Storm's A-Comin'

Thought you might like to see what weather is like on this side of the world. (Click the map to enlarge.) There are two major storms hitting Asia right now. In the Pacific, these storms are called typhoons, in the Atlantic, hurricanes. We've had a couple hit the mainland already, and one of them did a lot of damage. Now we've got two going at the same time; Bopha (the bottom one) and Saomai (the one farther north).

They're both in the south of here, so things are pretty calm up in my neck of the woods. If you look at the 30th parallel and follow along to the coast, I'm located at the bottom of the notch. It's been helpful to clear the air and the high humidity out--today is a very nice day indeed.

Here's a link to a pretty cool website that tracks these storms all over the world. So the next time one approaches North America, maybe you can e-mail the appropriate authorities and give them a heads-up. Based on recent history, looks like they could use the help.

Speaking of which, after what happened Tuesday night, it looks like there's a storm brewing all over the land back there. Don't forget to go to Lew Katz' website and help intensify the winds of change.

Clear to Partly Thunderstorms

We were putting some wash out on the line today when the skies suddently opened up and we got us a nice gulley-washer of a storm. When it rains hard here like that, it rains hard, and I ran to get my camera. Although I missed the strongest part of the storm, you can still get a feel for it in this video.

You'll notice that part way through the video I pan to the sky. Why? Well, the part of the sky I was trying to shoot was nice and blue, even though it looks washed out and white in the video. Just another example of "China, Land of Contrasts".

Try this link if the vid doesn't load on this page.

Hope you've had a chance to check out my friend, mentor, and Congressional candidate Lew Katz' website. I am super-excited by this, and wish I could be back there to help him get elected. So, take my place and do what you can: vote, volunteer, contribute, spread the word. Every bit helps, every vote counts. Thanks.

Katz! for Congress

I usually don't touch on too many "serious" issues in my little vanity blog here, especially politics and especially domestic U.S. politics, but today I will make a very important exception. Today I am pleased and honored to introduce my readers to a man I respect and admire, Lewis R. Katz:

Lew is running for The United States House of Representatives for Ohio's 14th Congressional District.

Lew is John C. Hutchins Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. It was there that I met him and had the incredibly rewarding experience of being his research assistant for two years. Being a research assistant for a professor holding an endowed chair in a major law school by itself would be rewarding, but working so closely with this man for that period of time magnified the opportunity tenfold. I probably learned more in our conversations in his office (and his class) than in all my other law school classes combined. Lew helped train me, not just in law, but in my approach to thinking through and analyzing a problem and in looking deeper into the underlying rationales for the way things are.

I can think of no better man to sit in Congress in these perilous times.

You may wonder why a man of his stature would undertake a political career at this stage of his life. I was reading his website and he says it much better than I ever could:

"Running for Congress is not about quitting my job and looking for a new and long career. Rather, running for Congress is a choice made because I think our country and Northeast Ohio need new leadership if we are to see a healthy America for our children.

My wife Jan and I have three terrific adult children and three grandchildren. Our son and two daughters have always worked hard at their endeavors and been a source of pride. And, yes, at family dinners, they are opinionated and well-informed about the world around them.

It is mainly because of them and our grandchildren that I am seeking office. My family and yours deserve a Congress that will take a stand against policies and programs eroding our best interests. Here in Northeast Ohio, far too many jobs leave the region, taking with them our young people who seek jobs elsewhere and leaving behind chaos in the lives of the unemployed.

Our government has sent troops unsupported to a war claiming young American lives daily. We have fouled our environment, and despaired over the plight of our schools. We watch as the elderly cross our border into Canada to buy prescription drugs which they can’t afford here. We listen in disbelief as the Administration insists on giving the security of our ports to a foreign country. And we know America can do better.

And we hear again and again of corruption and greed on the part of our Congressmen who have sold out to lobbyists and special interest groups.

What can one man do to help solve these problems? With your help I can make a difference."

Here is a map of the 14th District:

Ohio's 14th Congressional District is made up of all of Ashtabula County, Lake County and Geauga County. It also includes portions of Cuyahoga County, Portage County, Summit County and Trumbull County. (Click here to find the specific communities in those counties). It is currently being represented by Stephen LaTourette.

As a friend, please do me the favor of supporting Lew:

--If you live in the 14th Congressional District, please give him your vote.

--If you live near the 14th District, please volunteer for him.

--If you know someone who lives in the 14th District, please urge them to visit his website, learn more about him and his positions, and vote for him.

--If you can, please contribute to his campaign directly, or through ACT BLUE.

Thank you very much.

Curtis

Biting China: DH in PRC '06 (Part II)

When we last left our hero, he had just gotten off the fast plane to China, looked around and said to himself, "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." Or something like that. Anyway, here's Part II, with a few more pics to spice it up. (Click to enlarge). Let's see how he does. . .

From Shanghai we took "soft seat" class on the train to Hangzhou. During the 100 mile trip I got to see farms and small factory towns. When we passed peasants ankle deep in rice paddies, wearing broad brimmed hats, bending over (to pull weeds I presume), I turned to Curtis and said, "Now I feel like I'm really in China."

I met Curtis's friend Chuck in Hangzhou. We figured out that when Chuck lived in University Heights and Kathy and I did, also, we lived so close to each other that our backyards probably touched. It's an irony of suburban living that we never met until now, in Hangzhou, China.

Over beers that night Curtis and Chuck complained at length about Chinese people, which begged the question of why they stayed in China. Chuck said that there are plenty of good things about China, but they just need to blow off steam when they have the chance to talk with other expatriates. Among the expats that I met I found this love-hate relationship with their new chosen home to be very common.

The next day we took the train another 100 miles from Hangzhou to Curtis's hometown, Ningbo, where I would spend the majority of my time in China. Ningbo is about the same population as Columbus, Ohio. There were a lot of people, but it was not as crowded as I thought it would be. Ningbo is a modern, quite livable city. The bus system is excellent and if you're impatient for a bus you can get across town in a taxi for about a dollar.

The most satisfying part of my vacation was just learning to get around the city on my own. The language defies our automatic expectation of Latin roots and spellings. Once I began to think of it like a word game or puzzle it was fun. "Let's see, this symbol means this, and if I make this sound the taxi will drive where I want it to go" -- that sort of thing. The funnest word to say was Cuibai Lu, the street close to Curtis's apartment. When said aloud it combines the musical quality of a frontier folk song with the articulation of Tweety Bird.

The other fun thing was meeting Curtis's friends -- a pleasant mixture of expats and their Chinese mates. We enjoyed eating, drinking, watching World Cup games, and playing poker together. Mark and Lilly's LBB bar is home away from home for foreigners in Ningbo.

An issue that you have to find a way to deal with is being stared at. I mean Chinese people will just unabashedly stare at a Caucasian like he just landed from outer space.

A favorite children's game is "see if you can get the white guy to say hello". A child will run up to you and say, "Hello!" Then if you reply, "hello", they squeal, run around, point, and come back and try it again. Now I know how Slider feels at an Indians game.

I found the staring to be a harmless lesson in being a minority. If it was bothering me I found that staring back usually terminated the process.



Old people exercise in the morning. They walk backwards, slap themselves, do tai chi, or line dance. They also use machines in parks. Chinese people believe in the health benefits of hitting themselves.

Several people recommended that I go to The Purple Orchid for a foot massage. I made my way across Ningbo and found the place. I communicated what part of my body I wanted massaged by pointing to my feet. A young man took me to a room and handed me a menu. Since it was all in Chinese characters, I just pointed to something in the middle of the page. He gave me the "that?" look, and I nodded. He then proceeded to beat the crap out of my legs and feet. I scrambled for my Chinese phrase book to look up the word for "pain!" In the end I was able to endure.

The pedicure was the best ever, but I could have gone without the beating.

One day Curtis and I escaped from the city and took a bus ride to TianTong Temple, an active Buddhist monastery in the hills south of Ningbo. Rows of tea grew on the mountainsides. On the way I told Curtis about the book I read about the Japanese Zen Master Keido Fukushima and some of his sayings, like "Hey! Throw it away" and "Watch, touch, and bite".

The temples and Buddhas were awesome. We enjoyed touring the grounds and hanging with the monks.

Saturday it was so hot that Cathy Yao and I spent the afternoon in the Ningbo public library, just to be in cool place. It was a good choice. Libraries provide wonderful respites the world over. Instead of governments expending effort on silly laws against desecrating flags, they should pass laws against desecrating libraries.

On Sunday we took the soft-seat train back to Shanghai. This time I saw the big city in all its lit-up glory. Monday I enjoyed the Shanghai Museum. We ended as we had begun, having a couple beers on the balcony of Captain’s overlooking the Whangpoo River and the Pudong district. Kites flickered in the city lights. It was beautiful!
. . .
There is a sense of irony when the Chinese talk about their culture being so old, written history going back four or five thousand years. The irony is that in many ways they are the youngest culture on earth. This experiment with the free market is less than thirty years old after nearly a century of communism and millennia of kingdoms. And they don't have the free market thing quite right, yet.
. . .
One final thought about traveling to the other side of the world and back. When people talk about what's best for Americans, God bless America, and all that stuff, it rings even more hollow to me now. What, do they think we're the only people on earth? Everyone wants to be happy and every society is trying to figure it out. Perhaps if we'd work together instead of bombing each other it would help.

Okay, now everybody form a circle and hold hands.

Denny

Biting China: DH in PRC '06 (Part I)

I am pleased and honored to have a guest blogger for the next couple of entries: Denny. As many of you know, he made the great leap forward to come visit me and check out the joint. He wrote down his impressions and was kind enough to let me reprint them on my little blog. So, without any further ado, but with a few pictures to show (click to enlarge), I give you the first installment of:

Biting China: DH in PRC '06

I spent nine days visiting Curtis in Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Ningbo, China this summer. Curtis lives in Ningbo which is about the same latitude and proximity to the ocean as Houston, Texas. Think hot (95 - 97F) and humid. Here are some of my observations before I forget them.

On the way to China my flight from Akron-Canton Airport passed right over Orrville and Wooster, which gave me a bit of homesickness as I headed for the other side of the world. You then fly over northern Canada and Alaska to get to China.

As a child I thought of China as the place that you get to if you dig deep enough. I was surprised to find that a Chinese friend, Shane, used to dig in his back yard to get to America!

Although the flight to China is long, my impression is how small the world is. And although you can not find a culture and history much different from our own than China's, I found more similarities than differences. People are people and cities are cities. Just substitute Chinese people and Chinese writing.

China is more developed than Cuba and Jamaica.

Curtis was waiting for me at Shanghai Airport. "Helmuth!", he called. "Curtis!", I called back. Curtis was a huge help getting acclimated to this new country. My first surprise was when Curtis was text-messaged by someone he called his "roommate", which turned out to be his girlfriend, Cathy. Cathy is Chinese, Chinese name Yao Hai Ya. She jokes that she is a cousin of Yao Ming. Cathy is sweet, expressive, genuine, and a good cook. She speaks some English and Curtis speaks some Chinese, so somehow they communicate effectively.

We spent the first night in Shanghai, China’s largest city. It was dark except for street lights. They turn off advertising lights at about 10pm to save energy. When we returned the following weekend I saw Shanghai lit up in all its splendor. We had our first drinks at Captain’s, an outdoor bar overlooking the Whangpoo River.

The first day in Shanghai we had Western style food for breakfast and lunch, but that would be my last Western food for the trip. If you wanted to, and you could afford it, you could eat at McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Hagen-Das, Starbucks, or Pizza Hut, but why travel 7400 miles to do that?

Chinese restaurants are not like American Chinese restaurants. The dining process is as different as the food.

First of all, because there are so many young women looking for work in the cities, the service is lavish in every restaurant, from the hostess who opens the door for you to the waitress who doesn’t leave your table until she receives your instruction. Often there was just one menu, which was fine because there was often just one person at the table who could understand it. That person picked out about seven dishes. Before long waitresses were delivering drinks and setting dishes of food in the middle of the table.

People eat by grabbing bites from the middle of the table with chopsticks. It's fun sharing food in this manner, although germ-phobic Americans might find it a bit disconcerting. Second-hand smoke phobic Americans might also object to the Chinese custom of pausing in the middle of dinner for a smoke break, right at the table. No ashtrays? No problem. The floor or a little food saucer works as well.

Many of our manners are optional in China. To eat you just put a bite of whatever in your mouth. You work it around in there and if there are bones or hulls that you don't want you spit them on the table. Then you stick the next bite in your mouth and repeat.

Typical dishes are shrimp (shells on), seaweed, tofu, pork, stringy mushrooms, peanuts, green soybeans (hulls on), eel, fish, and sea cucumbers. Items are marinated in some kind of soy sauce. Much like the US, southern styles are spicier. The best part is the bill. Four people can eat and drink like royalty for about $18 -- and there is no tipping in China.

Taking one bite at a time from the center of the table with chopsticks leads to less caloric intake and is equally satiating compared to our method of dining, which is basically to put large mounds of food on a large plate in front of you and shovel it in. I usually gain weight on vacations, but this time I lost a pound and never was hungry. Of course, walking a lot in 96 deg heat may have had something to do with that, as well.

There is a lot more I could say about dining, from charcoal grilling in the middle of the table to live shrimp flipping on the dishes, but I'll leave some things for you to discover when you go to China.

(To be continued. . . )

Le Be Ron tai hao le!

James agrees to three-year extension with Cavaliers

July 12, 2006

Yeah, yeah, I know, it happened a few days ago, but good news travels slow, I guess. Or at least I'm slow to acknowledge it here.

Just thought you should know, the Cavs fans here in Ningbo are psyched about Le Be Ron, too. Check it out: (Click to see larger image)

Of the three major American sports, NBA basketball is far and away the most recognized and popular one here. Of course, Yao Ming is known by everyone and is nothing short of a god. When I'm doing my little intro to a new class and talk about where I am from, a few of the students will know who LeBron is, but not all. They are absolutely floored when they find out how young he is, though. The comments "So strong!" and "So rich!" in light of his age start and end their evaluation of him.

So anyway, any predictions on how Cleveland sports fans' hearts will be broken before LeBron finishes his contract and moves on to L.A.?

You You Tube? I You Tube too!

Just messing around here. Just want to see if this video will play from this site or not.

Woohoo! It does! Hope it saves you a click or two.

Fresh Links

Links, links, we got your links here.

Sorry Scotsmen or sausage fans, we're talking Internets links. Three new ones for your clicking and viewing pleasure. Our first newbie, Ningbo Guide.com, is the baby of my bud Craig from Texas. But he seems to have overcome that handicap, unlike some of its more famous ex-residents. It's a pretty cool site, and should give you a good feel of what it's like here and some of the personalities who inhabit Ningbo. Oh yeah, give him some love and click an ad or two while you're visiting his website.

Next up, LBB Pub, or "the bar" as its denizens call it, (ie., "Are you going to the bar tonight?") is less than a bar and much more than a mere bar at the same time. One of the great parts about travelling outside of the homeland, any homeland, and coming to a dynamic place like China, is the wide variety of people you meet from, literally, all over the world. For me, that experience has taught me as much as just living in a foreign land. Suffice to say, the people I've met at LBB have changed me and I am proud to say they are my friends.

Finally, Ningbo City Page, is the official website for our little town. Despite that, it's not bad. The page will open and you can click the "English" icon. A good site for viewing some of the tourist attractions in the area. Also, if you're thinking of doing business here, it's not a bad place to start.

Hope you have fun toodling around these various sites.

What the hell is that?

You know the expression "Once in a blue moon," right? Here we change it to "Once in a blue sky." I was sitting at the puter in my apartment when the pigeons from the coop next door caught my eye. (They don't fly too often.) Anyway, I noticed something very different about my usual view from this window. "What could that be?" I wondered. Oh my goodness, that blue stuff up above, why it's, it's, the SKY! So, to all my friends and readers, especially those here in the Middle Kingdom, blue skies, nothing but blue skies.

Video Check

I took some videos during Denny's trip and tried to post them at the site where we've deposited our still pictures. Unfortunately, every time I try to view them, my browser crashes, so to prevent that happening to you, I've put the videos on another site. (Click the highlighted word and a new window should open).

The first is a few minutes taken on Denny's last night in Shanghai. We were sitting on the roof of the Captain's Hostel next to the HuangPu River facing east toward the Pudong area. You have to look closely, but in the black part of the sky at the beginning is a string of gold metallic kites flying over the river. They're a bit hard to see, but toward the end of the clip, they show up more clearly.

The second is a video of my trip to the Shanghai Airport on the Magnetic Levitation Train. Just like the name implies, it rides on magnets. It's super-fast and goes up to over 400km/hr. We only went up to 301, but according to my calculations in converting to miles and such, that's still over twice the speed of sound. It was a smooth ride and I didn't even notice the extreme gravitational forces produced by travelling at that speed. If you look at the end of the vid, you may see a recently arrived, dazed and confused American wondering what the hell is going on.

If you click here, you can see a video made by Jim, an ex-pat from Washington D.C. What's cool about him, among other things, is that he graduated from Case Western Reserve University. Denny and I ran into him one night, so at that point in the time-space continuum, there were three graduates of CWRU standing together in Ningbo, China. Small world and so on. . . . Anyway, it's a video of some of the people he's met here in our little burg, and if you look closely around the 1:10 mark, you may see the smiling face of one of your favorite bloggers. I'm happy to say that I know most of the people in the video and am further happy to say that they are an interesting and cool group. Plus the music is pretty neat, too.

I've also placed some links to these vids in the Links section over on the right for future use and to save you from having to find this entry if you'd like to see them again.

Enjoy!

Old dog? New tricks? Me?

The learning curve is proceeding apace.

Just to update you on the progress of the blog--I have added some links on the right-hand side of this page. The first two, Folk Alley and WKSU, are what I find myself listening to on the Internets most of the time. The third, Chuck@China, is my friend Chuck's website. He's been here much longer than I have, writes better than I do, and has a cooler page. The last, DH in PRC '06, will lead you to a website where Denny and I have downloaded all the pictures we took during his visit here last week.

And just to prove that he was really in China, here's a shot of him in front of the Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai. (Click to enlarge.) True, it's the classic tourist-in-China shot, but let me tell you, he was far from the classic tourist here. Leastways not the typical tourist, of which I am very proud of him. Will compose the reasons why and post them soon.

Don't know how many people have gotten notification of this new blog, but if you're here and if you're reading this, feel free to leave a comment or three.

Hope you enjoy this. Let me know what interests you and I'll try to make it more reader-friendly.

It only looks like wasted space.

Hello again, it's been a while and I apologize for that. Here's a photo for you as penance. Yep, that's moi, standing at the west end of the world-famous Nanjing Lu in Shanghai, China. (Click to englarge.) The pic was taken by my friend Denny who was here visiting recently. (To be honest, all of this is just me trying to get the hang of this new bloggie thingie. More to follow.)

I'm Baaaack!

It's hard to believe that I've been here since February, 2004, over 27 months. Since then, I've gone through four blogs and three cell phones. At least the blogs aren't costing me any yuan.

Let's see if we can give this another try. As always, your comments are welcomed, encouraged, and desperately longed for.