Zai jian

I’ve been home for two and a half weeks now and I’ve got to say I’m really enjoying it. My last two weeks in Chongqing were a blur of parties, presents and packing. There seemed to be dinner, banquet, party, dinner etc etc etc every night for two whole weeks and it was almost a relief to leave just to end the vicious cycle!

Upon leaving Chongqing there were a few tears – especially saying goodbye to those whom I won’t easily be able to contact again. I made a few good friends who don’t speak English – it sounds strange but it is possible! – and I was very sad to leave them especially.

Before leaving China altogether I flew to Beijing for a couple of days where I had a debrief meeting scheduled and where I had also arranged to meet up with the Beijing-based AYADs. We had dessert at a restaurant in San Li Tun (the bar/expat district) and then drinks in an expat bar. I think I was suffering a bit of culture shock at the number of expats around, variety of cuisine available and most of all, the lack of Chinese people in the bar we visited. Not one. Seriously. It was nothing like Chongqing – and it made me appreciate the fact that I hadn’t been based in Beijing. While I sometimes bemoaned the fact that Chongqing is not a cosmopolitan city, I think my experience there has given me much more of an insight into China than living in Beijing would have.

Fortunately I had arranged to meet my friends on the night I arrived in Beijing. I say this because the following day I was struck down with ‘Beijing Belly’ and spent the remainder of my time in China in bed... that’s when I wasn’t chucking up my guts in the bathroom or the hotel lobby. I couldn’t attend my debrief meeting (and Sean was gonna give me a life on his motorbike too – doh!) but the meeting came to me in my hotel room (in pjs – tres chic).

Unfortunately the dodgy stomach upset my homecoming too. The day after my return I had organised a catch up with friends in my favourite beer garden. It was great to see so many of my friends in one place but I was devastated not to be able to have a parma, a pot and an ice cream on my way home. I did, however, get fireworks that evening which was an almost-worthy replacement.

So home it is. I am staying at my mum’s new house apartment silo and have been spending my time catching up with friends, family and doing the maintenance (doctor, physio, dentist etc). I’m loving the sunshine, clear skies and clean air – three things I particularly missed while in Chongqing. At the moment I’m a lady of leisure (ie. “between jobs”) and I have found this fact quite convenient when trying to fend of drunken suitors at the pub (happens often). If anyone hears of any work in Sydney feel free to let me know! Yes, that’s right Sydney! Next week I’m making the big move north which will be another new adventure. Maybe I’ll need to start a new blog... Sydney Daily?!

So that's all for now... Zai jian!

Last Day

I haven't written anything for the past few days as things have been pretty flat out. My mum arrived on Saturday night and today is my last day of work - to celebrate we've just had ice-creams, there's a cake this afternoon and dinner tonight at the Thai restaurant.

In the meantime here is a link to an article about Chongqing. It's quite a long article but gives a very good picture of Chongqing... aside from the accompanying image of construction workers which must have been photoshopped - I've never ever seen anyone here using so much safety gear.

ShamPOO

I have seen a lot of weird and wonderful things here in China.

This just about takes the cake...

International Women's Day

Yesterday I was invited to a concert to celebrate International Women’s Day. The performance was hosted by a local district education commission and performers included teachers and students from some of the schools.

The opening performance was a troupe of funky young teachers in midriff-baring outfits bouncing around to the strains of Ice Ice Baby. It made my day, it really did. As the English teacher who had been assigned to keep me company said “They are very attractive, I think. Very interesting!” Interesting indeed.

Following acts included a group of older teachers dressed in traditional Korean outfits (apparently) dancing what I think was an ode to motherhood, and a group of hospitality students who walked around in circles on stage before serving each other tea. My favourite performance by far was the group of young kids doing the cha-cha-cha to pumped up latin music. The boys were in skin tight lycra tops with harry-highpants whilst the girls were in fluro pink and orange outfits, shaking it like miniature Ricky Martins and Shakiras. It was all very Strictly Ballroom and so so cute.


The concert was held yesterday, the day before International Women’s Day, because today most Chinese women are given a half-day off work. I say ‘most’ because my office, managed by Australians, is one of the few exceptions. The Chinese female staff are really filthy about not getting their half-day and the box of Cadbury’s chocolates we each received from the Australian team did not seem to make up for it.

We also each received a gift from the Chinese team – a couple of grocery bags each filled with such delights as pump-packs of hand soap, toothpaste, washing detergent and other assorted cleaning products. I just about fell over laughing when I heard about this. One of my Chinese colleagues saw the gifts before they were distributed and told the Chinese management that it was a ridiculous gift for me, given my imminent departure. Apparently my gift was promptly returned to the supermarket and exchanged for another box of chocolates ("Belgian, not made in China”).

I have also received a single red rose (from one of the ladies in the office), a pink flower picked especially for me by the young driver, Xiao Luo (right from the flower bed outside the door to the office), and an arrangement of flowers from my Australian boss. These are lovely gestures however none of them quite beat what is on offer in Kunming, as described by one of my Aussie mates living there.

Apparently one of the local department stores in downtown Kunming has a special offer to women customers on this special day… spend 500 rmb in their store and receive “one handsome boy for three hours”. Ostensibly to help with cooking, cleaning and other assorted chores as required. The girls in my office are planning to move to Kunming. Pronto.

Androgenous is the New Black

In August last year China voted. The country chose Li Yu Chun as its first ‘Supergirl’.

Supergirl was a tv show much like the Idol franchise elsewhere – a group of pop-ettes (girls only) performed on live tv and viewers each week voted via sms for their favourite. Each week one performer was eliminated until only one was left... Supergirl.

The show was a phenomenon in China. One of my Chinese friends told me that the Chinese people liked it so much because it was the first time they’d been allowed to vote for something. He had a cheeky look in his eye as he told me this and he was only half joking.

The winner – Supergirl – became a household name. Her image is everywhere, on the cover of magazines (including Time), on billboards, and on the walls of teenagers across the country. She endorses products including ice-creams, softdrinks, mobile phones and computers. China Post has immortalised her face on a stamp – the first Chinese pop star to receive this honour.

Supergirl herself is a diminutive 21 year old with wispy spiked hair and an androgenous appearance. She dresses like a tomboy and her walk has a swagger to it. One Chinese friend told me she “looks like a boy” and another more worldly friend told me “people think she’s a lesbian”. Ooo-errrr.

What I’ve found most interesting is that Supergirl has spawned an army of look-alikes amongst teenage girls. This isn’t unusual in itself as it happens throughout the world. In Western countries, however, the kids seem to do glam-slutty-pop aka. Britney et al with bare midriffs, glitter and sparkly makeup. Here in China it’s more Collingwood Chic. Walking down the street you can’t help but notice groups of 14 and 15 year old girls wearing baggy jeans, shirts and vests. They have their hair spiked up just like Supergirl and like their idol they shun makeup. They swagger when they walk and have the attitude down pat.

I was out at a club the other night and was witness to a group of about ten baby-faced scenesters* at a nearby table. I honestly had difficulty distinguishing the gender of half the group as they were all dressed in Supergirl fashion and had a bit of the swagger about them. I was fascinated by their group dynamics and couldn’t help but stare at them. I didn’t feel bad about this, as I figure I’ve paid my stare-dues over the past five months.

I’m not sure whether dressing like Supergirl for these girls is a means of expressing their sexuality in a country where anything outside the mainstream is taboo. If so, good for them. On the other hand it may just be a salute to their pop hero, a passing fad. Either way, I’ve been wondering... do you think I’d look good with a wispy spike?





* Especially for Bec

I (don't) feel like Chicken Tonight

Yesterday as I walked to work I passed by a pile of chooks dumped out the front of a restaurant.

They were all alive though all but one seemed to have lost the will to live. I'm fairly certain they knew what lay ahead for them and were resigned to their fate.

Later that morning one of the top Chinese knobs invited me to go out for lunch with him. I had been avoiding it but given my imminent departure I couldn't put it off any longer. Guess which restaurant we ended up at?!

And no, I didn't have chicken (I also managed to avoid the goose feet).

A cursory look

The advertising posters in the elevators in my apartment building were changed earlier this week. The posters display advertising, safety notices, and recently Happy New Year wishes.

The new posters are bright pink with lots of flowers and pictures of what look like pop stars. Under the main Chinese heading is a single line of English...

The Chinese Chongqing eighth session gives a cursory look and gains shallow understanding the cultural traveling festival.

I have absolutely no idea what it's an ad for.

An interesting observation

I have just been told that I am much taller now than when I arrived in Chongqing five months ago.

This is by the same person who told me a while back that I look like Harry Potter.