NYC & Beyond

Settling Back Home, One Month Later

2012-02-12T12:12:00.001-05:00

Itt's been exactly a whole month since I escaped from China, back to NYC. Here are some significant (at least to me they are) updates:

- I think about traveling every so often and it shows by my excessive reading of travel articles.
- I had a few interviews and I have a severely part-time job, less than 10 hours a week teaching new immigrants who recently came to America.
- I have a business plan in its infant stages.
- I went to a really awesome, chill bar in Union Square called Park Bar, which just might be my favorite bar in NYC so far. This bar is not to be confused with The Park by Chelsea, which reeks of vomit spewed by 19 year old Asians with fake IDs.
- I have an interview next week for a bilingual family trainer position at a non profit org. I will be required to give a mini-lesson in Cantonese. Say what now?!
- I had really expensive Korean BBQ at Madangsui on W32nd. However, they give away free pens.
- I'm still anxiously waiting for grad school interviews. The results of them will ultimately lead me to very different plans.
- I went to a casino in New York City. As expected, it's not my thing.

Reunion dinner. This dish, while pleasant to the eyes, tasted really bland.

- Had a huge family reunion. It was a session of eating and learning about who had more babies, who's going to college, who's getting married and who had an affair with a Japanese woman in the 1950's before returning to Hong Kong! Oh no he didn't!

Being Labeled A Foreigner Wherever I Go

2012-02-09T18:00:00.001-05:00

http://www.motifake.com/34331

I was on the subway platform waiting for the R train, when a Latina lady in her later 30's walked up to me and said...

"Excuse me...do you speak..?"

I immediately assumed Spanish, so I tried to say, "Uh, no sorry." (I was even thinking back to my high school Spanish).

But then in a matter of seconds I soon realized she spoke perfect English. She wanted to go to Chambers Street and I proceeded to help her with directions.

In Asia, this would be the opposite. Someone would ask me for directions, but sometimes I wouldn't know how to describe it in their language. They're confused as to what the hell is wrong with me, and I go about my day, laughing about it later.

I know I can't blame anyone really and I can't be angry either. It seems to me that I will never escape the label of being an immigrant or a foreigner, anywhere I go. The only sad part is that this is the city I grew up in and even when I'm in my late 50's, it is very possible that this scenario would play out the exact same way.

Funny And Sad Photo

2012-02-06T22:20:00.001-05:00

Ministryoftofu.com

It's just as bad as an American Flag or the brand American Apparel, Made in China.

Legal Gambling In New York City

2012-02-04T12:16:00.001-05:00

Photo: vinnyfrombrooklyn.com

One of the newest and biggest establishments to hit New York City since I've been abroad, is Resorts World Casino New York. I went to this fully legal casino, in Jamaica, Queens, just to check it out.

The place itself is new, about a year now. It doesn't scream glamorous, nor exciting like Vegas, or even Atlantic City. This place for me, was overall depressing.

Photo: Newsday

I guess coming from a NON-gambler, it would. This casino technically is a good thing for the NYC economy - bringing in jobs, while keeping the spending local, instead of to out of state casinos.

The clientele was unsurprisingly predominately Asian.

One thing that is different about this casino is the fully automated system. There are no physical dealers, as the casino isn't licensed to do so. Instead it's virtual dealers for everything from Black Jack to Roulette.

However many jobs this casino brought, I really hope the gambling addiction doesn't go out of control.

I don't support gambling, but if you want to try your luck occasionally,

Resorts World Casino New York is located at:
110-00 Rockaway Blvd Jamaica, NY 11420
(718) 215-2828

One Of The Few Remaining...

2012-02-01T12:15:00.003-05:00

86th Street/Stillwell Ave. Brooklyn

Hot Roast Beef Hero $8

...Italian icons of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn is John's Deli. There are plenty of imitators, but this one was the original since 1968. Famous for their hot roast beef hero, it fits perfectly when you have the craving for that large portion of beef, cheese, gravy, onions, crispy hero and more beef. With the growing number of Chinese restaurants in Bensonhurst, I'm glad there is still the original John's Deli. Who knows if they'll be there forever, so if you're in the neighborhood, stop by!

Of course, there's also a John's Deli in Staten Island, since I heard that's where all the Italians went since they sold their property to the new wave of Asians and Russians.

2 Years Ago...

2012-01-26T02:20:00.001-05:00

Awful propeller plane ride

The 20 to 2000 peso scam ride.

James blacks out Korean-Style because our flight is stuck in Busan due to fog.

...I met James and Myra at Manila International Airport in the wee hours of the morning for our Philippines trip! I miss these two a lot and they're some of the most authentic people I know. I'll never forget our fond memories together and this post is dedicated to you two.

So much has changed since then. The well-mannered and hysterical James is married. The quirky and phenomenal Myra is engaged. And I have a second child coming soon.

Okay, that last sentence was totally false. No second child. I don't have any children as of now. Well, at least not that I'm aware of.

Pyongyang Restaurant Offers A Little Reconciliation

2012-01-25T22:44:00.000-05:00

It may just be a restaurant, but it's sort of a symbol and it made me smile.

Also, I'm excited for Korean BBQ this Saturday.

I Forgot How Much I'd Miss...

2012-01-25T11:51:00.001-05:00

Two eggs, Provolone cheese and slices of pepperoni on a toasted sesame bagel. It was amazing.

...New York Bagels!

Happy Chinese/Lunar New Year! 新年快乐!

2012-01-23T12:02:00.003-05:00

Enjoy your presents, we get straight up money on our holiday! - dipity.com

The term only makes sense in America because it's actually called Spring Festival in China and Lunar New Year and different names in countries like Vietnam and Korea(새해 보내세요!). Regardless of the PC name, it's essentially like American Thanksgiving, only no turkey and lots of other foods. In China, there's that and red envelopes with money inside!

While there will be lion dances and firecrackers in all Chinese neighborhoods around the world, only one place will have this:

China during the peak Spring Festival holiday. The largest migration of people in human history. via Chinahush

I've seen this before, near the peak holiday season. I'm glad I'm home celebrating it with my family for the first time in 3 years.

Beijing Bites Back! (In Response To The HK MTR Incident)

2012-01-22T13:13:00.003-05:00

Wow, it got really serious. In response to the Hong Kong metro incident in my last post, a Beijing professor on a news segment in Mainland China called Hong Kongers dogs repeatedly, because they're the creation of English colonists and they're brainwashed people that used to be Chinese. He also stated that they're just like the Koreans, who look down on other countries.

I'm not trying to take sides, but the metro incident was because the Mainland Chinese woman's child was eating and spilling food on the train. Then she was yelling and making fun of Hong Kongers accent. Did the Beijing professor have to attack the Hong Kong guy for speaking Cantonese? Last time I checked Hong Kong's official language is Cantonese, not Mandarin Chinese. Also did he have to make fun of Hong Kongers living in a small city with tiny living spaces? What does that have to do with anything? Truly low, in my opinion.

By the way, this video was the second one I had found. The first one was taken down by YouTube censors for being a video that promotes hate speech. Since when did YouTube censors understand Chinese?!

Hong Kongers Feeling More Rage Against China

2012-01-22T10:55:00.003-05:00

"Don't argue with them. Mainlanders are like that." - 1:01 in the video.

I don't agree that they're all like that, but that's how many Hong Kongers feel about Chinese people from China. I always find the battle between Hong Kong and China very interesting. China is a developing country and Hong Kong is super developed (ahead of China many decades in development), though they are technically one country. This leads to occasional battles between their different minded residents.

Okay, I lived in Mainland China for a year so I know how some, but definitely not all, have no sense or respect for hygiene. In this video, clearly the Mainlanders (mainland China) are wrong for yelling at Hong Kongers, telling their children to not apologize and even have the audacity of making fun of their Mandarin Chinese. Hong Kongers speak Cantonese and can barely speak Mandarin, but this is in Hong Kong! The lady is acting like she owns the place. This is definitely going to add fuel to the fire as Hong Kongers already complain that Mainlanders coming to Hong Kong are spitting, skipping on lines, throwing trash on the floor, having babies and taking away their freedoms of speech (something they're very proud of). I really wonder what's going to happen in 2047, when the so called "One country, Two systems policy ends," and Hong Kong is completely part of China's one system rule.

Original article found on Chinahush

Realizing Changes In A Depressing New York Winter

2012-01-20T10:52:00.000-05:00

My last New York winter was in the beginning of 2009, which was exactly 3 years ago. For that reason I had forgotten just how cold New York can be.

photoshow.com

Speaking of 2009, I can't act like it's 2009 anymore. I've realized the longer I've been abroad, the more things change back home. In just over 2 years, family changed a bit. There was a death. My cousins seem to be popping out babies left and right.

I can no longer be in the same room with the same group of friends now. New jobs. Break-ups. Friends dating friend's ex-girlfriends. Marriages. Children.

It was always in the back of my mind that things would be different when I come back. I guess you can never expect how different it actually will be.

As for me, it's been a week since I've been back, even though it seems much longer. The timing of my sleep is much better but I still wake up earlier than I'd like.

I've been applying for jobs and I have finally have my first interview on Monday at an ESL training academy for international students. I have my doubts as the place is barely google-able but we'll see.

Winter at it's peak in New York, can be really beautiful in the right places at the right moment. Other than that it's kind of a downer when it's less than 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

To make matters worse, the forecast calls for 3-4 inches of snow this weekend. Yay.

Worst. Jetlag. Ever.

2012-01-15T11:19:00.000-05:00

I'm going to avoid pills...for now.
language101.com

You would think the third time coming back from an extended time abroad, jetlag would be easier. If anything, it's the complete opposite for me.

In September 2010, the 5 day break in NYC I had between leaving Korea and going to China resulted in no jetlag.

Maybe it was the lack of sleep while being held up in China days before arriving. Maybe it's the freezing temperatures outside. All I know is that this time around I am passing out at 2pm and waking up at 8pm. I wake up in the middle of the night at 5am and can't sleep until the afternoon. It's horrible and I have only left the house one time to go to the bank and pizzeria in the 5 days since I've been back. They say it generally takes 1 day per time zone that you are away from. China is 13 time zones away from the Eastern U.S.

I certainly hope I don't need another 7 days!

China Isn't Done With You Yet...

2012-01-14T12:14:00.002-05:00

Remember that show "Lost" and that famous line, "The island isn't done with you yet." Well, that's essentially how I felt when I was at the border of China and trying to get into Hong Kong International Airport for my flight back to New York.

My work visa had unknowingly expired on January 9, 2012 while it was already January 10, 2012. I had no idea the university gave me only 9 days after my contract to leave (I figured it would be like last time, until the 30th)

Shenzhen Bay Port, China.
I was denied entry here at night and did the walk of shame by foot to find a taxi (gov.hk)

I begged and pleaded to no prevail as the officer told me to get a hotel for the night in Shenzhen (border city with Hong Kong), go to the Police station in the morning and forget about my flight. 妈的!

To make matters worse, I had lots of heavy luggage and not much cash since I changed nearly all of it to US dollars.

Eventually I found a cheap hotel, and by that I mean the ones with boxes of condoms in the room for sale and thin walls where you can hear all sorts of couples making high pitch noises at 2am. Those kinds.

After about an hour searching for a way to make an international call, I called Korean Air to book a new flight for the next day for $550 more. As if I had a choice.

In the morning I rushed to the police station where they treated me like a petty criminal. The policewoman gave me a, "tsk tsk you overstayed 2 days! You can't leave China."

Isn't it ironic that when you overstay your visa in China, the penalty is actually to stay longer. 5 days to be exact and apply for a new one after that day, just to get out! Anyway, the police captain spoke to me and said I would need to pay for a new Chinese visa in 5 days for nearly RMB1000 which is about $150! I begged the guy to let me pay a small fine since I didn't have enough money and he told me there was no fine to pay. The punishment for overstaying in China is to stay in China. Does that make sense to anyone?

At this point I was desperate enough to think about offering a bribe. When in China, right? However, the captain told me to try again at the border and make up a sob story.

"Tell them you had to overstay because you had a sick relative or something."

He seriously told me that. He also said they didn't put me on record and there will be different staff, so it's a 50/50 chance.

I grabbed my 100+lbs of luggage and rushed to Shenzhen bay port again, only to find literally thousands of people waiting on line. When I say waiting on line it also means random people skipping and pushing. It was peak Chinese New Year traveling time which meant the largest migration in human history was happening right in front of me.

WorldNomads.com

It finally gets to my turn to see the immigration agent. I prepare to tell my bogus sob story of a friend who had to get cancer treatment yesterday, but to my surprise the agent looked at my passport for 5 seconds, stamped it and let me go. I held in my "Yatta!" shout and a few steps later, I was in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong trip, January 2011

I realized what had happened. The pain and sweat I endured with the long crowds of never ending Chinese people, had actually saved me. It made the immigration agent rush and not look at the date of the visa.

The moral of the story? Always check your visa expiration date. Oh and freedom doesn't come easy baby.

Goodbye China!

2012-01-09T22:58:00.000-05:00

A fond memory of a quiet summer day. Took this at Xiangtan's Yuhu Park in the summer of 2011

Xiangtan's Yuhu Park (193.km.cn)

vol1brooklyn.com

I'll miss the culture, food, people, low prices and amazing only-in-China places.

For the next 24 hours I will be finding my way down to Hong Kong to fly to Incheon for a 4 hour layover (at 5am, otherwise I would love to visit some old friends!), then finally to JFK via Korean Air.

I'm thinking a Meatball Hero at John's Deli or a Pepperoni and mushroom slice at the local pizzeria once I drop off my luggage at home.

Great Lessons I've Learned In The Past Two Years

2012-01-07T00:55:00.000-05:00

It's going to be really difficult living with someone. Whether with one or a few people.

Things need to be clean, but I hate cleaning.

More money really doesn't mean more happiness. We've read stories, but I've seen it and it's true.

Vegetables can be a main course.

There are all sorts of crazy people everywhere you go.

I over analyze things sometimes.

I hate cardio.

People are rarely faithful.

Religion can be the reason for some of the most honest and wonderful people.

Women's sexist part of the body are the legs.

Girls who do unnecessary plastic surgery are victims (I guess) of a flawed superficial society

Lazy, but beautiful girls are still a big turn off.

Cooking can be fun.

Education is VERY VERY VERY important.

Don't take internet freedom for granted.

Clubbing really isn't for me.

So You're Going Home?

2012-01-03T07:54:00.098-05:00

I'm going back to New York City in one week's time and I've been hearing a lot of ,"Are you worried?"

Worried? I guess you mean the job market. Yes, obviously I'm aware of the poor job market out there and I know it will be more difficult than ever before. However, I remain optimistic. I'm still holding on to the grad school plans and hope to land a job I will enjoy.

Would I do it again? Yes. Abso-friggin-lutely. The past 2.5 years will be one of the most memorable and defining moments of my life. While I've made mistakes during this time, I am still glad to have experienced everything the way it was, bad and good. I have seen some of the most beautiful sites in my quarter century life. I have tasted some of the most exotic cuisines. I have learned to love foods I disliked before, like carrots and cilantro. I have met some of the nicest, amazing and most beautiful people ever.

Self-development. I am more open-minded. I am more patient. I am more confident. I am more appreciative. I like to challenge myself. I am more passionate.

While it may sound like a recipe for a résumé, I have learned how to adapt and make the best of situations. Just a few examples would include:

No place that serves hamburgers beside Mcdonalds in Xiangtan? Nearly impossible to find ground beef? No problem. I bought ground pork and made my own patties and eventually after nearly half a dozen times, the most amazing pork burgers ever...

Keep getting ripped off by taxi drives? Motivation to learn Chinese AND the bus routes. Speak better and save money.

Random times of no running hot water or lack of electricity? Learn to do what most of the world does - shower with boiled water and wash clothes by hand.

Some things however, never change. I still can't dance for my life(dancing classes in the future?). I don't take fake people too kindly and some days, I will not feel like pretending to like talking to you.

Changes ahead: This blog's direction will obviously be a little different. I haven't decided what or if even it will continue going. But if it does, definitely more NYC, less beyond.

10 Minutes And You Learn All About China

2011-12-29T08:59:00.009-05:00

No, I don't think you learn all about China. I just think it's an interesting way to learn a lot about China through these visuals. I do, however, love the ending. Yes, he is spot on with the fact that China is one big contradiction regarding things like being thrifty yet like to show off their wealth and like to maintain tradition yet show they can rock current fashion.

Merry Christmas In China

2011-12-29T00:55:00.002-05:00

A little late but Merry Christmas.

It may be small city China, but Xiangtan feels more like New York City on Christmas Eve. The car, bus and foot traffic around town are at the highest I've ever seen. It was quite strange to see people celebrate a western holiday, but then it makes sense if you think about it. In America it is (okay, only kinda nowadays) a religious holiday, but in China it is more of a chance to do some winter-shopping-and-eat-out holiday.

I went food shopping for a foreigner potluck dinner and went through crowds of people as if it was Black Friday at Wal-Mart. Western culture, no matter how much Asia tries to repel, has put their foot down.

A gift I received - a popular hand warmer that people use when walking on the street. Yes, I still prefer gloves.

International Christmas dinner. Yes, there was Kimbap!

They don't look like much but made with melted Australian processed cheese,
ground pork, fried onions, garlic powder, lettuce and tomato.

The Burgers: Not to be cocky, but some proclaimed, "I love America!" after eating my burgers. I can say they're the best burgers I've ever made ever. Ironically, it happened in China.

Korea Vs China (The Final Comparison)

2011-12-27T09:49:00.002-05:00

No, actually it's more like Incheon vs. Xiangtan. Fine, more like Bupyeong/Jakjeon vs. Xiangtan University.

The point is, this comparison is really just based on MY experiences:

Air Quality: The air in Xiangtan is HORRIBLE. While I should understand that South Korea is a developed country and China is still developing, I still think one must understand the environment before coming to China. Building are erected everywhere and to do that you need lots of construction. To do that construction you need lots of trucks and lots of people who smoke. Good clean air is definitely hard to come by.
Winner: Korea

Seodaemun Prison in Seoul, South Korea.

Attitude Towards The Japanese: Both countries seriously hate their neighbor to the east.
Winner: Korea & China

Attitude Towards Other Foreigners: Racism exists in both countries, but while curious Koreans will probably only give a shout of "Hello!" to foreigners (yes, even in big cities!), Chinese people seem more open to speaking (conversations) to foreigners (despite their horrible English) and at many times give special treatment to them. This is despite the fact that there are more foreigners in Korea, than there are in China. Well, both are still better than most American's attitudes toward foreigners though. "Speak English!" said the obnoxious American.
Winner: China

Dirty preparation outside a restaurant in Xiangtan, China.

Cleanliness: China is a developing nation and as expected, Korea as a whole is way cleaner than China.
Winner: Korea

Drinks: Soju (Korea) is better than Baijiu (China), simply because it goes down well, while Baijiu is like downing bleach. Cass and Hite from Korea weren't great, but China's Tsingtao is actually alright.
Winner: China

Food: This is a tough one. I absolutely LOVE Korean food and I miss Kimchi, Samgyeopsal, Saemul Pajeon and Kimbap greatly. Flavors range from spicy to sweet. However, Korean food is limited compared to the endless different kinds of Chinese food. There simply is no national dish of China. Each province has their own flavors and taste. Noodles and buns are more of a northern thing and rice is more of a southern thing. In Hunan, the flavor is spicy with lots of chili peppers. It's not my favorite, but I make the best of it.

Also, the vicinity of Incheon and Seoul meant more Foreign restaurant options, compared to Xiangtan and Changsha.
Winner: Korea* (but China as a whole, wins)

Foreigners: Foreigners in Incheon and Seoul are much more common than Xiangtan or Changsha. While I lived in the same building with foreigners in China, there was more unity as a group with the foreigners in Korea, resulting in stronger bonds while there.
Winner: Korea

Heating: In my apartment in China, my heat comes from the air conditioner, but in Korea it comes from floor heating which results in warm feet, all the time. Obvious, huh?
Winner: Korea

Job: The co-workers at my school in Korea were mostly cold (yes, even the Korean English teachers) and didn't really make me feel at home, with the exception of Jenny Lee, who was really the warm front that didn't make me dislike the job. The co-workers at the university in China are much friendlier, are always willing to help and practice their English. While students at both places were friendly, it is much easier to teach university students who some plan to have their careers based on English.
Winner: China

Hongdae, Seoul
Source: Seoulsurvivor.blogspot.com

Nightlife: While Changsha is known to be the nightlife capital of China, I like Hongdae better in Seoul, South Korea, because of the long strip of bars and clubs. Changsha has awesome nightclubs on a strip, but then you have to take quite a walk to get to the smaller bars.
Winner: Korea

Safety: I have never felt like I was in danger in both countries, except for that one time I came home to my apartment in XTU and it was robbed. Also, I have never seen a bank in Korea that had bulletproof glass. Meanwhile, I understand why China (as in the U.S.) needs bulletproof glass.
Winner: Korea

Terracotta Warriors at Xi'an. One of the most fascinating sites I've seen in my Asian Travels.

Travel Opportunities: While Korea has plenty of places to visit, it is essentially an island, because you can't really visit the north (the short, stocky man with glasses won't allow it). Jeju-do, Busan, Seorak mountain and Jinhae are all wonderful, but they really can't compete with the giant country of China. The history and sights of Xi'an, Nanjing, Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong just can't be beat.
Winner: China

Transportation: In Korea, I lived in a major city (Incheon) with a reliable and effective subway system. Xiangtan, doesn't have a subway, only a bus that stops running at 6:50pm! While Xiangtan taxis are extremely cheap (starting at about $0.70), they frequently try to rip you off. Incheon taxis are much safer, rarely cheat you, but is more expensive. In the end, I choose safety and reliability over price.
Winner: Korea

Vacation Days: Korea gave me a few weeks vacation per year, China gave me a few months per year. Obviously.
Winner: China

So there you have it. It's difficult to say which experience was better. I had fun in both places. I met great people in both places. I learned many things in both places. I improved my skills in both places. I have no regrets at all, and both China and South Korea will always have a place in my heart.

The above sappy statement clear shows that I've been in Asia too long.

- 14 days left before the departure.

Most Embarrassing Chinglish Ever

2011-12-23T22:57:00.002-05:00

真的?! (REALLY?!)

Well at least they have the picture of the Great Wall right. Seriously, spelling the most well known symbol of China wrong is as embarrassing as some Koreans claiming Confucius was Korean.

By the way, the wine was not greet.

Late 20's?

2011-12-21T22:55:00.004-05:00

So does the age of 27 no longer count as mid 20's anymore?

What Is A Bizarre Food To You?

2011-12-19T04:24:00.001-05:00

We've all heard of the stories about Chinese people eating dogs and cats. In fact, I remember being teased by other children in elementary school for being Chinese, which to them meant I ate dogs and cats.

Well anyway, I turned out just fine!

I will admit that I did try dog meat soup one time along with Myra in Beijing in January 2010. It was a spur of the try-all-bizarre-foods moment. I don't support eating dog meat and I don't think it tastes good.

Living in China, I have learned a lot about the so called bizarre foods eaten by Chinese people. First, MOST people do not eat dogs and cats. The ones who do eat it, do so on occasion like dog meat in the winter time to supposedly make them feel warmer. My response to that is to wear a warmer coat.

In Korea, eating dog meat was common, although I had never tried their famous boshingtang (dog meat soup).

In Japan, some eat dolphin and whale meat.

In Cambodia, fried insects are a common snack.

So what about the non Asians? Are they just normal compared to the exotic Asians?

Horse meat in Paris, France - Telgraph.co.uk

Bizarre food is really subjective. Who is to say a hot dog or a hamburger is not bizarre to someone in another part of the world. It's simply not fair for one culture to dictate to the other culture is what eating norms are. I think eating dolphin or whale is bizarre and I wouldn't do it, but what right do I have to tell the Japanese people what to eat?

At a hotpot lunch where I learned that French people aren't just about wine and cheese. They can eat "bizarre" foods such as horse meat, lamb brain and chicken feet as well.

Not exactly lamb brain, but a pig's brain was available at a hotpot meal. No, I didn't try this unappetizing food.

Lunch with the family every Saturday after I tutor. On the right, chicken feet with the nails still on.

I have tried all sorts of bizarre foods in Asia. Most of them I didn't like, nor would I eat again. However, the biggest lesson I've learned in the past 2 and a half years is understanding. Sure, you can find things unappetizing and downright disgusting, but understand this isn't your home. Understand this is the norm here and accept that it is part of their culture. There's nothing worse than an arrogant foreigner asking, "Why do you people eat that?"

A Debate About America And China

2011-12-13T01:46:00.003-05:00

It's just about Finals Week here at Xiangtan University and that means for me, the final few weeks left in Xiangtan, China.

As a final class, one of my classes had a debate and one controversial topic I gave them was, "The U.S.A is better than China."

After the "Ohhhh's" and "Oh no you didn't" comments from the crowd, I heard some great points from both sides. The Against side made arguments about the violent gun crimes and racism in the U.S., while the the Pro side made an argument about the high quality education institutions like Harvard and Yale in America vs. the inferior version in China. The Against side's rebuttal to the education problem was;

"Well, we can travel abroad to study and come back to China after that."

That statement resonated throughout the class. It's true that China has some great universities, but when compared to America, most, if not all Chinese students will agree that education in China is a problem and much better in the U.S.

- 28 days left in China

The Starbucks & Pizzahut Symbol

2011-12-12T01:45:00.001-05:00

When it comes to pizza chains in America, Pizza Hut is a familiar name, along with Domino's. I don't really like any of these chains (Papa John's is okay), because New York City has plenty of awesome non-chain pizzerias like Grimaldi's and Di Fara's (Yes, even Bad Boys Pizza in Bensonhurst), but Pizza Hut does very well overseas.

Not the Xiangtan one, but looks just like this.

Where as in America, it usually looks like this.

Take Xiangtan city for example. It's a small city in China, but Pizza Hut is a fine dining restaurant. Many people in this city eat spicy food and rarely like to eat sweet food or even cheese for that matter. So why does it do so well?

Status. It's embedded in the culture to show off. In fact a ernai, or second woman or mistress, is really important to a rich man. It shows you are successful. Research this if you don't believe me!

Back to Pizza - While there are definitely people who actually like pizza, there are also people who go there, well to just show that they went there. The food is 4 times the price of a regular meal in casual restaurants, but to chomp down on unfresh pre-frozen pizza (yes, really) from the night before, shows you have class and are privileged.

Then there is Starbucks. The first Starbucks just opened a few days ago in the fancier part of town. To me, having a Starbucks really shows investment interest in your city. Starbucks isn't a franchise and each one is corporate owned. It proves headquarters knows there is potential in this developing city and people are getting richer.

Back to the taste of Hunanese people. Many people have complained to me that coffee is always too bitter, even with the milk and sugar. The fact that I passed by the grand opening of Starbucks full of people proves it's going to be really popular, despite the fact that not everyone likes overpriced coffee with Italian names for cup sizes.

As for me, I think Starbucks is okay, because of the mocha cappuccinos, free WiFi (usually), and clean bathrooms.