Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Help I'm Japanese and I'm in Love With A Chinese Woman


Thursday, March 26, 2015

Feudalism With Chinese Characteristics

Since 2005 I have worked in China as an English teacher. I graduated from a decent university and earned my B.A. in Modern American Literature. As the years went by I learned like many foreigners in this field that a Liberal Arts degree does not provide a promising future if one did not get his degree in Education. This is exacerbated in China where the teacher is considered a dancing bear, and to pile even more on top I am black. I don’t need to explain right?

For these past years I have been going nowhere fast. For example let’s take the average university in Shanghai that as of 2013 still only offers around 6-8000 Yuan a month; not enough for the average foreigner coming from one of the top 5 English speaking countries. These schools like to diversify rather frequently. You will hardly ever see a Chinese university with the same foreign teacher 3 years in a row. In this aspect your fate is totally in the hands of students and the administration. This is a good way to cut cost because the school never really has to extend your raise beyond 2-3 years. So the next year you try another school and your salary basically starts from the beginning.

Private schools almost strictly work off a teacher’s outer appearance. Many of these schools have grueling schedules with no hope for future advancement. Anyone who has worked at Disney English, New Oriental, or English First knows what I am talking about. If I were to come back every 3 years I would be hard pressed to recognize any foreign faces every 3 years.

To cut it short I knew the writing on the wall my third year here, and by the time I hit Shanghai I was determined to change my career path. The teaching experience offered me the ability to be able to present anything at any time with confidence. I wasn’t making enough money teaching to get a Master’s degree; but I felt teaching offered me a stepping stone to other careers.

For example I am a decent writer. I have been writing since I was 10 years old. Half of my experience in China has been as a writing teacher. For six years I had been biding my time waiting for the perfect opportunity to jump. It finally came at my current employment.

This job combined my experience as an orator and my skills as a writer. My job title was basically language localization and communication specialist. I felt that I deserved this title due to my experience. The employer and I clicked perfectly because it was something I wanted to do and my colleagues saw the passion and commitment I took in my work. In addition; because this was the IT field, I was learning how to be a technical writer. If I ever was to move back to America I would have experience that was worth something under my belt.

Everything was falling into place until it came time to extend my working visa. I went through all the procedures and had my ducks in a row, and then came what every foreigner working in China fears; my visa request was rejected.

The reason you may ask? On my resume I had no IT working experience; even though the job required no previous IT working experience. My job consisted of receiving dozens of emails a day to be proof read and corrected so that they could be published on an online message board. Basically I was proofreading the IT help desk. My other duties included giving lectures on soft skills. I had experience in both of these fields because…


  1. I have been an oral and writing English teacher for 8 years
  2. I am quite handy with the computer and am very familiar with the product.
  3. Basically I was teaching Western etiquette to Chinese along the lines of “the customer is always right
  4. Overseeing PPT presentations was easy because of my experience

These people were outsourced Chinese IT professionals who did not have a healthy command of written English. These professionals were also newly hired university graduates and admitted that none had any strong IT experience in the past. They basically searched the internet for parts of answers and received instructions on how to answer properly. I taught them how to put these ideas together and make them work in a coherent sentence and manner.

When my employer implored further they were told by 1500 Mingsheng lu…

“Why can’t you get a local Chinese to do this job?”

How can one justify such a stupid question with a logical answer?

I mean what right does anybody have to tell me that I can’t work in an IT company because I don’t have an IT degree? Add to the fact that the company and people I have instructed are happy with what I have contributed to them. To me, this is ludicrous. It’s feudalism with Chinese characteristics.

Who writes these rules?

My employer fought for me but with to no avail. So now I am basically up shit’s creek without a paddle, because if I work on an “L” visa it’s illegal.

So it’s either the “L” visa, go home, or go back to stating my case with racist private schools and universities.

I have already tasted the honey of minor success.

I’m going home.

This is one reason why China will stay in a developing state, because I bet if I was Li Tian….and my parents were government officials this definitely would not be a problem. 1500 Mingsheng Lu should marinate on that.

I keep hearing about a Chinese dream. I am an American that dreamed that he was an American working in China for a Chinese company that outsourced to America; attempting to realize the American dream through China; but woke up and realized that he is an American in China, and not Chinese, but American.

There are other worlds better than this.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

The Content of My Character: In China the Resume is Only Skin Deep

          

The HR department of Web International English called me 3 times this morning. I missed all 3 calls due to my busy schedule. When I checked my email there was also a formal letter from them requesting an interview with me, and even asked if I could make it this very afternoon. They were offering 15’000 Yuan a month in addition to a free apartment. I immediately called them back, thinking to myself, that maybe this time will be different.

When I called, a young woman answered the phone, and when she found out who I was, her enthusiasm was hard to hold back.

When can you come in?
Can you make it tomorrow?
At what exact date will your current contract finish?

I mean why wouldn’t she be enthusiastic? I was the perfect candidate. I am a New York native, I hold a bachelor’s degree in American Literature, a 240 hour TESOL Diploma from a recognized institution,  add in the 6 years of experience, and I was coasting.

I agreed to the interview even though I knew that the trek would be far. Currently I work in Nanpu and the interview was located on Hengshan Lu. It would take me almost 3 hours by bus. Because of this I decided to ask the question; the uncomfortable question that I always find myself asking, even though I don’t like asking it. The question, that at times, has employers making me feel guilty for asking it.    

Excuse me, and I’m sorry for asking this question, but is it o.k. if I’m black?

Suddenly the young lady, who had hardly let me get a word in before, was now silent.  You see, I was the perfect candidate, on paper. Instead of her saying, no that’s not a problem she says…

Well we would have to see a picture of you
Why is that?
We have to see how dark you are because we don’t want dark people frightening the kids
But I work with children now and it’s not a problem
Yes, but we really have to see a picture of you

I sent my picture and found that my email was blocked. I called back and she suggested that we Skype. I got on Skype and sent her a request. Four hours later and she never added me. I never bothered to call back. I knew where I stood with her. 

This is the typical response that black native speakers of English get. Aside from the mistreatment in Chinese society on a regular basis, on top of that we must face discrimination in the job market. This is especially true for black people in Shanghai. It’s frustrating to me because English was my major. As jobless days passed me by I realized that for blacks like me in Shanghai, English is an oxymoron, a cruel joke played by the gods. I wait for the deus ex machina, but it never comes, and the story starts all over again.

When I do land jobs they always end up being way outside of town, the type of jobs that Caucasians refuse to take. What is more scary and frustrating is what do I tell my 3 year old blasian daughter as my animosity grows towards Chinese society?  It’s a big problem because she’s half Chinese. I try not to think about it.

China is already a powerful and influential player on the world stage, and as exposure to China grows, Chinese society needs to understand that the world is watching and recording, especially on platforms such as Youtube and Facebook.

I have another phone interview with a school tomorrow. They don’t know I’m black. I think to myself that it will be different this time, but I won’t hold my breath.

Wuhan and Changsha cities: rivalry over central China leadership

Friday, January 30, 2015

Bon Voyage to my Little Angel/Devil

Today my 4 year daughter will be leaving from Shanghai to Anhui Province for  40 days. Although me and the wife will be having some quality time together; I cannot help but miss the little Devil. It is nearing Chinese New Year; so many families head back to their hometowns. My wife's hometown is a small city called Anqing; within Anhui Province. Xena always has fun there with her Grandpa. Me and the wife will be going on our own adventure....To Hawaii...so that ought to be fun....But I will still be thinking of the little devil while having fun.

Shanghai Silver and Gold in China

Friday, January 16, 2015


15 Songhong Road



Song I’m listening to while writing this:
Survival of the Fittest
MobbDeep- The Infamous (1995)

Today I had to get a medical checkup. I’m sure most of you know the place.  15 SongHong Lu; where you have to trek all the way across town and pay 640 Yuan($108) to be prodded and felt up at the official Westerner zoo.
 
I’m usually desensitized to the rudeness of Shanghai. I’m usually immune to the pointing, staring, laughing, and discrimination I receive on a daily basis. I’m also used to rudeness in general. I’m from the Bronx New York City.  I was raised on West 183rd Street next to the 4 line (look it up); a place where your life was on the line every day.

 I was a corner boy; the kind of kid smoking blunts with an Old English 800 Malt Liquor 40 ounce in my hand, having a cypher, and doing my thing; waiting around for drama to happen.  I once got robbed for my gold chain at gun point. The retaliation was ill. But even a corner boy will let the elderly go first or give up his seat for a pregnant woman on the bus.

Through the years I got my act together. Eventually you have to grow up. Enter Shanghai. I dare not even try to compare the culture.  I have been here for years and try to make it work. These days I’m a shill at a multinational company.

Let’s back to 15 SongHong Lu. If you are on the verge of some kind of cultural shock mental breakdown, having a bad day or a dude with a hot temper I suggest you go to another city to get your medical checkup.

A few months ago, a fellow blogger Deqing Devil wrote about a terminal patient who got misdiagnosed by a greedy doctor in My First Visit to a Chinese Hospital. The patient ended up returning and stabbing the doctor to death.
By the behavior of some of the medical professionals in Shanghai one can understand why a patient would get angry enough to do this. From my experience there is absolutely no bedside manner in the medical industry, at least in Shanghai.

I was instructed at 8 am to go to building #1. I arrived early to find no personnel there. No notice to tell you where and what to do. A bunch of foreigners and overseas Chinese waited 30 minutes guessing where to stand or sit.

When the receptionist area finally opened up the people that worked there were extremely rude. Didn’t bother to look at your face and didn’t bother to smile. All they did was bark orders in an arrogant tone. This is endemic of typical behavior of civil service workers when they are aware that they have an ounce of authority, especially the women.

When I went in to take my blood pressure this man put some kind of machine on my arm. I was uncomfortable with it because it was unusually tight, to the point where it was capable of breaking my arm; but he kept barking orders to relax. It went like this with almost all the examination rooms, with grim faces and bad attitudes. It was especially rough when I went to draw blood. The lady kept barking at me with this grim expression to extend my arm, even though it was apparent that I hate needles.  

Then when putting my address on an envelope incorrectly one lady spoke to me in way as if I was mentally handicapped. I honestly wanted to take a television that was still plugged in and smash her over the head with it (welcome to prime time bitch!(an ode to Freddy Kruger)). I left 800($130) Yuan lighter with a bad impression on my mind. I left with a feeling that I had just been duped.

I mean if you hate dealing with people so much why did you choose to be a doctor? (well I know you can’t really choose what you want to be in China). In better words, why did you choose a type of job where you have to deal with people all day?   Go to 1500 Mingsheng Lu and run into the same thing; people with too much authority and responsibility that are not trained in soft skills.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

The Father Lion



It irks me when people try and force their beliefs on others. For example; you have those who spank their children and those who don’t. Those who don’t spank their children call the people who do spank their children bad parents, or what I read more recently, cowards.  Today I had to spank my 3 year old daughter because my wife chose to go out and get a massage instead of confronting the situation. Before you say 3 years old is too young let me tell you.

My daughter started talking at 6 months. She knew almost every common animal’s name in Chinese and English, her ABC’s and how to count to 10 by 18 months. On top of that it seems that she might be left handed. Currently she can understand about 90% of a Dora cartoon.

In my mind my daughter is incredibly clever and incredibly spoiled. My wife, ayi and mother-in-law constantly hover and rotate around her as if she is a red giant. If my daughter is denied something she will quickly turn into the Tasmanian Devil. Talking her down is useless. You cannot put her in time out. She will scream and shout and writhe till finally one of the three will agree to her demands. None of them believe in spanking but all of them got spanked as children. My wife was physically abused by her father and feels like I am continuing the cycle of abuse. I was physically abused as a child also.

But there is a difference between abusing a child and spanking a child. I regulate my spankings to the bottom, and only once a week if it even permits. I was physically abused as a child to the point where the adopted parent took a cleaver knife off the rack, and had every intention of hacking of limbs. I promised never to lay hands on my children. But it’s different when you are actually in the situation, and become a parent. Am I afraid I will go overboard when I transform into father lion? Of course, and it is that fear that keeps me in the right perspective.

When her tantrums get out of hand I take her with me into a room lock the door, and have a little daddy and daughter time. I call this the detox discipline. I have to do this because if I don’t I will have the three trying to barge in and give my daughter what she demanded. When my daughter sees this she is smart enough to raise the bar.

There are just some children in the world that you don’t need to spank. But depending on many factors there are just some children where you have to use a bit of physical discipline.
I love my daughter with all of my heart, and am quite overprotective of her. Shanghai is not the safest place for raising children.  I just don’t want to see my daughter growing up like the spoilt brats of today that are running China into the ground.

Just because I spank my daughter doesn’t make me a bad father or a coward. I’m the father lion and I want what’s best for my cub.