Homecoming

Topic of the day: Flashback home

 

These past few weeks, I've been so busy with work and other events that I hardly had time to sit back and think. Now, on the eve of my return to States, after almost a year and a half of departure, I finally found a few minutes for reflection. This is what I feel:

 

-          It feels so weird that in less than 24 hours, I will be thrusted back into what I used to feel so "familiar" with. The more I think about it, the stranger everything seems – everything starting from the people, to the food, to the language. I'm used to the feeling of being an "outsider" to a culture and a society that's suppose to be mine, but in a few hours – a flight away – I'll be back in the same predicament – I'll be in a place that's suppose to be familiar, to where I'm suppose to fit in, but I don't think I'll feel comfortable. "Home" will again feel like somewhere that I don't wholly belong in.

 

-          Actually, the more I think about it, the more it makes me wonder whether or not I will actually ever permanently return to the US. Until now, I always figured that at some point of my life, I will be back. But the longer I stay in China (and really, in Asia), I realize that the harder it is for one to readjust back to their home country. Even though I've only lived in Beijing for (almost) a year and a half, I already think that it will be hard for me to let go of all that I've become accustomed to. This leads me to think that maybe, I really don't want to move back to the States in the future. After all, the world is so large that I'd love to experience everything while I can – live in a number of different places for a while. See what there is to see. Experience what's there to experience.

 

-          Even though I'm leaving for just a short period, as I was taking a cab ride home tonight, I had a strange feeling of melancholy. I felt like I will miss a lot about China – everything from its cabs, to its street side chua'r stands. I don't know why I'm suddenly filled with these thoughts – it's never really hit me during my other travels this past year and a half – until now. Maybe it's a sign?

 

-          At the same time, I cannot wait for the gastronomic feast that awaits me – everything from Greek food to NY style pizza to Burger King – yum!!! And of course, not knowing when I will return to the States next, this will be my opportunity to say a proper good-bye (and catch up) to some of those that I care about – something that I should have done, but never had the opportunity to, last year.

 

I guess in the end, I think that simply put, I've just changed a lot from the last time that I've been home (more than 2 years since I've been in NJ!). But, despite all these conflicting feelings, I'm excited to go back home. I'm looking forward to the vacation (finally!) and to seeing all the old faces which I have missed out on for so long. What awaits me awaits me – I'm looking forward to it all, even if it means a 16 hour flight home!!! J

Panda vs. man

Topic of the day: Another day in China...

 

Just saw this article on Yahoo News. Lesson here: they might look cute and fuzzy, but don't mess with the panda's!!!

 

Panda bites man, man bites him back

 

BEIJING - A drunken Chinese migrant worker jumped into a panda enclosure at the Beijing Zoo, was bitten by the bear and retaliated by chomping down on the animal's back, state media said Wednesday.

 

Zhang Xinyan, from the central province of Henan, drank four jugs of beer at a restaurant near the zoo before visiting Gu Gu the panda on Tuesday, the Beijing Morning Post said.

"He felt a sudden urge to touch the panda with his hand," and jumped into the enclosure, the newspaper said.

The panda, who was asleep, was startled and bit Zhang, 35, on the right leg, it said. Zhang got angry and kicked the panda, who then bit his other leg. A tussle ensued, the paper said.

"I bit the fellow in the back," Zhang was quoted as saying in the newspaper. "Its skin was quite thick."

Other tourists yelled for a zookeeper, who got the panda under control by spraying it with water, reports said. Zhang was hospitalized.

Newspaper photographs showed Zhang lying on a hospital bed with blood-soaked bandages and a seam of stitches running down his leg.

The Beijing Youth Daily quoted Zhang as saying that he had seen pandas on television and "they seemed to get along well with people."

"No one ever said they would bite people," Zhang said. "I just wanted to touch it. I was so dizzy from the beer. I don't remember much."

Ye Mingxia, a spokeswoman for the Beijing Zoo, confirmed the incident happened but would not give any details. She said Gu Gu was "healthy."

"We're not considering punishing him now," Ye said in a telephone interview. "He's suffered quite a bit of shock."

Videoblogged!

Topic of the day: I've been videoblogged!

Yesterday, I took a jaunt with a few fellow Flickrites at the Temple of Heaven park. It was a small group of us, and all of us foreigners! One of the foreign devils (as they are lovingly known), was KK, an American living in Vancouver, who does IT during the day and is a great photographer at night.

Long story short, most of us Flickrites tagged along with Kris later to go to a welcome reception of a conference he was participating in. During the reception, Kris videotapped a segment of all of us Flickrites for his videoblog. It's kind of cool, so hope you check it out!

http://www.kriskrug.com/?p=1006#comments

Featured in the videoblog was also my little German friend, Nina - hot German model posing as an IT nerd! :)

Kris also reminded me a lot of Devrim...is it just me??

Embrace life day

Topic of the day: Preventing suicide in Nanjing - a national example

September 10th was global "Embrace Life Day", previously known as anti-suicide day. While taking the cab home a few days later, I was listening to the radio when this story came up and perked my interest. It goes something like this:

In Nanjing, China (a few hours away from Shanghai), plans are in the works to put up a net under the Nanjing Bridge, which is thought to help prevent suicidal individuals from jumping to their death, into the mighty Yangtze River. Ever since the bridge was opened in 1968, over 2,000 people have already taken their lives by jumping from the Nanjing Bridge. This year alone, over 80 took the plunge. The situation has gotten so out of hand that the Nanjing Bridge has become the nation's unofficial symbol for those wanting to commit suicide.

It is because of this dilemma that Nanjing's officials have decided to erect the net, which should prevent any successful jump attempts in the future. However, when the reporters went out on the street and asked locals their opinion, most said that the net does not resolve the problem of people wanting to commit suicide. Laying out a net does not addres why people want to take their own lives and how they can receive help - and of course, if they won't be able to kill themselves by jumping off a bridge, future suicidal individuals will just find another method that will do the deed.

Officials seem to be aware of these criticisms - currently, plans are in the works to create a suicidal hotline (because something like 95% of those contemplating suicide will change their mind after just talking to someone). In the mean time, the net will be erected and if nothing else, will help the Nanjing Bridge with a little image lift!

Exhibited!

Reading
Originally uploaded by sheilaz413.

Topic of the day: My first exhibition!

To all those that will be around Beijing from today (September 2 until September 10):

The organization, Hutongs to Highrises, will be having a photo exhibition of current hutong life, running at the Amelie Gallery in China Central Place. I have a few pictures that will also be displayed in the exhibition, so if you have time, go check it out!

The details:

Amelie Gallery, 505, No. 5 Building
China Central Place, No. 89, Jiang Guo Rd.
Gallery number: 65307048

So I can finally say now that I've been published! Woo-hoo! :)