Geography 101

Well, I'm going to flex my geographical ignorance on a hunch that you too may have some misconceptions about this little region called Asia.

Turns out Indonesia isn't an area....but rather a country. I always thought....actually....I'm not even sure that is right.....

The Philippines isn't one big island, but rather a bunch of small islands. Trip on that for a minute.

There is a place called Laos and its a whole country.

The drive from Shanghai to Hong Kong is 20 hours....and some people actually do it.

Taiwan isn't a city, it's an island. Taipei is the biggest city on the island. I'm not even gonna get into the politics of it being a country or not.

The distance between Shanghai to South Korea is less than Portland to Klamath Falls. I think the South Korean mascot is a pelican too.

Mongolia is way up there.

The Russians were able to leave the Eastern front once Japan went south after the rubber and tin resources....marching their army clear across the continent, they made it to Moscow just in time to stop the Germans on the Western edge of Russia. Huh Dade?

The first person to fill in the names of the islands in this picture gets $20.....$30 if you do it before October 19th!

I'm going to guess Mia Fast will be the winner.....

Driver David

Our driver David got me a welcome gift- a Shimano spinning reel!

He was worried that I wouldn't catch any fish with a fly rod around here....so he's making sure I'm set up.

I will catch fish with a fly rod. I think he thinks I'm going to only fish little dry flies all the time....but I'm going to show him what I got, see if he thinks anything will work.

David showed me some pictures this morning that were pretty promising. Apparently you can dive about 45 minutes to the coast and rent a charter that will take you out to fish for snapper and yellow fin tuna. We'll be hitting that up for sure! They will also drop you off on these small islands and you can fish from shore. I saw pics of the islands- they are small and nothing but rock....just what you'd see off the Oregon coast really. I couldn't help but notice that they looked just like the small islands I've been seeing on the news that China and Japan are fighting over.....

Anyway, he's legit- every picture on his phone is of him with fish. When it comes to fishing, pictures don't lie....Kris usually does though.....

David's English is pretty ok and he's very willing to help do anything. So this morning we are going to go to the electronics mall and get a few adapters and a home phone.....I bought a home phone for cheap at target before I left- but it blew up as soon as I plugged it in.

Here are some pics of the mess I'm trying to wade through to find a phone....

Oh- last thing- I woke up at 5am and started pounding the pavement- cause what else do you do at 5am if you can't sleep? There is a Lamborghini dealership about a block from our house! I'm gonna test drive one!

Peace Out

I'm out. Special thanks to Jen for the ride to the airport!

16 hours from now I'll be in Shanghai....someone better have a big "Welcome Home" sign for me at the airport.....better yet, pay off the government to put it on the reader board on the highway.

Meanwhile, my phone isn't gonna work until Wednesday morning Shanghai time....I think that is Tuesday night here in Oregon. Need something- email me.

I only have a couple of days in Shanghai before we bounce to the Philippines....but I'll be spending a few days cursing the toy stores looking for a birthday gift for Gino....open to good ideas....

I'll try to keep this blog updated while I'm over. The back end statistics are saying we have at least 3 people consistently visiting the blog here....don't want to disappoint all of you!

Countdown begins today:

25 days away.....

Truly yours,

El Tigre

Medical School

October 19th is just over a month away!

Through the course of my 28 years on this earth, I've met a number of people who were or are going to school as a "Pre-med" major. That means their undergraduate degree is geared toward a post graduate education in medical school.

To date, I know 2 people who have become doctors- and one of them I didn't meet until just before they went in to med school. Congratulations to the Williams family, Jay and Sarah, for completing medical school! Free medical advice for me!

Keep your feet on the ground but keep reaching for the stars. This blog is for you- the 99% who think they're going to be a doctor before the reality of your ambition comes to light....there is still hope....you can be a doctor in China!

Not to bag on China too much, especially since I don't know anything about the place (yet)- but check it out- if you're going to get a visa to stay there they make you take a physical exam. Apparently it's pretty comprehensive and includes an ultra sound, EKG, other things, and an eye exam.

Anyway, google it and you'll see that it is a bit of a formality- and if, for example, you have bad eyes- the answers to your eye exam will be given to you....courtesy of your exam administrator! Those are my favorite kinds of tests.

Sarah made it to her exam last week and managed to snap a couple photos. She doesn't take bad pics- its just that finding anything interesting in this place is probably next to impossible.

Again- nothing bad to say about China, the place is going to be sweet...it's just that I couldn't pass up the opportunity to point this one out.

PS- please excuse any typos....blogging from my phone, while driving, while towing a boat, in traffic...

Xintindi

Sarah got a chance to get out and about around the house on Shanghai yesterday.

The included pic is the back side of our apartment building- a little park with a fly fishing pond! Fish caught there will be yummy!

The area we live in is called Xintindi which means "new world on earth". It is right in downtown Shanghai, and is a scene! Picture dudes with poodles....

The streets haven't been that busy though!? I don't know where the 23 million people are- or when they're going to show up....but for now all seems quiet on the home front.

I say that like I'm there- or have been there lately. To be clear, I'm at Sarah's parents house right now hanging out with their dog Joey.

October 19th is right around the corner, mark your calendar!

Sociology 101

Well, Sarah had her first big meeting today in China. Yup, got to sit through the whole thing- and realized it was ALL in Chinese!

If you didn't already know, they speak Chinese in China....makes meetings tough to understand I'd guess.

She was able to send me a quick pic of the introduction of the meeting. It looks to me to be a mix of That 70's Show and American Idol. Hopefully I can get the photo up on the blog this time.

I'd guess that pop culture in China is very similar to the TV show Wipeout- maybe Sarah can post on this blog one time and let us know what she's found out this far.

All that being said, no one is hitting the keytar scene in China yet- so if anyone wants to be on the cutting edge of coolness.....

Last but not least, looks like our house appraisal came through good to go. I went in and cleaned it once over and closed the doors as I walked out.

PS- October 19th is the big day!!!!!

The New Job

I spoke with Sarah this afternoon.  She was on her way to work- it was Monday morning in Shanghai...Sunday afternoon here.

She gave me the rundown of the next week on the job.  It sounds like a busy week!

Tomorrow she's off to the "coaches conference", a big get together for all the Nike store managers.  I'm nervous for her- she has to speak in front of like 1000 employees....and is going to try to throw down a few Chinese phrases!  Good luck Sarah.

The conference is in Hangzhou and she'll be there all week.  After that she is back in Shanghai for about a day, then off to Beijing.  Good luck Sarah.

Apparently when she travels for work, there is a lot of eating "local food"....so she's going to pack some power bars in case the local food doesn't appease her sophisticated palate.  Good luck Sarah.

Meanwhile, I've laid out my entire collection of fly fishing crap and have figured out what I'll be taking with me to China.  What is that you say?  You can't fish in Shanghai?  Wrong.....our driver David fishes in Shanghai and is going to show me whats up.

Most of the stuff I'll be bringing is saltwater stuff as I anticipate more (and better) fishing in some of the tropical areas near Shanghai....Christmas Islands are calling my name!

I grew up at 2167 Harvard St in Klamath Falls, OR.  Had a neighbor by the name of Joe Caraher who's writing style I'll be adopting for this blog from here on out.  I'm not sure I can do him justice but I'll try.  Joe was a good family friend and had this cool, old school style of writing that I always enjoyed.  He was the editor of the Herald and News.

Last thing- turns out the first week of October is a bad time to hang around Shanghai- so we'll be making our first trip to Thailand or maybe Laos.  We're welcoming any suggestions or advice on where to go....