China Update - More

Well it has been a fascinating few days.

 

I learnt to play Ba Shi Fen (80 points). This is, I am told, China's national card game. It is played in pairs, like bridge, but can take a long, long time to play. I have now had three games. The experienced players remember all the cards that have come out and the future possible combinations. I don't.

 

As mentioned previously I have been trying to do more Chinese writing practice, but the weekend didn't really present much time. The exchange student group that I spent a few days with flew out on Saturday. So on Friday night the Chinese students arranged a night out to KTV (a type of karaoke, which is extremely popular here) and a banquet (yes, more food!).

 

On Saturday morning we bade farewell to the exchange student group, then had a china in the world tutorial, which I left early to go for a chinese language tutorial. I am keen to get up to the level of a 3rd grader, so I took along a Mickey Mouse comic. We got as far as the cover and the first bit of the contents, so the 3rd graders aren't in any danger yet.

 

I then headed out to St Peters again for music practice and Mass. My 10 Kuai ($2) capo lasted about three songs! Perhaps I will need to buy the 40 kuai one. The practice was fun. I am learning a lot of new songs.

 

Then it was back to the hotel because the lady who runs the shop had invited a few of us for dinner. Their unit is just across the road, and while it is only small we managed to squeeze in. Men seem to do a lot of the cooking here in Shanghai. Living in the unit are the husband and wife, his sister, and two boys (one for each lady, I think). So it must be a happy family! We had a great time, played some songs on the guitar, played ba shi fen, and chatted - fortunately the others spoke Chinese well. I put in a few phrases here and there. Probably things like "How are you? My cat is ill.". They think I am a funny guy :-)

 

On Sunday we had an organised day with the Fudan students to go to their homes. As it turned out, there were four of them, three girls and one boy. One of the girls took two of our people while the rest of us headed to Nan Jing Road to look at the shops. It appears we were being tailed by some wierd guy who got on the bus with us, got off the bus with us, followed us, stopped when we stopped, went forward, backward and sideways with us. The Chinese students asked him to go away but he just ignored them. Richard even took a few photo's of him. Eventually a couple of police came along so the Chinese students told them about this guy. We then had the comical procession of us, followed by the mystery man, followed by the police. Eventually, when the police were satisfied that he was, indeed, tailing us, they spoke with him and then all walked away somewhere else.

 

We continued with our shopping and lunch, and then split into two groups to go to the girls homes. The unit was very nice with very modern decor. Her dad had cooked up a storm, so after watching a little TV in the lounge room we headed to the dining room and more food. We rounded off the night with a game of ba shi fen - boys vs girls. The boys did very poorly, and I don't think the father was very impressed with my play, despite my vast three days of experience with the game. He drove us back to the hotel and I must say is a much better driver than the taxi drivers.

 

Yesterday I went to the Oracle APAC at the convention centre, although for some reason they didn't start until quite late in the day. There didn't seem to be anything very interesting there, though, and looking through the programme for the coming days there may not be much to go to. In the afternoon I had an appointment to see a fellow at IBM in the Jin Mao Tower. This was much more interesting and he had a wealth of knowledge about China and India, as well as a good understanding of Australia have worked at a high level in Citibank. It turned out his daughter has studied at UTS. Small world.

 

Somewhere in all this I talked to Dad, Robert and Dianne.

 

I finally got some Chinese practice last night, but flaked out pretty early and passed to the land of dreams.

 

Less than two weeks to go in Shanghai!

 

 

20 Small Facts About Shanghai

Some other small facts that I have found interesting so far during my visit to Shanghai:

 

1. Stinky Tofu is really stinky and could make you throw up - Eurgh! The locals love it.

2. Chocolate paddle pops are available and are the cheapest ice cream in the fridge at 1 kuai.

3. Dove chocolate seems to be the only straight chocolate bar in most shops and is relatively expensive - the same price as a full meal for a small bar, about 8 kuai.

4. However, kit-kats are relatively inexpensive at 3 kuai.

5. Bao-zi is the most popular breakfast meal but is a bit heavy on the delicate western stomach. It is however very cheap at 0.6 to 1 kuai.

6. A take-away Pizza costs about 100 kuai.

7. You can eat a full-service banquet at a restaurant with friends for about 15-20 kuai per person (30-50 kuai if you really go expensive).

8. They like to spit. Throat clearing is a national obsession.

9. blogspot is blocket from China (but there are ways).

10. UTS is blocket from China (but there are no ways).

11. The vatican is not blocked from China.

12. Military jets fly over the city several times every day.

13. Google works well, including Google Docs.

14. The summer temperature is similar to Sydney.

15. There are no beaches to go to (or at least ones that you could swim at).

16. A large MacDonalds Big Mac Meal costs about 20 kuai

17. An OK guitar costs about $300 kuai with bag and tuner.

18. There are remarkably few flies.

19. Pomeranians and mini-pomeranians seem to be the most popular dogs.

20. Few building have central air-conditioning. Mostly they have hundreds or thousands of individual air conditioning units for each room.

 

 

 

China Update

Hi All!

 

Another update from China!

 

I have had a couple of games of basketball with some of the Chinese and US students. These being my first games ever I was not exactly too familiar with the rules nor very accurate with getting the ball through the little net. In fact, several of my early attempts sailed way over the top of the back-board (I believe it is called). I learned that "hao-qiu" follows a good shot at goal. Not that I received any "hao-qiu"s myself.

 

At least I got some exercise to hopefully work off some of the massive volume of food I have eaten. I have taken to avoiding unnecessarily large meals where possible, but we still seem to end up having a banquet every other day.

 

I have been putting a lot of time during the past week into our discussion paper. I have put it up on the web at

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df2cbgdx_45cnvvqv

if you would like to have a read. This is the third revision. It has changed a lot from the first draft. Thanks to all who provided thoughts.

 

Last Thursday I went with my room-mate Richard to visit Yu Kai, one of Richard's friends, who was home in Shanghai visiting his parents during his U.S. college break. Yu Kai met us at our hotel and we went to their unit about 20 minutes away by taxi. His mother had prepared a fantastic spread, which I rate as probably the best food I have had in China. I have added some photo's to my album at

http://picasaweb.google.com/SMP.Donovan/China

 

Also on Saturday I went along to St Peter's church with my cheap guitar that I bought and took part in the folk group music practice for a couple fo hours. They did a whole lot of songs that I have never heard. They were also trying to work out some Chinese lyrics for a new song they are learning, so I made a suggestion for that, too! (Although I'm not sure whether it will make it in, but I think it was perfect.) I then went to 5pm vigil mass. Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera along. Next week for sure! For a change I decided to take the train. This turned out to be a lot more convenient than the bus, and quicker.

 

On my way out of the hotel on Saturday the lady in the store saw me with my guitar. She is always very friendly and talkative although I sometimes aren't quite sure what language we are using - certainly not English and probably not Chinese. Perhaps the term is Englese witha touch of another dialect. In any case, last night when I popped into the store to buy something she wanted me to bring my guitar down. So I did! I was joined initially by a couple of comrades. After a rather dodgy rendition of a popular Chinese song that we have been learning, I did a couple of instrumentals and then finished with 'Father and Son' as I thought this would bridge both the cultural and generational gaps (having been recently re-released by some current boy-band). Well, we certainly drew a crowd! My unexpected payment was a cold bottle of water - my first professional gig in China!

 

Over the last couple of days I have tried to do more character writing practice. This has gone by the wayside through the first few weeks as I was doing all the reading and writing for the academic side of the course. But now I really want to concentrate properly on the language component. Our language classes have been a bit sporadic to date, but hopefully they will be more regular from here forward.

 

Next Saturday I'll be off to the folk group practice and mass again. Then next week there is the Oracle conference and a meeting with a local IBM representative on Monday. I'd better find out where to iron my shirts.

 

That's all for the moment.

Sean

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

China Photo's Updated

Hi -

I have posted some additional photo's of Shanghai (so far) on http://picasaweb.google.com/SMP.Donovan/China

Enjoy!

Peace
Sean

China Update

Hi!

 

I have just finished a busy few days, but there are more to come!

 

Last week, while the undergraduate students were attending the UNDP conference organised by Fudan, I joined up with the cultural exchange group. This entailed partnering up with another post-graduate level American student, by the name of Deep (short for Pradeep), and meeting with a group of four to five Chinese University students each day for a variety of activities.

 

The morning session were run by us. Fortunately the programme provided suggested topics and activities for the 'lesson', but we met each night beforehand to run through which activities we would use or introduce our own. The topics we covered over the three days were dating, marriage, and non-verbal communication. It was quite interesting to explore the similarities and differences between Chinese, US American, and Australian perspectives.

 

We would then have lunch together and later do some activities arranged by the Chinese students in the afternoon. These activities included a hospital visit to spend time with elderly and dying patients and a trip into one of the tourist areas. On Friday afternoon we attended some of the UNDP international team presentations.

 

Having received the brief for the written component of the course, Friday night and Saturday morning I spent reading and preparing for these. I sent a suggested topic to the resident director and await his considered response. I will do some more work tonight.

 

Also on Saturday I tried to work out, with the help of our Chinese associate, the bus connections required to get to church for the vigil mass. I got the buses alright but unfortunately it put me at the wrong end of a very long walk to the Church. I will have to revise the route for next week.

 

I met the music team that performed on Saturday night and will practice with them over the next two Saturday's (at 3pm prior to mass). Another group is performing the next two weeks, so my one and only performance at St Peter's Shanghai will be in three weeks. Don't miss it!!

 

In addition I met with an Australian couple, Robert and Julie Wiseman, who are living in Shanghai for a few years with work. Julie's name was on the noticeboard as the Australian contact for the parish. We went for a drink and a chat and may meet up again before I leave, although Julie is going home to Melbourne for two weeks holiday.

 

Today we visited the Shanghai urban planning centre. They have a very impressive model of a large part of Shanghai showing all the buildings to scale, as well as exhibits on the subway system that is being built, the new satellite city extensions and other infrastructure projects. It is all very well presented. Perhaps we could do this in Australian cities.

 

In the afternoon we again visited the international church for the evangelicals (which is the rest of the group) before heading to the same restaurant as last week to meet more ex-pat residents and have dinner. This restaurant is more expensive that the usual Shanghai fare, but that still translates to about $AU10 per head.

 

Strangely, last night and again at dinner tonight I had someone quiz me on Catholicism and the differences from their brand of Christianity. Perhaps they are trying to save my soul(?) or their own, but I find some of their comments on their own beliefs a little worrying.

 

Anyway, I have had some opportunities to practice my language skill and seem to be understood more easily now by the locals, which is a plus. I still have a lot of vocabulary to learn, however. I trust the other academic pursuits don't impact the language side.

 

That's all for now. I have some more photo's to post, but the internet has been unavailable at the hotel for the past day or so and the PC's are only just tonight available. One PC died a couple of morning's ago but is now fixed, so they were down to one public terminal for a while - that got a little difficult. I'll try to get the photo's posted soon. If you haven't already, check out the photo's to date at http://picasaweb.google.com/SMP.Donovan/China

 

Bye for now!

Sean

 

FaithWorx - Theology of the Body - Sunday 6:30pm

Theology of the Body

Christopher West

 

When: Sunday 6:30pm

Where: St John's Hall Meeting Room

Dates: 15th July, 22nd July, 29th July, 5th August

 

You are invited to view this ground-breaking DVD series over four Sunday nights beginning this weekend.

 

Drawing on Pope John Paul IIs Theology of the Body, Christopher West shares Gods original plan for marriage and sexuality. Christopher provides an understanding of this plan and how it gives profound meaning to all our lives – married, single, and consecrated celibates.

As a champion of the Popes revolutionary "theology" of the body, West points out the profound misunderstanding of what we understand male and female to mean. The Holy Father teaches that human lifes dignity and balance depends at every moment on "who woman will be for man and who man will be for woman." Gods plan of life and love is literally stamped in our bodies, and we reject this plan at our own peril.

The Theology of the Body has been called "one of the boldest reconfiguration of Catholic theology in centuries," according to the papal biographer, George Weigel. It addresses some of the most fundamental and important questions of human existence, including:

Why were we created male and female?
Where do we come from and why?
What is the meaning of life? How do we experience it?
Why is their evil in the world and how do we overcome it?

Outline of Talks:

Talk 1: What is the Theology of the Body & Why Is It So Important?

Talk 2: The Creation & Redemption of Man and Woman

Talk 3: The Resurrection of the Body & the Heavenly Marriage

Talk 4: The Sacrament of Marriage & the Language of Sexual Love

 

Highlights:

This presentation is perfect for adult formation!

Learn how Pope John Paul II's theology of the body is the answer to the crisis of our times and gain an understanding of the body as a "Theology"
Learn how Christ points us back to "the Beginning" & "Original Solitude", as we are called to live in Relationship.
Learn how Christ points us to the future, the "Beatific Vision" & Eternal Life
Learn how intertwined questions of sex are with the ultimate questions we ask about life, the mystery of God, and how to attain lasting happiness.

 

When: Sunday 6:30pm

Where: St John's Hall Meeting Room

Dates: 15th July, 22nd July, 29th July, 5th August

 

 

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Brought to you by Fait h WorX

China Update

We have completed the first couple of days with language classes and also more lectures over the weekend.

 

The language classes have been quite challenging and it is a struggle to keep up with the speed of talking, particularly as a lot of the words I don't know. But that is why I am here, of course. The class is a little odd in that there are some who can converse quite fluently but are illiterate, whereas others of us have better reading and writing but struggle with the speaking and listening. It should be interesting.

 

The China and the World lectures over the weekend were very interesting. The lecturer, a former diplomat now teaching at the University, was very knowledgeable and a good speaker. He had some most engaging stories. In addition to the reading from the books that we were advised to buy, we have also been provided at cost a set of three bound copies of further readings (in tiny, tiny writing). I think I shall invest in a magnifying glass.

 

On Saturday night I attended mass in English at St Peters church. Prior to mass the adult catechists were running a group of about 40-50 through the motions for baptism and first communion. The candidates were mostly women, with only two men. So it seems things are not so different in China in that regard. The mass itself was excellent and I must see if I can take some photo's next week to share with you. Then on Sunday I went with the group to their evangelical church. I don't find this quite to my liking, but whatever works is good I suppose.

 

This morning and tomorrow morning we have further foreign policy lectures while each afternoon we have language class.

 

I'll keep you posted as things happen.

Sean

 

Invitation to view Sean's album - China - First set posted

China Jul 5, 2007 by Sean Trip to China, Shanghai and Beijing, June to August 2007 View Album Message from Sean: Here is the first set of pictures from Shanghai that I have been able to upload for you to look at. I have also taken some videos but aren't able to post those yet. Enjoy! If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser: http://picasaweb.google.com/SMP.Donovan/China To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

Arrived in China!

I have arrived in Shanghai!

 

My first night was spent at the Central Hotel in Jiu Jang Road, Shanghai, before I moved to the Hanting Hotel in Song Hua Jiang Road in the Hong Kou district.

 

There are a LOT of people here and the atmosphere is steamy. Still everything seems to work.

 

My first day was spent checking out the shops and parks near the hotel. Unfortunately there were no real bargains. I am told that electrical goods are not especially cheap here. There goes the idea of picking up a computer cheaply.

 

I met up with the PESI group after I moved to the Hanting Hotel, and we have all spent the past few days getting acquainted and orienting ourselves to the city and the Fudan University.

 

We have been eating WAY, WAY TOO MUCH, so I will come back bigger and better than ever if this keeps up.

 

Language classes start tomorrow and the other economics and politics classes next week. There is plenty of reading to be done, so we will see if we can keep on top of it all.

 

More updates soon!

Sean

 

FaithWorx - Movies worth Talking About - Sunday 6:30

You are invited to join the discussion this Sunday as FaithWorx explores

 

Movies Worth Talking About

 

It seems that the movies that get the big promotions or all the talk these days are either violent gore-fests or fanciful trifles. Truly engaging, thought provoking and meaningful movies only get exposure through word of mouth and recommendations.

 

Join the group this Sunday at 6:30pm in the St John's Hall meeting room to explore movies, both current and past, that are actually worth talking about. What do they tell us about ourselves? How can that improve our lives and the lives of others? How can we get more people to see worthwhile movies rather than the nihilistic ones.

 

Bring your friends!

 

When: Sunday 6:30pm

Where: St John's Hall meeting room

 

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Brought to you by Fait h WorX