It was a surreal Valentine's Day here in HK. Chinese Valentine's Day was the 13th and so we expected little hoopla on the 14th but were met with streets that were filled with flowers. We kept it low-key and enjoyed an evening at home.
Today though, our maid, Hua, put me on the path to meeting my Chinese valentine. We have a hard enough time talking about the shopping or cleaning, let alone things related to life partners. Eric and I were sure she understood we are gay, in a committed relationship, and well, I guess that is about it.
Here is a snip-it of my IM session with Eric describing the situation. A couple of comments are added in --.
Eric says:
what did she say exactly?
E.J. says:
I feel tramatized by the afternoon
E.J. says:
Well
E.J. says:
First off
E.J. says:
She got stuck in here yesterday
E.J. says:
Wednesday
E.J. says:
and the once a month the elevator shuts down
Eric says:
what does that mean, 'stuck'?
E.J. says:
No sign was posted -elevator maintenance can sometimes cause surprise-
Eric says:
ohhhh
E.J. says:
Yeah
E.J. says:
Freaked her out
E.J. says:
she had to have her friend explain to me on the phone
E.J. says:
she was so upset
Eric says:
ohhh no
E.J. says:
I showed her how to get out the back
E.J. says:
Lots of hand shaking
E.J. says:
In any case
Eric says:
oh god
E.J. says:
after 20minutes of that I get to work
Eric says:
I'd be tramatized too i think
E.J. says:
and she starts cleaning
E.J. says:
Then she grabs the trash from my office
E.J. says:
including Heidy's chocolate box -great little dark chocolate present from our friend and Eric's coworker Heidy-
E.J. says:
She grabs and points to the heart
E.J. says:
And after much thinking
E.J. says:
Says that she has a friend in Shenzen
E.J. says:
I am just like, great, she has a friend
E.J. says:
But there was obviously something else
E.J. says:
She says something about girlfriend and me?
E.J. says:
Who knows what is being communicated at this point!
E.J. says:
I just tried to get back to work
E.J. says:
but she kept going
E.J. says:
Boss...told her friend her boss really tall
E.J. says:
I think she may have said something about meeting but I am not sure
E.J. says:
And then she whips out her phone
E.J. says:
Picture of friend
E.J. says:
Picture it...
E.J. says:
Confident woman sitting with legs crossed, hair back, and cigarette hanging from her mouth!
E.J. says:
What was I supposed to say?!
E.J. says:
I said it was great she had a friend
E.J. says:
and put my headphones on
E.J. says:
AH!!!
Eric says:
Heidy doesn't understand how she coudln't know that we are a couple.
E.J. says:
I know!
Eric says:
I told her people thought we were brothers
E.J. says:
It is insane!
E.J. says:
It is a funny story but I don't want to offend.
E.J. says:
Maybe you and I can have a double date with your reporter friend and Hua's friend Maybe they are meant for each other.
Eric says:
LOLOLO
Eric says:
maybe the reporter friend IS her friend
Eric says:
even weirder!
E.J. says:
Well
Eric says:
very funny
E.J. says:
It is a funny story
Eric says:
yes...very
Eric says:
but I still want to know why I'm not good enough -There is a whole subplot here with Eric wanting to know why he didn't get set up by our maid. I've edited out most of that for simplicity but leave a bit here.-
Eric says:
maybe because you're taller.
E.J. says:
You need to look scruffy to match her friend -I am two days unshaven and wearing a t-shirt. Eric made fun of me at lunch.-
E.J. says:
Believe me
E.J. says:
If you saw the picture it was no complement
E.J. says:
I think you orchestrated it all to give me incentive to shave and look nice
E.J. says:
I don't mean to be rude
Eric says:
haha
Eric says:
ohh nooo
E.J. says:
the cigarette
E.J. says:
it haunts me
Eric says:
hahahaha
Eric says:
So, did you end with her understanding that you dind't want to be set up??
Eric says:
or is there a date planned that you don't know about
E.J. says:
Who knows?! We'll see if she brings it back up or I just have to avoid the aptartment everytime that she comes.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Another Comic Disaster?
The recent protests over the Danish comic depictions of Muhammad has been quite interesting and surreal to watch unfold. It still seems as if I am reading the Onion every time I open the paper to headlines like, "Virgin Sacrificed to Protest Danish Newspaper Etiquette." Add to that headlines about VP Cheney's shooting practices and it for sure is the Onion, or not...
But I did have a point or a story here from a friend, Terri, that I heard tonight and wanted to share. She and her husband just got back from a week in Istanbul and along with the great castle they stayed in, friends they saw, and rugs and towels they brought back, Terri and her husband were one ring away from potential political disaster. As curious people they were fascinated by the call to prayer that occurred several times a day in Turkey. Apparently it is an impressive chanting...rhythmic in many ways...so much so that Terri recorded it for her ring tone for her cell phone. Luckily, they thought better of actually using this little melody or releasing the tone online.
But I did have a point or a story here from a friend, Terri, that I heard tonight and wanted to share. She and her husband just got back from a week in Istanbul and along with the great castle they stayed in, friends they saw, and rugs and towels they brought back, Terri and her husband were one ring away from potential political disaster. As curious people they were fascinated by the call to prayer that occurred several times a day in Turkey. Apparently it is an impressive chanting...rhythmic in many ways...so much so that Terri recorded it for her ring tone for her cell phone. Luckily, they thought better of actually using this little melody or releasing the tone online.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Saguaro
This week is my week of travel in the U.S. for work. It started in Tucson, where the following picture is from, and continues today in Champaign, Illinois.
The desert southwest struck me more than I was expecting. Combining the mild weather with the striking mountain-lined horizons creates a relaxing environment. I was surprised to find Tucson a much more laid-back college town that would be expected. The cactus that shares the stage with me here is a saguaro and is likely over a hundred years old.
The desert southwest struck me more than I was expecting. Combining the mild weather with the striking mountain-lined horizons creates a relaxing environment. I was surprised to find Tucson a much more laid-back college town that would be expected. The cactus that shares the stage with me here is a saguaro and is likely over a hundred years old.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
"Eric and E.J.-"
"My intention was to write something deep this year, tying together the book I am reading about the Revolutionary War, my mother’s obsession with genealogy, the importance of preserving the written word, and making a New Year’s resolution to contact your legislator about something important to you in 2006. Alas, time has won the race this Christmas. If this should find you before December 25, Merry Christmas. If not, Happy New Year!"
I wanted to post the message from a card we got this year from a college friend of mine, Regina. It captured more clearly my feeling about the holiday season than I even knew was possible. Some great intentions have been fulfilled, many have not, and so 2006 begins.
I wanted to post the message from a card we got this year from a college friend of mine, Regina. It captured more clearly my feeling about the holiday season than I even knew was possible. Some great intentions have been fulfilled, many have not, and so 2006 begins.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Real News Sites
Hong Kong will be in the news a lot this week as the World Trade Organization talks are taking place there as are all the associated protests and police actions to prevent protest. Over the course of this last year, I have discussed numerous happenings personally and in the destinations that Eric and I have been lucky enough to visit. I thought it'd be good to post a couple of links that I use regularly to stay up to date on the news and happenings in some of our favorite places.
Hong Kong
The Economist's Monthly Briefing on Hong Kong (The Economist has surprisingly great list of monthly city and coutry briefings as well as travel guides.)
http://www.economist.com/cities/briefing.cfm?city_id=HK&CFID=69130412&CFTOKEN=34fb4c5-b16c8a1c-3b24-4d37-a11e-8e09de7eb0be
The South China Morning Post
http://www.scmp.com
US News
The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com
The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com
The Topeka Capital Journal (Eric still follows the Topeka press (Eric still follows this (especially their weddings and births. Once a Kansas boy, always a Kansas boy.)
http://www.cjonline.com
Hong Kong
The Economist's Monthly Briefing on Hong Kong (The Economist has surprisingly great list of monthly city and coutry briefings as well as travel guides.)
http://www.economist.com/cities/briefing.cfm?city_id=HK&CFID=69130412&CFTOKEN=34fb4c5-b16c8a1c-3b24-4d37-a11e-8e09de7eb0be
The South China Morning Post
http://www.scmp.com
US News
The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com
The Kansas City Star
http://www.kansascity.com
The Topeka Capital Journal (Eric still follows the Topeka press (Eric still follows this (especially their weddings and births. Once a Kansas boy, always a Kansas boy.)
http://www.cjonline.com
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Frosty Morning Bike Ride
I am back in Kansas City currently and Eric is to return shortly. On Thursday we were hit with a heavy snow storm that has made the task of getting around without a car more difficult than I thought. Luckily, I have some really great friends that have offered rides without guilt thus far.
As I sat as Starbucks, enjoying the serenity of the scene and sipping away the frustration that could have built from waking at the absurdly early time of 4 am, I was surprised by another early morning adventurer. There amongst the 8 inches of snow that was quickly being piled into 8 foot piles by the Plaza's snow removal crews was a bundled man on a mountain bike. At first glance, he appeared only an odd commuter, but then he did a seemingly unexpected thing. He took dead aim at one of the snow piles. 20 feet, 10 feet, 5 feet and he was accelerating. With contact, Flipping Fred, as I think I shall call him, sailed over the handle bars, doing a backflip and landed safely in the snow.
I promise that my lack of sleep did not contribute to the unexpected nature of this extreme sport. Snow flipping on the Plaza at 5:45 am. Who would have guessed?
As I sat as Starbucks, enjoying the serenity of the scene and sipping away the frustration that could have built from waking at the absurdly early time of 4 am, I was surprised by another early morning adventurer. There amongst the 8 inches of snow that was quickly being piled into 8 foot piles by the Plaza's snow removal crews was a bundled man on a mountain bike. At first glance, he appeared only an odd commuter, but then he did a seemingly unexpected thing. He took dead aim at one of the snow piles. 20 feet, 10 feet, 5 feet and he was accelerating. With contact, Flipping Fred, as I think I shall call him, sailed over the handle bars, doing a backflip and landed safely in the snow.
I promise that my lack of sleep did not contribute to the unexpected nature of this extreme sport. Snow flipping on the Plaza at 5:45 am. Who would have guessed?
Thursday, December 08, 2005
The March for Democracy
This past Sunday Eric had the opportunity to be a part of Hong Kong and China history. He along with one of our friends Sarah, took part in the democracy march. With several hundred thousand people taking to the street, the people of Hong Kong seemed to unite in a way that I have never seen. In peaceful protest, they streamed along the streets of Hong Kong’s harbor for the entire day, erupting with purpose in a way that the mainland fears.
As a special administrative region (SAR) of China, Hong Kong (like Macau and to some extent Taiwan) enjoys a unique arrangement that encourages commerce and integration with the mainland while maintaining two systems, separate government, economic policy, and other key governmental functions. It is not this that the people seem opposed to, in fact, from what I’ve seen, complete independence is not the goal. Rather, the people of Hong Kong want the right to elect their own head representative and to move towards a democratic government.
Oddly, at least in the media and press that I’ve seen, there has been little international support or discussion of this movement. America is quick to endorse Taiwan and where is the support for Hong Kong? At the march, Eric reported seeing no other foreigners (at least of different skin color) at the march, which in a city that is packed with foreigners is quite a statement. People at the march were amazed to see gweilos (white people or foreigners) marching with them in support and they loved it.
Hopefully when Eric stops for a holiday break in a few weeks he’ll have some time to write about the experience so I can post more. I can’t express how proud I am of him and Sara for going. These pictures are really moving for me in a way I would never have expected. I am sad I was not there to participate in what was an amazing statement about the power of reasoned people acting together.
As a special administrative region (SAR) of China, Hong Kong (like Macau and to some extent Taiwan) enjoys a unique arrangement that encourages commerce and integration with the mainland while maintaining two systems, separate government, economic policy, and other key governmental functions. It is not this that the people seem opposed to, in fact, from what I’ve seen, complete independence is not the goal. Rather, the people of Hong Kong want the right to elect their own head representative and to move towards a democratic government.
Oddly, at least in the media and press that I’ve seen, there has been little international support or discussion of this movement. America is quick to endorse Taiwan and where is the support for Hong Kong? At the march, Eric reported seeing no other foreigners (at least of different skin color) at the march, which in a city that is packed with foreigners is quite a statement. People at the march were amazed to see gweilos (white people or foreigners) marching with them in support and they loved it.
Hopefully when Eric stops for a holiday break in a few weeks he’ll have some time to write about the experience so I can post more. I can’t express how proud I am of him and Sara for going. These pictures are really moving for me in a way I would never have expected. I am sad I was not there to participate in what was an amazing statement about the power of reasoned people acting together.
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