Past due Post China #2

I started to finally type my Beijing follow-up blog, and it led me to a discussion regarding common misconceptions and stereotypes of Asians. I saved the first draft and will continue once I am ready to narrow down where I want to go with it exactly.

I wanted to share with you my experience of ringing in the Chinese New Year by posting a video and my original journal entry as I watched the most impressive display of fireworks I have ever seen from my hotel window.

From sunset to sunrise the streets of Beijing were popping and booming and the ears of every human in and out of the city were ringing from the blasts. I have to say, I was uneasy at first. I flinched every time a firework went off for probably the first hour of the first night we were there: Lunar New Year's Eve. If I closed my eyes to hide all of the smiling faces with their black cats and roman candles I could of been in the middle of a battle zone. Of course without the genuine fear of being blown up at any moment.

A 12 year-ban against fireworks was lifted in 2005 allowing citizens of Beijing to pop celebratory fireworks from 11 pm on the first day of the first lunar month and from 7am until 11 pm for the following 2 weeks. Popping fireworks has traditionally been viewed as a symbol of happiness and BOYHOWDY, do they know how to set 'em off!
(please excuse my language in the video, I believe I use the holy 's' phrase)

After making the video, I sat on the bed and wrote in my journal, here is an excerpt (a personal and cheesy excerpt):

" It's 12:08 a.m. Chinese time. I am sitting on the 8th floor of my hotel and all I can see for miles are fireworks. It is truly one of the most amazing things I have seen and felt in my entire life! These fireworks aren't like any other fireworks. These FIREWORKS ARE IN BEIJING, CHINA! Jovan- U are in CHINA-yeah, might not be a big deal considering you currently reside in Asia, but it is a big deal because you live in Korea and Korea is very different from China!!! When I looked up some information last year on Chinese New Year, I had no clue that I would be among the Chinese celebrating it a year or so later-O. MY. Goodness!!!"

"Lunar New Year is a family holiday, and due to finacial difficulties of the past, it was a holiday where families would eat better food than usual and purchase new items such as shoes for the upcoming year. According to our awesome tour guide Lina, because China is no longer struggling as they used to, now they say everyday is Lunar New's Year Day. Lina also said dumplings are often eaten on New Year's Day, and the cook will place a coin inside a dumpling leaving it's recipient with good luck all year long. "

"Look at all of these fireworks! Spectacular! Huge, sparkling ones! Beautiful, huge, bright sparkling ones!"

"I learned so much today seriously. First, we went to Tiananmen Square and then walked from the south end to the north end of the Forbidden City -it sounds like a war is going out there-! After the Forbidden City we went to a tea shop and learned about traditional Chinese tea drinking. Then we went to an acrobatic show -super cool, but I was so exhausted I fell asleep. whoops."

"People are shooting off the craziest fireworks right outside my hotel, so they are exploding right outside my window!!! The rest of the city seems to have slowed down a bit according to my observations from this angle. I think some might pop 'em until they've popped 'em all! This is the longest fireworks show of my life! They have been non stop since we arrived at the hotel tonight. Well, maybe not the big ones, but almost. Truly an amazing experience. I couldn't ask for anything more. Thank you God, thank you! this moment is priceless and I hope I never forget this experience for the rest of my life! This is living!"

Beijing Bound.

It's 1:10 a.m. Wednesday morning, February 6th, and I am supposed to wake up in 3 hours and 4 minutes to meet Natalie in the lobby and catch a cab to the Royal Palace to meet our travel companions Alex, Erica and Jason; after which we will ride a bus to the Incheon airport and fly to China. Beijing, China!

You might be wondering, "Why Jovan are you awake, and typing a blog entry?"
BECAUSE I CAN'T FREAKIN BELIEVE I AM HEADED TO CHINA TOMORROW!!!! And I thought what a better time to release some anxiety, and catch up on my blog, that... I know, I know... I said I would keep up with regularly. Over the last 2 weeks I have been contemplating what to write next about my new life in Korea, and finally I decided just to shutup (you know in my head) and to write something.

Beijing, Beijing, Beijing! The five of us are on an English tour and our first stop is the Summer Palace. Due to my last minute shopping for a Lonely Planet book on Beijing, I did not obtain one and I really can't tell you what might be in store for us at the Summer Palace. Our tour also includes Tiananmen Square, The Great Wall...yes the GREAT WALL! Chinese Opera, a circus, a duck dinner (Beijing or Peking, call it what you like)Ming Tomb, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and much more, for example I heard it is required by the Chinese government that your tour include silk and tea factories. I am so excited. Yes, I have heard the warnings and I am not going to list them here because ignorance is bliss and I do not want anyone to worry about me. Of course by making the previous statement I assume my family reads this.
I promise to be very careful and to write about my trip as soon as I return. I can't wait to take pictures AAAHHHHHHH!

P.S. I am at the 3 month mark and I am pretty sure it has set in that I now LIVE in S. Korea and will only see my family (most of them) once in an entire year.

Lunch with the Man in Charge

Today the faculty and staff of the Seoul Language Institute-Bundang Campus, were treated to a 5 course Chinese meal bestowed upon us by our director/president Mr. WonJonNim. We received this special treat for the time and hardwork we are currently putting in at the office.

What I found particularly entertaining and a little unnerving was the fact that no one wanted to sit with Mr. WonJonNim and his wife. You can imagine why...making a good impression, minding all of your manners, not doing anything to lose your job, etc. I even avoided riding in the car with them at first, but ironically enough; I not only rode in the car with him but sat across the table from him at lunch.

I got in the car thinking, "Its okay, you can do this, just be polite and smile, a car ride no big deal."

We enter the restaurant and meet some of our Korean coworkers and head to our table. As soon as a couple of the ladies notice that those next to file into our private dining area are going to be seated next to Mr. WonJonNim and his wife; they stop and step aside to make way for someone else to enter the room first. Now I am thinking, "Why are we stopped, isn't this a little too obvious that we are all scared to dine with this man?"

David Ogles, esteemed coworker, newly found buddy, talented musician, says to me (if I recall correctly)"Let's rock this" (if he didn't say it at this point, it is something he says). And we did. We sat right across from Mr. and Mrs. WonJonNim. I was relieved to see the vice president's friendly, laid back, Canadian husband sit next to Mr. WonJonNim. I knew that no matter how nervous or awkward I might feel at certain points I could focus on conversation with him and David. And I did. The only time I felt uncomfortable was when Mrs. WonJonNim poured me a glass of coke and I was unsure as to where I should put my hand that wasn't holding my glass.

***Koreans traditionally place the hand they are not using to hold their glass either on their wrist, by the elbow, or higher by the armpit, depending on the relation to the person pouring the beverage. This tradition is something I am trying to understand, be conscious of and put into practice, but I forget and get confused so today I did what I thought would be best and that was to hold my glass with 2 hands.... and Mr. WonJonNim says, "This is my wife." I smile and nod because I know this, but then I get embarrassed because I am afraid that I either put my hands in the wrong position or should have poured her glass for her because she is older than me (another aspect of Korean traditional drink pouring). So anxiety sets in, my cheeks get flushed and its all I could worry about. I lean over to David, and I ask, "Did I hold my glass right, why did he tell me she was his wife?" David says, "I think maybe he just forgot who was in the car earlier," and then I able to relax. BUT with further contemplation I do suspect that I should have poured her coke or done something differently at that moment during my lunch with the director and his wife.

P.S. This meal had some of the best crab meat I have ever tasted.

I've done it!

Before leaving the U.S. to live in S. Korea for a whole year, I would adamantly shake my head in aggreeance with those who suggested I keep a blog while I was away. I have been here 2 months, 10 days, 22 hours and I am just now getting around to it. Although I slightly regret not having captured the essence of my initial departure and arrival in passage, I still have 9 months, 21 days and 2 hours to document my life on the other side of the world. I hesitated for reasons unknown to even myself. Was I afraid to make the switch from handwriting my personal thoughts and feelings to using a keyboard and posting them for all of the world to see?
Would I be able to express my thoughts and feelings in the same manner as I did in my trusty journal? The answer to that one my friends is no, but I will do my best to be me in a font that may never resemble my true autography.

After pondering on the style and format my blog should follow, I told my "over-thinking" self to just add short, quick entries when necessary, and develop long, eloquent entries when I have the time and opportunity to be creative. I do not want to go months without updating my precious blog just because I couldn't sit down and scrutinize my manuscript for hours on end.

I hope to keep you interested and updated on my continuous journey of self-discovery in South East Asia.