As close to a real life 'Pretty Woman' experience as you can get (only the music missing!)

Like I mentioned before this wknd, our Suzhou flat is currently hosting my dearest sister and her husband-to-be, a Danish guy named Michael. With their wedding coming up this fall, their China trip has been highly influenced by pearls and white satin –in the search for the perfect wedding dress.

Before my sister came here I did some research and found that a street in Suzhou (located close to Suzhou’s famous Tiger Hill) was called ‘the wedding street’ as it is supposed to be an ocean of wedding dress shops. I’m one of those who often says ‘I believe it when I see it’ (imagining this ‘wedding street’ to in fact be a bunch of street vendors selling qi paos and fake bags) so, imagine my surprise when we went there yesterday and were greeted by an insane amount of wedding dress shops?! This place was outstanding: there was really something for every kind of bride! Something for the crazy, creative punk chick, something for the classic, white-loving bride, something for the girls who wants to look like a creamy cupcake, something for the one with love for a massive train, something for the pearl-loving, high-end chick, something for the one who wants something simple and plain, AND… a generous amount of evening/bride’s maid dresses too?! We were both in HEAVEN!

My sister had brought some pictures for inspiration but those ones soon went down the bin… as she didn’t really need them. These shops had everything a bride-to-be could dream about –and more. You could even go in there and design your own dream dress from scratch…. And the best part of it all? It is cheap, cheap, cheap!

My sister ended up settling for a beautiful white, silk dress with some pearls and a small train, which were hers for 780 yuan (compared to what a dress costs in Sweden this is more than a bargain! Only renting a dress over there often costs something like 3000-4000 yuan). She also did some adjustments to it, and obviously it had to be completely re-done according to her measurements, but I am confident that it is going to be a beautiful dress. We don’t have to wait long to find out: going to pick it up already tomorrow afternoon.

Even if you are not getting married it is kind of fun to spend an afternoon on Suzhou’s wedding dress street. Eh… if you are a girl that is. Most shops sports huge changing rooms with large mirrors, and brides-to-be can borrow everything from shoes to tiaras and necklaces to complete their bride-look. Some shops even have catwalks (!) where the bride can walk around in front of the mirror while her boyfriend/husband to be admirers her from a spectator post. In fact, ALL Chinese girls looking for a wedding dress came together with their partner. I believe we were the only ‘2 girls couple’ (the reason for that being that my sis is very traditional and doesn’t want her soon-to-be-hubby to see her in her dress before the big day) but then I also believe I was the most enthusiastic of all the spectators. While most of the boyfriends played with their phones/falling asleep, I was gushing along from my chair, going all ‘ohhhhh’ and ‘aaaaahhhhh!’ and almost shedding a tear every now and then as my sister looked totally gorgeous in all those white gowns (and, guess who came home that day speaking non-stop about weddings and dresses. I think my boyfriend is so scared now that I better lay low on the wedding talk for a bit….)

But anyways, the point I wanted to make is that if you are getting married, and live in China (or are planning a visit here) I strongly recommend you to save a lot of cash (and maybe getting your dream dress made at the same time?) by visiting Suzhou’s wedding street. The street actually doesn’t have any special name, all taxi drivers knows it by ‘wedding gown street close to Tiger Hill’ (said in Chinese). Actually, when my sister wakes up today I have to ask her if that’s what the business card to the shop where she ordered her dress says too.

(Oh, I wasn’t allowed to take any photos in the shop but I’ll take some of her in the dress once she gets it on Wednesday!)

Photo special: Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan 天坛)

I will kick start this week with a delayed photo special of Beijing's Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan 天坛). I was there during a muggy and warm day in May 2006 and, except for the heat and the crowd, I enjoyed the experience. Although I definitely would recommend people to go during the spring/fall (or even winter!) rather than during the summer. Attractions tend to lose their charm when it is steaming hot as well as crammed with tourists.

So if you can avoid going there during the summer or during the wknds, it's definitely worth a visit. It's located in southeastern urban Beijing, in Xuanwu District, so it's easy to access.

And now a little history lesson: The temple was built in 1406 to 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, who was also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The complex was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to Heaven for good harvest.

(thanks for that, Wikipedia!)

Visitors in town!

These 2 love muffins (and he's Danish -we are going down!)

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me! (probably in my best mood!)

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Shanghai

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Yeah!

Blogging will return to normal service on Sunday!

Things never go as planned over here...

Yeeeey! sometimes things go your way! (this is how I am imagining my little brother, his friend, and my dad to react when they find out about my news... -I mean, if they could be so happy to watch Sweden score in some football game I am sure they can do the same for me.... right guys!?) 

Oh what a week, this has been one of the craziest and busiest weeks of my life I believe… and it’s not over yet!!

Yesterday I had a ‘job interview.’ I won’t call it a real interview because it was more supposed to be a ‘talk/discussion’ about possible cooperation and it was going to take place at my local Starbucks. So yeah, a ‘job interview.’

We were supposed to meet at 5pm so obviously I planned my day around this. I was aching for a workout so at 2.30pm I went to the gym to do a pretty hard running session. I warmed up, did 30 minutes of intervals (with a high incline), lowered the speed and cooled down, then finished with a 15 minutes sprint. All in all it became something like 6,2 miles in 55 minutes. And I was SOAKED in sweat when I was done. I almost fell off the treadmill! But it felt so great I almost wanted to continue for an extra half an hour. And that’s just the best feeling….

I did a long stretching session and then went into the changing rooms… it was around 4pm when I looked at my mobile and saw a missed call from the people I was supposed to meet at 5pm. I called back and was told the following:

-Eh, hey Jonna, can you make it to Starbucks now already? We are already here waiting for you.

-But… it’s 4pm?! We said 5pm?

-Yeah, change of plans. Can you hurry up? The big boss doesn’t wanna wait…

Oh my lord! This is just SOOOOO CHINA! I was something between furious and mega stressed when I hung up. I broke all possible traffic-common-sense-rules when I rode my bike home (must have also been a new time record despite the fact that I had the wind against me), then threw myself into the shower. Although the things is… I was meeting with a ‘potential employer…’ So I didn’t want to look like pure shit! I still had to wash and blow try my hair, put on some nice clothes, some make-up etc… Sure, I am normally quite fast when it comes to this, bit still, it was a bit of a hassle.

I didn’t have time to eat and as a result of me stressing like an idiot, my post-running after-sweat session became a bit overwhelming. Although I made it to Starbucks by 4.40pm, I realized when I sat down that I was soaked in sweat… again! It was as if I had never taken a shower… Ahhhhhghhhhh!!!! Not the kind of first impression you’d like to make?!

Since I was sweating like a pig the boss thought I was nervous! Oh the pain! Because that’s one thing I wasn’t. More like, pissed-off. But I couldn’t really tell him that could I?

He knew about 2 words of English (hello and goodbye) so the interview (which, by the way, was more like an interview than a ‘casual talk’ –anyone surprised? I am not!) was entirely in Chinese. Interesting. So now I’ve tried that too. And now I know that there are definitely things I need to work on…. Most of the things I wanted to say I could say, but then there were other things that I believe got lost in the language jungle. Oh well….

All in all it went quite OK, because I am now going to do a test-job for them (it’s only part-time so I am going to continue studying as well –not giving up that one at the first place!) and then we are going to decide more. I bet you are all wondering what kind of job it is, but I’d rather not say too much before I know how it goes or until I get some more details… so bare with me. Although it is NOT the Suzhou TV station… haha, I am not THAT fast!

Only problem is that my lovely sister and her husband-to-be (getting married in October –guess who’s going to be the maid of honor!!!) are coming here TODAY and staying for a good 10 days. So the timing of this job isn’t that good. But then again –is it ever?! I’m still quite excited about it all. And, I am feeling happier than I have done for a long time: visitor from home (and not just any visitor, but my dearest sis!), running is going well, AND I have a potential job to look forward to! Life can’t get much better than that. Have a great weekend everyone!

Beggars -real or fake?

If you’ve been in China you’ve also probably encountered a beggar asking you for ’money, money, money!’

There are a lot of different kinds of beggars over here. I’d say the majority are old women/men, but then there are also fairly young women that walk around with a small kid in their arms (often around night time) and wants you to give them money (and if you don’t they often run after you). Then there are people with disabilities…. Men who are missing a leg, or an arm, or children with defamed faces. You often see them at the Shanghai metro.

Yesterday evening I was walking along Guan Qian Jie in Suzhou when an old woman came up to me, started pulling my arm and asked me for money. I was walking together with my Chinese friend, who quickly pulled me the other way, frowned and walked on.

-Oh, those people, you never give them money do you?

-Eh… ehum… well…

Yeah, that’s the thing. I sometimes do. I cannot help it. My heart bleeds for homeless people. When I lived in London I used to give both food and money to some homeless men that always sat outside our living complex (although one guy was funny –once I gave him a sandwich that he took, looked at and gave back to me, and said: “I don’t like eggs!”).

Here in China, I don’t give beggars money on an every day basis, but sometimes it happens. I never give anything to the women with kids because I have heard so many stories about them working for someone and that they give the kids sleeping pills so that they are going to look really groggy and miserable (having said that, I have no idea where all of those stories come from –so who knows what is the real truth?!). Also, people that pull me or push a jar on me never get anything either. I only give to a number of people: an old lady outside the Suzhou train station who’s always there, day or night. And then this man who often sits close to the gate of our complex. He never says anything but his whole face shines when I give him a few kuais of my change.

When I told my friend this she frowned and told me that I shouldn’t give them money because they are all ‘fake.’

-They are working for someone! Or, they are already really rich! They probably have more money than you and me!

-Really, you think so??!

-Yeah, and those ones that are missing a leg or an arm… some of them are fake too.

-How can they be fake?!

-They are wearing this artificial limb to actually cover their real arm…

-Really?

Really?!!!!?  

My friend was so sure but when I asked her where she got this information from she became all ‘ehhh, ahhh, well… everybody knows that’ which makes me question what the real deal is.

I have heard numerous stories about the beggars, where the most common one is that they are working for someone who provides them with food and housing as long as they spend the days on the street asking for money. Now my friend told me that they are ‘rich’ and they do this as a ‘profession’…. Hm… I somehow find that hard to believe?!

Then again, who knows what the real deal is? Probably no one but themselves. None of us has been begging on the street so all this information telling us it’s like this or like that is just… words, rumors and ‘information’ that no one can confirm or ‘prove’ to be real. There are probably a good mix of ‘real’ and ‘fake’ ones out there.

I remember once when I was walking on a street in Shanghai and two Chinese women, wearing normal clothes (one of them had a kid) came towards me, chatting, laughing. When the woman with the kid saw me she suddenly stopped, pushed her kid forward, reached out her hand and said (with clear English): ‘hey, give me some money!’ I was so angry I didn’t know what to do, but simply walked on. Definitely a ‘fake’ one. But the rest of them? Yeah, who knows?

And that's how I made the local news, everyone

Better behind the camera than in front of it...

Yesterday, just when I was rushing from Suzhou’s university (HSK afternoon class) to grab a taxi and head to one of the Korean families whose kid I teach, a Chinese woman ran up to me and tapped me on my shoulder. Now, I am one of those people that scares extremely easily (ask anyone who knows me and they’ll give you an exaggerated nod, followed by a ‘yes, really, SHE DOES! You have to walk on eggshells around her!’) so this unexpected tap resulted in me screaming out loud like a pig. Poor Chinese girl looked more than terrified when I calmed down and apologized to her (they always do….).

-Eh…I just wanted to know if we can interview you for our TV program?! The girl said.

-TV program? I looked around and instantly spotted two Chinese men, one carrying a giant camera, on their way over to me.

-Eh, I am kind of in a hurry?! I said. By then the Chinese men were by my side and pushed the camera in my face.

-Sorry, I don’t have time, I said, this time in Chinese.

-Oh, she speaks Chinese, PEEEEERFECT!! One of the Chinese guys said, and the camera guy got even closer to me (not going to help dude?!?!).

-But really, I am running late, I should go. I said.

-Oh no no no, insisted the guy. You just answer one question. Very short. Very simple! OK, let’s do it!

-Well, what is it about?

The guy waved to the camera guy who backed down a little bit, did some adjustments, and obviously had the camera focusing on me.

-We are doing a program about people’s opinions about lesbians and gays! So what do you think? What’s you opinion about homosexuals?

A microphone was passed forward to me and the boy and the girl looked something between agog and excited. Even the camera guy mastered a smile.

-Eh… I…. ehhh… What do I think?! Well I don’t have any special opinion about homosexuals? They can like whoever they like, boy, girl, whatever, it doesn’t matter. It’s up to each one of us.

The three face expressions changed from excited to disappointed.

-Where are you from?

-Sweden.

-In Sweden, what’s the attitude towards homosexuals?

Three new eager expressions appeared on their faces.

-Eh… same as I just told you. No special attitude… everyone likes who they want to like….and no one really cares….

Huge disappointment mirrored in their eyes. Gosh, what did they want me to say!?!?? That we hunt homosexuals with sticks in Sweden (because we don’t….)? Well, yeah, I guess they WERE in fact fishing for something more interesting than my mellow answer.

-OK then.. the guy said with a sigh. That will be it. Thanks.

Once the camera was turned off it was my turn to take advantage of the moment.

-So what channel are you from?

-Suzhou’s local news.

-Ah cool. Do you have any laowais working there?

They all started laughing.

-NOOOOOOO!!!!!! No laowais!

-I am currently looking for a job… maybe I will apply at your TV station… do you think it would be possible for me to work there even though I am a laowai? I can speak Chinese and I have a journalism degree.

-YEEEEES! Said the two guys.

-NOOOOOOO! Said the girl.

Name cards were exchanged before we said our goodbyes and I jumped into a taxi. On my way to the Korean family I thought of 8764386487 good comments I could have said… why is it always so, that once you have the chance you always get so nervous and often say something quite lame, rather than seizing the opportunity and actually say something rather smart? (maybe that’s just a ‘Jonna thing?!’). Anyways. The rest of the day went on quite normal and it wasn’t until 10pm when my boyfriend received a rather hysterical phone call that I was reminded of my lame, TV performance.

-You girlfriend is on TV, you girlfriend is on TV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was his company driver who was obviously watching the Suzhou local news. We had no chance to see it ourselves, and I am actually quite happy about that. Now I just wish, madly and deeply, that neither did any of my teachers!

A line of people

”A line of men/women” is a popular concept in shops and restaurants around China.

What happens is that you enter your shop/restaurant and are greeted by 15 (+) people (standing in a neat line) shouting something like "welcome to our shop/restaurant!” in choirs.

I personally don’t know what the whole deal with the line of such a large amount of people is supposed to represent, but I can only guess that it has to be related to showing that this shop/restaurant surely has a lot of waiters/shop assistants available to look after You. Although… those times when I have entered shops/restaurants and walked passed the ‘line of people’ I have felt completely uncomfortable and unnatural, as I’ve felt that everybody are observing me quite closely (the worse situation is those times when you walk into a ‘line of people restaurant’ during early lunch hours and you’re the first one there. Talk about starring contest). Maybe this feeling is different if you are a Chinese business man, however, and enjoy walking through a throng of pretty waitress women closely observing you? (and some of them, I believe, are not even waitresses, but simply pretty hostesses). Because there has to be some point of it all, right?

Anyways, I thought this concept was limited to restaurants/shops only, so imagine my surprise when I went to the gym the other day. As usual, I took the elevator to the third floor, and when the doors opened and I walked out I was greeted by a loud ‘WELCOME TO OUR GYM!’ I literally flinched, as I wasn’t expecting 10 (+) male and female trainers (and receptionists I am sure?! How can they afford to have 10 trainers standing on a line all night during peak hours? Aren’t they supposed to actually…. Train people?!) to be standing there firing off their best smiles to me. “Uhhhhh…. Not the gym TOO?!” Was the first thought that came to my mind as I made my way to the changing rooms.

But the ‘line of people’ I believe, is a concept that is going to stay in China for a while. Many restaurant staff, shop assistants, yeah, well even the guards in our complex meet a few times/day, stand on a line and shout/sing cheerful songs in order to ‘get into the mood’ (?) for the working day ahead. I’ve also seen a few shops/restaurants having their staff doing some tai qi –like morning exercises, something that I actually find really good! I wouldn’t mind having a compulsory 20 minutes of morning-must-do-exercise every day at work before I sat down in front of my computer… although then I am trying to imagine all the ‘important’ people working at Ikea in Sweden standing in a line and doing their morning exercise every single day and that image goes down the drain.