I don’t know if this would qualify as a “paradigm shift”, but I had an eye opener today. I had a friend send me a video of a music performance. It’s a group that plays a style of music I used to play. And when I watched it, it was like a foreign language to me. Like something distant I recognized just faintly. And this was a style of music I played for many years.

Was it a musical style, or a musical language? I had never thought of music being a language before. I’ve always thought of it as notes, and then just different styles overlayed on the top of it. Maybe this attitude came from working in Southern California for so many years pumping out soundtrack after soundtrack. I would get an “order” for a certain style and *boom* – there’s your soundtrack.

Last year I started studying jazz again. My first instruction from my mentor was to think of jazz as a language, and to learn to speak that language. This was a different concept for me, but it has really helped my thought process.

Also in the last couple years I have been surrounded by World Music. I have been living in China for more than a year working on music with Cirque Du Soleil; and also surrounded by new music influences from Europe, South America and the Middle East.

I didn’t really realize until today how much of an influence it has had on my thought processes towards music. My arsenal of ideas is much wider now. That could be a good thing or bad thing depending on the application. But on a personal level it’s an experience I could not buy at any price. 

It’s fairly common for my musician friends here in China to make a recording for me to listen to, because they know I like hearing new things. And I’m very appreciate for that.

The curse of all this? I’ve heard it said for instance that once you master jazz, then other more common musical languages are unsatisfying. And the term “jazz doesn’t pay the bills” is heard a LOT in music circles.

If this post isn’t clear, let me put it like this. My experience of watching the music I used to play and not really recognizing it, would be like being in another country speaking a new language, and over time not understanding your native tongue.

But to have this experience in the language of music; well….that was very strange for me. Jury is out on whether that’s a good thing or not – but I’m guessing that it’s a good sign for my future work.

Chinese officials are not amused about the new album released November 24, 2008 by American rock band Guns N’ Roses. The album, which began recording in 1994, is called “Chinese Democracy” and is described by one Chinese listener as attempting to “grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn.”

What struck me as interesting is wondering if the title of the album was decided on back in 1994. There was certainly more things to criticize about China in 1994 than there is today, or am I wearing rose colored glasses as an expat living in China?

I haven’t heard any of the tracks on the album and don’t know anything about the content. I just know Chinese officials are pissed. It’s rock ‘n roll’s job to stir things up a bit so all of this seems to go with the territory. Nice to see GNR getting some publicity again.

China has opened a lot to the West in recent years and there are some growing pains with that. Don’t expect China to become “Americanized” – it is an extremely different culture and way of thinking. More than just outward appearances. This is interesting to see from overseas, and my first reaction is to stick up for China a bit. Is that why they call us expats, short for “ex-patriots”?

Read the full article on CNN:

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/24/china.guns.roses.ap/index.html

The article says that now that China is focusing this money inward, it is beginning to decouple itself from this relationship. In a sense, it says that citizens of China have been underwriting the balanced mortgage payments of US citizens. As China now focuses it’s money inwards, it may be able to continue on it’s major growth patterns even while other countries are in decline.

The article is a little scary if you are a US citizen, and probably exciting news if you are a Chinese citizen.

I am one of the US citizens (expats) living in China (Macau) since it has opened up more warmly to the West at the turn of the century. I see the unbelievable amount of construction projects and the quick influx of Western culture to this area. When I say influx of Western culture – I mean the desire for goods and possessions. The mental state of China remains firmly Chinese. And as I am slowly learning, it is a paradigm very different and difficult for Westerners to understand.

If China decouples – it will likely decouple on it’s own trajectory. Read the full Motley Fool article here:

http://www.fool.com/investing/international/2008/11/12/why-chinas-stimulus-plan-will-change-the-world.aspx

My first trip into Zhuhai China included great shopping, great food, beggars and pickpockets. Zhuhai China is just over the border from Macau – in the Southeast part of China near Hong Kong. The strict visa restrictions have been lifted now that the Olympics are over so it’s a little easier for us Expats (Westerners living in China) to go back and forth over the border now. Photo above is the waterfront in Zhuhai, and you can see the buildings in Macau from this vantage point.

Immediately after entering through the Gonbei Gate (between Macau and Zhuhai) we were approached by beggars. They would follow you for a bit and tug on your arm. There is a large shopping area just over the border too. It’s right down the stairs as you exit the border gate – you can’t miss it. The stalls are indoor underground. Much like the booths I have seen in Mongkok, Hong Kong at the Ladies’ Market area – but it was a little cleaner being indoors. And not quite so much of the yelling and grabbing for your attention, although a little bit. The WORST place I have been for vendors yelling and grabbing you was Phuket, Thailand – it is really too much over there.

Before we had actually cleared the border gate a Chinese woman came up to us and told us “be very careful” and told us to watch our bags for pickpockets. A friend of ours, a Macau native, was our guide for the day and showed us her purse. It was slit down the side. A pickpocket had cut it the week before trying to get into her purse; but that happend in Macau at San Malo square. I have also heard of other people losing their wallets and bags in San Malo square. So we really had our guard up, we thought…

We started with lunch at a local Dim Sum restaurant on the waterfront. A short taxi ride for 10RNB, about $1.35US. I’m not much of an adventurous eater, but there was plenty of food I really liked. Even the salmon sashimi was excellent. We had congee soup, tea, custard tarts, shrimp dim sum, beef ribs – it was all good. And only cost about $12US each. Was told if he hadn’t gone crazy on Western style desserts, the meal might have only cost us about $5 a piece.

Back to the border gate for shopping. Zhuhai is the place to go for anything bootleg. We were instruced “assume everything is fake, nothing is real. In DVD stores you do not barter, but you can barter with vendors.” In Hong Kong a really good deal on a Rolex copy is $250HK ($31US). But in Zhuhai there are Rolex copies going for as low as $50RNB ($7US). Gucci, Diesel and Calvin Klein (or “Calven Kline”) are everywhere. A DVD goes for $8-12RNB ($1.10 to $1.60US). PC software (even Windows, XP and Photoshop) for $22RNB ($3.20US). The complete seven episodes of Seinfeld for $250RNB ($35US) and three seasons of Boston Legal for $150RNB ($20US). Of course everything for sale is bootleg. A complete set of PING golf clubs including bag with wheels at an OPENING price of $1350RNB ($170US roughly), which would probably easily go for $800RNB ($105US) or less.

We talked about the artists that create the originals of this merchandise. Like the research and development that goes into creating new lines of gold clubs. “It’s not the manufacturing that costs money, it’s the R&D”. And also about the actors and performance artists that are not making any money on the counterfeit items.

The other side of the coin is that very few Chinese residents could afford to shell out $150RNB ($20US) for the real deal. We were told that many day laborers in China make a MONTHLY salary of $800RNB ($105US). It’s a little difficult for us to understand that people can live on that. People have told us “Macau is expensive” but it doesn’t seem expensive to us. In fact, people will say “Macau is expensive, but not for you.” So we were really amazed how low the prices were in mainland China.

Gongbei gate between Macau & Zhuhai

Ok, so maybe you’re waiting for my pickpocket story. We left the main front shopping area at the border gate and walked a ways into town. Here were the typical outdoor street vendors with the cheezy stalls and cardboard tables with goods. A lot of the same stuff – but with the addition of animals (doves, turtles, rabbits, parrots, fish), everyday cheap clothes and stuff for the household.

As we made our way into the main square in Zhuhai we ended up walking down a sort of alley with a building to our left and a fence on the right. No vendors, just us walking down this about a block and I was at the rear of our wagon train. I have my backpack securely on one strap off one shoulder. I didn’t want to wear it on my back because of pickpockets. I feel a light tug, turn around and there’s this kid about 14 smoking a cigarette with his hand on the zipper of my backpack. I see red, I am SO pissed off – and this kid just looks at me like “what are you going to do?”. And he’s right, what WAS I going to do? Nothing, just kept walking. But after that we all held our backpacks backwards on our fronts like holding a baby. I am curious how long he was trailing us and waiting for the right moment.

After that I really felt like we all had a big bullseye on us. We didn’t see many other Westerners on our little day trip – Maybe 10 all day. The traffic patterns in Zhuhai are also very crazy to what we are used to. We saw people seriously almost mowed over by a moped. It was a little scary for us. We realized we have been very insulated by living in Macau, which in 2008 is now a reasonably safe place to live.

I definately would not go to Zhuhai in the future alone, and I would be very careful about your belongings. Not just careful – I would lock everything up and keep it in front of you at all times.

Our guide also told us not to stand very close to the street when waiting for taxis on the sidewalks. She said it’s not uncommon for a moped to blaze by and grab your bags as they pass.

Another local tip: If you do buy DVD’s in Zhuhai, make the merchant play them on their DVD player for you. Have been told it’s very common for merchants to sell DVD’s and software that don’t work.

The other side of Zhuhai? One of Zhuhai’s international accolades include “the Best Model of International Residential Environment Improvement” awarded by the United Nations. It’s also known as a city of gardens and flowers.

Our guide told us that anytime you have a border between two countries, there are always going to be problems like pickpockets, scams and saavy vendors. Made me think of Tijuana, Mexico back near home in the US. When you cross the border you are very vulnerable. And as I learned recently from a local Macau native: “Americans are very vulnerable targets because they have good hearts and are very naiive.”

I think that’s all true. Looking forward to when I’m more “seasoned” in Asia and don’t keep getting taken left and right. But being a Ghylo American, I think my chances are slim…

I’m not very much into politics. Partly because I have heard too many political rantings from people in my life. Armchair quarterbacks spouting off all the absolute truths of how things are, so convinced of how brilliant they are. I used to ask what they were doing about it, and get no fulfilling answer. They would vote in a presidential election, and that’s it. No time spent lobbying, no donations to special interest groups, no real world time devoted to their rantings. It bores me. Save it for the local Irish pub.

I also realize there are so many considerations to take into account, there are not easy solutions. The armchair quarterbacks don’t see the whole picture, don’t know the inside story. I’ve always wondered what it must be like for the president to make those tought decisions, having all the inside intel that we can’t see. Tough stuff.

But this post is about the reaction to Obama’s US presidential election. I write this because I’m living in China right now, and reaction over here is VERY strong. I’ve never seen anything like it before, and like I said I’m not really “into” politics. Ignorance is bliss for me in that area.

I remember the first time I heard of Obama – he was on Oprah. I was like “Where did this guy come from?”. I remember he was there talking with his wife. I thought it was odd, a presidential candidate talking with his wife. Why would he do that? Shouldn’t he be focusing on his campaign issues? I figured, oh well, it’s Oprah. And I thought that’s the last I would hear of him, just one of those minor candidates that would be weeded out. But I remember I was impressed by him, but of course knew there was no way he’d make to to the elections. We would never elect someone we hadn’t heard of like that. Maybe a Colin Powell sure, but not a newcomer. I’m so glad I don’t know anything about politics, and that I was wrong.

I started getting emails from friends back home before the election: “Make sure you vote!” – You’re voting aren’t you? Who are you voting for? You’re voting for Obama aren’t you? PLEASE say you’re voting for Obama! In fact I even had a pro-Obama youtube video posted on my website – a friend of mine didn’t watch the video, misinterpreted it and thought it was anti-Obama. They sent me a short email: “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can be your friend anymore.” Followed by an apology after they actually watched the full video and realized their mistake.

When the election results came in I started getting emails from friends in the states, very excited that Obama had won. Then I got several texts from co-workers and friends here in China, things like “Obama Baby!”. I go to have lunch and the waitress stands by me for several minutes and then says “Are you happy?”, and I say “No”, because I was a little down that day. She can’t believe it, she says “You are not happy that Obama won?”. And I was like “Oh, THAT! Yes, I’m happy”.

At work a fellow American was actually dancing down the halls yelling “We did it! We did it!”, referring to Obama. I know quite a few Indonesians here in China, they are mainly Muslim. They are very excited too. I ask them if they know that Obama spent part of his childhood living in Indonesia, and they say “Of course!” – and they are very excited too.

I remember many years ago saying that I would see a black president in my lifetime, but I thought it was going to be when I was much, much older. I had no idea America was ready for this already. I am so proud right now, as many of you are too. I’m proud that my America back home chose this. Like many of you, I think back to when I was a kid learning about the founding fathers. I think about being a kid and seeing “Roots”. I think about our Civil War. I think of all the marches, all the pain. All the people saying “one day” – but it was more of just a distant dream. But here it is – it’s real. And America wants it.

Since 9/11 I am very tired of the molds that America has to be. That is has to be only a “Christian nation” or only for “Joe the plumber”. It’s all things, it’s a fabric. Remember when one of Obama’s opponents tried to make a big deal that Obama’s father was Muslim, and showed pictures of Obama in African traditional clothing calling him a “traitor”? We don’t fall for that anymore. We’ve grown up a little bit.

And I guess I didn’t really realize how moving Obama was until I saw his victory speech on YouTube. This is a real president – a JFK, a Lincoln. At least it looks that way now.

And to the few supremacists still living in America – just wait a term and see what happens. I know you can’t fathom that, but the rest of America wants to see it. And you should at least respect our popular voice.

In fact I know of at least one Bush effigy burning party that was planned, but cancelled because the police here said it was illegal.

I was able to start voting in Presidential elections in 1984. And all that time til now I’ve always wondered, where are the JFK’s? The candidates never seemed like presidents to me, they just seemed like guys. Just some guy who did politics. Not a “president” – know what I mean? I used to think, with all the people in the United States, why don’t we have better people surface? Never even really good choices, in my opinion. Until now – here’s a “real president”.

And the best part of all – we never voted for him because he was black. We voted for him because was the best. And he rarely talked about being black, he didn’t go there. Ok, I’ll wrap this up so you can go read another blog where someone actually has something important to say. I’m just so happy, that’s it.

So just for the record: Yes, people over here in China are very happy. And I am excited to watch what happens from “beyond America’s shores”.

And when I watch Obama’s victory speech; I start to cry. Which is rare for me. But I can’t help it.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrXkBuWNx88

Here is an email that was forward to me, by “Cornelia”: