I love my American boys

I think I take pride in being the minority. The mis-fits and misunderstood. Here in China I am the minority. However, so are a handful of other Americans whether or not they are conspicouous or inconspicous.

 

Lately I have found it absolutely adorable to see lost American boys (you know by their shoes...Europeans always wear leather).  Usually, he'll be about a foot taller than the surrounding  crowd--slightly pinker in complexion and towheaded--glancing down and around at his iPhone map.  I just want to take their hand and lead them to the nearest pub or sports bar. We can drawl on together in our monotone accents, drink beer, eat fries without mayonaise and demand an excessive amount of napkins. 

Nigirisushi Balls Meet Queen Sea Big Shark

I was excited about the night. I was finally going to see some of China's home-grown rock bands. I have constantly heard that Beijing has the better of the music and art scene in China. It's got that reckless edge that the Shanghainese are just too "sophisticated and gentile" to do well.  Well, tonight Beijing 's was in town.

 

So a coworker and I started the night in TianZiFang for Japanese. A platter of sashimi on ice, a row of nigiri balls, duck salad, and a glass of plum wine later, I was good to go. Just around the corner was the newly renovated MAO Livehouse.

 

 

 

Playing tonight was one of Beijing's more popular Indie Electro Rock darlings known as Queen Sea Big Shark. Immediately noticeable is their perfectly styled rocker image and bleach blonde femme fatale lead vocal.  The band's got style for sure and watching them perform; they've got enthusiasm. However, I'm not so sure about lead singer Fu Han's vocal ability. She seems to inject the charisma and punk rock attitude that her band mate's anchor with actual talent.

 

 

 

Best said from this article excerpt found here from Rock in China:

 

'Musically among the most sophisticated bands in Beijing, Queen Sea Big Shark are immensely focused in both their song writing and their performances. Their stage act displays a ferocious discipline that consists of Cao Pu’s guitar (one of the best guitarists in Beijing) backed by an incredibly tight rhythm section. All of this control anchors the band in a way that throws singer Fu Han’s out-of-control gyrations and frantic singing into sharp relief."

 

Basically without them, the lead would just be a screaming mess of unintelligible words, and without her they would just be a couple of musicians with no unique edge... 

 

Anyways, all together a good night that somehow all revolved around the ocean and fish.

 

Check out their music page below here.

I recommend the E-Ocean track.

Spring is in the Air

So next to my office is West Gate Mall 梅龙广场，which usually has a lot of promotions in their central atrium for new products. Most of them are tacky and over-done advertising campaigns.  However, this last Friday Guerlain was there for their new fragrance.  I must say I have never seen a more interesting pop-up store.  It kind of makes me want to go in to event and set design! The concept was well executed, engaging, and elegant.  Here are some shots below I haphazardly snapped on my camera phone ( I lost my SonyEricsson so these shots do not come out half as nice as they would have):

This is the honey bee room filled with golden balloons and propelled by mounted ceiling fans

This was the showcase tent 

In the showcase tent are all the perfumes that Guerlain has in its collection. There were special atomizers tubes to diffuse the perfumes perfectly so you could only smell it if you put your nose right up close.  The ingredients that go in to Guerlain's perfumes were also displayed for you to smell and learn about.   I tried to see if I could detect one ingredient from the other in the perfumes. In the center is a circular booth for you to sit if you decide to customize your own scent.

The make up pavilion constructed of illuminated sheer black fabric

An aerial shot of all three

  

My First Chinese Beauty Treatment

So after 5 months here in Shanghai, my skin has withstood continuous exposure to a dry indoor heat, dense outdoor air pollution and cigarette smoke,  showers that are always a little too hot, and about 30 some hours of flight time. I thought my poor skin was due for some pampering.

I have noticed that the majority of Asian women have impeccably nice skin. Even-toned, dewy, white. What is their secret?! I decided to ask my landlord, a Shanghai-native and one with beautiful skin even at 40+. "I have been going to RUBIS for years! Here is their number," she said. "Many locations."

So I made an appointment at RUBIS for their most basic service and wow can I say I had the best spent 300RMB(about $46US) facial/eye-brow sculpting/full body massage/ micro-dermabrasian ever.  When I went for my appointment I was greeted by the receptionist and led to a waiting area where a skin consultant would offer recommendations see if you wanted to do any add-ons. I didn't.

Then, you're led to the locker room where you can store your things and change. Your beautician is waiting at the door for you when you leave. She is essentially your guide until your treatment is over. I had to go to the restroom before beginning and she led me through the maze of back hallways that are most Chinese malls. She---her name is Bo Bo, was waiting for me at the bathroom exit to lead me back the way I came less I get lost!

The facial began first with a back and leg massage which was most welcome after my deadline at work. Then you flip over and she puts a heat pack on your stomach to keep you nice and toasty while she cleans your face.  Afterwards you steams it and does a little micro-dermabrasion on problem areas.  Next, she does your eyebrows which I thought was a really nice touch because I've never heard of a place offering it as complimentary even though it's always something you need. Then she puts an exfoliating tonic (maybe gycolic acid?) on your skin and a mask. Bo Bo also gave a neck and shoulder massage while we waited for it to dry. Finally, she takes off the mask and gives me a moisturizer.

Bo Bo was absolutely amazing and multi-talented, but when I asked her for some recommendations on what was right for my skin--she hesitated and said it was best I ask the skin consultant. It was not her job to recommend. Only to execute. What kind of feudal thinking is that?! I thought. But then I remembered where I was.  China is divided in to this weird hierarchical society which really "puts people in their place" and discourages pro-activeness. Here was a prime example. Nevertheless, I thanked her and went to see the "skin consultant" after I was changed.

I'll be back at RUBIS and if ever you come to Shanghai, ladies you should too! It's totally worth it.

*The only down-side is that their staff does not speak much English nor is their website offered in English. However, their service pamphlet at the location is bilingual and translated very well.

Pearls & Pastries

Culture Chanel Exhibit; MOCA Shanghai 

I always find it interesting to go in to the minds of other designers to discover their influences and inspirations. It does not take much to affect a designer and especially after the John Galliano and Alexander McQueen incidents of late, demonstrate that we are "fragile artistic creatures"  prone to snap under stress or flourish within recognition.  This year, Chanel came to Shanghai and displayed her wares at the Shanghai Contemporary Art Museum in People's Park.

Below are some of my favorites:

Karl Lagerfeld "Coromandel" coat inspired by Chinese screens 1996-1997 Fall/Winter

Coromandel Eye shadow Palette 2005

Mosaic Encrusted evening gown

Variations on the Classic Wool Jacket

Costume Design

Afterward, contrary to the exhibit, I met some coworkers for dinner at an industrial style restaurant. Table No.1 is housed within a renovated warehouse cum hotel called the Waterhouse by local design firm Neri & Hu. It was Shanghai "restaurant week"---whatever that means because we didn't exactly eat at discounted prices, but none the less it was nice to have a taste at a special menu. All in all it made for a very French night. 

Lobby at Waterhouse

Lobby and Lobby Bar at Waterhouse

Reception Desk at Waterhouse

Table No. 1 Restaurant; clockwise from left:
Me, Miki, Santi, Genny

Starter Course: Duck Foie Gras 

Second Course: White Fish and Squid Ink Rice

Miki's Second Course: Steak Tenderloin and Potatoes

Third Course: Some type of Sorbet and fruit

Genny's Third Course: Pineapple, Cream, and Carmelized Sugar

Frustrations & Analyzations

This post is inspired by a recent report by China Daily newspaper about the disproportionate representation of modern and traditional culture. Unfortunately, I think the issue goes deeper than that. Here is an excerpt but you can read more about the report here.

"We have emphasized our traditional culture to an extreme extent in the past decade, but we don't have a strong voice in international dialogues," Yi Junqing, director of the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau, said during a press conference for the release of the Annual Report on China's Cultural Soft Power Research (2010).

I can attest by saying that since my stay here I really do not know more than maybe two liberal-minded young people. This is not to say that they don't have fun, but just that their goals and beliefs are traditional.  I think this is the biggest difference between Chinese and American youth. Chinese have a very ingrained sense of following and obedience and they lack a diverse life experience.  Therefore if I may boldly conclude, Chinese then develop a provincial outlook on life because that's all they know.

In fact if I can go on a bit of an interesting tangent: the word for problem or trouble; wenti 问题, is the same as the word for question.
The word for learn; xue 学, is also the same as the word for imitate.


It may just be a coincidence, but it's particularly frustrating because, my Mandarin is far from perfect, so either I can't find someone who's English is good enough for me to chat with; or I find someone's who's English is good enough but there's nothing to talk about.  I love old things, but you can only talk about it so much before you feel dull, bored, and like you've aged 10 years during the conversation.  

  Along with many other things, China has yet to develop a current culture embracing it's new international standing as a power-player.   China is still observing, imitating, and reproducing foreign ideas. In a recent post called "From Communitsts to Consumerists" I also mentioned the obsession that the majority of Chinese have with brands. I suppose I could look deeper in to this as representing a desire for quality because there is a lack of quality control on the mainland---and so they look to foreign brands. But I hope, hope, hope that this will change and the country will look to establishing itself domestically.

Home for the Holidays

I was going to make it home for the holidays (Chinese Lunar New Year) after all, but so where a ton of other Asians. This is the line to check-in for Air China Economy class at Shanghai Pu Dong  Airport. 

Anyone see a counter nearby?! The line was so long it wrapped into the entrance hall. However, the flight was operated by Japan's ANA so the crowd was surprisingly well-behaved. I don't know if the same could be said for an all-Chinese line of passengers.

So after a canceled and rescheduled flight, I also had a 4 hour lay-over in Tokyo's Narita Airport...but what would have normally been an  unpleasant waste of time turned out to be quite entertaining. For one, there are the Day Rooms and Showers for you to primp and prep, followed by abundant duty free shopping for those in need of mochi indulgence, a wi-fi lounge area, and a little novelty I wanted to try called an oxygen bar. I chose the orange blossom, eucalyptus, and citrus lime sampler. Not bad. But maybe not something I would try again. I just felt I wanted to "cleanse" my lungs after months of breathing in Shanghai's traffic exhaust, but an oxygen bar? Totally frivolous.  Air is the last thing on earth that is still free.

Tokyo Narita Airport Dayrooms & Showers

Tokyo Narita Airport Wi Fi Lounge

Tokyo Narita Airport JUKO oxygen bar

Tokyo Nartia Airport Origami Shop

Tokyo Narita Airport Fatty Tuna Snack

And Finally, A Lucky Continental Airlines Exit Row Seat!