Possible next moves...get a map

I’m thinking islands:
Seychelles
Fiji
Mauritius
Maldives
Pacific and/or Indian ocean

Thoughts, questions, concerns...

Although, I signed another year contract with the little monsters, I'm thinking whats after. I will miss these monkeys.

I wish I was special...

If I were special, I think I would have the confidence and drive to do some really great things, or at least finish simple task. For example blogging and updating friends and love ones on my life. I'm currently in Detroit, Michigan (like there's another Michigan pssssh) reassesing as I do when I come to Michigan. I still don't have any answers and I'm still learning. I think I've figured out the basics of living in Shanghai and keeping my sanity. I have unfortunately not been as focused on yoga as I desperately feel is necessary. I'm not stressing because I always find my back to it and my practice greets me like I never left.

This trip home has proven informative and extremely refreshing. Minus the mugging that was slightly overshadowed by the trauma of dealing with the new Chicago transit "Ventra" (aka shit-tra), its been a good visit. Once I accepted the fact that I would not be able to see everyone I wanted, I treasured the time of those I did see.

Lessons Anne has learned from another year in China:
*Patience is a life learning process, no I'm not there yet
*I am much much small in the world than in my head
*I find more things humorous and get upset less (i.e. getting mugged)
*Being aware of the people you let into your life and the work it takes to build and maintain any type of relationship
*I might not be conventional, but I'm not alone in how I think and see things. Makes one feel less lonely.
*Other people can take themselves way too seriously, which I knew, but not taking what they say serious isn't always good.
*Hesitation is hilarious

Thats as much as I can gather right now. Still trying to organize the past 5 months of stuff I didn't post. Its not like nothing happened...its just hard when it all seems so insignificant.

Untill next time.

Love,

Anne

Thailand

At the airport (in China)...
I’m pretty sure this is kidnapping, albeit, legal but definitely some form of  holding people hostage without any hope of release. I complain about this countless times, but the power to control going apeshit in an airport hits unmeasurable levels. Especially when they do not give you any details of when the flight is coming in or IF the plane is even coming...EVER.

Made it to Bangkok...somehow

I’ve hit up museums and local tourist traps. I went to a movie where you have to stand for the kings song (yup that is fo real). I’m enjoying th fact that I am not in china right now. People are so pleasant here. Even one of the taxis driver that tried to swindle me became a friend by the end of my ride. We laughed at how silly he was,(probably and mainly due to the fact I understood 10% of what he was saying.)

Can you believe how hard it is to fine pad thai?!?!?!?
Seriously... its not on every menu, its not that popular. I compare it to the popularity of kung pao and sweet and sour chicken in China. Although they have it its not on most menus. Its a little disappointing and sad when you find out the food you “thought” was all ethnic or traditional just isn’t.  Thank goodness Josh knew what was up and took me to where I could pig out on some good pad thai!

 I found the Bangkok Cultural Center which was so great. So many great Thai artist and local works of art. So much and all so free.

Had dinner with Josh and Patcha. I learned how to eat an entire fish with lots of greens, sticky rice, spices, and apple/kiwi vodka. It was a real treat. I cannot thank Josh enough for being so helppful and awesome.

I want to come home for a little while...

I'm due for a visit home. I mean its been almost a year, right.  As I walk out the police station for the 3rd time this year, I look at my useless umbrella failing at keeping me dry (apparently there are "rain" umbrellas and "sun" umbrellas) because I didn't listen to the hustling umbrella salesman in the subway. 

More Characters in this drama called "China"

A few of my most prized adult students.

The princess...

Her name is Mia. She has crazy artsy hippie rich parents.
She owns a horse...in Shanghai. No one owns horses in Shanghai. She works for a French luxury brand doing business development. (This basically means she meets people and have dinner and tell them to buy her company's brand because its popular and its the "in" thing to do). She has a friend that collects (yes like baseball cards and coins for normal folks) 1000+ year old houses all over China, disassembles them and meticulously puts them back together with a team of people on her huge plot of land that she is currently hiding from the Chinese government...

Mia is married to a guy that agrees with them living apart (she lives in shanghai and he lives in Wuhan that is 5 hours away). Next year she wants to have a kid, because she is bored with life and a kid would give her something to do (not joking her words). She is currently looking into going into the television industry, because she thinks its as easy as saying it and she knows people...


The sort of Canadian...Branda

She's a 46 year old  property developer in Shanghai with a husband (works for a Japanese company in Vancouver. Which means she doesn't really need to work but because she needs something to do, she flies back and forth from Canada and China) and 16 year old daughter. Because she wants to get a job in Canada,  and her English isn't very good, she started having lessons with me. Her and her family  emigrated to Vancouver  5 years ago. Because her daughter and husband make her feel bad about her English level she  is now seriously trying to improve her oral English. She keeps asking me to help her with her driving. I tell her NO! She has failed the the Canadian drivers test 8 times in 4 different cities all over Canada, yet she drives in Shanghai...that should tell you something for sure about the driving standards here in China.

Boston bombs, N. Korean missiles, China bird flu....

I keep listening to NPR hourly updates on everything and its depressed me.

I would have thought this was strange 4 years ago...

I arrived back to my apartment after  being away for a few days, to a bed being burned in from of my door. A chalk circle had been draw around the perimeter of the bed. A large  tarp tent had been erected with many people sitting at several dining room tables outside. Now I had been on and off a bus tour and walking under the sun for the past 48 hours but I didn't think I was delusional.

I have had enough sense to know this was some sort of ritual but I did not know what/how/why it was happening. I just wanted to get pass it and go into my apartment. I also didn't want to be cursed by stepping in on or around the crop circle.  While I'm trying to figure out how to possibly scale the walls to my room on the 3rd floor, my roommate messages me "oh yeah 1 of our neighbors died (because I live in a retirement community surrounded by 80 and 90 year old) and their doing the bed burning and memorial ceremony in front of our apartment."
I said "WHAT BED BURNING AND MEMORIAL CEREMONY????!!!" Albeit I do not personally know super old Chinese that have died nor am I familiar with the routine after they die. I asked my roommate HOW DO I GET INTO THE APARTMENT without pissing off the remaining old people? She text "you will have to walk through the chalk circle"...you’ll be fine she says. So I walk though the crowd with the 1 finger church disrupting pose saying 不好意思(bu hao yisi) meaning, pardon my rudeness. I’m still not sure what happened...

Where am I?

Oh its China, thats right.

This is no April Fools joke...

So I had the flu. No no, not a little stomach bug or tiny fever. I was in bed for a week. Visited the hospital, got IV,  blood work, western/eastern cocktail of meds. I had fevered dreams of dragons, me doing stage performances (wonderfully I might add), and running from children asking questions about life. I am feeling better now. I haven't gotten my voice back completely and I can only keep down soup. This happen because:
a)I stopped taking vitamins and minerals (got busy and forgot to replace)
b) around kids
c) have the weakest immune system EVER
d) chose China

So no complaining from me. I learn and live with my decisions. As I'm about to turn 34, I am seeing changes in myself. Not because I'm turning 34 but because I'm a repeat offender. I am noticing how I am faced with familiar problems and its up to me to make the right decision THIS time. Hindsight gets on my nerves, but its reality.

I have known for a very long time that I don't want to get married...ever. I talk to a long time friend, Lindsey, that reminded me of this. She said she found a letter I wrote her in 2002, that had a picture stamp on it of me and my ex (so dumb and cheesy). I apparently said in the letter that I would probably marry that guy. We see how that turned out. I've been saying I will probably marry Joe. People who want to get marry don't say probably or act indifferent. I was thinking of marrying so that we could travel around together easily and that was about it.
 Joe was not thinking like this (his thoughts building a future with wife and kids and getting a passport on his own with me...whatever). This is all fine and good. I just realized Joe was a distraction for me. I was concentrating so hard on trying to make it work that I forgot about MY plans. No harm no foul.

Distraction #2...smacked me back to reality. I've been collecting private students left and right, doing favors for so and so just really being too nice. I get a phone call from the Xuhui Police Bureau asking me to come into the station. I ask Officer Wang Son (not even making this name up. I have a card) how he got my number and why they needed to see me. He said that we could talk about this more at the station. I asked if I needed a lawyer, he said no. They just had some questions about a company they think hasn't been paying taxes. I say ok. I hang up the phone, look at which flights would be the quickest/cheapest route home. Give copies of my passport to my roommate and my German friend and let them know if they don't hear from me, they need to look for me. If you learn nothing else here, you learn how to make/have an exit plan. I get to the police station Mr. Wang Son and one of the agents I get private students from, Cathy, are waiting for me. Cathy looks at me and nervously smiles and grabs my hand saying everything is fine. Probably because I had a look on my face (a few weeks ago, when I started getting sick and felt horrible wearing my mask) like I would burn this fucking place down and calmly walk over to the US consulate 4 blocks away to let them them know what I did. Mr Wang Son's English was great which made me more comfortable. If I was going to be accused of something, Imma need you to to explain this BS in my native tongue. He asked me how I got my students and I said friends of friends, not a company. He said that my friends work for companies and that don't pay taxes and we have to see how much money they're made so we can fine them. I looked over at Cathy with eyes saying "I'm here because you guys didn't pay your bribe on time?" I low balled all the figures they asked about because I honestly couldn't remember how much I've made from any of them. Officer Wang Son said that this didn't effect my visa nor my record. I said ok and he showed me the transcript of the conversation and questions and answers. I was thinking this is like an affidavit, but just wanted to get out of there. Cathy and I left and she said kept apologizing to me in the taxi and said that they would  pay the fine and that this wouldn't happen again. She said a disgruntled student* reported them to the police and everyone was being called in. *some rich guy I met with once and said ummm nope don't want to teach. he thought differently and was insisting that Cathy "make" me be his teacher cause he's paying. I met him again with Cathy and told him "You have confused me with your ayi (maid). I pick my students they don't pick me. Please find a more suitable teacher for YOUR needs." So now I'm guessing he didn't like this...damn. Yesterday Officer Wang Son calls me again saying that the investigation was complete and that they've been waiting for me to come in and sign. I have no voice and squeak to him "ok fine". I thought "damn that was an affidavit". I go in and ask if the company will be closed down and how much is the fine. Officer Wang Son says in the most condescending tones "unlike your country, we are very forgiving. In your country the people would get in trouble and that would be the end of them." In the same breathe he tells me its illegal for foreigners to have part time jobs. I ask him do I need another visa or another over stamped bureaucratic piece or paper (I'm being an ass at this point) to do part time work, because EVERY foreigner does part time work. He said no. Its just illegal. I start signing papers and ask him again "so the company that hires foreigners for part time work stays open to keep hiring foreigners illegally?" He looks at me like I gave him a magic eye puzzle to solve. I continue signing all these BS papers squeaking (no voice) "well in my country its pretty black and white in this area. you get caught you get busted. The end. Oh and we save trees too." I was signing copies of copies of copies of copies of the same 5 pages of conversation that happened  a few weeks ago.  I thanked him for his time and Officer Wang Son asked if I wanted to go have coffee. He said he found me "Charming". I said, sorry but I am still sick, maybe another time. (are  you kidding me????)

I'm cutting back on the number of private students now. I will not be doing extra favors for anyone for awhile.

Slowly removing insane distractions.

Anne with an "e" is on track.

Laxy, its a word...now (Lazy + Relax)

I finally gave up on being productive and have been spending my time at the $6- 24hour- spa across the street from my apartment. For those of you that know me and my fondness for spas, probably know that my 8 and 10 hour stints cannot be taken lightly. I've gone with a few friends, but they bail after 4 or 5 hours. I tell them with practice you can master 10+ hours. How do you not take full advantage of 8 baths (milk pool, rose pool, Chinese medicine pool, 3 whirlpools, cold pool, outdoor Japanese style hot spring like bath) swimming pool, sauna, stem room, lounge rooms with lazy boy with attached TVs, game room, and live show room. Its beyond my understanding how can one pass this up.

I left the spa yesterday day and didn't know what day it was. It sounds ridiculous but that’s what I do, apparently, for Chinese New Year holiday...

I've discovered an interesting phenomenon that happens when people leave for the holidays, you get the “what can I bring you back?” question over and over. I thought getting hongbao (red envelopes with money) was awesome, but this just adds to the holiday fun. I've requested spicy sauce from middle china, vegetables from the south, Taiwan and German medicine and some good old American Aveeno and hair care products. I will be better prepared for next holiday, perhaps a ready-made list is in order. All I need to say is “oh where are you headed, mind grabbing a few of these while you're at it...thanks”. Of course I need to be ready to transport crap back when I travel...the ying and yang of life you know.


4 Days left


Anne has become a vegetable
 

It always seems simple.

Seemed pretty simple, catch up on phone calls and emails, clean up/organized, try to get phone fixed. Also Buy a ticket to somewhere outside mainland for less than than $75, because this is the longest I've been on the mainland without leaving. I now understand the importance of those trips to Hong Kong were. The breaks are needed to keep you sane and it turns out 7 months is my limit. I wanted to go to Bangkok but my passport and visa had not been returned. Now that I have my passport, ticket are expensive and it would be INSANE to travel when 1 billion Chinese decide to travel. I know people that can handle that insanity, but I cannot.

Anyway, due to my poor planning, overzealous list making and non action taking method I forgot to buy IP cards from the guy on the corner (he went back to his hometown, wherever the hell that is). I was going to ask one of my Chinese friends to buy me a ticket somewhere for “the local price”, not the “the foreigner place” (alas, my friends have all left to go back to their hometowns throughout China)...The place I get the cheapest best quality cleaning products from, yup closed (all the folks have gone home). I'm not sure why I thought some of these people would be on my schedule and be accommodating. I thought I could go find the “Trash bag uncle”, but of course he's not around. Only thing I've successfully done is get my phone working properly. I spent 3 hours at the China Unicom (like Tmobile in China) store with a very determined man telling me that “he can do it”. I said “ok, lets see”. He was getting visible frustrated and cheering himself on in Japanese (GANBATTE! GANBATTE!) I asked if he was Japanese and most important, if he was going to be O-K. He said that it helped him focused. I told him “ok, you do you and what you gotta do”. He looked at me asked what did that mean. I told him “it means good luck”...

There is a big commerce conference coming with New Zealand, UK, African buyers. I imagine I will never see Joe again.


6 more days to go.


Anne is already behind.
 

That's just what you do

My newest  adult student is Rita. 30 year old, married Chinese lady with a newly born American son. Both her and her husband (an engineer) are Chinese. You ask how this is possible...well let me tell you. She was 7 months pregnant when she went to LA along with her 6 other pregnant Chinese friends (how are you even able to board an international flight being that far along is beyond me). They worked and shopped under a 6 month work/tour visa respectively until they all popped out their kids with U.S. birth certificates. They were allowed to stay a few months longer after giving birth (I have no idea how that's even possible) at which point they all flew back to China. Most of them cannot speak English nor are they trying to learn, except Rita. Rita works for a film production company in Shanghai and is very anti-China. She only buys and uses foreign products. She's working on her English so that her American son can be in an “American” feeling environment. I'm not sure about the legalities of this but its truly insane, in my opinion, for people to go to these extremes for a US citizenship.

During our first few classes we've discussed everything from bottles, teething rings, formula feeding, to what to buy for diaper rash, and “how can he get free education in middle school?”. I know what you're thinking. All of this is wrong for so many reasons and on so many levels. I told her during my first English session with her, “I don't have kids and I might not be a good reference on this topic”. Her reply “you are American and you were a baby, right?”. I could not argue both of those facts. I then told her that I believed you needed to be a taxpayer to get in on that free education (tried to explain in my horrible Chinese). To which she replies, “my son has a US birth certificate so that should be fine”. Again I could not argue, because I'm not a lawyer and I have no idea. Rita is very happy, smart and loves LA (I should've been more suspicious of this before). I tell her that I think she would need to research her options as far as the future for her son. I don't feel comfortable giving her my input. She cheerfully tells me “but I'm asking. I can listen to it or not listen”. Once again, valid point. I try to practice everyday English conversations and it somehow its turned into us shopping on amazon.com and her drilling me on the newest baby toy or cartoon or whatever American/baby thing she thinks she needs.

Its crazy to me that there are probably hundreds of babies in this situation. Parents patiently waiting for their kids to turn 21 in order to apply for and get a US passport.  The things people with money will do.

How am I still being surprised by this place? Cause its China. It's like no other.

~Anne
 

Skinny jeans and Leggings as pants

I've been that person wearing skinny jean and leggings as pants outside in public. The 1st time was an accident (I was tired and rushed out without putting my skirt on). After that I realized that my sweaters* where big and long enough and no one could tell or really cared. Besides grown ass people are walking around in matching flannel teddy bear/hearts/colorful pajamas with church shoes...I think I'm ok.

*I have a guy that I go to for sweaters once every few weeks. He sets up just outside the cheap street market selling stuff out of very large trash bags that smell like lavender and lemon for $2 USD- $8USD. I don't judge and the sweaters are nice. He calls me hei mao, black cat . I think because of my ninja like moves as I look through his bags . I call him laji bao shu shu, trash bag uncle, and he seems to enjoy it for some strange reason.

Anyway a few months ago the weather started changing and it hit me that I was not prepared. I could have quickly had some things made for cheap, but I somehow ended up at Uniqlo and Forever 21. Uniqlo had a sale on EVERYTHING. I got 2 sweaters, a vest, and 4 pairs of skinny jeans (that I might add look good on me) for 500RMB approx. $80USD. Soon after, I popped over to Forever 21 with my friend because so many Chinese people will not shut up about it finally coming to china I walked into this 6 story insane metropolis that is full of people. I ask my friend why the hell does Forever 21 have 6 floors? She said "I don't know, but lets start from the top and work our way down". So we did. I didn't do much damage...5 leggings, 4 shirts (for layering friends, I hate big coats. Plus its no Chicago winter here hahaha), and scarf. All for a grand total of 160RMB approx. $25USD. Stores in China seemed to had recently discovered REAL SALES and discounts. Now if we could only get a Target or TJMaxx up in here...dangerous.

Anne's missing you all :)

Happy New Year

"Life is like a camera,
Just focus on what's important and capture the good times,
develop from the negative and if things don't work out,
just take another shot.” 

I'm not going to over analyze 2012 or set crazy expectations for this year. I'm just going to keep trucking on. I'm busy with the school and private students. My goal is trying to save money and pay off debts...

Moving forward is my only focus. Dealing with the headache of Joe being absurdly busy and his family extremely crazy, I decided that I can't change things that I have no control over. So no more stressing out about that.

I'm going to work on going to the spa more and get back into shape. I've seem to have somehow been hanging out with the roommate in the mix of frustration/absence of Joe and that's insane. Ivanne came to me a few weeks ago and said that she wants to be a better person. I said ummm ok and then she asked me what she can do. I asked her why she she thought that I could answer this question for her. She exclaims that I seem to have it together. I laugh at her and say nothing is ever as it seems I tell her that I had 12 years on her to learn how to do things. I'm always learning and making mistakes. She says that she wants to do something with her life, but not sure where to start or what to do. I tell her that she can start from there and that no one can give her the answers. I told her that she needs to stop being so damn lazy if she wanted some advice. That was as much as I was going to provide. Hell, no one is mapping things out for me. I'm taking one day at a time too.

Anne is still in China...