Cute. Rotund, brightly-coloured...generally happy. What ARE these? An array of piggy banks, coffee mugs, and other generally impractical but interesting stationary pieces sold at an underground subway mall that is similar to the PATH (for those of you from Toronto).

So I'm going to talk about the concept of 'cute' here. Why is it done? I haven't figured it out yet. How? Everywhere. Just absolutely everywhere here. The girls embrace it. Clothes are frilly and laced with bows and flowers, all pastel in colours. Car seats...yes, adult car seats, have doily-laced flowery seat covers. Umbrellas are adorned with flowers. Toys look chubby and huggable. In fact, it seems, mainly from a female standpoint at least, the women here favour looking like prepubescent, underdeveloped girls, putting up two fingers to pose 'cutely' in a photo, wearing everything in an 'adorable' fashion. This pretend-innocence is something a Westerner is not used to. Especially if said Westerners are used to getting flashed R-rated images and raunchy 'sexy' ads overtly from the moment they learn to speak. This over-the-top girliness really seems to be the opposite of what we're exposed to. However, I do not believe for a moment it makes the Chinese any less scandalous. It just means they are more covert about it. Which just makes them more crafty! My conclusion? I could never ever fit into their preference of frilly femininity, but humans are all just as scandalous, whether it's lace or leather.

Of course everyone has a certain perception of how certain cultures act, regardless of the context. That's just a fact. To ignore that is...well, ignorant, in my opinion. What's interesting is when you see first hand how others think you'll act--or the things they think you like. Take this fine establishment, for example. A bunch of us went there this weekend. It was quite high-end. However, it seemed to be a themed sports bar. All the bartenders were in soccer jerseys. There was also a giant screen playing soccer. The furniture and decor, though, was extremely fancy chandeliers and 18th century European style couches, walls and sidings. In fact, the contrast was so kitschy, I wasn't quite sure how to make it out. It seemed as if they decided to shove everything they knew that was remotely Western into one: sports, European furniture and English music. That is, they did this without taking into account differences between Westerners in a Westerners' own culture.

I do often believe that variations within your own culture can be greater than those between other cultures. Seeing this example reminded me of that. Maybe I haven't been exposed to enough places here to find out what the East really thinks of the West...but to me, it seems like all the ingredients are right, it just tastes different. I won't even go into Chinese pizza, done 'Western' style, with a crust made from phyllo pastry. Then again, I know for a fact chicken balls and chop suey aren't Chinese. Don't even try. Cultural conventions sometimes confuse me.

Today I learned a lot about corporate culture here, and how it differs from North America. I may have already mentioned that the company expects you to live, eat and breathe the job. I should also mention the extreme side of this is seeing the company host group weddings, which, I'm not going to lie, scared the SHIT out of me. A wedding branded under the company's name, plus an entirely free gift registry...but would anyone really want that? I guess there are, because there were dozens of couples in the photos I saw.

Anyways that's besides the point. There is a lot of social structure at the company that keeps various 'ranks' apart. It seems a little disturbing to me, that people 'only play with their own kind'. I realize this happens in more corporate environments downtown TO or anywhere else, but to have that division really disturbs me. Really, what do you have on someone else other than experience, and anyone can gain it simply by being on the planet longer, or being willing to learn. The next thing I need to comment on is the age thing. It really seems that unless you are a bit older here, you cannot gain respect. I am more 'middle of the road,' but there are several younger people to which older people simply say 'oh they are too young to know' without ever finding out if they actually are.

I learned another thing...you need to go through several ranks in communication before you reach the 'person at the top'. i.e. you aren't allowed to approach higher ranking people directly, you can only do that through their assistants or lower ranking people. It feels a bit like the army in that respect.

Today I did my first presentation at the company. It was for clients from the UK, and it was done in a glass boardroom, of which there were--I want to say--20 people. I wasn't too nervous, but I did find out afterwards I had violated some important 'Chinese' business rules. First of all, you go around the table and shake everyone's hand. Afterwards, you give them your business card *with both hands*...not casually flicking it out of your wallet (oops). The next thing is, the clients always sit on the side with the windows, and the hosts always face across from them. Lastly, it seems that when it comes to Q & A, it's a free for all. Our company was grilling the client, and even got out of our seats (not me, other people) to ambush them for marketing figures. To a Westerner, it was strange to see, and I could see the English people were quite taken aback.

It is very very interesting working here, and I'm wondering each day how many cultural rules I'm breaking. I'm also told, here, no one bothers to 'be polite'...just "turn on the AC if you're hot, don't ask if it bothers someone else--that's a Canadian thing," I'm told. I also learned you shouldn't use the washroom unless it's lunchtime or break time--or an emergency. You shouldn't eat at your desk, because it's improper. It's ok when everyone talks in a foreign language in front of you and you have no idea what they're saying, because it's 'normal'. Hmm what else... oh yes, the lunch 'nap time'....people here gulp their food so they can run back to their desk and nap. Wow, I am clearly not well-versed on Chinese culture at all. But I am learning...

To come, I will write a commentary on the differences between China and HK culture--because, despite popular belief, the two are exorbitantly different things...and yes, I am learning that because my family background is HK, it doesn't qualify me as "Chinese knowledgeable" for where I'm living...more on that to come.

Well well, I finally got back onto blogger, as it's been blocked here in China. Connection is shifty at best, so I am going to back post a bit, starting with my first week in China.

Here it is, May 22:

A 16 hr flight, 2 hr ferry and 1 hr car ride later, and I made it to Beijaio, a lovely city just outside of Guangzhou. It is peppered with palm trees, gardens and rivers, and has some mountains, too. I threw all my things in the hotel, and within hours I had to be at work the day I got there! I was surprised to learn a lot of the locals spoke Cantonese, which I speak, so it makes it easier to get around. However, in the workplace, very very few people speak Cantonese; the business language is Mandarin. So it is quite often that people have whole conversations and I'm completely in the dark as to what's going on.

The company I work for now, I learned, basically drives the entire economy of the area which it populates, and a significant portion of China's economy as well. Everywhere I go in this city, the company's logo is slapped on everything...from the appliances that they make, to the land and buildings they own (large portions).

That is another cultural difference I learned. Corporate life is very different here. They expect you to live, breathe, eat and sleep the company. You work long hours, come in before the boss and leave after they leave, and are expected to take all your work home to finish. In North America there is a huge separation between work and social life. Here, there is not. The company sponsors vacation getaways and weekend gatherings with coworkers to 'strengthen morale'. My personal opinion is no thanks on that part, but I am trying keeping an open mind.

The censorship of the media and internet makes it hard not to feel disconnected while in a strange and foreign place. However, there are some things that are contrary to popular belief. For example, Google does exist here, and so does Facebook, but it is only localized to China (so I cannot use it).

There are definite differences in the way things are done--like bus schedules don't exist, so you just show up and guess. What else...some things are very revolting to a Westerner, such as people spitting all over the streets very loudly. However, to dispel some of the negative stereotypes here--China is actually cleaner than I expected (MUCH cleaner than South America) and even parts of Chinatown in Toronto. People here are well-mannered and very respectful, and even though I live just outside a major city in a communist country, things are VERY Westernized. There are still McDonald's, Starbuck's (for all you addicts) and Wal-marts!

Here is another interesting detail. Since the cost of living is 1/6 of what it is back at home, I can live very comfortably here and afford things I could not at home. Foreigners apparently do earn more than locals (I haven't figured out why that is yet), and it gives a lot of leeway. Right now, I can afford to live in a gated community in a 2 bedroom bachelor overlooking golf course...something I could NEVER do back at home...so I'm just going to enjoy it while I can...haha because it's back to pauperdom when at home. See above picture for view from apt...

The thing I haven't really found on my radar so far is an alternative art scene...I think I may have to venture into the major city on the weekends for that. But I'm on it--don't think I can survive without art! And while I hide my red hair at work, it gets stared down on streets...people can't stop looking. And I don't think people here have ever seen a tattoo...or a punky chick. It's pretty funny :)

Well, that's it for now, more updates to come as time goes on!