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Monday, 02 April 2012

The Long Lost Family

Season II, Episode #5

Date: Thursday 15 March 2012

Time: 8.30pm China Time

Location: The Strategy Room, Shanghai, China

Dedicated to:

The following episode is an interview with Monkey Magic (introduced in Season II, Episode #1) who recently went on an “epic journey” to the roots of his family’s heritage. Similar to the Chairman, our family background is Hakka (客家人Kèjiārén) and the destination he went to was Méixiàn 梅县 which is considered the current heart land of Hakka culture.

Chairman: How did you feel when you first landed in Méixiàn?

Monkey Magic: The first person that I met was my distant Cousin who worked at the local airport. He offered to take my luggage, at first I refused, however he insisted to allow him as “we are brothers”. From the airport we went to a restaurant for lunch where I met up with my Dad and relatives who flew in from Melbourne the night before. Also present were 2 other sets of Cousins from Méixiàn. The food was best described as robust - meaning sour is sour, sweet is sweet.

My cousins spoke to me in Hakka and I spoke in Mandarin, I had not used much Hakka in the last 2 years so I was a bit overwhelmed. After lunch I went on a tour of Méixiàn by myself. I strolled into the town centre and observed everyone was speaking Hakka…the long lost language.

Chairman: Long lost language, what do you mean by that?

Monkey Magic: I grew up in Melbourne but there are not too many people that spoke Hakka. So to be walking around an entire town where everyone spoke my native tongue was spinning me out. For example, I’ve never had to use Hakka to buy anything, I’ve only ever used Hakka with family within the small community in Melbourne.

Chairman: So the main purpose of your trip to was to connect with your heritage, what did you discover?

Monkey Magic: On the second day of my journey I took 40 minute drive from Méixiàn to Bànjìng半径 which is the location of the village of my Grandfather. It is here that “I met him for the first time” and I felt an emotional connection when I found out my name is etched on my Grandfather’s gravestone as well as the names of all his sons and grandchildren. I also noticed just about everyone from the village of Bànjìng半径had the surname Yáng 杨.

Next we visited my Grandfather’s old house which is now occupied by my distant Aunt and her family. I was touched when she told me ”本来也是你的家 This house is yours as well” and that I can come back to anytime and there will be a room waiting for me. I felt truly accepted in Hakka land when I was with my Cousins’ friends on the second night. I ask them in the car: “Are you Hakka (你是客家人吗)?” They said: “Yes, and you are as well是啊。你也是”.

Chairman: I remember you telling the Chairman about 1 week before your trip you felt edgy, why did you have those feelings?

Monkey Magic: I did not know what to expect and I wasn’t sure how I would connect or be treated as a long lost family member and a fellow Hakka. Living in China you want to be able to say I am Chinese and I have family in Hakka land, to be able to call them family and be accept as family is what family is about so to have the expectation of them embracing me as family is what made me edgy.

All in all it was a delight to be amongst Hakka, my family people, to enjoy the cuisine and to embrace the long lost culture.

Sunday, 29 January 2012

贵(鬼)州 Guizhou

Season II, Episode #4

Date: 1 to 3 January 2012

Time: China Time

Location: Guizhou, China

Dedicated to: 2 Geminis and a Leo

Mr. Nespresso: “Happy new year Chairman, where abouts in the middle kingdom are you?” (whatsapp message).

Chairman: “I am in Guizhou the most random place I have been to in China so far…”

For the second year in a row, I was spending New Year’s Eve outside of a big city. This time I was in 镇远(Zhènyuǎn) which literary translates to “far away town”. There would be no fireworks or frenetic celebrations to say goodbye to 2011. Rather I was with 3 other travellers drifting our way into 2012.

Although the exterior of the Chairman was relaxed in镇远, he however had been feeling quite wired lately, it is like there had been a large amount of neuron activity within him but the energy had no final destination to go to – there was no light bulb moment. So I was spending time pondering things over when suddenly I was shocked into life by my first official encounter with the infamous long distance rail network…

I am accustomed stepping into a peak hour metro train in Shanghai, but nothing compares to stepping onto a packed K-series train. For me it was utter chaos – there were passengers standing on seats, sitting in the aisles and sitting in places that I thought you could not sit in. The overhead compartments were jammed with luggage and other goods simulating some type of mass migration underway. Although my ticket had a seat number assigned, I was too intimidated to leave the safety of my friends so I chose to stand in the aisle instead. Bad move.

Once the train started moving a procession of activity began to parade down the carriage aisle. I could see from the far end of the carriage the ticket inspector who I thought was doing the routine ticket check. Yet I noticed there was a mound that was moving in front of him, slowly it began building as it got closer I realised he was sweeping the carriage of rubbish – and let me tell you it was a massive rubbish ball because passengers that travel on the K-series trains bring heaps of food onboard and discard heaps of litter as a result. At this point I was preparing myself for the worse as I standing in the aisle and had nowhere to go.

Somehow I closed my eyes and the giant rubbish ball was swept “over me”. Next, the ticket inspector started mopping the aisle which I thought was absolutely ridiculous because every meter he mopped, immediately at least 10 pairs of shoes would trample all over the newly mopped area. Once the cleaning duties were complete, a convoy of refreshment carts rolled down the aisle just like an old school Yum Cha restaurant. On any other day I would be happy to see these refreshments carts, but that day I was in serious danger of being run over especially by the 辣豆腐车 (spicy tofu cart) which had a threatening spicy oily sauce that was finding any excuse to tip all over me if the cart hit any part of my body. As I was contorting my body to make space for the passing refreshment carts my eyes caught a peculiar site - a man with the 6 fingers on one hand (check out my photos for evidence).

My pain on the K-series train lasted about 1 hour and then I arrived in a town called 西江(Xījiāng) which was a tourist town predominantly represented by the Miao Ethnic Minority 苗族. The traditional dress of the Miao women is quite stunning - long flowing dresses are laced with red and blue and accompanied by spectacular silver head gear. There is an old wives tale that you should not play with the emotions of a Miao girl (especially flirt) unless you have genuine intentions for her. Otherwise she will cast a voodoo on you where by worms eat your insides gradually making you thinner and thinner and the only cure is to go back to the lovely Miao girl who has the antidote. So with that information in mind the Chairman was on his best behaviour…although it seemed others had been misbehaving during the past year and only the resolutions of New Year would be able to cleanse these souls.

So what better way to start our new year resolutions than in a local hostel nestled hills of西江called 九九八(998). The common area of the hostel was an open space with no windows that overlooked the township. There was a fresh breeze that floated in but we were comforted by the warmth of the local rice wine that the owner of hostel was serving us. It was here that we bumped into a lone traveller from Chongqing who was passing by 西江 as well. A chatty type who seemed to be in an amorous mood and had his eyes fixed on particular young lass that night. Perhaps he was trying to execute a 艳遇(yànyù)* on his travels? The owner of the hostel seem to think so as well and began joyously playing his guitar, filling the new year air with sweet love songs.

*A favourable opportunity for an encounter with a beauty woman.

Sunday, 04 December 2011

MTV
Season II, Episode #3

Date: Thursday 24 November 2011

Time: 9.30pm China Time

Location: Shanghai, China

Dedicated to: MTV Crew and Alumni

Chairman: On Thursday night it is “Welcome to Shanghai”!

MTV Crew: What do you mean?

Chairman: I don’t know (shrug of shoulders and glint in the eye) you will have to wait and see…

“This is going to be epic…” (Quoted by: Pepper)

There is yearly event that my boys and I partake in. We call it a M-Trip. At the start of the planning the main instigator (Pepper) labelled it as “epic” because never before have we done a tour that lasted for nearly 4 weeks, crossing 9 cities, 5 countries and at the peak we had a crew of 9 persons. The M-Trip that just past was officially the 5^th instalment; we are at such a stage that the crew is able to mobilise and coordinate these trips in a short space of time.

“…because it is important to me…”(Quoted by: The Coach)

One of the appeals of this so called M-Trip is it gives the crew the chance to get together and enjoy some fun times. Sure, you could say this type of occasion could be conducted anytime - why don’t you organise it this weekend?

Sometimes it is easier said than done because my friends and I are at that stage:
- Where some of us have the other half to look after; or
- We are no longer based in the same country; or
- We are slowly moving in different directions in our lives as time goes by.
So to have the opportunity to reconnect again and share the happenings over the past year “is important to [us]”. Another way to look at it is similar to going to a family gathering during Christmas except M-Trips generally last for a few weeks.

“我怕 (Wǒ pà) I’m scared”

“不怕，我不是那么大！(Bùpà, wǒ bùshi nàme dà!) Don’t be afraid, I am not that big!” (Quoted on behalf of: 大口)

For myself, I have always felt travelling with someone who is familiar with the place is the most enjoyable because it eliminates the unfamiliarity of environment and the hassles of language barrier. I know some of my friends might have had reservations about China because indeed the Middle Kingdom is a big country and does do things differently. However I am pleased that those in the crew who had the opportunity to come to China, I was able to show you around the proper way because until you see the place for yourself you will only then begin to understand why I am here.

“I’ve got the shakes” (Quoted by: Pepper)

Question: How do you know when you actually enjoy something?

Answer: You “get the shakes” when that feeling or activity is taken away from you...
Coming Home

Season II, Episode #2

Date: Monday 7 November 2011

Time: 11.30pm China Time

Location: Shanghai,China

Dedicated to: 华侨 (Huá Qiáo)

Picture this: It is 11.30pm on a Monday night and I’ve just finished work, time to go home. I hop into a taxi and tell the driver my destination. Then I let out a big breath, you know the ones that have the meaning of “finally I am out of here.” Then, right on cue the taxi driver uses this as his cue to start a conversation with me. We begin chatting and once again, right on cue he asks one of my favourite questions…

Taxi Driver: I can tell by your accent you’re not from here, where are you from? Korea?

Chairman: No, I am not from Korea. I call myself “the fake chinese” 假中国人 (Jiǎ Zhōngguórén). My parents were born in China but they immigrated to Australia very early on, and that’s where I was born.

Taxi Driver: Oh you remind me of my jiu jiu (uncle) he left China at an early age and now all of his kids were born overseas as well.

In 1975 my mum was the first in her family to leave Hong Kong and migrate to Australia. Not long after her parents and two of her brothers (and their families) headed down south as well. In essence my mum’s immediate family had all left their homeland except for one of her brothers whose family stayed to hold the fort. Like most first generation immigrants of that era they worked hard to provide the financial stability and foundation for their kids to succeed in their new chosen country.

I think a lot of people in my parents generation (baby boomer era) who left the motherland never wanted to leave. Their choice to leave was probably right at the time because the political and economic situation in the region was not the best for them to justify staying in that environment, particularly if you are given the chance to leave to a more stable place. You’re a very special person if you can predict the future, if the motherland didn’t improve its economic situation as it has in the last 30 years then most people would say you definitely made the right choice. But given that the tables have turned so fast I think there is a sense of regret that they could never fully participate in the new age of China.

So since I have moved to Shanghai more and more people are interested in how I am going particularly my uncle and aunties and their friends. I actually don’t really hear this information first hand but it is reported back to me through my mum by modern chinese whispers (skype) that they are proud of what I have done.

So you could argue, why don’t they just move back to China and live it up like I have? It is not as easy when their lives have been constructed in Australia for their children over the last 20 to 25 years. Also most of their networks they grew up with are now distant because of the time they’ve spent away from each other. So more than ever, my relatives and their friends are very interested in my journeys in China because I do feel I am given them the opportunity to come home to see the motherland through the eyes of the Chairman.

So I leave you with a small tune by Skylar Grey called Coming Home.

I'm coming home

I'm coming home

Tell the World I'm coming home

Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday

I know my kingdom awaits and they've forgiven my mistakes

I'm coming home, I'm coming home

Tell the World that I'm coming

Tuesday, 04 October 2011

Yīn & Yáng (阴阳)

Season II, Episode #1

Date: Tuesday 4 October 2011

Time: 10am China Time

Location: Shanghai, China

Dedicated to: Monkey Magic

In every good story there is a supporting actor that forms the backbone of the main character. For example: Harry Potter’s best mate is Ron Weasley, while Batman’s sidekick is Robin and John Howard’s right hand man was Peter Costello.

Over the past 18 months I can easily count two handfuls of my friends that have made the decision to spend more than 12 months overseas either for work, study or pleasure. When you first set off on a journey like we have it can be a lonely one at the start because you have to rebuild your life, career but most importantly your friends.

But to find the friend that is sharing the same journey with you is the hardest especially if you are living in a transient city like Shanghai. The city attracts people from all provinces of China and Internationals from all over the world. Although it is very easy to meet friends it is harder to find ones that share the same goals and thoughts as you because for many immigrants (Chinese & International) to Shanghai we tend to view the city as only a temporary home and at any point in time we have the option to pack up shop and go back home.

For many people in the above situation their friendship with others tend to be on a surface level because to really get to know someone you need to invest time and energy to form that emotional connection. Some old hands who have been living in the city for a while say that there is an average 2.5 year turnover rate for Internationals in Shanghai. This may explain why deeper relationships are harder to build because if you know your newly acquired friend will leave in the near future then if you invested too much emotional connection with them you will feel a part of you departs with them as well.

But the Chairman has never liked the concept of being a lone ranger. I like my journeys to be shared with people especially when I go travelling because one of my favourite thought provoking question is: “Remember the time when we did this together…?” I mean if I was writing this blog entry for myself, who else would be able to feel what I have seen?

Monkey Magic: Don’t worry Chairman, I’ll verify your journeys for you…but first let me finish building this store in Harbin and then we can start “fresh”.

How rude of me. Let me introduce you to my partner in crime, accomplice and right hand man: Monkey Magic.

I first met Monkey Magic about 1 year ago while bar hopping around Shanghai. At that point in time I wouldn’t say we really hit it off. In fact, I thought he was a bit out of it that night, it seemed like something was on his mind. Perhaps like me he was still trying to find his way around the new jungle called Shanghai. After all his reasons for coming to Shanghai was almost a replica of my situation except he left Australia 6 months earlier.

When I think about it, the partnership between Monkey Magic and the Chairman is Yīn & Yáng (阴阳). We are bounded by the same goals for coming to China but our personalities are complimentary. I would describe Monkey Magic as generous and forever young. Moreover, just like the real Monkey Magic (Sūn Wùkōng 孙悟空) he is the most creative when a challenge is upon him. These qualities help compliment the Chairman’s intense purposefulness and somewhat dry humour.

Chairman: you know 2 is a partnership but 3 is a team, we just need to wait patiently for BP…