Back to Shanghai

*deep breath* hold it *exhale*

My time back home has went by way too fast. In a blink of an eye it was all over and I was once again heading to LAX. Being gone for such an extended time truly made me realize how much I love California, particularly Southern California. I know I am biased, being born and raised here, but I’m proud to be a California girl! I must say, I really love California.

[note: yes I haven’t lived in any other state, but ... oh whatever. I don’t have to explain myself. I am open to living in and “trying out” other states. But until then, California will be #1 for me. haha]

Well, here I am again. Back on the plane on a flight back to Shanghai for another 6 months. It will be great and it will be another unforgettable experience. The only difference this time is that I know more of what to expect once I’m there. There is not much of that excitement about the unknown there was this time last year when I was arriving for the first time. Time for a trip down memory lane!

August 2008 I was on the plane for my first trip to Mainland China. It was also the first time I was going to be flying alone internationally. There was much to be anticipated. How will I like China? How will they like me? Would be drastically different from Taiwan, would it be just like how I saw it on TV? And this was also Shanghai. Shang-freakin’-hai. In my mind, Shanghai was a place where East meets West in a sort of rough and glamorous make believe land. The Shanghai that I saw on TV was ruled by the mafia and qipaos, gentlemen and ladies. The buildings were very European. This was a big international city where people from all over the world would be.

August 2009, the image of Shanghai that I have now is not the one mentioned above. Shanghai is still a very international city, and a sort of rough and glamorous make believe land. But there are no mafias or qipaos running around. Sure there are the touristy areas where they really play it up, but walk down the streets and you see regular people. Everyone seems to be in a hurry to be somewhere. There are people everywhere. You think Los Angeles is crowded? It’s nothing compared to what it’s like in Shanghai. There is always someone around you. In terms of how Shanghai looks, there are the parts where you can clearly see the influences of colonialism, there are the parts that are old school Chinese and more often than not there are the parts where you can see the modern and new Shanghai bursting to want to break away from the past. It is a bit unfortunate with how they are willing to tear down very old and historical parts in order to raise a new, modern building in its place.

Just taking a walk is an adventure in itself. Shanghai is big. It is vibrant. It is crowded and dirty. It is wide and calm. It is a world where all opposites co-exist side by side. It is insane. It is one of a kind. And that’s why I am returning.

See you in 6 months!

I Don't Know

i don’t know. i don’t know. i don’t know. i don’t know. i don’t know.

I know, but I don’t know. It’s clear, yet vague all at the same time. Let me know! Let me know!

Ling & Lee Come Home

The news of Laura Ling and Euna Lee’s pardon and homecoming was good news today. Very good news indeed. I can’t help but wonder why North Korea requested Former President Bill Clinton to go. Washington D.C. says he went as a private citizen on a private humanitarian mission, no messages from Obama, but I am pretty sure that private diplomatic talks probably came up while he was in North Korea. It would be so tempting; to finally have the chance for direct talks with the leaders of North Korea. And with Asians, it’s all about keeping “face.” No doubt the request for Former Clinton was also in a way to make it into a show of North Korea doing a favor to the USA by pardoning the journalists.

Maybe we’ll find out in a few days time what really happened in North Korea. But until then, the photos that I have seen of the happy reunion of the journalists with their families have brought tears to my eyes. I would never wish their situation upon others. To be separated from your loved ones and be completely clueless on what your future would hold ... all in a foreign and hostile place.

I Just Want to Slow Dance to Music

La~ La~ La~ sappy love songs filled with sadness, anger, angst, and lovelovelove are fun.