Emily's Adventures in Shanghai

Ever wondered how to be a corrupt Chinese official?

2010-03-06T16:27:00.001+08:00

Well, here you go - check it out, blogger Wan Xiaodao has complied this list of rules to follow.

http://chinadivide.com/how-to-be-a-good-corrupt-official-20100305.html

Emily's Adventures in Shanghai in the New York Times!

2010-02-26T07:29:00.001+08:00

I was interviewed for an article on bloggers in Shanghai recently - please check out the article, it's very interesting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/technology/25iht-rshanblog.html

What does China Censor online?

2010-01-18T11:50:00.003+08:00

Below is a link to a very cool graphic illustration of the keywords and phrases that the Chinese government censors.

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/2010/what-does-china-censor-online/

Google Pulling Out of China

2010-01-14T10:53:00.003+08:00

What do you think?

Online news sources reported today that China has (naturally) censored the news that Google is threatening to pull it's company and online services out of China. However some Chinese were seen at Google's Beijing offices creating a make shift memorial in support of Google.

The New York Times reported:

"One of the students said that she wanted to make a public gesture of support for Google, which steadily has lost market share to Baidu, a Chinese-run company that has close ties with the government. The government should give people the right to see what they want online,” said the woman, Bing, who withheld her full name for fear that it might cause her problems at school. “The government can’t always tell lies to the people.”

I agree with Bing, as do many other people, some more willing than others to publicly voice their opinions.

"Google, Citing Cyber Attack, Threatens to Exit China"

2010-01-13T12:01:00.001+08:00

See the article below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/world/asia/13beijing.html

VPN is revolutionary! Why did I wait so long to get it?

2010-01-13T11:06:00.004+08:00

Wow, after not having access to blogger.com and therefore my own personal blog for almost a year, I'm finally back on! Why? I just signed up for a VPN account which will allow me to access any site the Chinese government has put their great " Fire Wall" around.

It's been an eventful year, even though I haven't been blogging I've been busy with a multitude of other things. I started my cupcake business (http://www.emilyscupcakes.com) which has been so much fun and kept me quite busy when I'm in Shanghai.

Cupcakes aside it's been an eventful year to be living in Shanghai, the city which is literally changing before my eyes, is preparing it's self to host the 2010 World Expo. Winter isn't the most beautiful time to be in China - it's cold, dark and polluted - but Shanghai keep truckin' on pushing up more and more buildings, supposedly "beautifying" the city and inserting the Expo mascot Haibo onto every street corner and street sign.

The expo begins in May and lasts 6 months, it'll be interesting to see how many visitors actually come to Shanghai for the Expo. My guess is that there will be many domestic visitors and people from other neighboring asian countries but I'll be surprised if we receive a lot of visitors from further away. I was living in Nagoya, Japan when they also held the World Expo back in 2004 and while it was an interesting "event" to go and see, it wasn't something I'd travel great lengths to go and see.

We'll have to wait and see....and in the meantime it's very much winter in Shanghai, so I'm off to fill up on more hot green tea, snuggle into my fabric market cashmere blanket and watch a bit of my pirated satellite BBC TV.

Cheers!

I've been a slacker blogger

2009-08-29T01:05:00.002+08:00

The sunshine, the fresh air, the outdoors have all gotten to me since I've been back in California for the summer and I haven't done a single post at all.

But....I'm back in Shanghai on Tuesday, after my long luxurious 6 week vacation and since this is a blog about my life in Shanghai I'll be back at work blogging again next week. While Shanghai has it's bad points, I can't wait to get back to my "real life", my friends, my own home (and crazy neighbors) and of course my adorable husband! I miss Shanghai, the craziness, the seemingly endless streams of people and the excitement of the everyday hustle and bustle.

I have some crazy neighbor stories to tell next week, but in the meantime enjoy this blog by one of my best friends. It'll make you smile and wish for a hotdog of your own.

http://viggothepup.blogspot.com/

Back in the US with access to Blogger again! Woo Hoo!!S

2009-07-21T02:43:00.000+08:00

Why I am staying in Shanghai for May Holiday....

2009-04-28T22:42:00.002+08:00

Based on this Shanghai resident's experience at Yellow Mountain 3 years ago - I feel confident and happy with my decision to stay in Shanghai this holiday weekend.

http://gunsella.interproit.com/yellow.htm

China's Middle Class

2009-04-21T10:00:00.002+08:00

An interesting piece from the National Geographic on the new found opportunities and anxieties of the Chinese Middle Class.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/05/china/middle-class/leslie-chang-text

Most Remote School, Hidden in the Clouds

2009-04-17T20:23:00.002+08:00

Most Remote School, Hidden in the Clouds

Posted using ShareThis

Follow up...

2009-04-17T19:55:00.002+08:00

This a follow up story to something I posted a few weeks ago. Parents in the Dongguan region are experiencing the worst pain imaginable - many children are being kidnapped.

Here's the story posted on Shanghaiist.com:

"Hundreds of parents set to the streets on April 15th in a peaceful march, begging for help in finding their missing children. Originally reported by the New Express (translated by Danwei), the parents claim that about 1,000 children have gone missing from the Dongguan area since 2007. At their wits end, they've set out to draw more attention to the apparent, widespread abduction problem.

Neither the New Express nor the Shanghai Daily piece on these families' plights suggest a reason for the kidnappings, but according to the New York Times, many of the children are being sold off to other Chinese families desperate for a male heir. The children, most of whom are young boys are also suspected of being sold to buyers in Vietnam, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

"Male heir" is probably one of the better outcome for these children, otherwise they often end up as indentured servants, for-hire beggars, or prostitutes. The lucky ones get sold to orphanages for adoption to wealthy foreigners.

The police at Wednesday's march appeared sympathetic to the parents' ordeal, escorting them peacefully down the street. According to a number of marchers however, the police and government have been mostly unhelpful in tracking down the missing children. In a case cited in the Shanghai Daily article, a child was located and brought to a local police station, but before his parent could claim him, an impersonator took the child as his own.

The Chinese government claims that total abductions number about 2,500 people per year including both women and children, but some non-profit organizations argue that the number might possibly be upwards of 100,000.

Either way, the number is too high. More attention needs to be paid to this issue both here in China and elsewhere in the world where human trafficking is an issue. Both buyers and sellers of other human beings need to be tracked down and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Read all about my hometown!

2009-04-17T19:53:00.002+08:00

The New York Times recently did a travel piece on my hometown/the area I grew up - The fabulous Silicon Valley!

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/travel/escapes/17Amer.html

Interesting China News....

2009-04-15T14:35:00.003+08:00

The Unites States is having a hard time finding an Ambassador to China. Interesting, isn't it? I always assumed the Ambassador positions were "highly coveted". But maybe not?

Read more here:

http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/04/10/help_wanted_ambassador_to_beijing

Some good news for those of us who own Real Estate in China:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123961738509213209.html#mod=residential_real_estate

Hainan Island - Girls Weekend!

2009-04-13T10:30:00.005+08:00

In anticipation of my upcoming girls weekend to Hainan Island, I'm doing research on the island itself. Kinda geeky, yes I realize that, but this is typically what I do prior to any trip. I'm a research geek, I love to wiki, google, and search through travel websites to download information on my next destination.

Basic Stats on Hainan (Hai = Ocean, Nan= South) Island:

Location: Hainan Island is located in the South China Sea, separated from Guangdong's Leizhou Peninsula to the north by a shallow and narrow strait. It has an area of 33,920 square kilometers, making China's southernmost province also its smallest. Hainan is comparable in size to Belgium.

View Larger Map

Native Peoples: Hainan first enters written Chinese history in 110 BC, when the Han Dynasty established a military garrison there. Settlement by mainlanders was slow however and from early on the island was considered to be fit only for exiles. It was in this period that the Li people arrived from Guangxi Province and displaced the island's aboriginal Austronesian-speaking peoples.

Tourism: We will be staying in Sanya, a town on the southern tip of the island, Sanya is supposedly the most common tourist-y location with nice beaches, hotels, outdoor activities, etc. We're looking forward to spending a lot of time on the beach, reading and relaxing away from the craziness of Shanghai.

Emotional Pitfalls of Living Abroad

2009-04-09T14:36:00.002+08:00

I lost my grandmother yesterday to a long hard battle with alzheimers and old age. She was one of the most incredible people I've ever known, of course I'm not biased or anything. ;-) Living abroad is a blessing and a curse for so many reasons and one of the hardest are these moments when you want so badly to be physically close to your family. Skype and calling cards can only make up for so much distance.

Here is the obituary that ran in her local newspaper, I think my mother did a wonderful job writing it. She will never be far from our hearts and minds.

"Dorothy Roady Wilson, 102, of Bowling Green, died at 9:50 pm on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 at a Bowling Green nursing home.

The Alton, Illinois native was born on July 4, 1906, a daughter of the late Charles Henry Roady and Nell Rowena Roady. She was the wife of the late George T. Wilson, Jr., and was also preceded in death by her brother, Paul W. Roady, of Alton, II., and a sister, Blanche Roady Clark, of Woodriver, Illinois.

Mrs. Wilson was a secretary for the Owens Illinois Glass Company and later worked at the Vanderbilt University Bookstore in Nashville, Tennessee. She was an avid gardener, reader, and bird watcher. She was a graduate of the Alton High School and a member of the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Wilson was a loving mother and grandmother who outlived many of her friends.

A family memorial service will be held at a later date. Johnson-Vaughn-Phelps Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the following: A Voice for Animals (270-783-9195); Bowling Green/Warren County Animal Adoption Center, 1925 Old Louisville Road, Bowling Green, KY, 42101; Rainhill Equine Facility, 11125 Highway 185, Bowling Green, KY, 42101

Survivors include her daughter, Dorothy Demuth Wilson, of Bowling Green; two grandchildren, Emily Slaten Lopez, of Mountain View, California, and Lilia Roady Lopez, of Washington, D. C.; two nieces, Nell Foster Waltz, of La Jolla, California, and Jane Louise Wilson, of Center Tuftonboro, New Hampshire; two cousins, Judith Schlieper Laronge, of Vancouver, Washington, and Gary Cummins, of Denver, Colorado."

Kidnapping in China on the rise...

2009-04-06T13:39:00.002+08:00

I had no idea that this was a problem here in China, nor did I think that people still favored boys over girls to this extent. Perhaps it's because we live in Shanghai that people seem to have more modern ideas but this article moved me and I feel awful for any parent who has to go through the loss of a child, no matter where in the world they are.

From today's New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/world/asia/05kidnap.html

Emily's Cupcakes at Kid Expo this weeekend

2009-03-28T06:10:00.003+08:00

Come visit us at the "Enjoy" booth this weekend! Cupcakes are free to those who sign up for an Enjoy card at the Expo.

Hope to see you there!!

The Details:

What: Kid Expo
Where: Shanghai Exhibition Center
When: March 28-29
Why: Have fun, get your kids out of the rain, and see what Shanghai has to offer expat families!!!

http://www.kidexposh.com/Visitors.html

Chinese 'find' radioactive ball

2009-03-28T06:08:00.001+08:00

Check this one out...just when I thought the most dangerous things about living in China are the air pollution and tainted food.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7967285.stm

Indoor Air Quality or Lack of...

2009-03-16T02:46:00.003+08:00

My husband and I invested in an IQ Air Filter when we moved into our apartment in Shanghai. Based on the terrible outdoor air quality one can infer that the indoor air can't be much better for you and so many people use some sort of air filter at home.

The IQ Air is supposedly one of the best, and comes in many different versions to best suit your needs. The other day we noticed that one of our filters needed to be changed, this is the first time we've had to change so we had no idea what to expect.

Here are the photos of our filter - it's truly disgusting. I'm glad none of this stuff made it's way into my lungs but who knows what else I've ingested that didn't make it into the air filter.

The truth about moving back home....

2009-03-11T03:34:00.004+08:00

I like many other expats am not moving home immediately but eventually down the line my family knows we will move back to our home country. Something I never considered is how hard it could be. Due to the recent economic downtown, as we all know, many of our expat friends are being sent back to their home countries to repatriate.

Here's an article I just read in the NYtime about the problems that come with "going home".

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/business/10home.html

China clampdown on Tibet

2009-03-05T10:19:00.001+08:00

Front page article of the New York Times, you can come to your own conclusions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/world/asia/05tibet.html

Cashmere and Cupcakes Event @ Divalife!

2009-02-25T22:23:00.005+08:00

Cupcake Contact Information

2009-02-24T11:20:00.001+08:00

If you're interested in ordering cupcakes from Emily's Cupcakes, please send an e-mail to: info@emilyscupcakes.com. Our website will be up soon with more information!!

Happy eating. :-)

Dance your heart out.

2009-02-21T10:22:00.000+08:00

This video is awesome. Check it out:

BOOMBOX from Ely Kim on Vimeo.

China's new fleet of mobile execution chambers. No, Seriously.

2009-02-19T12:28:00.001+08:00

I know, I was totally thrown off guard when I read this article earlier in USA Today.

Check it out here:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-14-death-van_x.htm

Chinese New Year - Welcome the Ox

2009-02-11T09:58:00.006+08:00

Chinese New Year has come and gone in a flurry of fireworks, ox caricatures, European vacations and hazy weather. This is the year of the Ox and depending you who you ask will bring in more of the same economic woes or an upswing for the Chinese economy.

A and I spent our Chinese new year vacation in Italy and Germany, it was a wonderful trip and we ate our weight in cheese, cured meats and shnitzel. Italy in January, while not at it's best as far as the weather is concerned, is still breathtaking. Germany even with snow on the ground runs efficiently and makes eating a warm pretzel in the afternoon the best snack ever.

We are off to Hong Kong this weekend, and I'll be sure to post photos of our eating escapades, we can't wait to indulge in a weekend of fresh seafood!

Emily's Cupcakes coming soon....

2009-02-11T09:51:00.003+08:00

I haven't posted in awhile, many apologies!

Currently, I'm in the final stages of opening a small business here in Shanghai - "Emily's Cupcakes" will be open soon and I'll let you know as soon as our website goes live and you can order online or over the phone!

Ever since I moved here a little over a year ago, I've been thinking about starting my own cupcake business. With my culinary background in catering and as a personal chef as well as my background in Marketing and Advertising it seemed like a great idea! Plus, I love cupcakes - they're adorable and bring back so many childhood memories. We aim to be open for business in 2 weeks, so keep your eyes open for some new delicious treats on the Shanghai scene!

Ring in the new year with homemade yogurt!

2009-01-07T17:06:00.002+08:00

I love yogurt, and I'm on a constant search for truly good think tart yogurt that isn't sweetened with sugar here in Shanghai. There is a lovely homemade yogurt called Bebamine, made by another expat that you can have delivered to your home, but you must commit to something like 10 - 120g jars per week. That's something a family could consume, but little old me can't eat that much no matter how much I love the stuff.

So, I was really excited when I ran across an article in City Weekend magazine written by food writer Crystal Mo who tells of how she bought her own yogurt making machine from taobao.com for only 28RMB. That's only US$4! Woo hoo! She also explains exactly how she makes it from fresh milk, I'm pretty pumped to try this homemade yogurt making experiment out myself!

Chinese touring the US to buy up properties.

2008-12-09T16:10:00.002+08:00

This is so totally interesting, and smart. Whoever came up with the tour group idea had a great idea. The jist of the article from the LA Times is that cash rich Chinese are coming to the US in groups (tour groups) to tour homes all over the US that have heavily depreciated in value or are in foreclosure.

http://www.latimes.com/classified/realestate/rentals/commercial/la-fi-chinahomes7-2008dec07,0,2730503,full.story?ref=patrick.net

More Layoffs in China

2008-11-28T12:39:00.002+08:00

The backlash has begun for Chinese companies laying off workers.

Read this article from the San Francisco Chronicle to learn about the riot at a plant in the South China city of Dongguan.

"Workers riot at Chinese toy factory"

German Bread in Shanghai

2008-11-26T13:41:00.002+08:00

I was pleased to discover a German Bakery in Shanghai that takes online orders and delivers!
Woo hoo!!

Abendbrot German Bakery

They have a shop out in the Hongqiao area near the German, French, British and American Schools but they do daily delivery to different areas of Shanghai. Looks like I'll be able to get my whole grain bread fix every Friday!

China's Ecomony Slowing?

2008-11-26T10:22:00.003+08:00

In comparison with what has happened across Europe and the United States, China's economy is doing well but there are signs of a slowdown. Lay offs in the blue collar sector (factories mainly) are happening in many areas of China, including Shanghai. There are even rumors flying all over the expat community of expats being sent back home, or laid off because the costs are too high to keep them here. It's becoming easier to find a local person to fill the shoes of the expats.

Here's another example I ran across in the New York Times this morning.

"China's Great Engine Slows"

A new neighbor

2008-11-25T17:14:00.001+08:00

Just saw this article in a local newspaper online. Looks like this new "monster substation" will be less than 2km from me. Great.

Downtown to be powered by monster substation by -- THE world's biggest underground substation is expected to be put into operation in Shanghai next year, local power authorities said yesterday.

The substation will satisfy power requirements for the downtown area...

Kanye West

2008-11-25T11:27:00.002+08:00

I went to the Kanye West Concert here in Shanghai a few weeks ago (sorry for the slow posting!) and I've been meaning to blog about it. So, here we go - finally!

Musically it was great - he sounded fantastic, his band was awesome and his backup singers were really freaking cool. Everyone was clad in these all black outfits, some with these funky helmets and glasses. It all went with his "Glow in the dark tour" theme.

A note on concerts in China:

1. They are short. Typically no more than 1 hour. I think Kanye was actually on stage for 1hour 15 min.

2. Stage theatrics are at a minimum. I had heard that the Kanye show was supposed to be amazing - lots of theatrics, lights, etc. What I saw was just kind of average. He had lights and some smoke but nothing really amazing.

3. Nothing controversial allowed. A song like Jesus walks wouldn't be performed. From what I understand all performers have to show their set list and lyrics to some sort of government official who checks it all and then gives approval.

So, based on those "stipulations" all in all the Kanye Show was entertaining and a good time! I was lucky to have great seats way down in front and I got some decent video of the show. Unfortauntely due to the slow internet connection I'm not able to upload any of the video.

Give a proper Christmas Gift

2008-11-17T19:34:00.002+08:00

I recently learned that Oxfam has set up a fantastic online store selling sustainable items for farmers and the poverty strucken all over the world. We can all go and buy something in just about any price range in our loved ones name. What a perfect present, especially in these economic times.

http://www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/home.php

Some examples are:

Plant 500 Trees for $250

Buy a Farmers Flock of Animals for $150

Buy a Pair of Sheep for $90

Provide HIV Testing and Education for $35

Hong Kong is AMAZING!

2008-11-17T11:19:00.004+08:00

Last week we took a short trip to Hong Kong. It was my first trip there so I was pretty excited after hearing everything my friends here in SH have told me about HK. And I wasn't disappointed! The weather was fantastic, and I spent my first day shopping in Central. When people say the shopping in Hong Kong is great, they aren't lying. It is fantastic!!

Everything about Hong Kong is fantastic. It's small enough that getting around is very easy, all modes of transportation are great. Taxi, Subway, Walking, Ferries, Tram or Bus, you name it and it's pretty simple to navigate. The landscape is beautiful - water, decently clean air, many many tress and lots of outdoor activities. Hiking trails are abundant. The seafood is fantastic - we ventured out to a seafood market one night for dinner. You can see some of our photos below. Delicious! I can't not mention the great Dim Sum! Yum. It was nice to also have a brief respite from struggling with speaking Chinese everyday. The majority of the population in HK speaks english so daily interactions are much simpler and easier.

The people are still just as friendly as the majority of people in mainland China and I can't wait to go back for my next Hiking/Shopping trip!

YES!!!!!!!

2008-11-05T14:14:00.003+08:00

We're back in the game! Today I am proud again to say that I am an American and I am finally hopeful and looking forward to the next 4 years.

Obama = Change

We attended an election even this morning at the Hilton Hotel here in Shgnahgi (hosted by American chamber of commerce and American woman's club of Shanghai). It was fantastic - full of all people, Americans, Chinese, and other nationalities from all over the world all hopefully and enthusiastic to see Obama elected the next president of the United States. There were tears of joy during his acceptance speech - it was like nothing I've ever seen. Let's enjoy this moment before all the hard work begins...

It's official. There is nothing we can eat.

2008-11-01T12:00:00.002+08:00

What a pain in the ass.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7701477.stm

My current strategy to keep my husband and I as healthy as possible:

1. Order all organic vegetables, fruits and dairy products from helekang.com, a pretty reputable online organic grocery.

2. Buy only imported canned and boxes goods from City Shop Shanghai, or bring these items back from the US.

3. Buy only organic meat from Shanghai Better Meat Supply company, which offers organic pork and imported beef from the United States.

4. Never wash my vegetables off with regular tab water-only use filtered water.

5. We (like most people) have water delivery service which brings big water "filtered" water jugs to our home but because I don't think I can trust that the water is really filtered well I still run it through a brita water pitcher before drinking it.

6. Use two high end, imported air filters in our home to help eliminate any pollutants and toxins in the air (from outside, inside paint fumes, fabric fumes, cabinetry fumes, etc.).

Do I think I'm going overboard? No.

Here's what I've learned in the past 10 months of living in China. You have to assume everyone is lying to you, or trying to take advantage of you. I hate that I have to think this way about everyone. Obviously not everyone is trying to take advantage of you. There are great people here, honest and caring people. But the kicker is that there are also so many corrupt people that in order to really watch your own back you have to be very very careful about everything.

Welcome to China.

Constant Construction

2008-10-30T20:33:00.002+08:00

Some photos of the constant construction going on in Shanghai. This is in central/downtown Shanghai - it struck me that there wasn't a single fence or anything set up for procautionary measures. I was just another pedestrian on the street.

Nintentdo Wii Phone?

2008-10-30T13:27:00.002+08:00

I'm not going to deny it, I like new technology. I jumped on the iPhone bandwagon, the Wii Bandwagon and most of the other cool technology bandwagons just like everyone else.

Here's some cool information for those of you just like me! There are little birds buzzing about a potential new Nintendo Wii Phone. Check out the article here.

China being poisoned by it's food industry.

2008-10-28T13:42:00.001+08:00

Read this article below:

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,523988,00.html

Will it ever end?

2008-10-27T14:29:00.003+08:00

Looks like eggs aren't safe to eat now either.....

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10823478?source=rss

Good lord....my grocery bills are going to go through the roof only buying imported...

Morning Sights

2008-10-24T12:07:00.002+08:00

I was out running some errands this morning and saw these lovely ladies out doing their morning exercises. What struck me is that they were combining dance, drums and red "flags" all together. Usually I just see the ladies using two out of the three. Pretty impressive! They even had quite an audience assembled. :-) I guess it's just a typical Shanghai morning...

Mass Matchmaking in Shanghai.

2008-10-23T08:45:00.001+08:00

Some 3,000 single men and women gathered last week at the Luwan Stadium for a mass matchmaking session, and by all appearances it looked like a very successful event. The men lined up in rows while the women went past them.

Check out the rest of the story here:

http://shanghaiist.com/2008/10/21/mass_matchmaking_session_at_the_luw.php

Travel Abroad - Mixing Religion and Hotels. Yes!

2008-10-20T07:36:00.005+08:00

I read a really interested article today in the New York Times about a less expensive trend in lodging abroad. Staying in a Monastery or a Convent. Yup, that's right - spend your nights under the same roof with nuns and priests.

I think this is a fantastic idea - I've always found the idea of a monastery or convent fascinating. Imagine staying in a roman monastery, steeped in history surrounded peace and quiet. Sounds fabulous to me.

Check out the article here - it lists some great resources for more information. I'm already planning my next trip to Europe! There's something in it for all of us, my husband especially will love saving so much money on hotels. ;-)

Shanghai - The Best 5 Places to Live Overseas in 2008

2008-10-15T11:47:00.001+08:00

Shanghai is officially the "Best Hot New City" to live in for foreigners!

Check out the article below:

http://thetravelersnotebook.com/destination-guides/the-5-best-places-to-live-overseas-in-2008/

A Lesson in Burbon Whisky - Makers Mark Distillery

2008-10-15T05:22:00.006+08:00

I'm still in the US, actually in Kentucky visiting my mother and grandmother (who is 102 years old!!). Kentucky gets a bad wrap for being a backward state filled with country folk. Ok...that is true to some extent, but not entirely true!!! It is beautiful, filled with trees and rolling hills and among other things has many historic whisky distilleries like Maker's Mark which are still in production.

My mother and I drove up to the Makers Mark Distillery this morning to take the factory tour and see how Kentucky burbon whisky is made. I'm not a big whisky drinker, but I made have been converted after today! The tour was facinating and to call the Makers Mark site a factory is just not totally acurate. It's just beautiful - they're still using the original buildings but everything has been restored.

The whisky making process is really interesting, Markers Mark uses a mixure of grains a majority of which is corn (something like 70%). They barrels that are over 100 years old to fermet the grains and then they turn it into moonshine (basically un-refined whisky) then it gets put into white oak barrels for 6 years while it ages to perfection. Finally it all gets bottled, packaged and shipped out to re-sellers. I should add, all of the bottling and packaging still happens on site, they still print the labels for the bottle on site as well. Amazing.

Really really facinating experience, I'm sure I've managed to muck up the explantaion of how it's
made, but hopefully you can get a better idea of the process from the photos below.

Need a laugh?

2008-10-10T10:22:00.002+08:00

If you're following US politics even a little you'll enjoy these HILARIOUS spoofs of the presidential candidates.

I've been back in the US for 2 weeks now and I feel totally inundated by the political climate and the economic crisis. We all need a good laugh to break up the depressed state of the country.

Check out Saturday Night Live's spoofs here:

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/

Thank You!!!

2008-10-10T10:17:00.003+08:00

For putting me on the list of the 10 hottest China blogs!

http://www.chinabloglist.org/

I'm currently in the USA visiting family and friends (and trying not to cry because of the economic crisis) but I'll be back soon and back to blogging on a more regular basis.

China is faking it's reports from Space??

2008-10-04T03:55:00.001+08:00

This has got to be an all time low for the Chinese Media....I mean seriously, how totally ridiculous is this:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/3082804/China-fakes-reports-from-space.html

Good lord!

Milk & Dairy Crisis in China

2008-09-21T10:51:00.003+08:00

With the financial crisis affecting many people across the globe, many of you may not know about the food crisis that is affecting China.

First it was the Chinese produced "Sanlu" baby milk power which was tainted and has killed at least 4 babies to date and has 6,000 babies still sick. Now it's milk and dairy products - the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has now announced that liquid milk sold by three top Chinese producers has also been found to be tainted with melamine.

From AP:

"A report posted on the agency's Web site said test results show nearly 10 per cent of samples taken from Mengniu Dairy Group and Yili Industrial Group - China's two largest dairy companies - contained up to 8.4 milligrammes of melamine per kilogramme.
Milk from Shanghai-based Bright Dairy also shows melamine contamination.

'AQSIQ will strictly find out the reason for adding the melamine and severely punish those who are responsible,' the notice said.

It said all the batches that tested positive were being recalled."

I don't know about the locals, but I can tell you that many of the expats in Shanghai are running around buying up as much imported milk as they can get their hands on. This probably isn't the best strategy but I can understand where people are coming from, especially those with children who drink a lot of milk. People are concerned about school as well, and what they've been giving children during the day.

Contrary to popular belief living in China isn't cheap. We spend A LOT of money on food every week going to 2-3 different stores just to get the basics that we know are clean, organic and healthy. Imported food isn't cheap but with all the issues surrounding locally made products it is unfortunately what I and many many other people (not just expats) have to buy.

But what about the people who can't afford to go to the few organic stores in Shanghai for good meat and vegetables, who can't afford to pay 2 or 3 times the price for imported milk? They have to be subjected to food that could kill them? It's sickening to think that high level business men and government officials out there are ok with letting people ingest poison so they can make more money.

More articles on this topic:

1. http://shanghaiist.com/2008/09/19/crisis_hits_the_liquid_milk_industr.php

2. http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai/articles/blogs-shanghai/family-matters-shanghai/milk-crisis-hits-home/

3. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/world/asia/21china.html?ex=1379649600&en=8a2d59decc4a4f75&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

More on Taiwan Food

2008-09-21T10:42:00.002+08:00

Check out this article found in today's New York Times on Taipei and it's fabulous food!
I really can't wait to go back and eat, eat, eat!! :-)

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/travel/21Taipei.html?ex=1379649600&en=ead90c550b5c8c4b&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Skin care in Shanghai?

2008-09-18T21:01:00.004+08:00

Ever since I moved here I've been wondering, is it possible to have nice skin and live in Shanghai? As a woman about to enter to 30's I'm really conscious of my skin and taking good care of it from the outside to the inside. Living in California, this is easy - I have a great skin care specialist I go to for facials, etc. But since we moved to Shanghai I've been really wary of going to anyplace for a facial. I mean, if they can put crap in baby food who knows what kind of stuff they're putting in face creams, right?

But I've been having so many issues with my skin that I finally caved and followed a friends suggestion to check out her favorite place. It's called Beauty Arsenal and it's Singapore based. They've been open in Shanghai for about 1 year now and just moved into a beautiful space in the Kohler Building on Nanjing Lu. It's not cheap, but they do a great job, are well trained and are very clean. I believe all the products are imported from US and Europe.

If you're looking for a good facial, go check them out.

Kittens found a home

2008-09-18T20:57:00.002+08:00

In case anyone was wondering, the kittens my husband found a few weeks ago have a new home! My old pet sitter had a friend from Hong Kong who now lives here in Shanghai, she decided to take both of them. I was pretty insistent that they stay together - the two little girls wouldn't have been as happy apart.

We miss them running around the apartment but I'm so glad they found a good home!

Sustainable Rebuilding in Sichuan

2008-09-18T20:45:00.002+08:00

A reader suggested I post this link. It's pretty interesting - the US is trying to help the local government in Sichuan rebuild the school that collapsed sustainably. You can check it out below:

http://www.buyusa.gov/asianow/chinaearthquakerelief.html

New Home in Shanghai

2008-09-18T20:23:00.003+08:00

We have finally moved into our new place (2nd hand but renovated, so new to us!). We're literally smack dab in the middle of downtown Shanghai right off Huaihai Lu. It's a great location, there is a new subway line being built near us along with a new high end shopping center. Great for property values!

I'll post photos of the place once the boxes are out of the way. :-)

Some small but interesting tibits of information that are essential to new homeowners in China.

#1. You must suck up to your neighbors,

Especially if they're local. We share some common space outside of our front door with our neighbors, the space includes a built in shoe closet and also some space where you could put a bench or hooks for coats, etc. Our lovely neighbors have lived in the building since it was built in 2001 which seems to make them think they're more entitled to the common space than we are. We have tried our best to be very polite, bring them fruit and introduce ourselves, etc. But they haven't once offered to let us use any of the space which they have occupied with their own things. So, now we play the game of negotiating without negotiating. We've invited them over to our place this weekend for tea and cakes - at this time we're going to tell them that we've bought them a lovely storage bench and hooks and we'd love to give it to them so they can use it in the hallway. This is our way of trying to say "Hey look, let's share the space and at the same time update it by using more modern looking furniture!". If they don't go for this idea then we can get tough and just demand that they let us use the space too. But...my husband insists that before we do anything too "confrontational" we have to use this passive aggressive strategy. It seems like a hell of a lot of work to me, I prefer the more direct approach. But that doesn't seem to be the Chinese way....so we're going try it this way. We'll see what happens!

#2. Suck up to your security guards and concierge!

These people man our building 24/7, they know everyone and know pretty much everything that goes on. Because we're foreigners and we own a place they pay even more attention to us. They knew we were putting in a red kitchen, that we went out of town for the weekend, that we hired a new Ayi, etc. They can really help you out with little things or could probably really screw you over if they didn't like you. I'm going to bake mine cupcakes next week. :-)

More to come as we adjust to owning a home in China.

ps - one of our other neighbors accross the hall has his grandson living with him. The grandson plays a traditional Chinese flute called the Xiao every morning and evening. This is a small gem we've recently discovered. It makes all the stress and maddness of buying and renovating here a little bit better.

Taipei, Taiwan

2008-09-16T08:36:00.004+08:00

I just got back from a weekend trip to Taipei, where my husband was born. We were a little unlucky, we arrived just in time for the first Typhoon of the season! We spent the weekend drenched in rain, so there were things we just couldn't do or see.

I was able to spend Friday with a good friend of the family who took me to all her favorite places in Taipei - Taipei 101(tallest building in the world for the time being), Eslite bookstore (even better & bigger than Barnes & Noble), lunch at Din Tai Fung and then up to Beitou to see the sulfer hot springs - very very beautiful!

As I was getting ready for this trip, I asked friends here in Shanghai what we should do and everyone talked about the food, especially the night markets with stands upon stands of street food vendors. Andy also has fond fond memories of being a little kid and eating street food like shaved ice with red beans and pork sausage. I wish we had been able to go!!! With the typhoon all the street markets were closed - next trip we'll make it. :-)

Street food aside, we still ate like kings the entire weekend. It was fabulous! Taiwan was ruled by Japan (as a colony) for 50 years and there are still strong influences of the Japanese culture in Taipei which includes many many amazing Japanese restaurants - so of course we dove right in! On Sunday we spend the whole day basically eating at different Japanese restaurants. Yummy, healthy and delicious.

A & I stayed with one of his friends while we were there and he and his wife suggested since it was pouring rain we should go to one of the many hot spring baths (think Japanese style Onsen). It was fabulous - the place we went is called Villa 32 and is up in the Beitou Mountains. Apparently Villa 32 was a private club, but the owner wasn't getting enough business so he opened it up to the public. It's quite a place, the asthetic is very clean, modern but with an asian flare. They have 5 very high end hotel rooms (apparently Jet Li stays here because of the privacy) and both private and public hot spring baths. It's amazing - so relaxing. We went for a 90 minute private hot bath and then enjoyed afternoon tea in the restaurant (which also boasts a HUGE wine cellar with some really amazing stuff).

Here's my overall take on Taipei - it's really fabulous! It's a city of 2-3 million people, that is 10-15 years ahead of Shanghai in terms of social graces. For example everyone lines up at the subway and waits for people to get off the train before calmly getting on the train. If you've ever been in the Shanghai subway you know it's the opposite here. People are so so so polite and nice everywhere!! Taxi drivers seem to be for the most part very friendly, safe and polite. It also has so much amazing outdoor space like hiking trails and parks it seems like it's really easy to just get out of the city for an afternoon.

Don't get me wrong, I really like Shanghai but if you need a weekend away for some peace & quiet Taipei is a great place to go.

Kittens need a new home.

2008-09-03T10:25:00.005+08:00

Yesterday my husband found two abandoned kittens in the stairwell of our new apartment building. We brought them home with the intention of passing them over to the SCAA (Second Chance Animal Aid) here in Shanghai - unfortunately SCAA is full and can't take anymore cats or dogs.

They are adorable - a little weak from lack of food, but we've been feeding them lots of kitten food to bulk them back up. I also took them to the vet yesterday to make sure they're not sick, one of them has a little ringworm problem, but it's being treated and should be gone in about a week.

They are probably 4-5 weeks old, and both little girls! Here are some photos - if you or anyone you know is interested in adopting them please comment on this post with a contact e-mail or phone number. I am not able to keep them and I need to find a new home for them ASAP!

Thanks!!!!

Donations in Shaghai

2008-08-31T10:27:00.003+08:00

I'm moving this weekend and am in the process of cleaning out my closets, etc. If I were doing this in California I wouldn't think twice about what to do with my unwanted things. There are many great non-profit organizations to donate to in the Bay Area. But, living in Shanghai this was another one of those times when something that's a no-brainer in the US becomes a head scratcher in China. What to do with unwanted, slightly used clothes....

It takes some digging around, I usually start by asking friends and then move on to websites like Shanghai Expat where I can post my questions on message boards.

Turns out there is a great non-profit organization in Shanghai called River of Hearts that takes donations of clothing, bedding and shoes and ships it out to people in need all over China.

If you're looking for a place to take your slightly used unwanted clothing, you can drop your things off at one of their many drop off points all over Shanghai (Puxi & Pudong).

Check them out: River of Hearts or riverofhearts.org

Chinese Displaced for Olympics?

2008-08-30T12:57:00.004+08:00

A friend forwarded this article to me yesterday - I haven't heard anything about this before, but living in China there are many things I don't hear about so that really doesn't mean anything.

The article states that according to the Geneva-based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE), The Beijing Olympics has displaced 1.5 million people since 2000.

They also go on to say that "International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to award the Games to Beijing has been a catalyst in increasing forced evictions and displacements in Beijing. COHRE’s new report holds the Chinese government guilty of widespread forced evictions along with other human rights violations during preparations for the Beijing Olympics"

I am not at all surprised to learn about this report - mainly I'm saddened by the lack of information in China. It's easy to forget as I go about my everyday life here how much of a stronghold the government has on it's people.

To download the whole report and come to your own conclusions click here:

http://www.cohre.org/beijingreport

New York Times - Not quite on the money this time...

2008-08-23T23:11:00.002+08:00

Here's an article from the New York Times about the Olympics written by Jere Longman - I agree 70% of the time, but his comments about no lines and buses running on time is totally off....

Check it out:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/24/sports/olympics/24longman.html?_r=1&ei=5070&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&emc=eta1&adxnnlx=1219503936-/qy09XXPcJzWBJv6Dawd1w

The Great Wall

2008-08-22T11:46:00.004+08:00

While my sister was here visiting, we took a day trip from Beijing out to one of the sections of the Great Wall at Simatai that has been restored by the government. Check these photos out - the Wall is just an amazing, amazing sight. It's my second time to the Wall (different section) and I'm still just totally blown away by awesomeness of it all.

In Memory

2008-08-22T11:40:00.002+08:00

Baby aka. Xiao Woo
January 2001- August 2008

Back in Shanghai

2008-08-22T11:19:00.002+08:00

I arrived back in Shanghai 2 days ago. My sister was visiting from the USA (see her guest posts below), we spent most of our time in Xi'an and Beijing. Xi'an is a fascinating place - the history is amazing and we enjoyed a fabulous dumpling banquet (see photo below). But Beijing was certainly more memorable (sorry Xi'an the Olympics trump Chinese history any day).

Unfortunately while we were in Xi'an I received some bad news - my cat passed away. She has been with me since college and has traveled all over the world. From the USA to China. I'll miss her terribly.

With the emotional bad news of a beloved pet passing away, the experience of the Olympics helped to keep my mind off of the sadness and enjoy the excitement and joy of everyone in Beijing. I was really very impressed with how clean and green everything was. The city really did a great job, I hope they continue to keep things at the same level even after the Olympics is over. Shanghai certainly has some catching up to do before the 2010 Expo!

Now that I'm back - I have to get into the swing of things again. Our apartment is ALMOST done being renovated!! We are scheduled to move on Sept. 1st. Let's hope that date sticks. I'm so excited about how things are turning out and can't wait to post the final photos in a few days!

I've got to get back to watching the Men's Beach Volleyball finals on TV - USA vs. Brazil!

Chinese Gymnasts Under Age...

2008-08-22T11:14:00.002+08:00

I've been hearing a lot about this topic - especially at the Olympic Games. Rumor has been that the Chinese forged paperwork so that their gymnasts appeared older than they really are. Minimum age for competition is 16, and I have to agree with the critics - some of those girls look much younger than 16. Even though many Chinese girls look younger than their age....these girls look really really young.

Turns out some hacker has been able to dig into the Chinese administrations files and prove that a few of the Chinese gymnasts really are younger than 16.

Click here to read more:

Olympic Food - What the *#$^!?

2008-08-17T21:55:00.002+08:00

I am having a great time at the Olympics so far - I have two more events to see and then I'll be heading back to Shanghai.

I have only a few "suggestions" to make concerning this year's Olympics in Beijing. The biggest issue I and my guests ran into was the lack of food! At all venues there is of course strict security and no food or liquids is allowed into any venue. I can understand this - and I don't mind it but if inside the venue the food offerings are bad then it becomes an issue.

All all of the venues the same food is offered at food stands, it includes some of the following; soda, water, beer, chips, cookies, popcorn, sausage & a boxed meal that heats on it's own (rice and meat). At the Olympic Green exactly the same food is offered and the ONLY other option is 2 McDonalds restaurants. That's it!!!

It's really pretty terrible - if you have two events in the same day in the Olympic Green area (we had Tennis & Swimming yesterday) there isn't really any other place you can go - the area is too large to walk out of and back into. I was very very disappointed to basically be forced to eat crap for two days straight. I was hoping for more of a sampling of Chinese food from the different regions, or at least more food stands and different choices beyond just McDonalds.

Olympics - Boxing, Women's Volleyball, Swimming & Tennis

2008-08-17T21:19:00.005+08:00

Hi everyone! Being in Beijing at the Olympics has been a fantastic experience so far.

We arrived from Xian on Thursday and managed to score last minute tickets to Beach Volleyball and Boxing for Friday. Even though we thought it was going to be really hard to get last minute tickets to anything, it's been amazingly easy. On Saturday we already had tickets to swimming and tennis. All events were just a really great time overall.

There are a few ways to go about getting tickets if you don't have them already:

1. Craigslist - Beijing edition
2. Go to the event early and stand around looking for scalpers. They're there at all the events regardless - but you'll pay at least 3-4 times the original face value ticket price.

Back to the games - from what I've seen so far of the Olympic Green (main area) and the Volleyball & Boxing venues have all been excellent. This comes from my foreigner perspective but it's a very nice surprise to see clean facilities everywhere (especially bathrooms, with soap and toilet paper!) and TONS of Olympic Staff.

Speaking of cleanliness, I have never seen Beijing so clean in my life!!! I hope the government can keep it up.

So far Tennis and Swimming have been the most "impressive", we saw both Michael Phelps and Dana Torres swim yesterday and then saw Federer play in the men's doubles gold medal match.

I've posted some photos below of both events below. I'll post more tomorrow about all the other interesting Olympic sights I've seen so far....

Go USA!!!!!

Olympics Medal Tracker

2008-08-14T19:52:00.001+08:00

Can the US keep up with China this year!?

Olympic Medal winners at NBC Olympics.com!

20 Questions

2008-08-12T21:56:00.003+08:00

Emily's sister Lilia here again. Today we wrapped up our second day of sightseeing in the city of Xian in central China. The highlight of the day was the truly awesome Terracotta Warriors archaeological site that is still being excavated here after being discovered in 1974 by some local peasants trying to dig a well.

Our local Xian native tour guide, I'll call her "Mindy", has been with us since we arrived from Shanghai. In addition to providing some helpful historical background during our visits to local sites, she also unknowingly given us an cultural lesson with her endless barrage of questions.

I'd read a bit about this tendency on the part of Chinese thanks to the Lonley Planet and other guide books and was confident in my ability to patiently fend off any curious tourguide or cabby. But Mindy was a champ. A fresh-faced visitor to China such as myself was no match for her girlish giggle and perky pony tail.

Thankfully, for reasons unbeknownst to me, I was not judged interesting enough to attract Mindy's incessant questioning, (something I'm still a little a little miffed about actually.) Instead, she focused on my sister and brother-in-law: what he does for a living, how long they are planning to live in Shanghai, what kind of car my sister drives, the sq footage of her apartment. As we parted ways and said goodbye this afternoon, I was just waiting for her to yell out the car window as she drove away, "So, ah, how much money does your brother-in-law make a year after taxes?"

Now I know Wendy was just trying to be friendly and keep up a nice banter; I appreciate that and don't hold any hard feelings of course. Now that I've had a few Mindy-free hours to reflect, the whole experience has served as more of a reminder to appreciate opportunities to learn about other cultures, no matter how taxing or uncomfortable it may seem at the time. Mindy mentioned that she has never left China but would love to visit Russia and the U.S. someday, which made me pause and appreciate being able to visit China, its Terracotta warriors and the memorable Mindy.

Xi'an - Beijing

2008-08-11T20:43:00.004+08:00

I've had a guest blogger, my sister who's in China visiting for a few weeks. We spent a week in Shanghai, and arrived in Xi'an early (too early) this morning. It's my first time to Xian and it's a beautiful city! We took it easy today - went to see a few sights and tomorrow will spend more time out visiting the Terra Cotta Warriors among many other things. I'll post photos once I get them all downloaded. Pace of life is a little slower here, even though this city has 12 million people. In comparison to Shanghai, Xi'an is probably a lot closer to "real life" China.

We have a great tour guide, Mindy, whose pride in this city is infectious! It's great history is amazing and I can't wait to learn more about it. In the meantime we're trying to keep up to date on the Olympics, and it's not hard to do since it's all over TV. There are even big screen TV's set up in major public places for people to watch. The highlight is still going to be going to Beijing to see the Olympics - we can't wait!!! Go USA!!

Olypmics Information

2008-08-10T19:13:00.003+08:00

There are multiple sites you can go to for info on the Olympics. I suggest the following:

1. http://www.2008chinaolympics.com/
2. http://en.beijing2008.cn/

I will be in Beijing on the 14th for the following events; Swimming, Tennis, Diving & Table Tennis - I will report on what the sights and atmosphere are like! I'm very excited!!! GO USA!

Phone cards and human rights

2008-08-09T22:10:00.006+08:00

Emily's sister here, about mid-way through my first trip to China. Needless to say, there is a lot to take in in a city of about 20 million. We've been pretty busy, visiting local sites, sampling Shanghainese food and elbowing through rush-hour subway crowds. Tonight we had some down time so, I thought I would catch-up on some news via my usual online sources.

Glancing through my email news alerts, I noticed the Huffington Post had an article about members of the US press being detained when they landed in Beijing with President Bush a few days ago. Intrigued, I tried to click through to the article, but instead, got an error message.

Now it's not that I was all that surprised I couldn't access the article, (Emily has actually written about the Chinese government's internet censorship in the past) but because I work in the human rights field, and am also a bit of an on-line news junkie, this censorship first-hand really strikes a nerve. Earlier today, (via a translator, otherwise known as my bilingual Mandarin-English brother-in-law) an older Chinese man selling phone cards on a streetcorner told us about being dislocated from his spot by local police because he was not an authorized dealer. "You should know since you're foreigners," he said. "There are no human rights in China."

Now Chinese zoning regulations aside (which I know nothing about), this elderly, working class Chinese man's discourse about human rights struck me. Did he use the term because he recognized that we were clearly Western foreigners and thought it would resonate with us? Or did he genuinely view his inability to pursue his livelihood thanks to the local police, as infringing on his economic, and therefore human rights?

This past week in China has sparked more than a few musings on democracy, human rights, nationalism, development theory, and lots of other fun "isms" but we'll save those for another time.

Beijing releases etiquette code book.

2008-08-01T11:43:00.003+08:00

According to the Wall Street Journal, Beijing has released an Etiquette Code Book for the Olympics.

"Beijing officials have distributed 4.3 million copies of an etiquette book outlining rules on good manners and foreign customs, including rules about what not to wear. The guide is part of an effort by various departments within China's government to clean the city up in preparation for the at least 400,000 foreign visitors who are expected to descend on its capital for the Olympic Games, which start Aug. 8."

This is funny - especially since it outlines what to wear, what not to wear. Has anyone seen the official Chinese Olympic Uniforms?! They are awful. I guess that what happens when a bunch of middle aged, communist, government officials get to play fashion designer. Good lord.

Some sites not censored

2008-08-01T09:06:00.002+08:00

Andrew Lih posted earlier about some internet sites that are not being blocked by the Chinese government. He lists the following as sites that he has been able to access:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/chinese/
http://zh.wikipedia.org
http://www.rfa.org (Radio Free Asia)
http://www.atnext.com (Apple Daily HK, newspaper critical of Beijing)

I've also checked them out and I'm also able access all of the sites above - this is actually really great as all of the sites above are usually not accessible from inside China.

Check out the rest of Andrew's post here:

http://www.andrewlih.com/blog/2008/07/31/great-firewall-playing-nicer/

New information on Olympic censorship

2008-07-31T10:44:00.002+08:00

I'm not surprised by this article in the New York Times today - the Chinese government loves to censor. The Chinese government originally promised all foreign journalists that they would be able to "report freely" while they're in China reporting on the Olympic games.

Here's a quote from the article:
"Since the Olympic Village press center opened Friday, reporters have been unable to access scores of Web pages — among them those that discuss Tibetan issues, Taiwanese independence, the violent crackdown on the protests in Tiananmen Square and the Web sites of Amnesty International, the BBC’s Chinese-language news, Radio Free Asia and several Hong Kong newspapers known for their freewheeling political discourse."

Now, to someone living in Shanghai - this is not shocking. The government does not want anyone to see anything that might be harmful to the countries "social stability". I hope the government changes their position on censorship for journalists, but I will be very surprised if that actually happens.

This screw up with internet censorship, the pollution in Beijing and all of the visa problems people are having are unfortunately putting a negative light on the Olympic games. Let's see if the government can pull something out of their you know what and turn things around.

Botox and Bridesmaids

2008-07-25T02:16:00.002+08:00

Ok, this has nothing to do with China or myself but it's too interesting not to post.

Since I recently got married I know a bit about all the things brides ask their bridesmaids to go through...botox however is not one that I requested.

Check this article out!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/fashion/24skin.html?em&ex=1217044800&en=6daca065fa34f19f&ei=5087%0A

You won't find this in the Chinese news...."hush money for greiving parents"

2008-07-25T01:56:00.003+08:00

I'm getting ready to leave to head back to Shanghai, I've been in the USA for the last 2 weeks. I'm trying to get caught up on the news before I head out, luckily SFO has free wifi so I can stay connected literally until I step on the plane.

I just ran across this article on nytimes.com about the earthquake victims in China. I haven't seen too much in the Chinese news about the families of the children who died in schools, but I'm not surprised to see this article running in a western newspaper.

The little bit of information that has been shown in the Chinese news has talked a little bit about the children who died. Many children were in school when the earthquake hit, and many of the schools in the rural areas were not built according to code (for various reasons), or standards for earthquakes, so many of these school totally collapsed killing all of the children inside. I have seen a little bit about the angry parents who learned that the schools were built badly protesting in front of local and regional government offices, but from what I understand the government put a stop to the protests right away. Now it looks like they're trying to pay off the families to get them to stop speaking up about what happened to their children.

Click here to read the New York Times article

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/24/world/asia/24quake.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

California woman is working to save Nepalese girls by using Piglets!

2008-07-23T00:46:00.004+08:00

Click here for a really moving story about a California based woman named Olga Murray has been working to save young Nepalese girls from lives of domestic slavery by using piglets. Shows how something so simple can change so many lives.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/22/MNVJ11RHRQ.DTL

Chinese release 8 "don't ask" rules for the Olympics

2008-07-23T00:40:00.002+08:00

I just ran across this article about posters that are springing up all over Beijing. Aimed toward the Chinese population, they are the government's 8 "don't ask" rules when talking to foreigners and disabled athletes. They seem pretty logical, but it makes sense. Many Chinese feel very comfortable asking foreigners about their incomes, love life & marriage and will freely comment on your health, etc. I've had to dodge more than one question about my husbands job, what he makes, etc. Just another cultural difference!

Some samples:

"Don’t ask about income or expenses, don’t ask about age, don’t ask about love life or marriage, don’t ask about health, don’t ask about someone’s home or address, don’t ask about personal experience, don’t ask about religious beliefs or political views, don’t ask what someone does. In addition, some general rules for etiquette with handicapped athletes:

1. You should use polite and standard forms of address for handicapped athletes.
2. Try to keep as light as you can with handicapped overtones.
3. Pay attention to how you congratulate handicapped athletes.

Pay attention to avoiding taboo subjects, quit using bad platitudes, and do not use insulting or discriminatory contemptuous or derogatory terms to address the disabled. Say things such as, “You are amazing,” or “You are really great.” When chatting with the visually impaired, do not say things like “It’s up ahead,” or “It’s over there.” When chatting with athletes who are paraplectic in their upper body, do not say things like “It’s behind you.”

French President Not Welcome in China

2008-07-04T13:13:00.004+08:00

Looks like French President Sarkozy isn't welcome in China anytime soon. According to this article on Shanghaiist.com today, Chinese are saying "不是“爱来不来”，而是根本“不欢迎你来”！
~ It's not 'Come if you want,' it's basically 'You're not welcome."

The article goes on to say:

"That's the response of Chinese netizens to French President Sarkozy who said he will decide next week whether to attend the opening of the Beijing Olympics, with his choice depending on how talks go between Beijing and the Dalai Lama's envoys this week.

Sarkozy reiterated Monday that the events in Tibet were "not acceptable," but he also warned against angering a power of China's size.

"We absolutely must not push a population of 1.3 billion people into wounded nationalism," he said.

If Sarkozy does come, he may face a hostile crowd who'll be yelling "Va foutre le camp!" (Get outta here!!) According to an online survey by Chinese website Sina, more than 89 percent of the 173,527 respondents do not want Sarkozy to attend the Olympic opening ceremony. Over 88 percent of the surveyed said they found Sarkozy's remarks about China "extremely unfriendly" and "not fit for a leader of a major developed country", while about 10 percent consider his remarks only political rhetoric.

Either way, his presence or absence will be duly noted domestically and internationally with significant consequences. Whether they will be positive or negative, well, that will be very much up to le Président."

Anti-Terrorist Training in China

2008-07-04T13:10:00.001+08:00

Here's a photo of Members of China's armed police demonstrate a rapid deployment during an anti-terrorist drill held in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province July 2, 2008, roughly one month ahead of the Beijing Olympics. Click here to see more photos and read more.

http://chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-07/03/content_6816695.htm

A Gay Love Story in China

2008-06-30T15:17:00.002+08:00

A Date With Lu Yu《鲁豫有约》is one of the most influential talk shows in China which has been known to constantly push the envelope and to broach topics previously considered too hot to touch. One such episode is the one below which features two homosexual men from the Sichuan Province — who, long before the word "gay" had entered the Chinese lexicon — married each other, adopted a son and have been together for 21 years.

To see the interview click here:

http://shanghaiist.com/2008/06/29/shanghaiist_sunday_show_gay_love_st.php

China Consumer Research

2008-06-26T13:49:00.002+08:00

If you're interested in learning more about the China and it's consumers, check out this blog site run by Helen Wang. She's a Chinese native, but lives in the Bay Area, California. I find her thoughts on the rise of the middle class and the spending habits of the Chinese very interesting and informative.

Check her out:
http://helenwang.rdvp.org/pacific/

Shaolin Temple expands it's online store

2008-06-26T13:42:00.003+08:00

So, it looks like the Shaolin Temple is going online. Those business savvy monks have started their own online store at taobao.com (Sorry, in Chinese only). Check it out here:

http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop-bfd6068fcfcb8f8acb4b1517fb7d005a.htm

Weird Chinese News: Marriage at the Olympics

2008-06-22T12:39:00.002+08:00

According to this article, more than 1,000 Chinese couples stood in line for hours to get a marriage license that will allow them to be married on August 8th.

Why? Well, the Chinese believe the number 8 is a lucky number which brings wealth because it sounds like the word "fa" which means "to get wealthy".

To read more click here...

Gay Shanghai?

2008-06-20T18:18:00.001+08:00

Yes! China's gay population isn't as "out" there as many other gay communities (for various reasons) but it is here for sure. Every month one of the more popular free publications "City Weekend - Shanghai " has a column specifically dedicated to the gay community. And, in addition often I see postings on Shanghaiist.com like this one:

http://shanghaiist.com/2008/06/19/eye_on_gay_shanghai_chinas_homosexu.php

USA Bush Administration sneaky tactics in Iraq...

2008-06-18T12:09:00.002+08:00

Please check these articles out - they outline an agreement the Bush Administration is trying to put together with Iraq.

To give you an idea of what's at stake here's a quote from a recent Al-Jazeera article:

"In particular,

Iraqis are fighting

a push by the administration of George Bush, the US president, for permanent military bases in the country and for US private security contractors to be given immunity from Iraqi law, Al Jazeera's Ghida Fakhry said."

And a quote from a recent New York Times article:

"WITH only perfunctory debate, the Bush administration is pressuring a divided Iraqi government to approve a security agreement that could haunt Washington’s relations with Baghdad for years to come. The “strategic alliance” that President Bush is proposing eerily resembles, in spirit and in letter, a failed 1930 treaty between Britain and Iraq that prompted a nationalist eruption in Baghdad, a pro-Nazi military coup and a pogrom that foreshadowed the elimination of Baghdad’s ancient Jewish community."

From what I understand, this issue isn't being heavily covered yet by US media, but it's quite serious and could have very significant repercussion's.

To read more:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/75A72817-67CC-4503-B86C-DE96C61270B9.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/opinion/17meyer.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSN04304912

Sex workers and the Olympics?

2008-06-16T22:33:00.003+08:00

Call me naive, but I never even thought about sex workers coming to the Olympics, but it makes sense. There will be a HUGE influx of people coming in from all over the world for the events and naturally certain "businesses" would try to take advantage. But, the Beijing police are trying their best to keep any undesirables out of town.

"Last week, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games released a legal guide that itemized the preferred parameters for foreign visits, and expressly denied entry to certain types of undesirable visitors."

Click here to see the rest of the article from Asia Times Online

Shanghai World Expo 2010

2008-06-16T22:29:00.002+08:00

As Beijing prepares for the August Olympic Games to begin - Shanghai is preparing for our own event in 2010, the World Expo. You remember those old pictures of World Expos in the early 1900's, right? Well they're still going on - in fact when I lived in Nagoya, Japan the world expo came to town and it was pretty spectacular. I'm really looking forward to the 2010 Expo in Shanghai!

http://www.expo2010china.com/expo/expoenglish/oe/es/index.html

Italian Cooking Class in Shanghai

2008-06-15T11:06:00.002+08:00

Yesterday I went to an Italian Cooking class that was offered at the Le Royal Meridian Hotel here in Shanghai. The class was lead by the Chef de Cuisine at Favola Restaurant in the hotel and it was quite nice! Class topic was colored pasta, and the 9 of us in the class enjoyed watching the chef's demo and the trying to make the dough ourselves. The cooking class included a lovely three course lunch at the restaurant and a short wine tasting presentation. Fantastic!

My interview with the Pankistani Spectator...

2008-06-14T09:15:00.002+08:00

I was a bit surprised when a writer from the site, The Pakistani Spectator contacted me about doing an interview. It's a great example of how the internet people from every part of the globe! If a writer from Pakistan can find me, an American living in Shanghai via blogs - it's a pretty incredible thing.

Here's the interview, which was just posted on their website. Enjoy. ;-)

Or click the actual link below:
http://www.pakspectator.com/interview-with-blogger-emily-lopez/

Socialism is Great?

2008-06-11T21:01:00.003+08:00

Last night I went to a book reading by Lijia Zhang, a former Nanjing rocket-factory worker who spent 10 years among 10,000 comrades effectively incarcerated in the "iron rice bowl" of the state employee. Zhang is in Shanghai in support of her memoir "Socialism is Great!"

Her story is very interesting, she grew in a poor family, went to work in a missile factory at the age of 16, learned English on her own and eventually lead the largest worker demonstration in support of Democracy which then landed her in jail. How she's a regular correspondent with the BBC and NPR. You'll have to read her book to get the entire story.

Also interesting is that the book is only published in English, and sold outside of China - so...how did I get a copy of it, you ask? Well...some things I can't reveal. ;-) She does live in Beijing, but from what I could gather, the government isn't fond of her writing and it could be more dangerous for her to publish this memoir in China, in Chinese.

If you're outside of China, try to get a hold of the book and check it out. It gives a different view of China right after the Cultural Revolution.

Apartment Renovations

2008-06-11T11:12:00.005+08:00

Yesterday renovations started on the apartment we purchased - I stopped by today to take a peek at the progress and make sure no one was sleeping on the job. ;-) Actually, since I did pop by during lunchtime - they were all resting so I tried to make a joke in Chinese about sleeping on the job....I don't think they found the humor in it.

Here are some photos of our future kitchen and guest bathroom

Raining babies in Shanghai...

2008-06-09T11:02:00.004+08:00

It is about to rain babies here in Shanghai!

I personally know at least 4 woman who are very pregnant and due to deliver in the next 1-2 months, in fact I helped to host a baby shower a few weekends ago for two of them. It was fantastic fun for all of us - especially for the non-Americans who don't usually have Baby Showers.

I think it's so impressive first of all to make the decision to have your baby in a foreign country, especially when that foreign country is China! (I'm learning that Shanghai especially has a couple of great hospital systems and a few specific doctors that many of the expat women use).

Back to the topic - I and two other women (1 American, 1 Norwegian) hosted this baby shower for our two friends. I love situations like this one, us crazy Americans are the only ones who do Baby Showers with games, etc and we had to "educate" our bewildered friend from Norway with what we were planning. It was hilarious.

We played typical American Baby Shower games like; Guess the baby food, Guess the size of the pregnant stomach, and the ever popular What's in the diaper? game. They all had everyone busting up laughing, especially to our non-American mom's to be.

Roel in Holland

2008-06-09T10:58:00.001+08:00

Roel in Holland resonded to my posting on the Dragon Boat Festival (more to come on that later) but didn't leave any contact information. Roel, if you leave your e-mail address I'd be more than happy to get back to you with more information about blogging in China.

Cheers!

Dragon Boat Festival

2008-06-07T23:02:00.003+08:00

Tomorrow, Sunday June 8th is Dragon Boat Festival Day in China!

We're going to try to see some of the races tomorrow and will let you know what they're like. In the meantime you can read this article:

Sink your teeth in dragon boat fun by -- SUNDAY marks the annual Dragon Boat Festival and it promises to be a feast for the senses - a cacophony of sound, a blaze of color and tastes and smells to excite, writes Tabitha Ang.

For most, the month of June...

In home pampering in Shanghai

2008-06-06T15:33:00.005+08:00

I saw an ad for this website at the store earlier today: http://www.happiiwoman.com/index.html

It's a full service, in-home spa company, which essentially means these ladies will come to your home and pamper you until your heart's content. I haven't tried it yet, but I have started to spread the word to some of the other Shanghai ladies and I'm sure one of us will check this service out soon!

Obama clinches the nomination

2008-06-04T17:21:00.002+08:00

Living in China, I feel a bit out of the loop when it comes to United States politics but I do know that Sen. Obama has recently clinched the Democratic Party nomination. Thoughts?

Wine in a Can

2008-06-04T17:10:00.004+08:00

I noticed these cans of wine at the Japanese Grocery Store (Jiu Guong) in Jing'An near my house the other day while I was out shopping. Today I saw an article about them on one of the Shanghai websites I frequent for local information: www.cityweekend.com.cn/shanghai

Not sure if these are available in the USA or not. They're made by Kirin, which makes me think they're probably also selling in Japan. Next time I'm back at the store I'll buy a few and post my reviews of the taste. :-) I'll try not to be too biased.