Intercultural Competence

I'm still choosing my courses on HSG's bidding system. Yah, it's a school mainly consists of a business school and a law school, so we BID for courses. We have 500 points for each category of courses, then we allocate the points to "buy" the course we want. A seat in the course is, here, a scarce resource. The one who pay more than or equal to enough will get a seat.

Anyway, there's a course called "Intercultural Competence" I would like to take. N here's sth I found it particularly funny in the course discerption about the grade assessment method. I can't really explain why this is funny, but, well, here we go:

Participants choose two of the four topics for the graded essays. Maximum length of essay: 5000 characters (attn students with Chinese background: 5000 single latin letters, not words!), blanks included, approx. 2 pages - but not counting graphs, tables, figures and bibliography.

leaving, not yet

I thought I was supposed to be in die Sweitz on 24th, Aug, but I hadn't got my student visa yet and there was an error from the school and the German course actually started on the 3rd, so I thought I was supposed to be there tmr. So I had my farewell party last Sat (it was great, thx all for the love, muah!) because I thought I could get my visa yesterday and would be busy packing my stuff today, but, here I am again, downloading some more musics from "Google Music" for free (coz this won't be available in places other than mainland China) and looking up events to fill my boredom, since the council informed me that I'll need 5 more working days to get my visa.

So, this time I'll prob. leave on the coming Sunday or Monday, and my schedule this week have already been almost all booked.

I had a strange feeling these days. It somewhat reminds me of "1984". Winston knew he is going to die, but he doesn't know when, so he's living by days he has on hand. I feel like I was sentenced to death, but then the authority decided to give me a few days extension, so I got a few more days of free happy time. And then they told me that I was to die tmr, but they told me yesterday that I got another weeks' free happy time. It also reminds me of "Meet Joe Black". Bill Parish knew he's gonna die, but he realized that he has had all, so he wasn't particularly sad. Going to Switzerland definitely can't equal to death, I choose to live there. I'm not particularly sad about leaving. I've dealt with so many already. It is meant to be a new page. Yet because of all the emotions attached to this city, Shanghai, however mad it is right now, I'm reluctant.

I am ready. You can take me anytime you like. But if there is still time, I would always find something to deal with the time. I feel happy and lucky with the extra time, and I am so eager to make full use of it. I've never felt so badly in my life that time is scarce.

CSI

I was the last one to leave the office last night, n the 2nd to arrive this morning. As I came, I found some mysterious human footprints on the floor. It was a serious of muddy prints of a pair of feet sized ard 43.

After we followed ard the prints we found it started from one room in the G/F. One of the screen windows in that room was laid on the floor neatly with a cut on the screen. So apparently, the guy came in through the window. He then made his way to the bookshelf, he hesitated in front of one package of books, n that pack was the only pack that is open now. He then made a loop ard the sofa n went upstairs. Surprisingly, the prints skipped our room n went straight to the admin's room n the CEO's room.

The print either disappeared from the balcony or the mud faded coz there's no print showing the way out. No item is missing, but he prob. has searched a blackberry box n some letters on the desk.

Mysterious. Was it a sleep-walker, or a thief break-in? Will my life in danger if I leave the office even a bit later last night? lol

project in mind

Just a note for myself.

blog bus

stuff yellow ppl like abt white ppl

grass hat

old lane house (DongJiaDu, SuZhou Creek, HongKou Footbal Statium, 1933, some frech concession)

drum

drive

Oldies today...

Went to RATATAT last night saw some old ppl there. Well, that's pretty cool actually. I asked JS if he'd be the same when he get old, and he said he would, but he would dress better, lol

There's this old lady I saw almost everyday on the bus to work. She gets on the bus several stops after me, after 9am, so she can take advantage of the free-ride policy for the old ppl here. Every single time I saw her, there will be some one give up their seats for her, and every single time, she would say "o, thx, u so kind. Kids today... ai... they never give seats to we old people. They are so unkind!" =S

boy n cat n boy-cat

Ok, I gonna adopt the cat "XiaoFan" from NT soonish, guess I won't need a bf for a while. Btw, that's a boy-cat.

DVD, bf n youtube

My DVD player is on strike, which makes me the only person in SH who can't watch DVD, now I need a bf.

Ok, maybe not so urgently, since we CAN watch youtube again. But I'll def. need one even this site got banned.

horoscope for the coming Sat

Here is your single's love horoscope
for Saturday, April 11:

Play it safe when it comes to words right now -- you could end up munching on your Jimmy Choos. Your sense of adventure sends you swimming like Michael Phelps through the dating pool, breaking hearts at world-record speeds with your actions and your comments.

Where I want to live in.

I'd love to live in an 5 or 6-story high Chinese apt. building built in the 1980s, the ones I grew up in, where you smell the oil in the air and see the dust on the cement stairs and rusty stair holds, and you can smell you neighbours food and hear the couples arguing or the kids crying as the parents beat them up with a feather dust.

Dream

Had a strange dream last night:

It was College Entrance Exam. Somehow I went there with Erika and Ryan, a guy who should be one batch earlier than me in my high school. We sat in a classroom in another highschool together waiting for the exam when we need to go to different classrooms and take our exams. We were waiting on 42/F, then we need to go to 79/F for the exam. We feel really relaxed and I remember we were talking about cheating and it sounds like really easy to cheat.

As I sat in my classroom 5 mins before the exam, somebody stand in front of the room, prob. the monitoring teacher asked us to present our attendance sheet. I panicked as I don't remember I got such a sheet. Then the teacher asked me to run to 42/F and ask the lady behind the reception desk to issue me the sheet. I grabbed my student card n ID card n ran.

I passed by the toilet then I thought maybe I should use it before I go to get the attendance sheet, but I found there are still several girls waiting in line, so I dashed to the lift lobby right away. I remember the hallway is somewhat like that in a hospital or a factory with classrooms in the middle of the building and hallways with windows around it, somewhat like my primary school but much larger. Several other girls has got the attendance sheet in the last minute and walking to the classroom in the opposite direction. I got to the lift lobby. As the lift door opened, a kind-looking girl came out and smiled at me and confirmed that it's the 42/F.

The lift looks rusty. the school building is brown on the outside and dark grey inside, just the cement color. I was alone in the lift. It got to 42/F in no time. When I got out of the lift, it suddenly started raining cats and dogs outside. The "reception desk (or sth like that)" is weirdly located near a men's room. Yet a cleaning lady was cleaning the toilet and locked the door. The reception desk is on a platform (balcony) outside the building, so... it's under the rain. No one is there behind the desk...

There was another teacher on the hallway, watching the cleaning lady mopping the floor, apparently she was the one who issues attendance sheet. So I turned to her and asked for my sheet, but she was like it's too late, I even turned to the cleaning lady, and she gave me the same blank look and told me that she can't help. I was really begging them that I have to take the exam, I can't afford to screw it up. But, the blank and "none-of-my-business" look.

Then I woke up. Strange all the people in the dream are girls. Well, expect Ryan, not even a close friend.

Anyway, it feels sooo relieved now, and glad that I'm not taking any exam in the "not-so-far" future.

Random

1.

I laughed at old people who know none of romance, none of fantasy, none of adventures and dreams.
Until I grow to be one of them, and struggle so hard not to forget the time when I laughed at them.

2.
Life is a one way track. When fights are resolved, wounds healed, passion re-ignited, and friends united, nothing goes back to the exact past state. Things and people move on to the better, worse or different. You see the past through them, but only relics of it remain.

3.
I once picked friends by favor, made efforts to see those I liked every day, and thought this could last for a lifetime.

Then I pick friends by proximity, smile to people close by, company them and have them as company. We chatter and chatter for days at a time, not understanding one another, not being understood, and not needing to.

Then most of them drift away, while some remain the anchor of my life. They are rocks that have been dulled out their original angles and colors, beautifully existing for their time value alone. We see each other once or twice a year, or maybe not at all.

When even that is gone, I make friends with heart.

4.
Relationships are like a clear sheet of paper. You start from pure and simple with a zillion possibilities. Then you doodle on it, color it, or fold it into things. Sometimes things go right; the picture looks so good that you want to freeze it right there right then -- we all know it would change. Sometimes it gets so messed up that you'd rather crumple it, throw it away and grab a new sheet.

But there are relationships that you can never crumple and discard, like birth family, and the family you give birth to. Or others that you've crumbled, that you want to spread and flatten out again. Then you see those heart-breaking creases and wrinkles and torn chunks, and wish you didn't do what you did.

The rational advice to give is that you never crumple it in the first place.
The reality is that we are human, so the statement above is bullshit.

5.
Love is an acquired taste, which takes a prepared mind to maintain. We all want to believe it's whimsical art, but it's really, simply, hard-core science. It's beautifully rational, and rationally beautiful. Kiddo, just take my word for it.

March 2009

My 1st spring in SH, well, after 4 yrs, when I finally don't have loads of homework on weekends. So what's here this March?

Oasis concert officially cancelled 1st, Sun.

DK starts bedridden 2nd, Mon.

A new site for LaoWai, aiyowala, started by DK 5th, Thu.

Tiga came to BonBon 6th, Fri.

My friend Akyo had her singing contest 7th, Sat.

Banana Monkey, the Rovers, DJ R3 Rick (all are cute guys) had just put up some gigs in LOgO last night, 7th, Sat.

Juan Atkins came to Shelter 7th, Sat.

DeadMau5 came to Muse2 7th, Sat.

Adult Expo 6th-8th, Fri-Sun.

Prince Nicky is leaving SH, prob. not back for awhile, 9th, Mon.

My friend Joe Buztler is coming to SH, yes, again, so I'll meet him in SuZhou n Wuxi on 11th n 12th, Wed and Thu.

Michael De Hey is going to Muse2 13th, Fri (O_O Fri the 13th again?!).

Weekend Idea is going to JinJiang Park (if weather is good) 14th, Sat.

Joseph E. Stiglitz will talk about Stability with Growth for China & Our World 15th, Sun

Staint Patrick's Day 17th, Tue (wear green... hats).

My friend Davide Zabeo's new band, MONROE STAHR is going to play at Bulldog and YuYinTang 20th-21st, Fri n Sat.

CHEN QiZheng concert 21th, Fri.

Fucked Up will get fucked up at LOgO 21th, Fri (owner of LOgO sez he'll move away everything in the bar except the equipments and the bar. No stools, no sofa).

Juliette Binoche walking out from the Lancome billboard to SH Oriental Art Center performing in modern ballet "In-I" 27th n 28th, Fri n Sat.

Battles+PK14+LAVA(wtever their name is) at Dream Fac. 28th, Sat.

Book Club hopefully have the 3rd meeting to talk about "I love dollars" by end of the month.

SH Literary Festival throughout the month.

Honey Bonnie Bunny is looking for a cheap apt. to share for Apr. in XuJiaHui/ HongQiao/ French Concession.

What I want

Please send me: very smart, whimsical, delicious mind, responsible, tall but not too tall, soft hair, loves small animals, wants to dance, goes on adventures just because, well traveled, looks good on paper, remembers his dreams, avid internet user, falls asleep holding hands, knows the lyrics to his favourite songs, funny as fuck, knows how to cook, can play an instrument, reads blogs, loves his mom, is a man not a dick, rides a bike, knows what it means to chill the fuck out, but also knows what it means to keep with the schedule, is never bored at parties, open to new ideas but stands by his old ones, knows how to draw, has a good laugh, not allergic to cats, is never purposely unkind, loves beach, looks at me and makes me feel infinite, is passionate about something, understands good photography, is competitive like crazy, says my name in just the right way, wants to get to know my family, doesn't mind walking in the rain, is good at kissing, knows how to take control but isn't a control freak, is my best friend but has other best friends, gregarious, doesn't need positive re-enforcement, reassures me by act, understands the art of storytelling, likes wanton, always knows where north is, owns a tasteful ipod, makes awesome mix CDs, not needy, has a good job, knows how to read a fucking map n likes reading a map, has friends who would do anything for him, wakes me up in the mornings, has a good grasp of the english and chinese language, n maybe german, loves my friends, writes funny stories, knows when to be aggressive, has good cadence, writes a good email, playful like monkeys, makes me smile from the heart and laugh out loud, does good impressions, keeps his word, cares about other people's feelings, reads books i actually care about, has no inner monologue, tells me secrets, is good at love.
it's not much, right? I doubt if I can put all these in a dating profile.

Isn't this FUN?!

Here is your single's love horoscope for Monday, February 9:

Ideals are huge right now -- so turn off a light and save the earth. Go on a green date. Enjoy an organic dinner by candlelight; walk rather than drive; or use veggie condoms and eco-friendly lingerie. Explore in the dark!

I'll blog about my recent trip to GuiLin during Chinese New Year (CNY) sometime soonish.

NY @ NJ

I fled from SH with Jeanne and Nicky and took a trip to NanJing during the new year holiday. I've been there once while a kid, the only thing I recall abt that trip is the red lanterns on QingHuai river and the old wall which left the city a historic impression on me.

Jeanne drove us there with her red Cherry, was a nice ride. The sun was shining brightly from behind the clouds. The radiance spraying on to the ground like what we usually see in those holy Christian paintings. I felt as if I was loved, I mean, I FELT.

We arrived our youth hostel located by QinHuai River and near FuZi Temple around 6pm. The location is very convenient. We just walked around the night market in FuZi Temple, and from then on, we started our food journey. It was nice to know that Nicky could eat a lot and is quite adventurous about local food, so Jeanne is very happy about this and kept on saying "try this", "not bad", "eat more lah". Yes, LAH, she's Singaporean lah~

We then took a boat along QingHuai River. The river looks quiet and nice at night, although you can't escape from the neon lights around the river and all those sculptures that people later put there in memory of the famous people, poets, scholars, famous prostitutes, etc.. Yes, you heard that, prostitutes. Nanjing was the capital for more than 10 dynasties, and it was also the capital of prostitution during Ming Dynasty, esp. at the end of Ming n the beginning of Qing. Those prostitutes are much more literate then those you can see now behind the glass doors of those pink-neon-lights salons. To be a prostitute you have to know how to play the musical instruments, chess, calligraphy and painting, plus beauty and submissiveness, almost a perfect girl, huh? But just because they were born from a poor family... Sitting on the boat, I feel going back to that time when life is pleasant and relaxed. And I can't stop thinking why those scholars don't seem happy and have all sorts of concerns in their poems. Maybe people just don't deserve to be totally happy, or... hardness is just anywhere, as well as happiness.

We were still recovering from the NYE party which was totally awesome in MoCa, so we knock out early. The next day, we went to the NJ Massacre Memorial. The park is very nicely built with architectures, statues and atmosphere well fit into the heavy theme.

There are lots paper birds in the memorial, esp. lots from Japanese tourists. Paper birds are a way of bless in Japan.

A site discovered in these years with numerous skeletons buried there. Does that mean people in NanJing are actually live on 300,000 body? This thought make the city feel pretty haunted. Damn the wars!

No peace is free, it needs to be earned.

A couple taking pictures in the memorial. Looks weird.

Later that day, we went to Xuan Wu Lake park.

 Wait, not yet. We need to continue our food journey first.

It reads "Hong Kong Peeing Beef Balls".I guess that's because the balls contain soup inside and if you are not careful, the soup might spill. Tastes nice though.

Where the BeiJing Olympics were held.

Nice chill in the boat, then we went on our food journey again!!!

The 8 most famous food for QingHui River. They actually look more impressive than they taste.

Nicky had some awesome noodle, and some not some awesome Chinese sushi (prob. with sticky rice... with no wasabi or vinegar). Jeans had drum stick, awesome, lamb chop, awesome, and a lot of something else, awesome.

Tang2 Hu2 Lu2, literally "sugar gourd".

Originally,  they are made by "hawthorn" or "crataegus" coated with heavy sugar 

But now, we can just have any fruit, Kiwi, tangerine, anything.

Nicky having his strawberry tang hu lu. Look how happy he is in China.

We wanted to kill the time between dinner and clubbing, then we came across a theater where they show porn all night long for 15 RMB. We went to another hall with 10RMB show tho, and was expecting for some spice.

Anyway. the show was put up by a group of 3 guys and 3 girls. The guys were singing or playing musical instruments while the girls were changing (behind the stage, of coz). The dance was ok, regular club dance put onto a theater stage. They tried to dress revealingly. One girl was too chubby and too dark according to oriental standards, and another girl had her push-up shown while moving her shoulders. But she didn't seem to care.

The audience were mainly male. 4 girls out of about 20 peeps there... and Jean n me are 2 of them.

Jean n I tried to sleep, but the Chinese pop disco was too loud. Anyhoo, Nicky quite enjoyed it, for 1. He's a guy, 2. the show is "very different and quite an experience".

So, it's NY, despite the fact we just had a crazy NYE party in MoCA artlab, we were still ready to go. Jean was "too old" to go, so that left Nicky n me. We went to a place called 1931 (or sth like that). It's basically a bootleg of XinTianDi, while XinTianDi is more a bar/lounge place for the rich bastards, 1931 is more of a crowd of clubs, Chinese ones. We went on a club hop, 4 clubs in all. The 1st one is progressive house, the music is not bad, we had a booze (waited a long time, they hand our $ to the counter outside the club, then came back n give us the change, no idea why they dun hv the cashier in the bar. n the bartender was very laid-back, they were chatting n making our simple drinks VERY slowly), then we r ready to hit the dance floor, then we found there's actually NO, not even a small one. a few ppl is dancing ard their seats. So we left to the 2nd one. N it was too crowded, no ppl were allowed to go in. So the 3rd one, ok, hiphop, tiny dance floor, not bad, but I got to flirt with the bartender to make him bring my beer faster, meh =/ The last one is kinda fun. It was almost 4am, we went to TM (got several TM in SH, never been to any), and, guess what, that was all Chinese pop. A couple of fat Chinese men with tie n suit n their, um, mistresses/lover (?). We were the only ppl doing funny dance there. Anyway, Nicky was one of the 4 foreigners we see the whole night, and all the clubs have a guard standing on the DJ floor, and we are sure the guards can't spin.

Ok, that's pretty much it, we went to TangShan hot spring on our way back to Shanghai, Can't believe I was wearing bikini in this chilly weather. Thanks again to Jean for being our chauffeur.