Macau. Macoma.

In order to make up for my ridiculously serious and somewhat downer of a post from last week, I have decided to write a new post. This one is dedicated to my friend Erin, who swears one day she is going to write a blog containing facts people didn't know about China before they moved here, that may have changed their minds about doing so. Erin, not to steal your thunder, but here goes:

1. Designer labels are always in. They may not be real, they may not be good copies, but if they have a designer label or logo on them, they are in. Buy them. Wear them. No matter what they look like, no matter if you think they match. Do it or be totally uncool here. No one cares if they're real either. Just wear it.

2. Sequins, glitter, feathers, fringe, crystals, bows, frills, lace, rips, etc. You name it, they wear it. If it is a trimming that screams "LOOK AT ME", it must be worn and worn with pride.

3. High heels. Wear them all the time. Jeans, shorts, pajamas (which are always acceptable on the street here), skirts, leggings, jeggings, or tunics with nothing underneath. Cobblestones, pavement, dirt, scooters. Whatever the mode of transport, whatever the outfit.

4. Mismatching is always in. That one is self-explanatory.

5. Screaming is the only way to talk to each other. On the cell phone or in person or up to the window from the street. Just scream, they hear you better. There's a big joke amongst the ex-pats here that if a taxi driver doesn't understand our Cantonese the first three times we say it, if we scream it at them in a very frustrated tone, they get it. You wouldn't believe how true this is.

6. Long lunches are definitely in. If you need to get something done on your lunch break and don't have an appointment, don't bother. Chances are the two hour lunch is going to lap your one hour lunch.

7. You will get stared at. A lot. Constantly. We stick out.

8. They speak a little English in Macau. Enough for you to get by with your dumbed down broken English and hand gestures. They speak more of it in HK. At least most of the signs are translated to English as well. Not so much on the mainland. They've never really heard of English. But everyone will speak to you in Cantonese or Mandarin as if you know it. If you don't, it will make you feel very ignorant. No worries, you're not alone.

9. Avoid clothes and shoe shopping here if you can help it. It only leads to frustration and anger. This has been proven time and time again.

10. What happens here, stays here. We have a new nickname for Macau - Macoma. When we come home from Macau, give us time. It will be hard, but maybe don't ask us what happened at all. Whatever you do, don't press us. If it wasn't completely insensitive, I would liken being here to being at war. We spend a lot of time on the sauce here because there is little else to do and we have had some very rough times. This may lead to gaps in our memories. We will most likely not be ourselves when we come home. We're still in there, but we've changed. Our vocabulary may be dumber, our eyes a little more vacant... But we'll be back.

This place is hard to explain. It is even harder to live. I promise. It may sound ridiculous, but we do have a good support group here. We understand each other. We support each other. So if when we get home, all we want to do is talk to each other for a little while, try to understand. Just be patient.

That being said, I can't wait to find myself back in the loving arms of the States. No matter how messed up that place is, no matter how much shit we get ourselves into, no matter how much the rest of the world can't stand us, it's home. And like everyone here knows: I'm from the South, we're different.

So today, as I sit drinking an Australian beer because it's the best we get out here, wishing it was an Abita Strawberry (which I can only hope my mother is stockpiling for my triumphant return), wearing my Saints T-shirt, thinking about the seasons of American football I missed, thinking about all the people I miss, thinking about all the time I've missed, I can only smile because I know how awesome it will feel to be home and catch up with everyone.

I'll get there soon, just give me a little more time.

PS. Thanks for the post Erin, I'll leave the rest to your blog. Which will be much funnier and more comprehensive than mine. : ) xoxox

PPS. The only way to buy DVDs here is through the flourishing pirate DVD industry. Sometimes you find real gems like Season 6 of Weeds whose DVD menu plays A Whole New World from Aladdin. This is common here; yesterday, whilst walking through the mainland, Sally and I noted that Silent Night, the perennial classic Christmas carol was playing in a park area. Random? YES. Welcome to China, we hope you enjoy your stay.

Courage

I have a very dear friend I have written about before. Her name is Jennifer and she is beautiful. She is an amazingly strong woman and I admire her more than most people in the world. She believes with her whole heart and she loves with her whole being. She is incredible and I wish everyone in the world could know her because she makes everyone she knows a better person.

When I graduated from college, I was scared. Terrified. The world is a scary scary place and the thought of being an "adult" was holding me back. Jennifer gave me a book for my graduation present. I love books, but this one meant more to me than anything else I got for graduation (no offense to anyone). It is called "Courage" by Bernard Waber. Some highlights/excerpts from the text:

"Courage is deciding to have your hair cut.

Courage is a scenic car trip and being stuck in the middle during the best part.

Courage is explaining the rip in your new pants.

Courage is exploring heights - and depths.

Courage is starting over.

Courage is holding onto your dream.

Courage is sometimes having to say goodbye."

Today I needed courage. I brought that book with me to China. I knew I would need it. I needed it a lot when I first arrived here. I needed it more today. I thought coming to China would be different. I thought it would change my life, and me. It was. It has.

I've had a lot to think about this past week. Scary thoughts. Change thoughts. I've made some decisions, come to some conclusions. I know they're right for me and for my life. They are very scary though. I need all the prayers I can get right now to be at peace with my decisions, which are grown up decisions. Sometimes we have to admit that we cannot do things alone. Sometimes we have to admit that the only option is to do things alone.

Sometimes we have to admit that it is time.

Change scares me more than snakes. Which is a lot. Trust me. Change scares me more than needles, which still make me cry at the grown up age of 25.

But change is all we have in life. Every day is different. Even if it's something as little as that, it is still change. Time is fleeting and it is not worth being unhappy in a situation.

Jennifer and my brother and I made a pact before I left that we would not rush into being an adult and none of us would grow up before I came home. In a not so weird, pretty inevitable way, I think we all have. Somewhere along the way, living in a foreign country made me rely on myself more than ever. That is grown up. My brother made the decision to go to seminary - he'll make an excellent preacher - but his current job made him much more grown up. Jennifer adopted a lot of responsibility almost by accident at her current job. I think that made her grow up too. I think our hearts will always be young. We owe that much to each other, even if we accidentally grew up. Growing up is not something you choose. It just happens to you. And if you blink, you'll miss the realization that it happened. It's a scary thing.

But courage is something you choose.

And sometimes it's all you have.

Can We Just Discuss?

I would like to climb on to my apple crate (soap boxes are so last minute) here for just a moment to extoll the virtues of friends in the right time and the right place. Disclaimer: If you are not interested in a post that is going to be mushy, read no further.

I have said it before, but it bears repeating that I have some incredible friends. And I had a moment this morning when I woke up. I thought to myself, "Isn't it amazing that I have all the right friends at the right time in the right place for me?" We are sharing this wonderful journey together and I want ALL of my friends (near and far) to know how much they are loved.

Somewhere in the grand scheme of life, I have lost touch with some friends, moved on from others, kept in touch sporadically with still others, but none of this makes me feel any less connected or distant from anyone. I think of my friends old and new constantly and feel incredibly greatful for the footprint each one has left on me.

Now: to all of my friends in Macau. You may or may not be reading this, I don't ever need to know, I am unbothered either way, but in the off chance that you will stumble across my ever so humble blog, I want to say this in the most public display I am capable of.

You.

Are.

Special.

There is a lot of distrust and backstabbing and hurt going around our place of employment, but you are loved. You are good at what you do, you are loyal, you are professional. It's very easy to forget that when the negativity drags you down. But each and every one of you have something unique and constructive to add to not only this world, but also our show. I cannot imagine having made it this far in this unfamiliar territory without you and you should all know that this experience would have been completely different without you. We expats owe each other strength and compassion in times like these because we are all we have out here. We are who we are and we need to be strong and not show weakness. But we are human. And we are also very fragile. It's easy to forget this in the good times, but impossible to forget in the bad. If you think I'm writing this for you, I probably am. There are several of you out there and I want you all to know I feel for you. I wish I could take away your pain. All I can do is try to help you smile in the face of the dark. Maybe be a little bitty spark in that dark... (Get it??? I'm an electrician... Spark... : ) ) Just a little dorky humor to lighten the mood.

To ALL my friends, I say this: I may look like I'm 16, but I love ya'll like I'm aged far beyond my time on this earth. If you need anything, a shoulder to cry on, a sympathetic ear, a hug, no matter the time, you name it. I will make it happen. {If you're in the States and need a hug, I'll send a proxy.}

You are all precious.

I love you all and miss you more (those back home - Macau, I see you every day!).

Love and misses.

xxx

Another Week, Another Dark.

We were dark this past week, so my last two have been filled with wonky schedules, beautiful weather and evenings off. And some not so fun work in between, but we managed. We completed the task that was supposed to take us all week in 3 days, so we went above and beyond. Which was excellent because our second task needed completing more than our first task. Go team!

In other news, I am officially minus one roommate. He left yesterday for a long stay in Bali. Which you can do when you live in Asia like I do currently. I am jealous and I miss him a lot already, but the transient lifestyle is consistent in one thing: change. And that one thing is the one thing I hate most. What was I thinking? I'm dealing better with it now, I think... I teared up when he walked out the door, but managed not to cry. That's improvement, right???

As of Wednesday I will be the only one in the apartment and then sometime later this week my new roommate moves in. Which will be nice, but also interesting because learning to live with someone always changes your relationship.

On the bright side, the weather is BEAUTIFUL. Sunny, warm, cool breeze... I wish it would stay like this forever. If I could find this climate anywhere in the world year round, I would move there and never leave. I may have to settle for finding a winter home somewhere it isn't cold and there is never snow.

I ordered a new dress off the internet and it arrived a couple days ago. Much to my delight, it fits perfectly! I only have to find shoes to go with it and somewhere to wear it... Oh happy day!

I have some plans for trips coming up. Once they are set, I will share, but I think this might be the beginning of my journeys abroad. Yay!

Just a quick update to let everyone know things are kosher in my world. My next adventure may be to purchase a crockpot and get a massage. Nothing too strenuous, but little things that make life more comfortable. In the meantime, yoga before work to help prepare myself. It's necessary.

I love you all and miss you more...

Love and Misses!

Post Chinese New Year Letdown

I've realized what my problem is. I mass email and blog at the same time and I seem to be alternating between the two. Hmm, must find a way to reconcile and meet in the middle somewhere.

Anywho.

Chinese New Year was interesting.

Fireworks were indeed all that it was promised to be, although prices are jacked up for dumb Westerners because they know we'll pay it and pay it gladly because we like blowing stuff up THAT much. We paid too much without a second thought. But we enjoyed the heck out of those fireworks. There was only one incident that I have been made aware of involving a smile pile of gunpowder released from its oppressive firework casing, a cigarette, and a lighter. He ended up making a trip to the hospital with burns to his hand. You do the math. Memorable, yes. Smart...maybe not... (Shout out to my friend the Bash Brother!)

Other than that, things have been relatively quiet on the Eastern Front. Kate has left us and I miss her somethin' fierce. There is a wedding in October for some friends from here and I plan to be at that wedding. Especially as it is in Atlanta, a mere stone's throw from the Dirrty South that I hold so close to my heart. Alright ya'll, start preppin' for the homecoming festivities... I want a banner and everything, but will of course inform you the minute something definite happens. It is just talk right now.

A field trip has been planned for Guangzhou (read: gwongjo) the first weekend in April. Weekend for us = Wednesday/Thursday. Silly theater schedules. But the point is we're getting away. We'll have breakfast as a group in the morning, taxi to the border gate, take a 2 hour bus ride to Guangzhou, and THEN we'll have fun. Just kidding, I simply wanted to illustrate how close we are to mainland China. There are heaps of things to do including a giant amusement park that some say is the second largest in the world, a zoo, a water show with reportedly no water - I wanna see THAT!, among others. Our friend Andy is travel agent extraordinnaire, he's even taken care of my Chinese visa for me. I need to travel with him more!

Now I need to venture out to Macau and see if I can't find a package that should be here by now. The post office has been slacking in sending package notices and they send them back to the States after a month. Hard to pick up a package if you don't know it is here. On the bright side, I also ordered a new dress. Can't wait for that to come in!!! Yay. Ok. Everyone have a GREAT day. It's my day off, so point for me!

xxx

Well, There it is Again.

We're not 100% positive, but it seems I may have strep throat again. I have 10 new meds in my possession to treat the hives and the strep.

Oh happy day.

Not exactly the start to my action filled weekend I had hoped for. Stupid antibiotics and itchy rash...

Chinese New Year

I am sitting in my bed, waiting for 330 to roll around because I have a doctors appointment to see about the hives that have taken over my body and I just caught up on Christina's blogs (my aunt is currently spending two months on a couple wildlife reserves in South Africa), so it inspired me to write an update. (No worries, I will be sure to post what the results of the appointment are...)

Chinese New Year starts this week. I am reminded of the Bible stories about going to take part in a census in your home town becuase that's a little bit like what Chinese New Year is all about. Except you make that epic journey home to visit your family and have dinner with all your relatives. There is red and gold EVERYWHERE and everyone is really going all out for the festivities. About a month has been spent constructing the fireworks stands on the waterfront and all of the various temporary shacks to go with it. There is a huge barrier that separates the freshly cleared area for fireworks from civilization, so surely that makes it safe from the drunken idiots promising to invade, right? Yeaaaaaaaahhhhhh.

Anywho. It is the Year of the Rabbit, for those who don't know, and for those of you born in the Year of the Ox, don't read the horoscope for us this year. I made that mistake and it is forecast to be a grim year at best for us. Ah well. You win some, you lose some. But in case you are interested, the Year of the Metal Rabbit is not going to be pleasant for anyone, apparently. Just go out there and make it best you can, I suppose. There are giant bunnies decorating every roundabout Macau has to offer and sometimes they just look downright creepy. Sort of anime, sort of cartoonish, all the way unappealing. This culture constantly baffles me. The lights, on the other hand, are magical. I am a sucker for Christmas lights and these New Year lights are no different. They are strung lining the streets in Old Taipa and are just lovely.

The grocery stores here are busy busy with people getting ready to cook fantastic meals. New Year lasts for 3 days, because it is based on the lunar calendar. We get double time because we work all three days and we also recieve three days in lieu, so I don't mind working. We will still get to partake in festivities because of the late nature of the culture here. Things never really get started until 12noon at the earliest, so they last much into the night. That is a bonus when you work in theater and do not get off work until 10pm. Bamboo plants and what appear to be miniature daffodils are plentiful right now and I am thinking of purchasing one soon. I am intimidated by caring for living things after the fish incidents, but hopefully this will go better. {In case I failed to mention, I managed to kill 2 batches of 6 fish. No clue how. But they only lasted a week at most, so I claim they never stood a chance. Diseased when I got them, likely...}

On the other hand, I have been caring for two cats and a chameleon for a week now and they are still alive. I also kept two puppies alive for two weeks in November. Maybe I am a better pet sitter than owner. Hmmm... The chameleon, Tony, has a bad eye and I have been giving him eye drops and I must say, he appears to be improving. I am hopeful for his not-so-speedy recovery, as the exotics vet I managed to find promises that chameleons take infinitely longer to heal. The example I was given: "Puppies take maybe...one or two day to heal. Chameleon take maybe one month to heal." It's all a waiting game now.

My friend Kate is leaving to move home tomorrow and I will miss her terribly. She is a bright spot here and has been my sanity in this out of control environment more than once. To celebrate her going home, we have three days of events and outings planned. As she says, she plans to "go out in true Macau style...Messy". Ah Macau, what have you done to all of us?

Kate and I had a lovely conversation last night about this place though. We came to the conclusion that the people here are truely amazing. Some of the most incredible people I have ever met and people like that are not so easily found in this day and age. The drama is easy to get lost in, but if we stop and think about it, the people more than make up for all the hard. And we will forever be bonded by sharing the Macau experience. That is not something to take lightly, as we all know. I am very lucky to have had this adventure to meet these people and I want you all to know that.

Enough with the sentimentality. I have to take the sheets out of the wash in the hopes that they will dry before tonight. China, you and your silly hang things up to dry rule. What I wouldn't give for a dryer and some dryer sheets. Living here makes me grateful for the little things in my real life, like full size washers and dryers that work, and fabric softener that makes thing smell nice, and normal toilets that aren't a hole in the floor. People, do me a favor and appreciate those things for me until I get back...

More on Chinese New Year and my rash to come. Promise. : )

Love and Misses. xxx