GZ Expat, Part II

Expat Son's BIG Week

With expat son's birthday falling in the middle of July, he doesn't get to celebrate his birthdays with his buddies, they way most kids do around here.  So, Tai-Tai arranged a bit of a get together with his pals to celebrate his birthday a little early. 

One of the keys to any party, though, you have to earn it.  The kids headed to Danny's and got to make their own pizza's with Danny and his staff helping them out with the finer techniques of rolling and building. 

I took some photos and the videos with the phone...I apologize for the quality.  I was still struggling with the settings (and still am) as the phone didn't come with an English language manual. 

The next day, the kids were at it again at his school summer BBQ.  This is a great event the school puts on to get parents together and give the kids a chance to blow off some steam with their teachers, without the uniforms on.  Of course, my son was usually spotted at the sponge throwing...chucking soaked sponges as hard as he could at his teacher.  And, being a fully Asian affair, the food also matches the international crowd; Indian curries, hot dogs, burgers, beer and sodas.

Finally...graduation day.  Yeah, its a bit different than the BIG graduation...but it was special, nonetheless.  He had a terrific year.  He started the year hating maths...hating reading...and hating school.  This year was an injection of enthusiasm that was truly amazing.  His scores were better...but it was his attitude that really got the marks.  We are both very proud of the hard work he put in all year long.

Birthday Pizza at Danny's from GZ Expat on Vimeo.

Now, schools done and he's all set for the summer holiday.  Although, I am not sure Tai-Tai is ready for it.  Summer holiday usually means he's the only kid in the neighborhood (as most kids head to their home country with their Mom's during the summer) and he bores the crap out of himself and his mother.  Our summer holiday is just around the corner, though.

links for 2008-06-30

• Rice meets children who lost homes in China quake - Yahoo! Singapore News
  When Rice dropped into one classroom, pupil Zhou Yifan, one of 7,000 people in the camp, spoke to her in English saying, "My pleasure to take a photo with you. I often see you on TV, you are a superstar." (GZE2 - Wish she would come and visit me...woof!)
  (tags: china politics news earthquake)
• Riots in southwest China over girl's death: report - Yahoo! Singapore News
  The uncle had protested against the conclusion of the police investigation that had determined the 15-year-old girl committed suicide. He had been badly beaten as he sought justice after the death of his niece, locals said.
  (tags: china news protests)
• China balks at US calls for Zimbabwe arms embargo - Yahoo! Singapore News
  "We believe the situation has deteriorated to a very grave level, but the sham election there is likely to bring only more misery," Rice told a press conference.
  (tags: china africa un)
• Opposition leader in Malaysia accused of sodomy, again - International Herald Tribune
  "Not again," said Anwar, reached by telephone in the Turkish Embassy. "It's a repeat of the same script."
  (tags: malaysia politics)
• BBC SPORT | Football | Euro 2008 | Germany 0-1 Spain
  Spain claimed their first major title for 44 years after winning Euro 2008 with a deserved victory over Germany.
  (tags: europe soccer football)
• FOXNews.com - New Public Military History Criticizes Pentagon on Post-Invasion Planning for Iraq - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum
  "The transition to a new campaign was not well thought out, planned for, and prepared for before it began. Additionally, the assumptions about the nature of post-Saddam Iraq on which the transition was planned proved to be largely incorrect,"
  (tags: waronterror iraq military)
• The Sign of the Cat
  The cat was let out of the bag in early 1966. Publicity campaigns started letting the world know of Mercury’s plans and the name of the car before the first model was available for sale.
  (tags: cars cougar)
• Libertarian Barr defends personal privacy, decries government intrusion in Portland campaign visit - Breaking News Updates from Portland and Oregon - The Oregonian - OregonLive.com
  Barr, who served four terms in Congress as a Republican, switched parties after becoming disenchanted with what he called the high-spending ways and increasingly Big Brother policies of the Bush administration.
  (tags: politics election libertarian)

Life in a Typhoon

We've had our fair share of typhoon's here in our years in southern China.  The storms batter the coastline, but usually spare us, as we are so far inland.  Usually, the storms turn north at the coastline and wreak havoc on neighboring Fujian province with winds and floods.The worst we get is a load of rain and some isolated flooding. 

We were in Hong Kong in 1999 when Typhoon Sam struck, leaving us stranded over night as ferry and even train service was shut down in the wake of the storm.  While the storm was powerful and shut down most of the city, a bare amount of services were still available; bars, restaurants and the subway.  I can remember running from the hotel door to the subway entrance and standing on an empty platform for 5 minutes, awaiting the train.  Once inside the train, it was creepily empty of people.  We arrived at Pacific Place mall and found the only business open in the mall was Dan Ryans.  When we returned to the hotel, the storms had quieted somewhat, but the grainy pictures on our TV showed us a plane had overturned on the runway at the airport.  What on earth were they doing landing during a typhoon?

Despite all the excitement we had in Hong Kong, back in GZ, it was merely wet.  No winds...to tidal worries...just a load of rain.  People back in GZ were wondering why we had to stay an extra night in HK...what was all the fuss? 

So, that is how it is in GZ during a typhoon.  Just far enough inland that the winds don't effect us as much...but we do get the rain.

Last week, typhoon Fengshen made landfall directly over Hong Kong, it pushed through Guangdong province towards GZ.  With a sudden gush of air, the rains started...and they came and came.  Of course, I am busy at work during all of this.  Rarely is there a warning that would send us home during a typhoon in GZ. 

My plans were to head north to a factory for some meetings.  I jumped in the car and we headed out...less than 5 minutes into the journey, the driver stops the car and checks the right front tire; it's going flat fast.  So, there I was...new, fancy phone in hand, in a repair shop in the middle of GZ having a flat repaired during a typhoon. 

'Li' Schwab Repair from GZ Expat on Vimeo.

These storms have a way of instilling memories upon you.

Epilogue:  What was merely a storm to us, was a devastating full force typhoon to the people of the Philippines and their loss was high.  A sad part of why the storm wasn't more potent to southern China is that it crossed the Philippines at its peak and lost considerable strength as it passed over the island nation. 

 

links for 2008-06-29

• Olympic host Beijing to introduce subway security checks: report - Yahoo! Singapore News
  "Passengers who reject security checks or insist on carrying dangerous articles will be banned entry or exit and even punished by law,"
  (tags: china olympics)
• Harrington and wife get adjusted to life in Atlanta
  He's the quarterback. She's the heart transplant coordinator.
  (tags: sports oregon football)
• The Feeling of Paying Cash for Your New Car: Priceless | Weird Asia News
  GZE2 - What it looks like to pay cash for a car in China...
  (tags: china cars)

Tepanyaki in GZ

Many of my colleagues ask me about Western restaurants in GZ...'what are your favorite?'  Well, in the grand scheme of things, there are only a handful of decent western style restaurants that Tai-Tai and I like going to.  With most restaurants in GZ, they are originally opened and operated by a partnership of Chinese and expat.  The expat puts forth the recipes, ideas and sweat into opening and building the business.  Eventually the local partner will see all the money flowing in from their venture and either buy or kick out the expat partner...resulting in a restaurant that looks western,  but serves chinese food.  The list of restaurants that have survived and thrived is very short...and we generally repeat visits to them.

If there is one 'foreign' food that GZ has an abundance of good restaurants, its Japanese food.  There are a selection of very good Japanese style restaurants that offer just about anything you can get in Japan...there are also a selection that are serving generally Chinese flavored Japanese food.  Fair enough...after all, there is nothing quite like American Chinese food!

Tai-Tai and I have found a spot that we like to go over and over again.  It is a chain, with 4 locations, but the one location we go to all the time is a familiar place.  The cooks, waitresses all know us.  We have our own bottle of sake on the wall!  And, we are always surrounded by loads of Japanese expats enjoying their meals as well. 

We will either sit at a table and have sukiyaki, noodles, or sushi on some days or nights.  But, if we want to have a nice long big meal, we'll sit at the grills and enjoy a big tepanyaki meal.  Sipping sake, a nice cold beer and course after course of perfectly cooked seafood and beef.

Shrimp Tepanyaki from GZ Expat on Vimeo.

links for 2008-06-28

• The Weekly Standard
  The US military in Iraq says a militant killed on Tuesday has been positively identified as the leader of al-Qaeda in the city of Mosul. It said the man - identified by a pseudonym, Abu Khalaf -- had co-ordinated and ordered many attacks.
  (tags: waronterror iraq)
• Pajamas Media » Obama’s Taxes: A $2 Trillion Trip Back to the 70s
  Obama would bring tax policy back to the 1970's... Despite being partially offset by Bush 41 and Bill Clintons rate hikes, the Reagan rate cuts and their remnants propelled the economy forward almost nonstop for nearly 18 years until the 2000 bubble burst
  (tags: politics taxes election)
• An unwelcome attendee at the Olympics: Algae - International Herald Tribune
  Blue-green algae blooms when nutrients, sometimes caused by excessive pollution, build up in water. (GZE2 - See photo...yikes!)
  (tags: olympics china)
• BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Tourism slow as Olympics approach
  Some visa applicants now have to provide hotel vouchers, onward or return tickets and an invitation letter before being allowed into the country.
  (tags: china olympics politics)

links for 2008-06-27

• FOXNews.com - North Korea to Hand Over Nuclear Declaration, China Says - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News
  Pyongyang "will submit its nuclear declaration to the chair of the six-party talks and the United States will implement its obligations to remove the designation of (North Korea) as a state sponsor of terrorism..."
  (tags: asia china korea waronterror)
• Asia Times Online :: South Asia news, business and economy from India and Pakistan
  On June 16, Chinese troops came more than a kilometer into Sikkim's northernmost point - a 2.1-km sliver of land called Finger Point. Only a month ago, Chinese soldiers had threatened to demolish stone structures in the area.
  (tags: china india politics)
• Catholics in China in 1981
  The faithful hold religious services clandestinely, often with look-outs posted outside to warn of intruders. "We attend Mass every Sunday we can, sometimes in people's homes, sometimes elsewhere."
  (tags: china history religion news)
• Dow Plunges 358 as Perfect Storm Slams Stocks - FOXBusiness.com
  (tags: economy business news)
• Supreme Court says Americans have right to guns
  The Constitution does not permit "the absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home,"
  (tags: news law politics)
• China rejects Olympic body's charge of politicizing Games - International Herald Tribune
  "The sky above Tibet will never change. The red five-star flag will always fly above this land," said Zhang, referring to the Chinese flag, adding, "We can definitely smash the separatist plot of the Dalai Lama clique completely."
  (tags: china olympics tibet)
• Michael J. Totten: How Kosovo Created its Own Liberal Islam
  (tags: blogs europe religion)

The Wall

Macau has all of the history of Portugal in its streets and buildings.  You could find this picture in either place...

Saving the Winterhawks

I was in Portland in October of last year and had a free evening.  So, I hopped on the Max and rode to Memorial Coliseum to catch a Winterhawk game.  I hadn't been to the arena in years (other games I had seen were at the Rose Garden), so it was cool to reminisce a bit about the old days of watching junior hockey. 

As I walked in, I picked up a program, stopped by the booster table to check it out, then over to the souvenir stand.  I ended up walking away with a sweater...I could never afford one when I was a kid.

Then we stepped into the arena...empty.  The Hawks struggled last year, but the place was so sparse with people, it was a bit sad.  We enjoyed the game...although it was obvious the team was young and inexperienced...the did win.  Which isn't saying much for the remainder of the season.

Then in the off season, there were rumblings about the ownership and a possible move to another city, or a purchase by another group.  It appears as though several Hawk alumni are stepping to the fore, to try and save the team.

“It’s gone from a model franchise to the joke of the Canadian Hockey League.”

(Brent) Peterson decided awhile back to make an effort to do something about it. While he’s not leaving the Predators – he has a two-year contract in his pocket – he’s put together a formidable team of investors seeking to buy the team from Jim Goldsmith, Jack Donovan and John Bryant.

The group includes former Winter Hawks Brenden Morrow, Marian Hossa, Ray Ferraro and Scott Nichol (to name a few), along with PGA golfer and former Portland resident Peter Jacobsen, a longtime friend of Peterson.

The more I read the articles about the demise of the team, the more it makes me sick to my stomach.  What was once the model team of the WHL, is now a laughingstock...in just a matter of a couple years.  Peterson, who coached the team to one of its Memorial Cup victories (with Morrow and Hossa in the lineup) has seen enough. 

I hope and pray they can get a hold of this team and help turn it around.  As I sat in that arena last October, I had that feeling of picking up season tickets again, when I move back.  Enjoying the games with my wife and son would be a great way to spend the cold, dark and rainy winters in Oregon...it would be even more fun if the money for those tickets were going to people that cared about the team and its terrific history.

 

Laksa

If you have never had this...you have no idea what you are missing.

A few years ago we tried this at the hotel in Langkawi we always stay at.  I was asking the guys at the pool bar why they didn't have it on the menu, and they said because most foreigners don't like it.  After chatting a while, one of the guys said he'd go into town and pick us up some at a local stall.  I was hooked.

Each year after, we would ask if they could hook us up with some...and they would.  But after that first year in which they bought some for us, from then on, they only made it for us at the hotel.  Mainly, in the hopes that there would be some leftovers, so they could enjoy.

Tai-Tai finally took a stab at concocting the spicy fish/shrimp soup and all the condiments.  She hit a home run...it was great.  She asked me if I thought it was good last night and, I couldn't say much through the burning lips...and the constant eating of it. 

Laksa is an aquired taste...but once you aquire it, look out.