I met up with Gary, whom I'm house swapping with in Beijing for the first few months today. Using Goole Earth, I had the most awesome way to visualize how to get to the apartment in Beijing. I could see buildings, roads, highway ramps, landmarks and parks to help me navigate my way through the ‘unknown’ land. It was amazing. I highly recommend it. And house swapping? One of the most ingenious ideas of humankind....the keyword being 'kind'. [View Full Entry]

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I asked Fang today, what would she like to pass down to her daughter, if any, American customs or culture that she has learnt in her short time here in the States. Fang was a Chinese educated lawyer who, after working in Beijing and Tokyo, came to the States to attend the highly acclaimed law school in the University of Virginia. After 2 years living and working in Chicago, she decided it was time to go back home rather than stay in America. She thought for a while then listed the following. It was thought provoking. Fang wanted to show her [View Full Entry]

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I had an interesting conversation with Nicole today. She's always so refreshing to talk to with her unpretentious focus on the simple things in life, untethered by the 'political correctness' that sometimes become our crutches. Do we pick people who live in the same living spaces by their outer appearance? Does it matter that they’re really nice people but are overweight and have health issues or smelly feet? Perhaps we don't like to admit it but it's probably true that we pick people who we find are more 'attractive'. Or don't we? [View Full Entry]

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I happen to meet Olga’s daughter today. Olga’s the janitor that works the morning shift. I always thought I didn’t have a lot to contribute to kids in terms of volunteering. Now, I’m beginning to see how I was wrong. I quickly realized how naïve she was about travelling around the world. She was still in high school and the concept of going on a cruise in the Mediterranean was incomprehensible to her. I found myself sharing with her about the concept of making friends, networking, saving up enough money to use for traveling - things that I have learnt as [View Full Entry]

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I stumbled upon very important quotes today and was really blest by them: There is always more misery among the lower classes than there is humanity in the higher. Victor Hugo All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind. Aristotle Quit hanging on to the handrails . . . Let go. Surrender. Go for the ride of your life. Do it every day. Melody Beattie, A bird does not sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song. Chinese proverb There is the risk you cannot afford to take and there is the risk you cannot afford [View Full Entry]

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My friend Ash said today at dinner that I’m a yuppie in denial. I joked that I’m one with a little grit. But honestly does that mean untimately, I can’t weather the storm of the rough and simplistic lifestyle? I want to find out. Perhaps my journey to China will prove it to me. One thing for sure, it’s definitely going to be a journey of self discovery as I’m going to be pushed to the limit of my survival instincts and taking a chance on life one more time. [View Full Entry]

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