Coming to the end now...what's next?

Goodness, my stay in China is almost up. Just have 2 weeks and coupla more days to go before heading back to KL. This working visit sure has made me realize how much i like my homeground. At least most things that happen there are within expectations.

But to re-evaluate the entire trip up to date...it's been pretty ok i'd say. Being a city boy, and used to having my creature comforts and environment where i feel safe; to suddenly be put into a location where you experience sensory overload almost everyday just from having to translate and re-translate stuff...i'd rather have the same old boring stuff in exchange for all the culture shock. Can only be glad that i'm going home (cue "Home" from Buble or Daughtry...whichever you like. LOL)

I guess, the older you get, the more resistant you are to changes in life. Used to think i can adopt to foreign places pretty well, but somehow this time, i feel i'd rather choose the status quo. There's comfort in something familiar that you already know, and that compared to the (promisedly wonderful) unknown quantity awaiting, is definitely a huge advantage.

And to think that you've learnt life lessons from whatever has happened...well think again. There's more stuff to learn if you bother to take a second look. And nobody's perfect, especially yourself. Eating humble pie has never been so unappetizing...but it's good for ya!

Dear home...welcome me back. To be finally in someplace where i have my things in the exact place i put them...that's something i look forward to. Can't wait!

1st week in Shenzhen...

Let's see...what can i say about my first week? Besides the work and learning new stuff, i'm actually hating it. Seriously. FB, Blogger, Youtube and other social networking sites are BANNED. 'Nuff said.

Having a mentor to guide me thru my new job is good...until the language barrier pops up (and it happens frequently). And although you're not supposed to correct your mentor or anyone who's supposed to teach you something, i just can't help but to (automatically) correct his English. GAWD! the linguistic capability of locals here really leaves much to be desired. But on the bright side, there are HOWLERS that leave me absolutely speechless (because of extreme 'duh'ness and/or mistranslation). HAHAHA. Sometimes you just need to leave your station/cubicle in the office just to let it (laughter) RIP...and yes, i have been stared at for laughing at myself in the toilet, while washing my hands. HAHAHA.

Food here also is very different from KL/Malaysia standards, and although it's cheap, but i find myself missing my usual sandwiches/salads/sushi and STARBUCKS. Tell you what, the first sight of Starbucks in Shenzhen left me almost crying for joy. LOL. There is a God in this universe :)

One thing i disagree with is the concept of "Life = Work, Work = Life" that is practiced here by the locals (either young or old). But understanding the logic behind that concept is this - there are PLENTY of people waiting to take up the job that one local is in, so to support themselves and/or their family, they (the locals) are stuck with their jobs. But come on! There's more to life than just talking about work work work during office hours. Where's the human element? (by the way, all conversations in office take place in Mandarin, not my most proficient language).

As for the promised photo blog, due to the unexpected (honestly!) boo-boo on my part for assuming (shouldn't have done that) that FB and Blogger would be available in China; i'm currently FB/Blog/Youtube-less and life's an absolute bore! I'll go to HK to access all 3 sites so just be patient. I do have some pics waiting to be uploaded.

And since i'm using a relative's laptop to blog/FB/etc, i should be more time conscious to finish ASAP and will continue at a later date (next weekend definitely). Till then...

Be Good! :)

The bane that is fast food...

Was coming out from gym earlier today, when i spotted this huge banner advertising the current McDonald's promotion - McValue Doubles. Essentially double the original burger but not double the meal price. All i could do was to shake my head and wonder how much more people will be tricked into buying this deal for the apparent savings (eat more for less).

The reason behind today's rant is actually the increasing rate of obesity among Malaysian people. Sedentary lifestyle, coupled with "attractive" dining offers is a lethal combination. Go on, take a look everywhere. Every 1 in 5 people i spot in shopping malls happen to have a noticeably large belly/tummy, male or female. And i'm not talking about pregnant women at all. It's just sad that people are not too health conscious anymore, and are gorging on all these "empty" calories. Biggest culprit : French Fries and any kind of cola/fizzy drinks. It's fine if you eat fast food once in a while to satisfy your craving, but every other day? Gawd...i shudder to think how much the liver and heart and body would need to work to detox and recover from the oily, msg-laden, junk food that was consumed.

Ever since last November after my op, i've been on the look out for my health, and am taking good care of it now. (After about 15-20 years of neglect?). And it is paying off...i'm sleeping better, my trousers measurement have officially dropped a size, my clothes fit better than before, i'm no longer breathless after a session at gym and/or dance class, and i get sick less often. Now the crucial part is the maintenance. Thank goodness i'm not into fast food anymore, am more picky with food, have a smaller appetite, and love salads again. (Try Marmalade in BV2, any Delicious, Alexis bistro/cafe and you'll get my drift). YUMS!

How i wish i can pass along the gospel of healthy eating, but that is subject to everyone's desire to take care of themself. There is a saying that goes, "You are what you eat/read/etc etc". And yes, i do believe that whatever you input into yourself, will cause an output to be generated. So, good input leads to good output. And i can influence my immediate family's dietary practises ;) which is a good thing...now, i just need to satisfy my craving for really good hokkien char/hokkien mee. With fried pork lard. Oh YUM! (then after that, need to work out for 3 days in a row to burn off that unnecessary food intake. LOL)

Ok, rant over, and we're back to normal scheduled programming...

Puo Chai Dang Zhai / Por Choy Dong Zoi...

Now, this probably would be the rare moment (the only time thus far?) that i am using a Chinese proverb/saying to blog on something. So, bear with me...

The above proverb means "Losing wealth to prevent calamity", and after hearing it from 3 different people, i do have to say i can take hints...so there you go, powers that be. I accept that the loss of something valuable to me is now inevitable. By the way, it was a beautiful gold ring topped with a piece of oval-ish jade. And i only have it immortalized in my memory (which will fade with time, of course). Right now i know that nothing i can do will bring it back, and whoever finds it is blessed (by me? LOL *fingers crossed and looking out for lightning strikes*). In life, one must always take the bitter with the sweet, and losing this ring is still a sore point for me. But if it's not meant to be mine, no matter how i try to hold on to it, it will not remain with me. While i had it, i had a good time wearing it :) and it did turn from a light-ish green to a somewhat apple-y shade of green. Shows i have an affinity for jade. Anyway...

Lesson learnt : BE. MORE. CAREFUL. WITH. YOUR. POSSESSIONS. PERIOD.

Rant over. And back to life as usual...

PS: Watched "It's Complicated". Meryl Streep + Alec Baldwin + Steve Martin = Superb Lead Cast! Really good movie too, imho.

The fragility of life...treasure every living moment you spend.

Was reading The Sun (free newspaper) this morning, and splashed across the front page was this headline " Abused toddler dies". Seriously a "downer" even before starting work. The story goes on to say that the 3yo toddler had a FRAIL body, which had more than 50 fresh and old BRUISES. OMG! Honestly, WHAT did the child do to deserve such treatment??

Reading more, doctors who examined Lee Swee Hui's body after pronouncing her death discovered that she had serious injuries on her forehead and fractures to her skull. Quelle horreur! WTF! That's a horrible way to die - haemorrhaging to death, bleeding internally. The animals who did this to her ought to be shot, hung, drowned, trampled by horses, quartered, and fed to tigers.

Here's an old Christmas carol classic, which i remembered after reading the whole story.

A ray of hope flickers in the sky
A tiny star lights up way up high
All across the land dawns a brand new morn
This comes to pass when a child is born

Yes, everything changes with the arrival of a newborn baby. Mostly, for the better. An innocent God-given life, ready to live this challenging life.

But sadly for Lee Swee Hui, her candle was snuffed out untimely. Way way way before she even had a chance to properly enjoy her childhood. RIP, Lee Swee Hui. You're in a far off better place right now. Without pain and fear.

Somehow, i feel that this sad story will repeat itself, with another young victim dying unnecessarily. Maybe compulsory parenting counselling during the pregnancy period and neo-natal stage would be wise to implement, just to make sure that this tragedy will not happen again. There's been 2 cases prior to this, involving another 3yo girl and a 18 months old baby. Either way, justice will be served eventually. And i'm all the more thankful that my parents did not abuse me.

And that's my rant done and over. Back to normal programming, folks!