Wanderlust and post-Shanghai

I've been here nearly 6 weeks now and I'm having a pretty good time. Should be starting work next week which will keep me occupied. There are only so many TV shows you can watch all day while waiting for dinner time. That's kinda what I'm experiencing at the moment in Shanghai. I don't have the money to go out drinking all the time. Furthermore, I'm trying to get a bit more healthy so I've reduced my alcohol intake. All there is to do in Shanghai is drink, so this leaves me with something of a predicament regarding 'fun'. Of course that is bound to change once the football season starts, since I won't have to get up on Saturday mornings without a hangover. Once the season starts my football training is effectively halved. At the moment, due to training, I can only go out on a Saturday night. This is rather limiting and I guess I'll have to get used to drinking the night before work, something which I'm sure every adult has to learn as a rite of passage from studenthood.

Shanghai is a rather shallow city. Unlike the more historical cities of China (Beijing and Xi'an the first to pop into my head) there is little culture at first glance. There aren't many museums, galleries, theatres or anything which most cities have. I'm sure there are some around but unlike London they aren't immediately apparent. And Shanghai lacks any real quality tourist attractions, unless you like tall buildings. Yesterday I watched a movie called 'Genova' with Colin Firth. It was mildly entertaining, one of those new breeds of films without any conclusion and therefore no real point to them. Urgh, I'm sure I'll branch out into movie complaints when I run out of stuff to say about China. It's about a family who move to Genoa, Italy after Colin's wife (and the kids' mother) dies in a car accident. There are some beautiful sets. Compared to the dull metropolis of Shanghai, the scenery and style of everything in that movie really appealed to me. It gave me an idea.



Wanderlust has grabbed me once again. I've always enjoyed traveling around, leaving what I call home and finding something new and exciting. That's what this trip to China is, as well as the language learning and work experience. I feel I've got to do all this globe-trotting before I settle down into a proper career and think about the future.

The proper career project is on a very specific schedule. September 2010 signifies the start of another year of the graduate recruitment cycle. During this month I will be writing probably around 20+ job applications hoping to find a graduate scheme to land me £20k+/year for the next 2 years (2013 is when it would finish). Applications can be done online, I have no need to go home to send in forms through the internet. When it comes to January, the second phase of recruitment begins; interviews and assessment centres. These require me to be in the UK. So my trip to China is from July 2009 until January 2011 for this exact reason. There is a problem with this plan however. While I will apply for lots of positions, it is likely I won't get to phase 2 for a number of them. Lets be prudent and say that I will get to phase 2 for half my applications, lets say 10. So there are 10 positions for which I'll have interviews. If I pass the interview, lets say I do so for 5, then I will have 5 positions which will require second interviews/assessment centres. I am in the UK from January 2011 and I will hopefully have my final graduate scheme job offer by May 2011.

So in 5 months I will have approximately:
- 10 first interviews
- 5 final interviews/assessment centres



That isn't a lot to keep me occupied. I am going to have to do something else during this time to avoid losing my sanity. At first glance this appeared to be a very depressing situation. Due to my need to randomly run off and have interviews, I can only really get a part-time job... or a generally low skilled job. After my 16 months of working as a management trainee in Shanghai, this will be a big 'demotion'. I might get paid more but money isn't my objective right now, lets save that objective for when I have a real job. This means that I am due for a very, VERY dull 5 months before I finish interviews... and then most graduate schemes do not start until September, so add another 3 months to that. 8 months of working in a shop, getting paid minimum wage, and living in Surrey... which is not exactly the most exciting place for a young adult in the UK. I still do not have my driving license, so that was always a plan for something to do. But there's only so much you can learn in a day.

So where am I going with this post, what alternative have I concocted? Here is my initial idea...

The L'italia Life: Version 1.0
I'd been thinking about living in mainland Europe for a while after my return from China. This idea was birthed from my frustration at the Chinese language and my anger (and subconscious envy) of all the "I speak 5 languages" Europeans I met in Sweden. When I was on my Erasmus exchange, there was a small minority of people who just loved to tell you how many languages they knew. It was annoying, mainly because I wish I knew more languages! After studying Chinese alone for the past 2 years (although I took a year off last year), I realised how bloody easy European languages are. These polyglots were so proud of the fact they spoke so many languages, and their stereotypical view of the English as anti-European bigots, which led to it being a common 'insult' to project at anyone who spoke the Queen's tongue as a native. Seriously, one guy wanted to start a fight with me in my own kitchen because he knew 7 languages. What a prick! What's worse is that I've heard many, many stories of people living in France or Spain for 6 months and becoming fluent at the language... at least at a conversational level.



Since I learnt French for 5 years at school (I got an A at GCSE, woo!) I thought that maybe I could spend the January-September 2011 period in France. Due to the wonders of the EU, I wouldn't need any stupid visas or anything. When I had one of my 15 interviews, I would fly back to the UK on a cheap flight and come back to France a week later. Could see the family, my friends and impress some potential employers. Yesterday I checked flights on EasyJet and Ryanair, and they're still cheap despite the recession. So it is a viable idea.

But I don't really like France. And while I'll know French colloquially, I do know people spend years studying it properly. A number of my friends have studied it along with their majors, so there is depth to the language which I will not pick up. I couldn't return from 8 months in France and pass a French degree! France was the option I analysed first because of my previous language training, but I thought about how little I remembered and I'm asked myself "is it really a stepping stone anymore?". I currently know more Chinese than I do French, so I'm thinking the answer to that question is "no".

As I mentioned earlier in this post, I watched that movie 'Genova'. It looked like such an awesome place to live. So much culture, so much history and an absolutely jaw-dropping aesthetic. It's the complete opposite of Shanghai. I've also just finished watching the TV series 'Rome', which was bloody incredible and completely rekindled my interest in Roman history (which I used to have as a child with the 'Horrible History' books). I'd love to experience Italian culture for an extended period. My mother is half Italian (Italian father) and therefore I've got some Italian blood running through my veins. Recently I've had an underlying desire to see Italy, not to exactly "visit my roots" but I would like to maybe check out this country where my grandfather came from. Being a little bit Italian is something I'd like to celebrate, there's such an awesome history and culture to learn about. I always feel like a fraud saying I'm 1/4 Italian though, because I've never really embraced it except on a couple of holidays as a child.

So screw French, why not learn Italian? I've read that it's a very easy language to learn, it sounds wicked and it gives me an excuse to live in Italy for 8 months. I love the EU! Until I got this wanderlust I never really appreciated the Union, but the whole idea that I can just decide "Actually, I don't want to live in France, I want to live in Italy" is incredible. Think about the opportunities. If you ever feel you're stuck in a rut, just go and live in Europe for a while... there are so many cultures and exciting places to choose from. It's like being a fat kid in an all-you-can-eat buffet of culture. I've never been that cosmopolitan regarding Europe (it doesn't help that Europeans traditionally hate English people) but after briefly thinking about this plan I can't help but wonder how much fun it would be to just choose a European country and live there for a while.



This gives me an opportunity to add another skill to my CV, another experience to learn from and to discover a bit about some of my roots. In addition to that, Italy seems like a great place to pick up some more interests. I've left University and I still only have a real interest in football and drinking... it's not exactly the palette of hobbies I want to have when I 'become a man'. I'm not saying I'm going to start going to tons of operas, museums and art galleries, but it's nice to have the option to live in a place so filled with exciting things to do that don't involve drinking copious amounts of alcohol.

I've realised how huge this blogpost has become, so I'll stop here for now. Hopefully I'll blog a bit more about potential plans for the L'italia Life 2011 in the future... I'm sure this isn't a fad but you never know! I'm thinking the next few blogs will be more China orientated, since that's what you read this for I'm sure!

Am I experiencing 'culture shock'?

I've been in Shanghai for just over a month now, which is the longest time I have been in China or any other country (apart from Sweden, but that's a rather tame escape from the UK). At university I was taught on many occassions about 'culture shock' and how it is the number one cause of expatriate failure rates (when firms send their boys abroad for an extended period). Since I've travelled around so much over the last 3 years I've experienced a number of cultures and I like to think I'm pretty immune to culture shock. Firstly, I'm pretty anti-social.. so not only am I perfectly comfortable moving to a new place with no friends, I'm also not the type of person who needs to visit home all the time to give themselves a top-up. Secondly, since I've met an absolute ton of people from different nationalities (must thank the Erasmus scheme for that) I feel like I'm pretty quick to empathize with various people and learn what makes them tick.

Wikipedia has this to say about the phases of culture shock:

Honeymoon Phase - During this period the differences between the old and new culture are seen in a romantic light, wonderful and new. For example, in moving to a new country, an individual might love the new foods, the pace of the life, the people's habits, the buildings and so on.
Negotiation Phase - After some time (usually weeks), differences between the old and new culture become apparent and may create anxiety. One may long for food the way it is prepared in one's native country, may find the pace of life too fast or slow, may find the people's habits annoying, disgusting, and irritating etc. This phase is often marked by mood swings caused by minor issues or without apparent reason. Depression is not uncommon.
Adjustment Phase - Again, after some time (usually 6 – 12 months), one grows accustomed to the new culture and develops routines. One knows what to expect in most situations and the host country no longer feels all that new. One becomes concerned with basic living again, and things become more "normal".

Technically I'm in the 'Negotiation Phase' at the moment. I've been here for 5 weeks and the glitz and glamour has degenerated. To be honest, I've not experienced the 'Honeymoon Phase' this time because I've been to China twice before. Maybe I'm 5 weeks into this 'Negotiation Phase'. But there are key differences between how I feel and how this phase is defined.

I don't feel anxiety. Not at all. I'm not worried about anything. One thing that does hold some truth is that bit about people's habits. But is that really culture shock?

Today I was waiting to cross the road, as was a guy on the other side. Suddenly a guy on a moped drives INTO the person waiting to cross. Not at full speed of course, but like how you'd tap someone if you need to get past in a club... but imagine this time you were tapping someone with a motorized vehicle. It was appalling, absolutely no consideration or manners.

Now, because I find this disgusting behaviour does that mean I have culture shock? My disgust is not from misunderstanding their culture, it's not because it causes me anxiety. No, I am disgusted because in my personal opinion it's downright appalling behaviour and not something that ANY human being should conduct. In England, if someone pushes in front of you in a queue you will feel disgusted right? Maybe you wouldn't use such a strong word but it would cause you to be a little bit pissed off. That isn't 'culture shock'... so just because I'm in China it doesn't mean that disliking the habits of certain people is a symptom of culture shock.

Habits of the Chinese are probably going to be a large part of the content on this blog, mainly because there are a lot of differences between here and the UK. Some of it will be culture shock, some of it may be as explained about. Maybe I should name this kind of shock....

Ok, next-time on 'Asshole Shock' I can fill you in on the Shanghai Succubus

Apparently 2009 is also the Year of the Rat...

...at Carrefour!

Yes the popular French supermarket chain was caught today, by yours truly, as having possibly the most unpopular animal on the planet scurrying around the shopfloor. While I doubt it was plague-ridden, I don't doubt that the place would fail English standards of health and safety. Shopping today was a labourous task.

Since I decided to be healthy I developed a need to cook my own food for a change, eating out every day is not too helpful when trying to calculate calories. My previous shop was to a local Chinese supermarket which was also a challenge. Chinese supermarkets are rubbish, they're nothing like those awesome Chinese supermarkets back home. I haven't been able to find a good Chinese sauce (you know.. like out of a jar) until today, and my search has spanned at least 4 shops which should have some. The selection of sauces at Carrefour was appalling, unless you like Chili sauce or Black Bean sauce... that's all you can get. Compared to the UK where you can get at least 5 varieties of 10 different 'Chinese' sauces, in China itself you can only get Chili or Black Bean. I've got a feeling real Chinese people tend to just buy Soy sauce, fish sauce and a bunch of spices and make the sauces themselves. Bad news for me, guess I'll have to pick up a Chinese cooking book.

Another thing you notice about the Chinese is that they LOVE junk food. Half the store is pretty much dedicated to Cup Noodles, crisps and confectionary. There doesn't appear to be any of this western "people don't eat right so we choose" mentality in China. You'd never see a ruling that Pocky have to reduce the size of their boxes, or junk food advertising bans. It's amazing there are so few fat people in China, I guess this is a new thing and it will catch up... but the nutritional value of food in Chinese supermarkets is next to nothing.

Moving away from Chinese food is a deeply depressing and pointless task also. Pasta sauces cost a minimum of about £4 for a big jar (about double the UK price). That's all they have too, if you want any other foreign food you've got to eat out. They had an Old El Paso Fajita Kit but those things suck.

One thing that did impress me about Carrefour in China was the fresh meat/fish section. They have a very large butchers. I'm very dubious about the quality of meat, I think the next week shall help me make up my mind. I bought a pack of pre-diced beef and some Chicken fillets. To my dismay, Chinese chickens are scrawny bastards. My student practice of cutting the meat off extremely cheap chicken drumsticks & thighs is over. Chinese chickens seem to be completely made of breast meat, the wings and thighs are shockingly bony. Thankfully a pack of 2 large breasts cost me about £1.40 which is just shy of the UK price (which I've always argued is too much). It's ok, but makes me wish I could just eat out and get chicken, vegetables, a sauce and my carbs for £1... without any hassle of cooking.

The best thing about the fish section was the price of scallops. I'm gonna learn how to cook these babies like they do at the Teppanyaki because you can get each scallop for like 35p. Ten scallops for £3.50 has got to be a good deal compared to western standards. To be honest, I've never seen a scallop in a Sainsbury's but it's gotta be more than 35p/piece... they're meant to be a delicacy!

Until next time... if I haven't died of the Bubonic Plague.