Oddities - Living 'Lavishly' In Qingdao

Oddities

oddity - a strange attitude or habit queerness, quirk, quirkiness, crotchet strangeness, unfamiliarity - unusualness as a consequence of not being well known

The following are some random oddities I have encountered during my stay here in Qingdao.

Take Out Draft Beer
On a sweltering (exceedingly hot and humid) night last week, I decided to stay home and imbibe on cold beer while watching the news on my one-channel TV set (there is only one English channel in all of China).

The neighborhood store had ran out of bottled beer. So I was offered draft beer. I said no, I did not want to drink in his store. He said, "meiwenti". I think it meant "no problem". Whereupon he poured draft beer into a clear plastic bag. I handed him 2.5 yuans and ask for a straw. I was so afraid the plastic bag would burst and spill my precious draft beer. I poked a hole in the bag, stuck the straw and happily sipped the beer while walking home.

Where have all the chickens (parts) gone?
One of my consulting jobs is located in the Qingdao World Trade Center.

One day, my Chinese staff and I went down to the employee cafeteria. For 8 yuans, I had a choice of three kinds of dishes plus rice, vegetable, soup and Chinese buns. Enough food for a week.

That particular day, I had a choice of:
(1) stewed chicken feet,
(2) sauteed chicken neck,
(3) fried chicken head and
(4) dish of chicken hearts, livers, butts, etc.

While devouring my lunch, I asked one of my Chinese staffer, "What happens to the rest of the chicken - breast, wings, legs, etc.".

He made a face and said, "We don't like those parts, no taste. So we export them to the US".

2 Yuans for Bus Trip
For months I have been paying 1 yuan (US$0.14) for bus trips almost anywhere in QD. Last week, I boarded bus #232, and put my 1 yuan bill in the box. The driver scowled at me and motioned I should put one more. I may be a little bit overweight, but I refuse to pay the equivalent of two people. We argued (he in Chinese, I in English). Luckily a Chinese lady (tall, gorgeous and young) intervened and explained that I must pay another yuan for the air conditioning. Since it was too late to get off the bus and take a cheaper non air-conditioned bus, I had to cough up another precious yuan. What a rip off!

Prada, Hermes and Tiffany in Qingdao

Tall, Gorgeous and Yonng
Yesterday, I attended the opening of the Health/Beauty Spa in the new HiSense Plaza Mall here in Qingdao. Not too "shabby" - Prada, Gucci, Hermes, Tiffany, etc. Short Hills Mall in New Jersey and Rodeo Drive in L.A. come close in comparison.

I figured if I shopped there, I can afford an ice cream cone from the Haagen Dazs kiosk. Even that one looks too expensive to me. Leather sofas, and more.

The Spa is so upscale and classy - but - for women only. Fixtures and furniture are European and American brands - Kohler, etc. But Made In China, of course.

Lots of tall, gorgeous and young Chinese ladies in attendance. I, Helmut and Tomas (my expatriate (Germans) friends) were conspicuous in blue jeans, t-shirts and backpacks. A six-women (tall, gorgeous and young) traditional Chinese musical ensemble greeted us at the door. Then Chinese hostesses (tall, gorgeous and young) served us (non-stop) French, German and Italian glasses of wine and champagne, which helped with the hors d'oeurves -- caviar, truffles -- nah, only cheesecake, canapes, etc. For a while, I thought I was at "The Donald's" party.

My Chinese lady-friend (tall, gorgeous and young) invited me to join her at next week's opening of the French Printemps store in QD. I am a sucker for free booze and tall, gorgeous and young Chinese women.

The Olympic Arenas - Politics, Econimics and Sports:

The Olympics of Politics
Oh, as I was writing this blog, an RSS (news feed) streamed by - on Amnesty International's news release about the 'horrible' human rights record of China. Ten days before the opening of the Olympics!!! That's great timing. At the same time John McCain (my own party's presidential candidate) just had a meeting with the Dalai Lama.

Added on August 1st: Bush meets with 5 Chinese dissidents in the White House, and promised to bring the message of freedom on his trip for the Olympics....NYTimes, July 31st.

I am one of 5 remaining supporters of Bush II in the world (the others are wife Laura, mother Barbara, dad George HW and veep Dick Cheney. Yet I am appalled at how he has given in to left - Democrats, liberals and do-gooders. Why now? Even if there is a reason for supporting the Dalai Lama, this is hardly the time.

There are two million ethnic Tibetans, perhaps a few hundred of them supports the DL. There are 1.3 billion Chinese. Do your math. From my perspective, 99.99999% of Chinese are very optimistic and increasingly happy with their lives. The United States of Meddlers (USM) should butt out!

The Olympics of Economics
While I am at it, I say that the debate whether China will overtake America economically (in GDP) is over. The question is when - 10, 15, 20, 25 years? Most economists predicts 15 - 20 years. If the US turns more liberal and socialistic, i.e., less capitalistic, (Et tu, Obama?) I think the crowning of China as the #1 economic world leader will be sooner. America has become its own worst enemy.

Today's news article - U.S. deficit to hit record level of US$490 billion; U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) will grow 1.6% this year and expand 2.2% in 2009.

Last week's news article - China trade surplus for the 1H 2008 declined to mere US$99 billion (sic) due to slowdown in global markets. China's GDP grew a 'disappointing' 10.6%.

The Olympics of Sports
Many are forecasting that China will be numero uno in the Beijing Olympics. China was #3 in Sydney (2000), #2 in Athens (2004). There is even talk that Russia may spring a surprise by coming in #2 to China, which may place the USA #3. Time to be less cocky, America.

In basketball, Team USA is promising to 'bring back' the glory days. The US was bronze medalist in Athens (2004), silver in Sydney (2000). But if these NBA stars do not come down from the dollar laden backboards, they may not even make medal. China, Russia, Spain and Argentina (the depending Olympic champions) will be huge problems to Team Millionaires.

My Life in Qingdao

Six months have passed, I am still here in China. I decided to start a blog as some people had asked about my well being here in Qingdao......and what is going on in China -- from my perspective. For obvious reasons, I can not blog negatively. But there is so much positives here, so why bother with those mundane, unimportant issues such as human rights, global warming, Tibet, etc.

My Life is 'Difficult and Boring' in China.
I thought blogging (or bragging?) about my nightly dinner routine is a good place to start.

Most evenings, I take a 10 minute walk to the RT (da run fa) Supermarket (3 floor building) to buy dinner and also, to watch the 'older' people dance in the public square.

Sushi and Peking Duck
After 8 o'clock, prepared foods at the supermarket are marked down. So.....

I go to the Japanese section of the supermarket and buy a plate of Sushi at 50% discount. Normally cost 15 yuans, marked down - 7 yuans ($1.10 - used to be $1, but the US dollar keeps losing its value - that hurts).

Some nights I splurge --- I buy Peking duck - complete with pancakes, sauce, onion. Discounted about 25 yuans ($3.25 - again, it would have been cheaper if the dollar was still mighty). Usually enough for two.

Paris Style Sidewalk Restaurants
On my walk to/from the supermarket, I go via a street lined with Chinese restaurants. Since it is summer, they have tables outside - on the sidewalk and on the street itself. So, cars have to navigate around the dining public.

A big mug of Tsingtao draft beer cost 3.5 yuans ($0.50). Dinner usually is hotpot - pot of boiling water atop a gas burner on the table - I pour in clams, shrimp, octopus, squid, vegetables, thinly sliced beef, etc. - a little over $2. Btw, tipping is not allowed in China. Besides, what do I give - US$0.20?

At other nights, I just settle for a large plate of craw fish (they call them 'little lobsters' - larger than the US version) - costs $2.

Or, I go to one of the dozen BBQ places. I point at the kind of BBQ I want (since my Chinese is bad, pointing is more effective) and they cook it right in front of me. A stick cost 1 yuan (15 cents). So, devouring a few sticks of BBQ with beer cost me less than $2. Of course, I have to sit outside and get honked by the cars.

Since I am on a diet -- no dessert. But, most nights, my stomach is mightier than my will.

Google-ing Chinese Girls
While having dinner, I goggle ( verb -- to search/look, then open/undress) at the nice looking Chinese girls in short shorts.

There is no God in China? You must be kidding. Look at those legs and beautiful, slim bodies. After all, God is the creature of all things, right?

I smile. When they smile back, I offer them a stick of BBQ. It worked once!!! This particular rendezvous cost me 35 yuans ($5).

So I stopped smiling since then.