A Year in Review

Right now I am sitting at one of my favorite spots in Macau. There are five round benches in a row. One night I danced around on bench while it rained. I felt so free. I have now been in Macau more than 1 year, it seems like so much has happened.

I have seen more this one year than I have seen in the past ten. My experiences are priceless. I discovered Hong Kong with new friends. I dared friends to try snake blood in Taipei. I discovered interesting customs in mainland China. I went diving for the first time in Borneo. I had a 3-day marathon half awake and half sleep in Singapore, only to return wanting more. I rode an untamed elephant, risking death in Phuket. And that's the shortened version.

Something I have realized is the idea of entitlement. I came here with expectations ingrained in me from my youth; yet when I fully experienced life here, all of that was thrown out the window. People are all different. They all have values and beliefs that are not always shared with mine. My eyes have been opened to the fact that I cannot assume everyone has the same mindset as me. It's narrow-minded to have such a minute view of people. I have been awakened to truth. Once you have tasted the splendor of God's creation, you keep wanting more. I can't say what is next, but all I know is I want more.

Out-of-towners

I am at home now, in Macau, living out of my backpack. Actually, I am choosing to live out of a bag because it's much easier. My parents are in town this week. They are experiencing life on the other side of the world. What is weird, new, and different to them is actually normal life to me. I have been here almost a year and the place is starting to get less strange. It's great having them here. They are so quirky and fun, much cooler than I. Being around them defines me more and more.

We explored Hong Kong and saw a few of the many sights there are to see. We walked and walked, which felt terrible and great simultaneously. A funny thing is we kept having to stop and find a toilet. Though I felt inconvenienced by this fact, I usually I had to go every time. I wonder what the means? The great thing is when you gotta go, I will almost always be able to find a place in Hong Kong or Macau. My apologies in advanced for the squatty potties, but you get used to them.

Next on the agenda: Explore Macau, and then off to Singapore. We have a full trip and are not even half way there. So far so good, and they are still smiling...

My Job

This post should have been written earlier. As a February bonus, I am going to explain my job in the most unbiased way. There will be much restraint. This post, in essence, will explain why I am here and how I have remained in this country. I realize that this post may take the intrigue and excitement out of my job but it's been gone for a while.

My day starts like most others. I arrive close to 9am, which is my start time. There is not much preparation so I don't need to arrive earlier. My actual preparation takes place on the 15 minute walk to work from my apartment. We start with laundry. Actually we enter the drying room to remove racks of clothing that block the shoes. For those who don't know, I started working on costumes and now my expertise has turned to shoes. Basically it's the same as before so instead of repairing costumes, I repair shoes. I have replaced my constant use of needles and thread with toxic glue and toothpicks. Once there is room to get near the shoes we start the magic. Susana and I split the work load, and together we examine every shoe so that we can identify if there are loose soles, holes, or any other needed. A special glue is used for most of our work along with leather and, at times, needles and thread. (My partner in crime on the left.)

Everyday can have it's own unique challenges. At times we may have fittings with "the artists" or there may be a mass fitting with many at one time. We may need to attend the beginning of training sessions to issue shoes. Usually the mornings are quiet, which we love. Once the attendants arrive, they may throw more work at us which is attempted to be done swiftly before the show call. After lunch is usually when I paint, which is my favorite part of the job. Most of our shoes need to be painted so we try to do that after repairs. There is also inventory, alterations, and general upkeep that needs to be done daily. Basically that is my job. When people find out what I do and they think it sounds cool. Yes, it sounds cool but it is not much more than a cool sounding job. Sorry for any disappointments...

Photos are the joys of my job. (The slave-driving attendants below)

Gong Hei Fa Choi

So January has passed before my eyes.

It's now Chinese New Year. I have fully experienced the wild shenanigans that occur once a year. Gratefully, I remain unharmed. The chaos is almost unexplainable. Basically what happens is there is a specific area along the waterfront for people to come shoot off fireworks. Men, women, and children participate in this long tradition of filling their pyromanic tendencies. I have to point out that there are fires lit daily in Buddhist worship, yet this is much more extreme.

While walking toward the festivities, I felt like I was in a war zone. It seemed like we were under fire from all sides. I never thought I would see what lies ahead. You have to pass the stalls of vendors selling the fireworks first. Once you have made your purchase, the good times begin. The fireworks are set off in a gated barrier in the sand. Still there is no reassurance that anyone is safe. At any time fireworks shoot in unexpected directions, which makes for a constant alertness at all times. It really seemed to wrong and so right. My method of firing was to set on off and quickly flee the scene.

Technically people do this all week. They spend tons of money lighting things on fire. This is just another great thing about this country. There are loose rules and surprisingly few consequences. More photos to come...

A New Year

As the year draws to a close, I reflect on my many adventures. This year I moved from Boston to live in Macau. From here I have been able to see Hong Kong, China (a bit), Taipei, Borneo, and Singapore. I have crossed cultures, dealt with culture shock, and expanded my mind in ways I never imagined possible. Being away from everything familiar has allowed lots of time for self reflection. I have seen the person I am and could be.

Tonight I was reading my journal. I wondered about what I was thinking almost a year ago. Surprisingly some of the same thoughts were in my mind then, but they have transformed. I am not fighting with myself in this uncontrollable rebellion. Now I am faced with the possibility that I am not the same person, yet instead a better version of me. Macau is a strange place. I am living somewhere that doesn't seem real. Everything is so easy and I don't worry about anything, expect the occasion break-in. Still I cannot say I would stay for too long. I think one day I will wake up and decide to leave. I will realize my time here is done and then move to another destination in this life-long journey. I am in a place where I can dream, safely and freely dream of endless possibilities. The is only thing I have to do is have faith to believe there is more to all of this and a purpose for everything.

I don't regret mistakes I have made or the decision to move here. Only because then I would not be in this place where I found a deeper part of me and a stronger faith. It seems that I am becoming equip to handle what comes next, and that fills me with excitement and joy.

So cheers to the New Year. May it be more that you could have ever thought or imagined!

My Macanese/Chinese Christmas

As Christmas approaches, I realize how much I miss my family and friends. I hope and pray not to be too sad this Christmas by being in a foreign country away from the people closest to me. Though I have to say I am at a loss. I have no idea how to spend my Christmas. It's not cold here, I don't see the Salvation Army people ringing their bell, and there are no real Christmas trees. It doesn't seem like the Christmas I know and love. My favorite holiday has lost it's magic. I even have to work on Christmas because our company does not recognize it as a holiday, therefore

no double pay. Ignoring Christmas feels so wrong. So this is what's going to happen. I am going to suck it up, pull through, and have a damn good Christmas (pardon my language). I will do my best have a good time. So it looks like I am going to have to improvise...

Merry Christmas!

Borneo

It's been a long time since my last entry. I will do my best to pick up where I left off. On my most recent trip, I ventured further out. It was a perfect getaway that left me wanting more.

The only reason I knew about Borneo was because of a friend I met in Guangzhou, China. He was so excited about this place he had been and he even had the pictures to show. I was convinced then even though it look me a long time after to buy my ticket. Now some more of my money is gone and I have beautiful memories instead.

Borneo is the 3rd largest island in the world behind Greenland and Australia. It consists of 3 countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. I went to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah which is in Malaysia. For those who know more about Borneo then me, I already know that it's not even close to the nice area of Sabah. Still, I was not disappointed in surroundings. My time was short so I made the most out of where I was. I went diving for the first time in my life and also laid on the beach and stared out at the ocean. I think I always knew I was a coastal person, but visiting Borneo has confirmed this fact for me and left me with no doubt. I made goals for myself while I was there which were not all entirely met, but I did successfully watch a sunset which is hard to do in Macau.