Park n' Shop offers me flavors of home. They have spaghetti noodles and sauces, they have Post and Kellogg cereals (so i can start my day off right with Raisin Bran, AND lower my cholesterol!!!! Just kidding, I don't EVEN know what cholesterol is and I wouldn't worry about it if they didn't tell me to on the side of the box) and here's the kicker.... drum roll, Max.... TABASCO SAUCE. At $0.30 for a beer and $1.20 for TABASCO SAUCE... Yi Ja What?
So, with this discovery I've become a very happy man. Also, I feel unsatisfied like I gave in to a corporate machine, but I bought fruit from the mega store also... the last batch of market bananas went bad in about 2 days and were filled with flies. Gross. In economics they call this taste and preferences. I would prefer to shop at the markets or at Yi Ja Yi, but my tastes prefer clean bananas and fiery sauce made only on Avery Island, Louisiana.
Yi Ja Yi or 1+1 Supermarket is from Zhongshan. I used to buy everything from pillows to peanuts at Yi Ja Yi while my bananas and oranges came fresh from the street markets. Now, with a Park n' Shop from Hong Kong opening at about the same distance as Yi Ja Yi, I've begun to re-evaluate my consumer discriminations.
Within the past 5 years or so Zhongshan and China have changed considerably. The night markets and street markets are still availbable for the budget shopper who wants inexpensive goods and fresh local produce. These markets are great for many things, but not that great for a blender or a DVD player or for Kellogg's Corn Flakes.
Filling this gap in consumer demand are an international blend of superstores which offer a wide range of products and where faulty products can be returned if not up to standard. Of these foreign giants, Carrefore is from France, Fu Mart, JustCo and Trust Mart are from Japan and Park n' Shop is from Hong Kong.
This is because Park n' Shop offers me flavors of home. They have spaghetti noodles and sauces, they have Post and Kellogg cereals (so i can start my day off right with Raisin Bran, AND lower my cholesterol!!!! Just kidding, I don't EVEN know what cholesterol is and I wouldn't worry about it if they didn't tell me to on the side of the box) and here's the kicker.... drum roll, Max.... TABASCO SAUCE. At $0.30 for a beer and $1.20 for TABASCO SAUCE... Yi Ja What?
So, with this discovery I've become a very happy man. Also, I feel unsatisfied like I gave in to a corporate machine, but I bought fruit from the mega store also... the last batch of market bananas went bad in about 2 days and were filled with flies. Gross. In economics they call this taste and preferences. I would prefer to shop at the markets or at Yi Ja Yi, but my tastes prefer clean bananas and fiery sauce made only on Avery Island, Louisiana.
Thursday, April 07, 2005
A Hoola Hoop Loop Hole in the Chinese Legal System
Once upon a time, 11 years ago in China's Hubei Province, a man was convicted of murdering his wife. The man had been feuding with his wife and she'd dissappeared shortly thereafter. When a body turned up in a local river -too decomposed to identify- the family of the wife claimed that the husband had killed her. He was tortured into making a statement and to end his suffering, he pleaded guilty to the crime under extreme duress.
Last week, the wife was 'reborn' after 11 years. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes (or to be more accurate, like a woman who left her husband, moved 5 hours away, remarried and started a new life for herself by not keeping in touch with the estranged family she'd left behind) she came back to visit relatives who were shocked to learn that she was not dead, but rather re-married with children. (Which is worse? One might ask...)
The now ex-husband, who was first awarded the death penalty, was then placed in a maximum security (break your friggin' legs once a month) prison was released last week for a re-trial. After his re-trial (and assumed acquittal, on account of his wife being ALIVE) he will sue the courts for compensation.
The courts claim that there were no DNA facilities 11 years ago.
Were common sense facilities available in China 11 years ago?
Was there not a shadow -nay, AN ECLIPSE- of a doubt to his guilt?
That, my friends, we shall find out in due time. For the article in it fully depressing hilarity, click here. peace. paul.
Last week, the wife was 'reborn' after 11 years. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes (or to be more accurate, like a woman who left her husband, moved 5 hours away, remarried and started a new life for herself by not keeping in touch with the estranged family she'd left behind) she came back to visit relatives who were shocked to learn that she was not dead, but rather re-married with children. (Which is worse? One might ask...)
The now ex-husband, who was first awarded the death penalty, was then placed in a maximum security (break your friggin' legs once a month) prison was released last week for a re-trial. After his re-trial (and assumed acquittal, on account of his wife being ALIVE) he will sue the courts for compensation.
The courts claim that there were no DNA facilities 11 years ago.
Were common sense facilities available in China 11 years ago?
Was there not a shadow -nay, AN ECLIPSE- of a doubt to his guilt?
That, my friends, we shall find out in due time. For the article in it fully depressing hilarity, click here. peace. paul.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Underground Church; State Media
The NYTimes ran an article yesterday about China's state-sponsored Catholic Church offering condolences to the Vatican. The language is less forceful than the direct quotes of my last posting, but it offers a little more insight to the underground church in China. Of course, the recent arrests of two underground priests somehow went unmentioned in the China Daily. Hmmmm, I wonder why?
Also, the press coverage of these Catholic mourning services has been interesting. In Zhongshan, I receive TVB Pearl and ATV World which are both broadcast from Hong Kong. Whenever a touchy subject comes up on the 7:30 or 10:00 news, the stations simply cut to commercials for 2 minutes until the situation blows over. This example is from Monday's Pearl broadcast: "Thanks, Gail. I'm here right now outside a church in Kowloon where the turnout is much larger than expected. As a result, the church has placed overflow seats in rooms adjoining to the chapel. Let's go inside to take a..." Then some lady comes on who is brushing her hair, smiling and telling me that my face can also be baby-butt smooth if I buy this Oil of Olay product. The same frustrating thing happens when HK media talks about developments in the Taiwan issue or anything alluding to democracy in HK. WTF?
Also, the press coverage of these Catholic mourning services has been interesting. In Zhongshan, I receive TVB Pearl and ATV World which are both broadcast from Hong Kong. Whenever a touchy subject comes up on the 7:30 or 10:00 news, the stations simply cut to commercials for 2 minutes until the situation blows over. This example is from Monday's Pearl broadcast: "Thanks, Gail. I'm here right now outside a church in Kowloon where the turnout is much larger than expected. As a result, the church has placed overflow seats in rooms adjoining to the chapel. Let's go inside to take a..." Then some lady comes on who is brushing her hair, smiling and telling me that my face can also be baby-butt smooth if I buy this Oil of Olay product. The same frustrating thing happens when HK media talks about developments in the Taiwan issue or anything alluding to democracy in HK. WTF?
Monday, April 04, 2005
Requiem In Pace
Pope John Paul II has passed onto the greatest reward and has left the world a better place. Regardless of religious affiliation, one can not undervalue his influence on the event of the last quarter decade. Leaders and workers, rich and poor alike were touched by his spirit. It truely is a time of mourning.
In China, the Catholic church remains divided. There is the Chinese Catholic Church and the underground Catholic Church. The difference? The Chinese Catholic Church, like the Buddist faith* in China, owes it's first allegiance to the People's Government and then to God. They realize the influence of the Pope, but do not follow him. The underground church listens to the Pope, not Beijing and they are actively persecuted for it. So, freedom of religion in China means that you can believe in any faith you like... as long as Beijing is not threatened by it.
As the world greives over the loss of Pope John Paul II, the Chinese Catholic church use his passing as a soapbox for political rhetoric. This article in the China Daily shows the foreign minister's spokesman expressing breif condolences but then setting aim on an agenda to "create favorable conditions for the development of relations" with the new Pope. The spokesman layed out two principles: 1) don't have relations with Taiwan. 2) Stay out of our internal affairs (i.e. don't have relations with Taiwan).
During a time like this, the rhetoric should be set aside in favor of the greiving believers around the world.
*After exiling the Dali Lama to India, Beijing nominated a monk to the post of Panchen Lama. The Panchen Lama is the 'Official' head of the Tibetan Buddist religion and he takes his cues from Beijing.
In China, the Catholic church remains divided. There is the Chinese Catholic Church and the underground Catholic Church. The difference? The Chinese Catholic Church, like the Buddist faith* in China, owes it's first allegiance to the People's Government and then to God. They realize the influence of the Pope, but do not follow him. The underground church listens to the Pope, not Beijing and they are actively persecuted for it. So, freedom of religion in China means that you can believe in any faith you like... as long as Beijing is not threatened by it.
As the world greives over the loss of Pope John Paul II, the Chinese Catholic church use his passing as a soapbox for political rhetoric. This article in the China Daily shows the foreign minister's spokesman expressing breif condolences but then setting aim on an agenda to "create favorable conditions for the development of relations" with the new Pope. The spokesman layed out two principles: 1) don't have relations with Taiwan. 2) Stay out of our internal affairs (i.e. don't have relations with Taiwan).
During a time like this, the rhetoric should be set aside in favor of the greiving believers around the world.
*After exiling the Dali Lama to India, Beijing nominated a monk to the post of Panchen Lama. The Panchen Lama is the 'Official' head of the Tibetan Buddist religion and he takes his cues from Beijing.
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