Category: in china

Categories
in china

“and the heart bears indentations”

* since i broke the news to friends and family, i’ve been discovering some interesting thoughts on how the west sees china. the best one-liner reaction to the news so far has been an unexpected “and you’re not afraid of losing any organs?”, which, though ironic, translates very well what i’m trying to say.

other curious remarks include strange food-related topics or fear of us being turned into slaves overnight. i hope this blog will help some people change their mind about the middle empire.

* i’ve packed my suitcase, which is enormous, but weights a mere 23kgs. can you imagine, moving your life to another continent and carrying only 23 kgs, 5 of which are from the suitcase itself? the essential survival kit includes coffee, lots of medicine from mom, summer clothes, my crocs and photos of friends. lots of them.

* this 7th/8th april marks a new life in many ways. a much wanted finantially independent life, but also one where i share my ground with the person i love and in which we get to decide our own future. together. :)

* how did mom and dad deal with all of this? very well. they’re being supportive and dealing with it all in a calm and rational way. most of the time, anyway. i’m quite proud of them. :)

the photo above is from theshanghaieye. more here.

Categories
in china

one week left…

… and time seems to be running fast. i can’t hide the smile. shanghai looks… closer.


by theshanghaieye, on flickr.

Categories
in china music

we’ll have our own rickshaw cart

adventure movies come with a soundtrack. the opening tunes for ed harcourt and miss rita, who sent me and p. the song because it reminded her of us (thanks again!).

it’s called “Shanghai” and we hummmm it on a daily basis, it’s perfect. :)


Let’s move away together, go interplanetary
Maybe in Chinese weather, where it’s sanitary
I’ll go out trawler fishing, yeah we’ll have tuna steak
I’m on a special mission, for us to have a break

We’ll climb the corporate buildings
Spray-paint the outside walls
You bet that they’ll be yielding
When the castle falls
We’ll swim beneath the ocean

Near the coral reef I have a certain notion
That it will not be brief

We’re going to Shanghai
To watch the red sky
We’re moving to Shanghai
Goodbye, goodbye
We’re going to Shanghai
So don’t you cry

We’re moving to Shanghai

Looks like we might have made it
Put on your silkworm dress
You look so beautiful and I look such a mess
Across the city’s landscape, the sun burns crimson red
Maybe the moon will wait, before we go to bed

We’re going to Shanghai
To watch the red sky
We’re moving to Shanghai
Goodbye, goodbye
We’re going to Shanghai
So don’t you cry
We’re moving to Shanghai

Maybe, maybe we’ll have a fresh new start
I’ll learn the martial arts
We’ll have our own rickshaw cart
We’re moving to Shanghai…


(Shangai, Ed Harcourt)

Categories
in china

the anatomy of an adventure

…applications, english teacher, forums, celta, freelance web content writer, waiting, graphical designer, hours per week, proofreader, curriculum vitae, relocating, follow-ups, french, teofl, computer science, photography assistant, software engineer, motivated, rmb, native speakers only, proficiency, portfolio, fluent, yes-no-maybe, thesis, experience, accommodation included, classifieds, patient, esl cafes, scamming, ads, certifications, applications, telephone interview, career, email, internship, information technology, craigslist, expat, developer, web-designer, job board, forms, portuguese linguist, z visa, i am looking forward to hearing from you, ana. stop. rewind. play again.

it’s funny to think that, almost a year ago, i was doing the exact same thing that i am doing now: looking for a job abroad, trying my luck everyday. i eventually did get lucky.

note to self: “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”.

Categories
in china music

ni hao ma?

mandarin
her face is a map of the world
is a map of the world
you can see she’s a beautiful girl
she’s a beautiful girl
everything around her is a silver pool of light
people who surround her feel the benefit of it
it makes you calm
she holds you captivated in her palm

suddenly I see
this is what I wanna be

suddenly I see
why the hell it means so much to me …”

kt tunstall, suddenly i see

i heard the tunes of this song on the opening of the devil wears prada, and it has been stuck in my mind the whole day. i like these kind of jolly songs that make me want to shake my head around and sing out loud. they usually have the energy that it takes to lift spirits and motivation a bit, and turn me into a productivity frenzy bee.
does this happen to you? what’s your soundtrack? please share!

ps – lulu, i’ve started learning mandarin this week :) i’m one step closer!