Adventures in Acting

One of my mentors was recently retiring. As I went thru my photos selecting some for her retirement albulm, I found photos from my adventures in acting.

Being in the first play was both frightening and exciting. It was one of those things I had always wanted to try but in high school had worried too much about what others would think.

I met some very interesting people that I hope I will always be friends with during my acting adventures! And I did learn that a musical star I would never be ... but comedy ah...

First time in Shanghai

What to do in Shanghai in early March? Of course you must go to the Bund. A little advice -- Do not spend the money on the "Bund Sightseeing Tunnel", unless you are walking and do not want to take the subway across the river or pay a taxi. What a waste! The Oriental Pearl Tower was well worth the cost. Fantastic view even on a cloudy day. Of course there are some traditional shrines; Longhua Temple was an adventure to find and nice to see. My favourite was wandering around and enjoying the combination of old and new -- the old apartment buildings with the high rise buildings in the background -- the power lines forming umbrellas over the intersections.



For my friend that is interested in teapots, please visit Wu Shibao Teapot Museum, open in the afternoons at 88 Damuqiao Road near Zhaojiabang Road. The Shanghai International Tea Cultural Festival is the last 10 days of April each year; www.tea.shzb.gov.cn

Translation Humor - Clothing

Sayings on clothes are often mis-translated in any country. I remember when I was young getting a shirt that had Asian characters all over it. One day someone in my class actually translated it -- quite embarassing for a 12-year girl to be walking around in a shirt that said "I am blooming".
In China we have been seeing some clothing with very amusing saying that could give more than one meaning. Since I love chocolate, I enjoyed the one I saw yesterday - I think it was meant to be "Hershey's". Had to buy the T-shirt even though I will NEVER wear it out of my apartment. Thought others may find it amusing as well ....

Traveling in China via Taxi Hawker

After being in China for a few weeks, I have been feeling stressed from too much structure -- not in my work but in the transportation/ability to move without a schedule! So on my recent return from a business trip to Taiwan, I did not request a scheduled airport pickup! Decided to just get a taxi on my own!!

Similar to Korea, there were "taxi hawkers" at the exit from the arrival hall. Rather than waiting in line (okay pushing in line), I took one of the offers from the hawker. The taxi that was offered was a legitimate taxi/green etc. And on the way we started for the one hour trip to Fuzhou city.

Approximately 10 minutes or so into the trip, the taxi pulls to the side of the road where the migrant workers were waiting for work. After a few minutes discussion, the driver asks me to move to the front and the three additional passengers put their luggage and food in the trunk before they pile into the backseat. At this point, I decided that just in case something happened along the way, I should at least send myself a text message with the guy's license plate. If I was missing maybe someone would think to search phone records??!!

The trip was actually uneventful: The three extras were polite and agreable not to smoke, the taxi driver made alot more money, I actually contributed to being "green", and I can now say that I have at least experienced a typical long-distance taxi ride in China.

Fujian Museum, Fuzhou China

One afternoon this weekend, C.W. and I visited the Fujian Museum located on the lake in front of the Lakeside Hotel. You can take a walkway bridge to the area or walk around the lake, sorry no lake name is mentioned in English, to access the museum area. The first building we enter was the National History Museum; dinosaurs and such. The second building was the true Fujian Museum. The museum documents the history of the Fujian Province and the large overviews are in English as well as Chinese. There were some very interesting exhibits; clay soldiers, funeral canoe, headstones of a man and his wife (in Arabic as well as Chinese - from hundreds of years ago), etc. We attracted alot of attention from the students that were going thru the museum. One group of girls even translated enough of the headstone for us to understand that hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago, people from Arabic speaking countries were part of the Chinese society.

In the area around the museums, there were petrified tree trunks placed in a garden and some statues which I could not tell if they were old or recreations.

It was a place that I will go back to if given the chance and after I see a few more things in Fuzhou. Couple of notes if you decide to go: Bring your passport if you do not have a Chinese ID card and even though it says no photos, everyone was taking pictures except of the textiles.

Official Lantern Festival Night

The official lantern festival night was Monday February 9th. Fireworks were everywhere. Sometimes firecrackers would pop right at your feet. Luckily no known injuries in our group. The fireworks did burn down one of the new hotels in Beijing; used for the Olympics but no "grand opening" yet. The photos do not do justice to the fantastic and continuous (at least 4 hours) show.

Reality of Economic Downturn

Like many companies in in the current year, my company has been letting people go - either thru early retirement or severance. Sometimes you are let go due to "wrong place wrong time". You may remain for just the same reason; "right place right time". For those in each "place", best of luck. Remember that friendship will remain; that work was just the conduit to the introduction!