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Reflections
Reflections Tuesday
24Jun
The Little Things
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 It’s great to be sober home! I hope you all had a great two weeks while I was gone. I tried to update my sites more and visit your blogs, but it was a losing battle with my crazy schedule which consisted daily of work and conference activities during the day, official banquets with government folks at night (where much drinking ensued), followed by unofficial but essential business-building activities that lasted until early morning (that I for some reason can’t recall).
From what I can remember, China was beyond incredible. The experts can explain it better than I, so I won’t go into how and why China will soon represent the benchmark for virtually all metrics against which modern society is measured. But let me just say when you are there, you simply feel it.
But somebody get me a decent napkin already!
Some things that you don’t realize you need until you are in China:
Paper Products: it’s nice to know from a green standpoint that 99% of public bathrooms offer no paper towels. Not even in the nicest hotels. In my 2 weeks there, I encountered only one paper towel dispenser. And I washed and dried my hands twice it felt so good. And in restaurants, they don’t give you napkins. You have to buy them. And when you do, all you get is a pack of those mini Kleenex travel tissues. That is what people use when dining. Even in a 5-star hotel. Even in a lavish 15-course state banquet. If you plan on visiting China, get used to wiping your mouth with fresh scented 2x4 tissues that shred upon the slightest contact with moisture. And if you dine in a neighborhood joint, don’t be surprised to see a roll of Charmin on the table. But not in the bathroom – it’s BYOTP in most bathrooms. Don’t discover that the hard way (luckily I was warned).
Does the Charmin go on your lap folded or simply wadded?
Coffee: I addressed this in my Postcard from China post. Luckily this only applies to less westernized areas like Harbin, where I spent 2 weeks. I was very fortunate to enjoy some much-needed R&R in Shanghai for the last two days of my trip. And a big part of that R&R involved decent coffee. When my friend Sarah (who works with me in LA) and I found a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and were able to enjoy a couple of Iced Americanos done right, we had to clink to-go cups and raise a toast. It was that triumphant. Starbucks abound in Shanghai too. Shanghai totally rocks, by the way. That city was made for me.
Diet Coke: I was going through such withdrawal that I actually tried to drink regular Coke a couple times. I forgot how much I hate syrupy sweet sodas. I don’t think the concept of diet soda has really caught on in countries outside of the US, where traditionally “putting on weight” meant you would survive the winter. Sarah and I found Coke Zero on our last day in China. Close enough. Another clink and toast.
Air Conditioning: Harbin is arctic cold 9 months out of the year. So air conditioning is low on their list of priorities. And when summer rolls around, they probably appreciate the heat. But when you are dressed in a suit in a 90-degree conference hall for 8 hours, the word Arctic all of a sudden sounds very appealing.
Seatbelts: I’ve got to give props to the taxi drivers in China. They’ve got eyes on the back of their heads. Weaving through traffic with inches to spare and jumping into the incoming lane to overtake cars and weaving back in seconds before a head-on collision is impressive. But not in the moment, sitting shotgun with no seatbelt. I’m all for “when in Rome,” but about 3 times a day, I cursed the fact that I haven’t yet made out a will.
Panda Express: Real Chinese food is insanely good. And banquets are spectacles to behold. But I sure could have used a 2-item combo with a double order of Orange Chicken and fried rice. And a fortune cookie (China doesn’t do fortune cookies).
Newcastle: The British Empire failed here. I really wish that instead of pushing opium on my ancestors, they just opened a bunch of pubs or something. I really could have used a Newcastle. Not that I am complaining about 50 cent local beer. Your bloodstream does not discriminate brands.
Smoke-Free Dining: Smoke-free anything for that matter. I have nothing against smoking in bars and social situations, but damn, everybody’s smoking at all times: while eating (chopsticks in one hand, cigarette in the other), as they ride the elevator, in the middle of a business meeting, at a banquet, at the mall. I guess it’s one of those things you might as well do because if you’re gonna breathe it anyway, it might as well be your preferred brand.
Walk Signs: The only things a pedestrian in China can count on are his own eyes and agility. Past Frogger strategies really come back to you after about 3 days there.
But it also goes the other way. There are things in China that I have gotten used to that I will surely miss now that I’m home.
My Kind of Town (Shanghai Is)
Cheap Beer: Being able to order beer like water (and drink it as such) is going to be hard. Being buzzed during every meal, and that being perfectly acceptable, is something I will miss. I was very surprised how much beer Chinese people actually consume. Why they aren’t all walking around with beer guts is beyond me (because I certainly took one home with me). Maybe it’s all the cardio they get trying to cross the street?
Street Food: Nothing beats street food – in any culture. It is cheap, authentic and damn good. And consuming it with copious amounts of beer kills any germs that might otherwise cause gastro-intestinal problems. In China, street vendors take over entire streets to serve people into all hours of the night and morning. I’m really going to miss being able to buy enough food and beer to stuff a group of 6 for less than $20 USD.
All Night Bars: Do I need to explain this one?
Karaoke Emporiums: We’re talking multi-story, state-of-the-art multiplexes here. For a guy who likes to sing when he’s buzzing, I was loving it. We also had to entertain a number of Japanese delegates during this time, so this made it pretty simple. One night, the Japanese delegates ditched another event we had planned for them. Guess where they went instead?
Real Chinese Food: I live in Los Angeles. For virtually any ethnic cuisine, you can experience most authentic version here. I mean, we have entire cities (plural!) that are predominantly Chinese. I thought I knew Chinese food. I don’t. Not even close. This stuff will blow you away. Describing it won’t do it justice. Just trust me on this.
Cheap Taxis: Being able to get a cab anytime, anywhere for dirt cheap just makes all-night drinking all the easier and less dangerous. Our war dollars should be spent on subsidizing the US taxi industry. We’d all be a lot happier. And oblivious to what those people are doing way over there. I think we’d all be better off, don’t you?
No Tipping, No Taxes: You don’t tip anybody for anything. I even tried to a couple times, only to be refused. I have to say that made me totally respect the work ethic of the Chinese. When you work in a restaurant and make $600 China dollars a month, and you refuse a $20 tip, that’s saying no to an extra day’s pay. I, on the other hand, will gladly take an extra day’s pay, from any one of you.
Haggling: I must admit, this was hard for me to get used to. I felt like here I was trying to save an extra $3 that means nothing to me beyond the mere sport of it, while my counterpart supported her family with these trinkets. But I got over it pretty quick. I’m feeling like some coffee right about now. A buck sixty for a Starbucks Tall Drip? We’ll see about that!
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Reader Comments (61)
Welcome back man! Sounds like an interesting trip. I've only been with my company for a short time, but I know that a trip to Shanghai is probably in my future, and its good to hear some perspective. (Incidentally, one of the execs was in a taxi accident on his last trip there...apparently they have eyes in the back of their heads, but not on the sides!)
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[BusyDad] Thanks! You will love it. And really, I saw only 1 accident in my 2 weeks there, and it did not involve taxis. Amazing, considering the way they drive. It rains here and we get 50 accidents.
Dude! Welcome back! Mr. Lady did a fantastic job in your absence...but now that FrickandFrackareBack we'll have lots more fun. :-)
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[BusyDad] :) let me ramp up. I think I've forgotten how to blog...
Oh. And? Dying to know how you supported a local family at the marketplace by getting Fury the next best Chinese thing to Legos...
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[BusyDad] I came so close to buying the knock off Legos! Instead, I bought a REAL Chinese jet fighter pilot's helmet. You'll see in my upcoming video :)
Glad you are back. Did you manage to bring me that souvenir I asked for?
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[BusyDad] I looked, but apparently a whole bunch of celebrities came through and adopted all the best Asian babies! Bad timing.
China sounds awesome save for the napkin thing. Welcome back!!!
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[BusyDad] Bring your own thick ply napkins and you will be a god there! Nice new name!
Welcome back from China! You were definitely missed around here by a lot of people! So glad to have you back!
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[BusyDad] It is NICE to be back! Thanks mamawise! I owe you a video review don't I?
Sounds like that was one hell of a trip! I'm going to log this post away in my head for a someday trip to China (pack lots of paper products, pack lots of paper products... and coffee...)
More photos, please?
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[BusyDad] I've got quite the epic video in store. It'll take me a while to put it together though. I felt that video would better capture the vibe. And yes, the take-away from this post is BRING PAPER. any and all kinds!!
Your "When in Rome" comment is very fitting because IN ROME, Taxi drivers also have eyes in the back of their heads and weave in a out of traffic like a skilled embroiderer, but I don't remember seatbelts.
I love to hear these cultural differences and the 'little things' like John Travolta says in Pulp Fiction.
Did you feel inflation when you were there. I have heard inflation can be felt on a monthly basis in China right now. Sometimes around 4% a month?
KEEP BELIEVING
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[BusyDad] A Royale with Cheese! Funny, that Rome thing actually was discussed during one of our taxi rides. My friend mentioned that Rome had the best/scariest of all taxi drivers. And nope - never really heard anyone talking about inflation. Things seemed pretty stable, actually. But I have no expertise in that. Beer was stable. That's all I know.
Welcome home! TP on the table, hmmm... that would take some getting used to, especially if you're a man with any kind of facial stubble.
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[BusyDad] haha - that's why all the russians had white bits all over their face!
Welcome back BD!
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[BusyDad] Thanks Mindi! I see there's a new site that needs pimpin.
Welcome home! Glad you had a good time! You've been missed!
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[BusyDad] Thanks Jodi! I had fun but it's time to be a responsible member of the blogging community again instead of the banned blogger rebel that I was in China.
Sounds awesome! Cheap beer and all night clubs. I wanna go!!!
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[BusyDad] That is why that call it the Communist PARTY.
Welcome back, Jimmy! I'm so glad you are here. Seriously, I'd come and sit here and get all sad that you were all the way over in China. But, now you're back and I feel like we need a virtual karaoke night, yo!
<3
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[BusyDad] Thanks SAM! Glad to be back. You can chill at the BDB anytime. I'm down for any karaoke. I'll even bring the 50 cent beer.
I'm suddenly missing China too! Oh and I'm pretty dang hungry. Sheesh. Well, at least I have the drunk part out of the way. Bring on the noodles!
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[BusyDad] Soup noodles are great hangover food. Eat up!
Glad you're back!
Can you take me with you next time?
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[BusyDad] I think it's time for a US/China Blogger Summit. We need to all go over there and get ourselves unbanned. Can you gather the troops?
Sounds like quite the trip! Can't wait to hear more stories about it.
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[BusyDad] It was a blast. And I will bring it to you soon - the video is coming!!
Welcome back BD!! China sounds awesome! My Hubs has been dying to go for years now. Someday we'll get there...someday...
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[BusyDad] Thanks Lunanik! Make it a priority. There's no experience like it. Seriously.
I want to see photos, and I want to go there one day. Preferably with you and a whole lot of other bloggers. If I ever hit the lotto, it is so on!
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[BusyDad] Well get crackin and hit that lotto! I'll work on getting all of us unbanned. You know, so we can all be celebrities before our arrival. Then we get the VIP line at da club.
China sounds wicked. But what of the customs and eating habits. I've heard some really interesting foods get eaten, and eaten in ways that other cultures would boo-hoo.
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[BusyDad] I think 85% of the food most people would love. 10% would make most Americans think twice. 5% would make you hurl. I pretty much eat/ate everything, but then again, I'm genetically inclined. I may not speak the language, but if you saw me eating, you'd see that I am a Chinaman through and through.
Good to have you back... can't wait to hear more stories. And photos, lots of photos.
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[BusyDad] Good to be back Tara! I have lots and lots of video. Stay tuned!!! I promise you, it will be EPIC. Like the great wall.
No tips? Cheap beer? Cheap taxis? All night bars?
I should have studied abroad in college :(
Just hearing about the street food and real Chinese food has me daydreaming!
Glad to have you back!!
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[BusyDad] Hey Sandy! The food was unreal indeed. You have to be a bit daring for the street food, but for those who do... WOW. Street food after barhopping at the crack of dawn beats Denny's any day.
Welcome home! We all missed you. No, seriously, I was like, Dude, I need a good BD post right about now. Also, I'm insanely jealous of your travel experiences. But whatever.
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[BusyDad] Thanks Bunchy - missed you all too! And most of your blogs as well. Lots of us are blocked in China!
My husband is in Shanghai right now and I wonder why you left out the hookers on the streets of Shanghai...hmmmmm....
Hubby was propositioned with a "Care for some suckie...um...I mean Saki"...
LOL
Welcome back!
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[BusyDad] "What? I never heard of such a thing!" (actually I was in mixed company, so they extended us courtesy just in case someone happened to be a wife or girlfriend... whew.).
Okay, I'm thinkin' a Karaoke version of W8 Loss Wednesday would be awesome.
And welcome back!
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[BusyDad] Thanks! The only thing I need to complete that would be some cheap beer. Ok, any beer.
Glad you made it back! Sounds like you had more than a great time.
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[BusyDad] The best parts are still a blur. It's coming back to me in pieces, but the pieces so far? All good! And I have no new jail tats or anything.
Glad you're back! Does that mean I'm not blocked anymore?
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[BusyDad] Oh you are good and blocked. Just not from me anymore. You are too much for the Chinese to handle.
Were you gone?
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[BusyDad] In more ways than one, dude!
Dude, Charmin as a napkin? Scary. Maybe you should have just brought a dog and used it to wipe your mouth. You wouldn't be able to use him in the bathroom, though.
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[BusyDad] No, over there, it's called an appetizer... OH! (no really, they DO eat dog in some parts. That's not racist. I've got video, coming soon)
Welcome back. What a great opportunity to have gone for work! Jealous!! I've only gone to Stone Mountain, Ga for work! What's the reason, do you know, for the no-napkins??
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[BusyDad] I have no idea why. I think it's because in the poorer days, people used to steal napkins all the time, so culturally they've gotten used to not providing or having them? My friend told me that. Stone Mountain and Shanghai look the same when you are facedown on the ground. Just a hypothesis...
Welcome back, BD!! Sounds like it was even better than you expected.
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[BusyDad] SoapyB! Thanks! Yup... and I expected a lot too.
So happy to have you back! Been missing my regular dose of BusyDad. I have nothing witty to say about China at midnight when I should be grading papers ... but I do hope there will be a food tutorial, or post, or photos, or SOMETHING else practically edible going up soon to give us a better taste of the China trip. :)
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[BusyDad] In honor of you and Rachel from Southern Fairytale, there WILL be a food post indeed! I am honored to be your excuse to procrastinate.
Glad you're back!
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[BusyDad] Thanks April! And really sorry I couldn't do that blog for education thing... I meant to I really did. My online time was just too limited. And when I did happen to be online, I wasn't in the best condition to write anything of substance (or spelled correctly either for that matter).
I keep telling everyone here that the swill that is served in Australia is NOT really Chinese food. Oh *swoon* for the authentic!
Next time I am SURE you will need an Aussie PA...
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[BusyDad] I think I am SURE I will need a complete entourage of food and beer testers, don't you agree?
Welcome home. I am surprised the Chinese allowed you to tell such tales about your visit. Thought they censored that sort of honesty? ;)
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[BusyDad] Thanks Hockeyman! I am sure they are like "damn that guy! we should have detained him while we could!" bwahahaha. They will LOVE my video.
Frogger, all night bars, no seat belts? Dude. Before your next trip, you need to see to that will.
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[BusyDad] Or maybe a fat life insurance policy?
Welcome back!
Good thing Panda Express has good napkins.
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[BusyDad] haha! Good ol US of A!
Welcome back. I haven't been home to Bangladesh in 9 years. Now you've got me wanting to see what it's like now.
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[BusyDad] We can compare beer stories!
Welcome back buddy! Panda Express, yum! I haven't had that in awhile. Now you've got me hankering for it. :)
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[BusyDad] Thanks! The orange chicken may not be authentic, but when it tastes that good, who cares!
Sounds like an amazing trip!
Every time I've traveled, that haggling thing has amazed me... it's so common throughout the world.
The Frogger reference cracks me up. Crossing the street sounds, uh... invigorating!
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[BusyDad] Yeah, who needs skydiving when you can spike your adrenalin without getting on a plane?
Welcome back BD!!
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[BusyDad] :-D KIIIIM!
OMG - that sh