Greetings from Guangzhou – Day 13

*at the police station*
Police: Please sign here.
Me: Okay… *signs report*
Police: Write this above signature. *points to sign showing 20+ Chinese characters*
Me: What?!?
Police: *stifles giggle* You can take your time…

Whilst the policeman was very polite, my colleagues were not – they burst out laughing uncontrollably. Kum Seng, my manager even had the cheek to say, “If I could, I really want to take a picture of you writing Chinese characters” Grrrrr…

My office administrator told me to lodge a report with the Guangzhou police because I was covered under traveling insurance and can claim back the money taken. And so, there I was lodging a report in my broken Chinese, trying to tell Mr. Policeman about my incident the best I could. He wrote the whole report in Chinese, and needed me to write above my signature the standard, “I hereby validate that all within report is true etc etc” statement.

Trust me, that was the ugliest looking characters EVER WRITTEN in the history of Guangzhou police station *shakes head in disbelief*.

At least the policeman was kind with my language and written disadvantage, can’t say the same about the aunties at Wanglaoji factory serving my factory a.k.a. prison lunch. Am used at getting scolded already, “What do you mean, you know how to speak Chinese, look Chinese but cannot read our CHINESE MENU!??” *sob sob…*

Am pleasantly surprised with how advanced Guangzhou is. Their buses are very frequent – only about a 5 to 10 minute wait. MTR is very comfortable. The corridor of the apartment we’re staying in actually has ‘detect-sound’ lights, it saves lots of energy by switching on only when a person is around. Haven’t had a bad toilet experience; before I came everyone was telling me how the toilets in China does not have doors. The streets are really clean, they have rubbish bins every few metres; heck, even Malaysia isn’t this clean.

Economically and technologically they’re more advanced and competitive. There’s a wide range of cars on the road (I actually saw a police car that was a Honda City), mobiles, computer devices at very competitive prices (MP3, MP4 players, sound system players are dirt cheap), plus lots more. The only thing I find lacking is perhaps in the people. They’re very rude, rough and unhygienic by spitting everywhere :P

Very unfortunate that my human experiences hasn’t been too well…

Greetings from Guangzhou – Day 10

Dear Kum Seng and Seong Nien,

As per the project plan, the archiving activity is scheduled to complete by the 6th of March (Tuesday). Factoring in the offer for the 3 days extension, we should be completing by the 9th (Friday). Aun Chuan would like to leave on the 10th, whilst Grace and I would like a personal 3-day extension to move around Guangzhou hence leaving on the 13th (Monday). Kindly grant Aun Chuan the replacement leave for working on Saturdays whilst Grace and I will use them up upon project completion.

If this arrangement is agreeable, I will make flight arrangements with Siew Bun:
Aun Chuan: 10th Return to KL (3:05pm) -> Return to Penang (8:50pm)
Grace: 13th Return to KL (3:05pm) -> Return to Penang (8:50pm)
Juan: 13th Return to KL (3:05pm)

Regards, Juan
P/S: psssst… Papa Seng, tour guide service is very much appreciated from the 10th till 12th :D

**********************************************************

Thought you’d be interested in this little piece of information. JUAN IS COMING HOME SOON. Just drafted and sent out this email to my two managers. Decided to make the date formal; in case they decide to extend me till WHENEVER. Even though I don’t really miss home, I think being away from beautiful Malaysia for a whole month is long enough. Really didn’t like the whole, “Juan, it depends – maybe you’ll be here for 3 weeks or 3 months” deal. Figured that it would be better for me to get the dates in writing to at least firm up if they were serious about extending me.

Since now all of you know my departure dates, come slightly earlier while I’m working and you can move around a bit. My apartment = FREE lodging. Then, once I’m off and ready to go for my 3-day holiday, we can go round together. My manager, Kum Seng will be our tour guide :D

Today, we went to this place that actually served dog meat. Goshhh… luckily I picked up this piece of information in their heavily accented Mandarin and steered clear of it!!! Friend online just commented that I should have tried it. At least ONCE in a lifetime, he said. Made me wanna pukul him. I got myself a skipping rope and did some skipping tonight… muahahahahhaha. Ahhhhh…. Am feeling extremely healthy at the moment. Exercised and dog meat-free!!!

DISC Personality Test

Feel like taking a break from talking about Guangzhou. Am working 6 days a week, so mostly all I can share are about the prison lunches, insane amount of food during dinners, and chicken/duck talks between me and my China-born team mates *LOL*.

Me: X, You should bla bla bla bla bla…
Friend: Juan, stop. Please stop. I will never accept whatever you say to me.
Me: ???!???
Friend: You’re a sweet girl to everyone else. Why do you treat me differently?

Today, I want to share something that I’ve learnt (painfully) these couple of years dealing with relationships; albeit love, parental or friendships in general. Does everyone know what a DISC personality test is? Check it out at DISCinsights.

Generally, all people exhibits 4 major personality styles, with varying degrees of intensity:

• D (Drive) – Direct, Decisive, High Ego Strength, Problem Solver, Risk Taker, Self Starter
• I (Influence) – Enthusiastic, Trusting, Optimistic, Persuasive, Talkative, Impulsive, Emotional
• S (Steadiness) – Good listener, Team player, Possesive, Steady, Predictable, Understanding, Friendly
• C (Compliance) – Accurate, Analytical, Conscientious, Careful, Fact-finder, Precise, High standards, Systematic

I used to have so much trouble with people who are High Ds. Their ‘direct, compulsive, sometimes proud, speaking their mind without taking other people’s feelings into consideration and without weighing consequences’ nature just drove me up the wall. The people closest to me are high Ds – my dad’s one, my ex-boyfriend’s another. Tis a curse, I tell you… a curse :D

And you know what the world teaches us? Fight fire with fire. Use poison against poison. That the person should be able to receive what they give. Uh huh… So, I believed that the only way to get through to people with a High D personality is to deal with them with the kind of stuff that they were made of, hence the conversation above commenced.

So, have you guessed what MY DISC Personality is?

I’m a CSI. My C shines like a star - I am a perfectionist and detailed in many ways. Can you imagine; when I was buying my phone… I actually created an Excel spreadsheet detailing all the phones I liked and gave it a point system with each extra feature it had to help me decide what to get :P My S is pretty prominent, I’m easily satisfied with status quo hence being with the same company for the 5th year now. My I… well you can see that in my writings judge for yourself, my friendliness level.

The uniqueness of a CSI, is when in pressure, the CSI will become a High D. Thus, when I dealt with the friend above, I was in a lot of pressure cause the stuff that was directed at me was very direct and very hurtful. So, when two hard fists hits together… guess what happens? Sighhh… a huge ugly FIGHT!

So, what does knowing one’s DISC means? The Personality Test to me, is to make ME a better person. Not as a tool to judge or handle another. Cause… when it comes to dealing with relationships, what does Christ say? Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Ephesians 4:32 – 5:2).

Have you been fighting fire with fire in your relationships?

Greetings from Guangzhou – Day 06

After such a depressing post yesterday, I decided to go a little light today *smiles*. Song Nien and Kum Seng (project managers from Wanglaoji) each lent me some cash… and SO, I was able to shop, shop, and SHOP on Sunday from 9:30am till 9:30pm. I know, it’s a bit of a shopper’s overkill. Was nearly half-dead when I got home last night since am not really a shopping kind of person. Though, there’s a couple of items that I plan on getting on this trip:
1) Waterproof hiking Timberland shoes
2) Waterproof hiking bag
3) Sports shoe
4) Laptop backpack

We took the MTR to get downtown. Took a shot of this sign – No swinging. When I saw this my first thought was, “You mean that there’s actually enough number of instances of people behaving like a monkey swinging from handle to handle on the MTR?!?”

Next warning shot – No climbing. Hahhahaha… to think there were people trying to climb the poles. Errr… Maybe they should put there ‘No pole dancing instead’. Certainly the picture looked like it *wink*. So kinky eih…

Found in China… ONLY in China – No Spitting! I cannot believe the amount of phlegm and spit the Chinese here have. You can even see young, sweet-looking girls spitting all over the place on the streets *faints*.

Last sign shot on the MTR – Please don’t chase and create a disturbance in the train. *giggle* Must have been quite a lot of love birds on the train treating the setting like a garden in a typical Hindi movie :P

Self-explanatory shot of why I so gleefully took a shot to share with all of you – MEI DICK SHOES. Apparently, it’s quite a famous brand and I can see the adverts all over where we were shopping at. My sister’s name is “Mei Ling” and so I recognize the same Chinese character on the sign. Translated to English – Pretty D*** Shoes *LOL*.

So, after a full day of shopping what did I manage to purchase?
1) 2 PUMA sports shoe worth RMB150 (~RM70, so RM32 per pair)
2) 1 switch, there’s only 1 LAN point in the apartment worth RMB55 (~RM25)
3) 1 webcam worth RMB70 (~RM32)
4) Tea flavored plum and tea flavored Chinese plum. Dad willlove these :)

Wow, cheap right? They didn’t have the hiking shoes that I liked in my size. Sigh… guess I’d need to make another trip downtown next weekend to get my Mount Kinabalu/Tahan necessities *grin*.

Greetings from Guangzhou – Day 05

Tis a bleak bleak day *sob sob…* Was a victim of a pick pocket today. What was the damage?
1) My favorite Braun leather wallet
2) Credit card
3) RM150
4) Reminbi worth RM600

As I recalled that someone had bumped into me after we took this picture – a young chap that should be in his early 20s. Quickly called Maybank to cancel my credit card. Was a bit upset when the lady put me on hold for almost 5 minutes cause she was searching for my card number (AFTER I gave her my full name and IC number). After being put on hold TWICE, I knew I couldn’t afford holding the call anymore and just had to notify my parents to help me cancel my card from home. Sigh… it was really my last resort cause dad’s really jittery and would always be worried of his little girl’s safety.

Aun Chuan: Are you alright?
Grace: Hrm… you should be upset with the loss of money huh..
Me: I’m safe, that’s what matters. I can gain back the money that is lost :)

Am fine… just a bit distraught cause need to go through all the trouble of getting an advance with my company’s branch office in Shanghai. Plus, I just cannot remember if my identification card and my Maybank ATM card is in the wallet…. Sigh….

Tis a bleak bleak day indeed…

Greetings from Guangzhou – Day 03

This is the picture of the service apartment that Grace and I are living in. Beautiful and cozy, isn’t it? Simply amazing; the place is complete with water dispenser, washing machine, cooking stove, microwave oven, as well as pots and pans and cutlery!

Our welcoming present – nice-smelling carnations, local Fuji apples and name card holders.

Kitchen area. Grace was soooooo cute, throughout the entire day she was thinking about going to the supermarket below our apartment to get her instant noodles. We just couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw the assortment of noodles.

Ahhhh… my Queen size bed *smiles*. There’s the nice, small table and comfy chair that I use to write my blogs daily. Wardrobe provided (complete with clothes hangers) is even bigger than the one I have at home!!! Am going to really miss living here when we move out on Saturday. Too bad the area is a bit quiet and dangerous, else I would really love to live on.

Today, had an experience of a lifetime when we went for lunch. Each of us were given a spoon, 2 bowls (one bigger than the other), and 1 plate; all made out of metal. Lunch was served on the given utensils and we were responsible to wash our own plates and keeping them safe until the next meal. Ahahhahaha… kind of like a prison experience :D

Quiz for the day: How to ensure no man will ever set his eyes on Juan again?
Answer:
Just get her to continue to enjoy Guangzhou-ise food :P

12 of us went for dinner, and we had 15 dishes. FIFTEEN DISHES!!!!! Roast duck, lotus soup, steamed chicken, fried prawns, bean paste fish, 3 types of vegetables, roast pork with stuffed salted egg yoke, fried fish paste, duck innards, fried kuay teow with beef, plus something else that I just cannot remember. I have to remember to take a picture of tomorrow night’s dinner just to let some of you see the spread. Tis crazy… really crazy... *shakes head*

Greetings from Guangzhou – Day 02

*gets out of Guangzhou arrival hall*
Local man: Hey…
Ang Chuan: Yes?
Local man: Ni yau xiao jie ma? *translated: You want a girl?
Ang Chuan: *dumb-founded and rushes off*
Juan: Eiii… you should have pointed at Grace and me, “U want these 2?”
:P

Once we got out of the airport, there was an old lady begging for money. Wow, 2 incidences and we haven’t even been in the country for more than 10 minutes!!!

Looking on the bright side, we touched down in China with very good weather; 25 degrees. Apparently, the weather rose just in time to welcome us. Tomorrow, the temperature is forecasted to drop 6 degrees….. brrr.

We arrived at Wanglaoji at around 2+ pm. Beautiful working environment. Reminded me more of campus life rather than being at work. Grounds are spacious and there was a big Koi pond right outside our workplace. We got there just in time for a status meeting…

Project Manager: *giving presentation* bla bla bla bla…
Ang Chuan: Oh my god….
Grace: *deep, slow breaths…*
Juan: What?
Ang Chuan: Do you even understand a word that he’s saying?

Hahahahah… this is what happens when you send three bananas (referring to our skin color – yellow on the outside, white on the inside) to China. All three of us have minimal Mandarin vocabulary plus zero Chinese written knowledge. Everything on the slides were in Chinese *snicker*.

Had our first dinner in Guangzhou in some restaurant near our workplace. So, what did a party of 11 have for dinner?
1) Vinegar drink – supposed to give us good appetite, tasted like vinaigrette coke
2) Roast duck
3) Huge flour-battered oysters
4) Sweet and sour pork
5) Braised mushrooms with vegetables
6) See-weed soup
7) Fried sour fish
8) Cold pork legs
9) Scallops – served on shell with a bit of glass noodles sprinkled on top

What a spread, and this was their normal everyday dinner. Everything was very tasty, but extremely oily *urgh!* Was kind of cute when initially, the pot of Chinese tea server was used to manually wash our plates (washed contents were poured to a bowl that was at the middle of the table). Only after the utensils were washed, a separate teapot was brought out for drinking. Then, when we did a “Cheers!!!” on our vinegar drink, everyone knocked on the turn-table instead of clashing cups.

Very interesting… very interesting indeed…

Had some trouble with the accommodation, so Grace and I ended up in a separate apartment at a quieter, more dangerous location. Should be moving in with the rest of the team on Saturday when another two team members moves out onto another project. Meantime, My God is my protection, and with him I am safe – 2Sa 22:3. Mm-hmm… *hugs self*.

My Waja… boo… hoo… hoo…

First, it was the front passenger’s door handle that broke off about two month’s back. That has been fixed already. Last 3 weeks, the left back-passenger’s door handle broke off. This morning, the driver side’s power window won’t work anymore. And if I recall correctly, six months ago I’ve changed the exact power window before.

What is it with Proton Waja’s build quality?!?!?

*sob…*

Matthew 18:20

Warning: Heavy Blog item

Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

This verse must be the most over-used verse EVER committed to prayer by believers. Come on… admit it. You’ve used it before too, right? ;) Whenever anyone wanted to ask the Lord for anything in a group, this verse would be conveniently used to add to the impact of the prayer. Makes me wonder… how many of us actually take the time to go to scripture where the verse was found and read the context of how the verse came about, instead of just immediately incorporating it into our prayers?

Hmm… kindly allow me to cut and paste a couple of verses before Matthew 18:20 from the New International Version bible.

15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Uh-huh… the verse was written in the context of how to handle a brother who sins against us. It is not a license for us to ask for things that we want in prayer within groups of two or three. Does this mean that we should stop praying using the verse above? Certainly not… I believe that it’s a powerful verse, and throughout the bible, we know that there is a power in the gathering of many. These are just a couple of examples:

• Deuteronomy 17:6 - On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
• Deuteronomy 19:15 - One witness is not enough to convict a man accused of any crime or offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
• 1 Timothy 5:19 - Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.
• John 8:17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
  

Sometimes, we unknowingly allow “most commonly used verses” to slip into our daily sharing, testimonies or prayer life. It is our responsibility as a believer not to follow blindly, but know where the verses originate from; Let us be mindful of this, as we use His Word daily… :)