Fortune favors the BOLD!

As Americans in Shanghai, there are times when you crave Sweet & Sour chicken, a carton of Shrimp friend rice or even Crab Rangoons.
I know you're thinking  "Why American-Chinese food in China? "Well frankly, because I'm American and I LIKE it dammit, so there.
We all know these dishes are not traditional Chinese and damn sure not even traditional Shanghainese. But honestly I get enough of authentic China on a daily basis. I want delicious! Sometimes I'm not in the mood to play the Let me guess what animal part this is? game,Which is something I do frequently when eating out in China.
After living in Shanghai for over a year and having had more culinary disasters  than triumphs as most foodies encounter here, Toya and I would find ourselves on lazy weekends craving American-Chinese food.
 We'd flip through the Sherpas catalogue, hoping to find something to tantalize the taste buds,and make my gums spring a leak, but to no avail.
My wife and I recently returned from being stateside for a month and checked out the local expat websites for articles and tips on new spots that had opened while were we away.
As I clicked on a new eats link, my eyes widened and I urgently called Toya into the living "Baaaaaby there is American-Chinese restaurant that opened like 15 mins from us! We are so going!" Since they're closed on Sundays, the next afternoon we screen captured the address in Chinese from Google, got dressed, and hailed a taxi.
We arrived  at the building, and unlike most new restaurants in Shanghai,we didn't need a treasure map and a sherpa to help us find it. The directions were accurate and their sign is big and clear in the lobby.
We hopped in the elevator and headed for the fourth floor.

Neon lights, American style take-out boxes lined over the bar  and eclectic tunes buzzed overhead as we walked through the doors. Fung Lam has made the ultime playlist. I found myself Shamazing every few minutes between stuffing my mouth with those delicious crispy noodles.
One of the owners David Rossi greeted and seated us.  Clean modern furnishings, funky display of ingredients used in menu dishes on colorful shelves, an open kitchen, and friendly staff.
They have a limited menu, but in this case people... less is more. Their menu is not overwhelming like the ones back home. They've picked a number of American-Chinese favorites and make them to order with quality ingredients. So far we've tried their small plate dumplings and spring rolls,  the Orange Chicken,  Shrimp Fried Rice, Shrimp Chow Fun,  and Wonton Soup. Oh and did I mention their in-house made Duck Sauce and refillable basket of light crispy noodles when you are seated? Nom Nom Nom!
We've been back to Fortune Cookie three times so far. Each time the service is impeccable. From water glasses being refilled before you even realize you're thirsty again,  the freshness of our meals to the friendliness of the staff and owners. We've had time to sit and chat with Fung and David.
They are genuine guys who truly seem to love what they do. They're in the kitchen, hosting, checking on meal quality, and taking time to talk to guests. I'm glad to say it's not  your generic"ten minute, be right back " spot that you're used to.  At Fortune Cookie, the food is fresh, made to order and "punch your mom in the face good. And of course you can get take-out in very kitch take-out boxes complete with Fortune cookies. If you're an expat living in Shanghai or just visiting, take a trip down to Fortune Cookie get some great eats and tell David and Fung  that Tiffany & Toya Rose say hi!
Until next time....

Fortune Cookie

Open

11.30am-10pm Mon-Thu, 11.30am-11pm Fri-Sat.

Telephone 6093 3623

Metro Changshu Lu

English address Fourth Floor, 83 Changshu Lu, near Julu Lu, Jingan district

Chinese address 签语饼 静安区常熟路83号4楼, 近巨鹿路

House Hunters International: Shanghai Edition

Welcome to The Rose's House Hunters International : Shanghai

Most of you might not know this but the Mrs and I are House Hunters International freaks!
Its a show that meshes our love of HGTV with our never ending wanderlust. It's pretty great! While the Mrs. and I were stateside, we were glued to the TV watching endless episodes of Design Star, House Hunters International, Design on a Dime, Iron Chef and The Barefoot Contessa. Needless to say we have a number of ideas for our new place. From recipes to for our house warming to revamping old furniture projects.   Clearly this is going to require a Pinterest board.
Lets not forget my wife's favorite past time of renovating restaurants/cafe into apartments in her mind as we dine. Starting with her never fail statement as she takes in design inventory while sipping her first cocktail, looking at her surroundings" you know what babe?" What?" I respond, already knowing what she's going to say. "This would make a great apartment right?" I nod and smile.

That brings me to our latest quest. Our first newlywed flat in Shanghai. Our first year in Shanghai was one filled with a number of growing pains. We got here mid August last year it was sweltering and we were cooped up in a small hotel on the world's hardest bed.
We were suffering from jet lag, sweaty, beyond exhausted and tired of living out of suitcases. We were in a mad dash to find an apartment.
We were supposed to have help from our old employer finding an apartment.
"Help" consisted of a  Shanghai  neophyte dragging us around to Chinese hovels around the city. Pay rent at these places? We would be better off invoking squatters rights! That's not to say they're aren't fabulous apartments in Shanghai, because there are. At the time we just didn't know where to find them and clearly neither did our guide. After a week of looking at terrible apartments a western coworker put us in touch with a fast talking, foul mouthed, damn near native Chinese real estate agent who listened to what we needed and our budget and showed us the apartment we live in now. It wasn't everything we wanted, but it was a place to call home and it was located in the middle of Shanghai proper. Which is like the equivalent of living in the Upper East Side.  We had a great view, it was clean, in a western style building , nice furniture, two bedroom and quite frankly the nicest thing we'd seen so far. Sweaty and exhausted we signed the lease that night without hesitation.
That is NOT what we are doing this time around. We plan on living in our new apartment for at least the next two years so we want it to be something we love.
So now that we have had some time on our hands before our new jobs start, we've been calling every agent we know, and looking at everything. We've increased out budget by a few hundred dollars to really get what we want in an apt. Central air/heating is a MUST this year, I would like a tub but its not a deal breaker,  a more modern apt building , an open kitchen so we can both get down, not to far from People's Square, more storage space, a big bathroom, and western amenities.
We are really looking to make our next apartment HOME. Especially as newlyweds, we want our place to be our love nest ((yes we are that gay))
Marriage is a compromise and so must be our search. My wife is queen of modern and sleek and I'm a lover of all things shabby chic. She's all stainless steel, symmetry , bright but uniform color, and clean lines, while I'm mix n' match second hand furniture, crazy patterns, splashes of color, and eclectic pieces. So you can imagine the side eyes given by each of us, when  one of us says "  Ooooh I like it". Oh the struggle.
Being a Cancer my home is my sanctuary. As an expat home is truly just that. In a loud, smelly and sometimes abrasive China, you know as soon as you turn your key in the door of your apartment, you step through the threshold and magically you are transported to your very own piece of your home country on foreign soil. For Toya and I, our apartment is our own little piece of America. English on the TV, our favorite American food being prepared in the kitchen even down to the Glade candles burning of the coffee table. You inhale HOME.
So I say all that to say when house hunting as an expat, don't rush into finding a space. Yes you will have to compromise on some things,  because you're not in your home country but take your time really find some place you love. On those days when your foster country is overwhelming and too much to bear...  trust me it will be like that some days. You'll have a little space to call your own to escape.
So begins our hunt for the perfect space to call our own.
Until next time...

Let them eat cake! ((from a rice cooker))

So, the other day I was surfing the net for useless things.

I was updating Facebook, when I saw a link in my newsfeed that a friend had posted. Usually  I disregard " Did you know..." posts. However this one caught my eye. It was 27 things you can make in your rice cooker. Hmmm... interesting. I live in Shanghai , and am lacking an oven. I'm always looking for new and interesting alternatives to stovetop cooking. So I checked it out.  Steamed veggies, tofu, stirfry and cake! WTF?!?! Cake you say? ::eye brow raised::  They had my attention. I told my wife about it. She gave me the yeah right look and said cake? in a  tone of disbelief.
So me being the nerd that I am, I googled it. I researched videos, and numerous recipes.
There seemed to be the whole culture of rice cooker baking that I had just tapped into. So last night when my insomnia set in I turned to Toya and said "wanna try making that cake?" she smiled, shrugged and said "Okay" with excitement in her voice.

Reason #237 why I married her : She's always game for late night shenanigans. I can just see us doing this with our kids then frosting and decorating the cake as a family.

I snapped out of my  this is why  I love my wife moment and went back online and found the instructions for rice cooker " baking".  I then ran to the store for eggs. We brought boxed cake mix and frosting back from the states, so it took the guess work out of following the recipe.
We whipped up the batter, oiled our rice cooker pan, poured the batter into the rice cooker and hit cook. Minutes later the apartment smelled like a bakery. We checked the rice cooker and to our surprise ... EUREKA!!! Houston, we have cake!
It was exciting. We gave our rice cooker "baked" cake a few more minutes in the heater and voila!
We let it sit to cool for a few minutes,  then took the rice pot/pan out of the rice cooker and flipped the cake onto a cutting board. The cake slid out easily. It was fluffy, moist, and smelled amazing. I frosted and decorated the cake, and in minutes it was ready for late night cake snacking. Step aside Easybake Oven hello Rice cooker!

Until next time...

Rice cooker cake mini video

Our New NORMAL

Begin at the beginning...
So here we are newlyweds packing our bags, boarding a plane headed back to Shanghai for another year.
But let's take a step back and tell you how we got here.

We took the month of July off after slaving away and saving for the past year in China to enjoy the states, see friends and family, get some great eats and of course get MARRIED!
Planning a wedding is hard enough, now try planning a wedding from the other side of the world. It's damn near impossible!
Being expats, you miss out on those exciting  wedding rites of passage like, cake tasting, trying on a number of hideous dresses with your mom and best friends as they ooh and ahhh, sitting down with your officiant, menu tasting, bridal showers with friends and scouring the city for venue locations.
All of our planning was left strictly to emails and scheduled skype dates, sprinkled with a few google voice phone calls to vendors.
It all seemed impossible. About a month out, we were scared that we'd made the wrong decision to go through with the ceremony instead of eloping. However, our families had never met, and it was important for us for our families to witness our love and commitment to one another, and most importantly for it to be a LEGAL marriage.  In spite of all of our reservations about our impending wedding, the one thing we were sure about was each other. We knew at the end of the day, rain or shine, perfect ceremony or not, we would have each other. We would legally be family. So on days when things seemed to fall apart via email, we would look to each other and say " at the end of the day we'll be married" We pulled out our Pinterest boards, scoured the web for Lesbian Wedding blogs and tried our best to mold the wedding day of our dreams from China. Ordering tote bags, signage, getting our dresses made, and even buying rings.

Meanwhile our Chinese co-workers had a million and one questions about us being lesbians and marrying each other. At first I was hesitant to share my personal life with my co workers, but  I thought hey" I'm 30 and I'm marrying this woman" no need to be shy about it. So I shared the news of my impending nuptials with my co workers and so did Graham. Surprisingly they wanted to know EVERYTHING, and even offered to help with wedding favors and such. I'm sure this situation would have turned out differently, if we were two Chinese women, but thankfully this is one time in China where being a "laowai" is an advantage. They asked about how we met, how out parents felt about it, if we planned to have kids and how, and then wanted to know every detail about the wedding. As taken aback as I was by their warm acceptance, it felt good to have a quasi community to share my wedding excitement with.
The time wound down from months to days and suddenly our wedding was a week away, and we were boarding a plane for the states. The week before our wedding was crazy and a bit chaotic. Running around New York City,  and taking care of last minute details. In addition to battling jet lag and reverse culture shock.
The wedding day arrived and we were cool as cucumbers. My soon to be wife put on her ultimate playlist, while bridesmaids ironed, got their make up/hair  done and poured mimosas. It was such a chill vibe. Friends and loved ones surrounded us that morning. It was nothing laughter and love all around.
We arrived at Bethesda Fountain Terrace, I heard the wedding singer belting John Legend's "So High". I got goosebumps and butterflies simultaneously. I could see family and friends awaiting our arrival. Everything we had planned for this past year was happening. Passers by crowded around the outside of the terrace as my mother took me by the arm and guided me through the columns. I looked across the gallery, and I could see my soon to be wife making her way through columns across the terrace with her nephew. I almost lost my breath and tears began to form in my eyes. Hold it together I told  myself. You cant lose the bet and your makeup has to look flawless for pictures. So I fought the urge to cry and tightened my grip on my mother's arm. We made it down the aisle. It was then saw my soon to be wife making her way down the aise and I gasped. She was so beautiful. As the singing stopped, and the officiant began, I took Toya's hands and looked into her eyes, the world around us faded away. In the background I barely made out declarations from the officiant. In that moment she and I are were all that existed. All that mattered. I Do's were said,vows were tearfully made, and promises sealed with the exchange of rings. Our hands were fasted to signify the binding of our love and souls. She to me and I to her. We kissed and became The Roses.
There were cheers, clapping, and even videos and pictures taken by on lookers. It was to date, the happiest moment of my life. It's hard to recall all the specifics because the day went by in such a blur. Toya and I still sit down trying to piece this amazing day together.
We are just thankful to have had such wonderful friends and family support us in our life together. We've had an amazing journey thus far and are excited about for our next steps as The Roses
Until next time...


Feel free to check out some more pictures from our wedding through the blog of our talented wedding photographer Erica Camille :

http://ericacamilleproductions.com/weddings/2013/08/tiffany-latoya-central-park-destination-wedding/

Headed in a new direction

Hello there bloggerverse!
               

It's been more than a while. To say I've been negligent would be a gross understatement.
Fighting with VPNs, resigning myself to the fact the China's internet and lack of available wifi hotspots pails in comparison to Korea, all while adjusting to Chinese life has proved more arduous than expected. I will most apologetically have to post my numerous videos and "Oh China" mini posts saved on my IPad of the last year.

This year has been a transformative one to say the least. I turned 30, moved to China with my AMAZING girlfriend who 2 months later I proposed to, and 8 crazy whirlwind months after that we  hoped on a plane flew back across the world and were married in Central Park in New York City.
So I guess you're wondering, blah blah, blah! So you're married what the hell does that have to do with travel and living in Asia?
Let me explain. I am a black,married,lesbian living in China. Wait for it...( eyebrows raised)  Yeah, that's the response of most people. I know, that's a whole lot of "other" in such a homogeneous society.

So as a Black,Married Lesbian living in China, I figured it's time to document these experiences. I know there are other LGBT women of color living , loving, traveling and working overseas. I've met some of them. But the problem is no one is blogging about it. So here's my chance. Here's our forum.
Yes, I've talked about the ridiculousness of living in Asia, as well as the trials and triumphs that I've experienced.
However, after attempting to research more about the illusive mythical creature known as LGBT Expat,
 I've noticed that there is an absolute lack of the Black,Queer Expat experiences being documented.
Where are the women of color talking about their lives, loves and insatiable wanderlust?

It's time for a new direction for the blog. I will still share my/our experiences living in China and the ridiculousness that it entails but I will also address issues that are relevant in our lives such as "As Queer Married women of color , is living in China conducive for  our careers? for starting a family? for our rights?  And if not, where will we move next?  what are the challenges that face us?"
Over the next 24 months in Shanghai, my wife and I will be sharing our lives with you.

So with that, I breathe new life into Serendipitous Adventurer and am I excited to bring you along as we embark on a new journey as The Roses in Shanghai

Until next time...

Where to begin?

Where to begin? I've been in Shanghai about a month and a half. It's been a crazy ride adjusting to life here. Let me state for the record China is NOTHING like South Korea. I live in Shanghai so I can't even speak for the REAL China. Since I got settled in my apartment, got into the groove at work, obtained reliable wifi , and explored my neighborhood Shanghai isn't half bad.
Now mind you my first two weeks here I was plotting ways to get back to Korea. Now that the dust has settled, I'm starting to enjoy Shanghai more. I enjoy the low cost living of China thats for sure. You can eat  a decent meal for under $4  and get a maid to clean your house for a few hrs a week for the same price. Can't beat that!  I haven't seen a Coke for less than $0.75 since the early 90's. I must admit  even though I was trying not to compare the two but  Korea left me with expectations of China that were sadly deflated my first week. Shanghai is truly where East meets West. Lets paint a picture shall we? I live in a very metropolitan area.  We'll say the equivalent of Manhattan. Porsche and Mazzarati dealerships 2 blocks from my building, and the side streets are littered with makeshift food carts,crates of turtles, bunnies, goldfish and ducks being sold for dinner, and an old man in a Speedo bathing out of a public sink on the street. I know it sounds unbelievable but this is China!
Shanghai being such an international hub for business, banking, engineering, it has become a stomping ground for a myriad of foreigners. Few of which are American. I can count the number of Americans I've met on one hand.  An every few are in the field of Education, because in Korea you were either a teacher or military. There are a number of professional growth opportunities for educated , well traveled expats here,which is a plus. I look forward to exploring the possibilities next summer.

Ok let's get SERIOUS for a moment: Those who know me, know I am a lover of ICE COLD BEVERAGES! There is NO cold drinking water to be had anywhere! It is believed to be bad for your digestion so you have a choice of warm or hot water from purified water dispensers. YUCK!  " Yes I would like more than 4 ice cubes in  my soft drink please!" At work theres a small fridge where I stock my cold water bottles. ICY COLD BEVERAGES are a MUST! And let me not even get started on the suspect ass lunch at work! Everyday is a GAMBLE!

The extreme pushing in public, utter rudeness, and lack of order and logic, I'm used to, having lived in Korea. China's lack of universal wifi is devastating.  China is KING when it comes to bootlegging. They can reverse engineer anything from an IPhone to an Egg. No seriously there are fake eggs here. Gucci, Prada, Berkin, Nike, Kraft, Nestle,YouTube ( also known as Youku here) Apple, Tyson. Nothing is SACRED! Let's not even talk about DVDs. I just bought the complete seasons of the Office, Modern Family, Fringe and Drop Dead Diva for under $20. You can get AMAZING bootlegs of current movies the day they premier sometimes the day before. You can get a DVD, drinks and dinner for 2 for under $10.
The over abundance of oil in the food is ridiculous. I can cook my meal, grease my scalp and moisturize my whole body from the amount of oil in one dish. EPIC FAIL! I absolutely LOVED Korean food. The same sentiments can not  be shared for Chinese cuisine. I can't get down with braised turtle legs, sea cucumbers, unidentifiable objects in some of their soups, chicken feet or duck tongue jerkied snack bags. China is not for the weak stomached!

However the food is not all bad! Some of the street noodles, random tomato flavored snacks,dumplings,   small Chinese Muslim restaurants and little iced tea stands have won my heart. I promise its not all bad. I just wanted to share some of the sheer ridiculousness of my first month. Just a bit more of an adjustment than Korea. Honestly there are some twilight zone-esque that go down here but Shanghai has its charms . I love wandering down some side street and stumbling upon a cute snack shop, a fabulous hidden shopping center, a chance to haggle on the street on everything from flowers to electronics, or just an opportunity to catch something ridiculous on film.

Over the next few weeks I will be taking you on a visual tour through Shanghai! Hold on to your lunch and beware of foul smells. I cant wait to share Shanghai with you. Until next time...

Shanghai Snapshots

Here are a few moments captured from my first weekend in Shanghai. Honestly I slept most of it. This jet lag is no joke. But here are a few digital memories. Jet lag is the ultimate Chinese diet.
however when I can actually stay awake to eat dinner, my electric kettle and various Chinese Ramen have been my best friend. And let's not forget about the cool yet refreshing Lime flavored Lays! I've fallen in love with bubble tea! I can't believe that Shanghai isn't wired for wifi like Korea! WTH! I was soo devastated :( I'm headed back to the hotel with brick hard beds, and no WiFi. #epicsadness Until next time...

In Transition...

Dear Friends, Fam, and Fellow Expats,

I'm here in Shanghai safe and sound. I'm not ignoring you. The past week has been super crazy. From a pile of bricks Chinese bed in a fake HolidayInn, warm water in the COLD water cooler, outrageous Chinese myths about health, strange Chinese android phones, green pea popsicles, adjusting to the time change, trying to understand Chinglish, weird greasy foods, trying not to get mad every time I hear the Chinese expression which means "that" sounds exactly like the word "n#$$a"and scouring Shanghai for an apartment, I haven't had time to blog. I've experienced an abundance of Chinese ridiculousness that I cannot wait to share with you. The jury is still out on China. Give me a few weeks to let it sink in. I promise to write as soon as I've settled in.
Until next time...

And the countdown begins ...

August 11th is here, and in the blink of an eye my departure date will be here too. It's my last weekend on this side of the pond!
Its crazy to believe a couple months ago China wasn't even a thought and now here I am on the precipice of a new journey. I have to say I'm really excited about the direction my life is headed in. I am truly happy. If I've learned anything so far in my 30 years it's to seize every chance to be and live extraordinarily, embrace every opportunity and never rule out the unexpected happiness that can come out of  serendipitous moments!
I'm beyond excited and a little sad at the same time.It's been great having my family so close. No more having my Little sister bust in my apartment, eat up all my snacks, jump in bed with me at 8 am and say "Sissy, Whatchu doin?" , waiting 13 hrs to talk to my bestie to tell her the latest news, or my mom calling me multiple times a day " how are you today sweetpea?". The time difference is always a drag when you want to talk to friends and fam.
I'm going to miss speaking English everyday, but I look forward to mastering Mandarin. In the mean time better dust of my charades skills. I'm going to crave Chik-fil-A and sweet tea but I'm interested in trying seahorse soup, tempura starfish, various noodle dishes and authentic crab rangoon.
Everyday this week I've woken up and thought "Ahh I'm moving to Asia...AGAIN!!!" so excited I could almost pee. The most stressful thing about moving is PACKING! I'm two piles of S@&T away from being a hoarder! I'm a cancer and I'm sensitive about my S@&T! EVERYTHING has sentimental value and all of my clothes are "my favorite" clearly or I wouldn't have bought them. So it's been painful to sell, give away, and flat out throw things out. But it's all growing pains. I realize I could keep things in storage but I did that last time around and I wound up not needing half the stuff I stored. When you move overseas you realize how much less you need and yet how much more you do ,and how much more fulfilled you are.

I went back through my blog last night and read posts about preparing for Korea, it made me laugh and a little sad. It's crazy how life changes. I cracked up as I read about my expectations of Korea and my butchering of Hangul. I reflect on all that I've experienced since October 2009 and I smile.

http://www.throughthereddoor.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html

It's amazing how your road map in life detours and leads you down an unforeseen roads. I'm excited to see where this road will take me.
In the words of my good friend Jon
Map out your future - but do it in pencil. The road ahead is as long as you make it. Make it worth the trip.
~Jon Bon Jovi

I look at how different this experience is from 3 years ago. I'm an veteran expat and a bit wiser.
With 48 hours and counting to my departure I dive back into my bags to consolidate more crap. Until next time...

It's my Drink in a Bag baaaby!!!

So in preparation for my journey and amidst packing and deciding what I could donate, I thought about what I could do to make a little extra dinero before jumping the pond.
I thought long and hard about it! I'm way to vain to sell my hair, it's too late to get a part time job @ Target and I don't have a enough rhythm to climb the golden pole and "drop it like its hot!". Alas I was left with few options. Then I came upon the idea to have a Rummage Sale. A little Saturday afternoon make shift thrift store to get rid of everything before moving out on Monday. Why come to my apartment when you could just as easily hit up the Goodwill? What can I offer that the Goodwill can't?
I thought back to my university days and how I hustled up money with "rent parties". Cheap strong drinks for mere dollars, but how would would i get people in the door? Long gone are my early 20's with an abundance of wildly carefree friends,with parents' money to spend. My friends are married with mortgages. So I pondered what would entice a 20 something college student to come to my apartment and drink copious amounts of alcohol and buy my s*%t!
I had almost given up hope of an idea, when as I was skimming through my Thailand adventure pics when it hit me. Eurerka!!! A drink in a bag! Just then my rendition of " It's my d$&k in a Box" began playing in my head.
And then my brainchild was born " It's My Drink In A Bag baaaaby!".
Because nothing says Asia like a good ole fashioned drink in a bag!
So I designed a fun label, got a couple of ziplock bags, a few reinforcement labels, some colorful straws and VOILA! Drink in a bag central! Add a a cup of ice, the cocktail of your choice and there you have a portable party! Now don't go getting carried away people,this is an INSIDE beverage ONLY! The U.S. has silly container laws.
But I've posted a few pics so you can check out my masterpiece. "Rum"mage Sale 2012 should be an event to remember. Don't you just love how my boring rummage sale turned into an event? :) "Rum"mage Sale 2012 will be complete with the selling of all my random stuff,rum infused cupcakes ( complete w/ a Chinese fortunes)rum punch in a bag, and rum jello shots.
And thanks to Square card reader : no cash! No problem! I will be accepting Debit and all major credit cards! Strong drinks and irresponsible shopping go hand in hand. What's not to LOVE?
With flyers posted about Midtown, I'm hoping to get a pretty good turn out.
So whenever you're in need of jazzing up a party or raising extra funds to support your Wanderlust "Drink in a Bag" is a sure fire way to make it happen.
So to my readers and fellow expats eat, drink responsibly,and be merry!
Until next time...

For Real!

What now? It's a matter of paper work, selling all of my stuff (once again),  thinking, do I keep this birdcage lamp I bought in Korea? Can a girl have too many pairs of chopsticks? What am I going to take in my two bags this time? And where the hell am I going to put my obscene amount of art supplies?

So as G would say "S&%T is REAL"
I'm under the 30 day mark. I move out of my apartment on Monday, I've given notice to my job, I've sent away for my Visa, posted my car on Craigslist, and I'm about to purchase my airline ticket on Friday. S&%T is most definitely REAL!
I just decided this in what... June? "yeah let's move to CHINA!" and now here I am preparing to head back to Asia. To Communist, eat fried seahorses for fun,mass produce everything sun, no Facebook accessing China.
Not freaking out a bit, not one bit. O_o
A wave of realization hit me this morning on my commute to work" Holy fuck I'm moving to China in 20 days" it's a little surreal. It's different this time around. I'm not running from something or should I say someone.  I have a partner in crime, a fellow serial expat to join me on what looks to be a enlightening, fun-filled and possibly somewhat bizarre experience.
 I am embracing my 30's (Ahhhh  I can't believe I just turned 30!) and I'm creating the life I always wanted for myself. Simple as that.
I don't know what 30 is supposed to look or feel like. I still feel like some spirited 20 something year old, ready to conquer the world. I'm guess 30 is 20 but with a few more dollars in your pocket and hopefully not repeating some of the same mistakes. So I'm hoping that 30 year old me experiences even more this time around and has a blast doing it!
I looked into what to expect from Shanghai. I've only even been to Hong Kong, and that's nothing like mainland China.
I've heard Shanghai is extremely modern somewhere along the lines of being the NYC of the Far East. Overwrought with taxis, a complex metro system, AMAZING knock offs, strange ethnic eats and socially accepted public defecating. Come to think of it's just like New York City. There are foreign marts, IKEA and even Wal-Mart! I must say I'm curious to see how Shanghai measures up to Seoul. Well for that matter I'd like to see how China fares in comparison to South Korea.
Because even though I became very jaded by my Hanguk love as my 2 year stint came to a close, I will forever cherish the countless memories and ridiculous musings that will always be Korea for me. From Ddokbokki to K-Pop and Hangukinim outlandishness, Korea will always have a fond place in my heart.
But from fellow expat blogs and random expat You Tube videos of everyday Shanghainese life, it looks like absolute Chinese shenanigans.  I look forward to documenting utter ridiculousness, creating new memories, and exploring China. If a local explains something as " Ancient Chinese Secret..." I'm going to absolutely lose it!  :)

And just when you think you're all alone, life surprises you. I recently found out that a few of my friends will also be finding themselves in Shanghai in the coming months. A few from the states and a couple throwbacks from Korea. So I have to say I'm pumped to have a small community to call my own in Shanghai. It was unexpected, but serendipitous twists of fate have brought us all together once again to experience something wonderful.
Which even more solidifies that this was the right choice.
So in a few days time I'll have my ticket and all that will be left to do is pack. I will repeat this to myself as I delve into the abyss that is my closet, " You can ONLY take 2 suitcases, You need to pack wisely, You can ONLY take 2 suitcases don't get carried away!"
I promise to ONLY pack the necessities, but I don't know if I can leave my sketch books, colored pencils, or my Korean birdcage lamp behind. :) Don't judge me.

So in memoriam of my dearly departed 20's but anxiously looking forward to what my 30's and Shanghai have in store, I leave you with Youth by Foxes. Turn up the volume and jam out. Pull out the guns if you're feelin' funky! Until next time ...

The Corporate Exodous

It's been almost a year a since my last post. I thought that my pilgrimage back to the states to live meant the end of my Serendipitous Adventurer spirit, but I should have known that it was only a matter of time.
So I came back stateside last October with apsirations and idealistic notions of the "American Dream" like so many other young people my age. Everyone around me was getting married, buying a house, having their 2nd and 3rd child and pursuing careers. And there I was some lonely expat with a million and five AMAZING experiences, bags full of foreign trinkets,only 3 pages left in my passport, and new global sensibility,trying to repatriate myself into a country that no longer felt like home.
Three days on American soil I had an interview. Two weeks in,I had a corporate job, and in less than a month back in the states I had a fab midtown apartment, a corporate wardrobe and a cute little VW Beetle. To the naked eye I made the transition seamlessly.
It was a whirlwind of change.
Trying to shrug off Asian social norms and re-acclimate myself to the world I'd left behind two years prior was a great deal harder than I had expected. I found myself starting most of my sentences with " When I was in Korea..." and trust me I didn't want to be that annoying girl who talks about living abroad ALL the damn time, but that was all I had known. I wasn't up on Pop Culture , I was WAY behind on TV shows, and let's not even get started on music. My first few months back were rough socially. I felt awkward and out of place. Like some dark skinned Asian in a country of strangers. Which is almost laughable if I hadn't been so sad. I willingly gave up my Korean life for the American life I thought I wanted. Which ended up making me feel even more lost and misplaced. The old saying holds true, the grass isn't always greener.
Note to Self : next time I'm missing family, friends, black hair care products, and delicious American food just come back for an extended visit!
After a few months I'd made a few friends but all in all I still felt something was missing. I'd go on Facebook and browse through my travel albums, sigh at the fact that my life was just well for a lack of a better word...ordinary.
I went to to my 9-5 office gig, wrote curriculum, trained teachers, wrote reports, and did a little domestic traveling. I wasn't complaining because , there were people in America out of work, barely able to support themselves and there I was sitting in my office discontented with my 9-5. I hungered for something more, something extraordinary. As I settled into a routine , battled the 45 min daily commute, and put on my very best " I'm an adult, and I care about what you're saying" face, I started resenting coming back stateside.
I started questioning why I ever left Asia in the first place. I started reevaluating my job and my life. And with 30 creeping up on me I knew I needed to do something. I refused to become a lemming. "yes I'm on the verge of 30! That doesn't make me irresponsible because I enjoy living in different countries every couple of years!" Im probably part gypsy but have you ever heard the quote " All who wander are not lost!" Even Dr. Seuss encourages us step outside our comfort zone in Oh The Places You Will Go!
I was tired of trying to conform to what is expected of me because honestly it just made me unhappy.
Im not meant to fit inside some box. I take my steel toed boot and say "Ahh... fuck your box!!!" as it crushes beneath my bedazzled knee high Doc Materns.
I was over making excuses for my awesomeness. I know that sounds pompous but seriously there is a truly awesome individual inside each of us, it's just some choose to embrace it while others just make excuses for it. So I starting weighing the pros and of going back overseas. It seems as soon as I owned changing my life, the opportunity presented itself.
Fast forward month or so and here we are.
I know this post will resonate with my fellow expats but also with those of you out there wanting a change in their lives. Don't wait around for the right moment because it may never come. I'm no life coach but if you want to change your life or step out of the expexcted norm, just do it.Don't doubt yourself. Don't wait for validation from others. Be fearless,take hold of the life you imagined for yourself and begin living you happiness.
No more monkey suits or putting on a "serious adult " face complete with "I'm thinking" hand gestures. No more drab colors, no more desk warming 9-5, or feeling creatively stifled in the workplace. So onward to the Corporate Exodus. I feel like Jerry McGuire, with my colored pencils and messenger bag in hand "who's comin' with me?" I'm just not cut out for the corporate world. * Kanye shrug*
With that said, in four weeks time I will be embarking on a new journey. Walking through the red door once more in search of something amazing.

Dear John Letter

My dearest Korea,
Its been a while since we last spoke. I'm sure you've noticed my distant almost absentee behavior. I know you're not the brightest crayon in the box so let me spell it out for you. Let me say this in the nicest way possible since you have ALWAYS shown me the utmost love and compassion. Yaaaa ...We' re done! With only 30 days left. I feel it's only right to let you know that I'm leaving you for my old girlfriend America. She's cleaner, more polite, a great deal smarter and she even speaks English. I know we tried to work out our differences.
* shhh don't cry...munch on these prawn flavored snacks. *
 It's going to be ok! You're going to meet some new unsuspecting waygook that you can charm with your wiles until they start to dislike you too.
It's just you and I both know this hasn't been working for some time now.
It's better to part ways now than wait. We both knew this wasn't for the long term. America and I had our problems but she's ALWAYS going to be my #1.
*No I don't have anymore snacks!!! *
Korea, you've given me so much and I will always love you for that. You encouraged me to learn Korean, my chopstick game is sick! I now love eating a random mish mash of foods out of big family style plates,I'm more open to try strange new and interesting things, and I have no regard for matching.
You've changed my life in so many ways, but in turn made me miss and appreciate my lovely America sthat much more. If ever I see someone not wash their hands, am pushed by a small Asian woman, or get a faint whiff of kimchi I'll think of you.

Always,
 티파니♥

The Lolita Syndrome

 So in my university years I'd been known to wear a few questionable outfits in the past. I am no stranger to cleavage. I am mean I really can;t be with DD's. becuase even the most innocent dress can be tranformed into a club dress by my ample bosom.

As an educator my attire has been curbed siginifigantly into chic yet slightly conservative pieces.
But Korea has taken my conservative attire to a whole new level. Anything short of a turtleneck has made me feel like a harlet. V neck shirts have been traded in for crew necks and cardigans. Which is more of a hassel then anything in the warmer months.
And yet my Korean counter parts, who suffer severly from what I will call the "Lolita Syndrome". If you're unfamiliar, this is when grown women wear clothing obviously meant for young girls under the age of 12. Bows, all things lace, short and even a baby voice to boot. These self proclaimed innocent women garb themselves in"dresses" that are really shirts,belts masquerading as skirts, and  shorts that might as well be underwear, paired with four inch stripper heels. Where's Humbert Humbert when you need him?
God forbid I go bare-legged in the summer months or better yet show my arms. The Korean double standard rears its big ugly head. I get sneers and gawking stares not only from old Koreans but half naked Korean women.
 I'm pretty sure I just saw that girl's pubes hanging from her jean shorts. But I'm the whore?
It's gotten so bad that just this morning I was deciding what dress I should wear. I put on my favorite Morrocan inspired knee length dress , beige tank, a black cardi and my blue bejeweled shoes.  I made it 10 steps out the door,feeling the brush of the wind on my freshly shaved legs I ran back inside and put on a pair of black tights. It's official. Korea has gotten to me. Ashamed to go bare-legged. What have I become?


Oh the shame....

Confucius says: If foreign legs,be bare and out for show  a man will ask "Hey you Lussia?" 얼마죠?

Mythbuster Korea!

"So... Tiffany, You still in China? Japan?"

Let's play a game. Shall we?

 

This is MythBusters and Im Jamie and you're the other guy!      Myth 1: I DO NOT live in Japan or China. I'm in Korea

Korean Peninsula, it is bordered by China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the east by the Korea Strait and

the Sea of Japan

MYTH: BUSTED!

Myth 2: "You're probably like the tallest person in Korea"

Umm...NO! At a "towering" 5'10 and some change ,I am by far not the tallest person let alone female in Korea. Have you seen Korean Basketball players?

MYTH: BUSTED!

Myth 3: " So you can like get everything bootleg there?  Jordans for $20 and diamonds for $10 right? If I send you some money..."

C'mon people REALLY? You think Koreans are Blinged out Jordan wearers? You've been watching way too much TV. Here's a thought pick up a book or read the BBC news. Koreans are not walking around blinged out sporting the newest 22's. Sorry to burst your bubble. I almost peed myself $10 diamonds!!!! SERIOUSLY? Wtf? Jordans are in import therefore cost more here and diamonds well have you seen the movie Blood Diamond? I am a teacher not a bootlegger! Enough said!

MYTH: BUSTED

Myth 4: " Korean women are soooo BEAUTIFUL! So docile and subservient"

Once again my friend you've watched Memoirs of a Geisha wayyyyy to many times. Secondly those women were JAPANESE!

The number of beautiful Korean women is just the same as the states, a mixture or "Oh WOW" and "Oh HELL No!"  If I had a shit ton of elective cosmetic surgery all before the age of 21 I'd be a knockout too. However Korean women (well a good portion are quite thin) due tend to dress more chic and take pride in their appearance more so than their Western couterparts. As far as docile goes, if you define docile by whining incesantly and throwing temper tantrums in public then sure go right ahead!

MYTH: BUSTED

MYTH 5: " Koreans are sooo skinny, it must be because ther eat all that rice and sushi"

What?Once again sushi is JAPAN! Koreans are considered the fatties of Asia.

 News flash ,RICE is NOT a diet food. Actually it's quite the opposite. A fat Korean will see an overweight foreigner, sneer looking up from his/ her greasy delicious snack long enough to call you FAT! Because in reality they are in utter denial about their fatness.

MYTH: BUSTED

Next time on Korean MythBusters...

             Epic Korean LIES Myths                

Until next time...

Confucius say: Beware of of hillarious bullshit in the form of ignorance, you could end up in my next post. just kidding ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ :) ( sort of)

The New Year brings new adventures!

 Sorry it's been  a month since my last post but, I really haven't had anything blogworthy to post. So instead of boring you with some ridiculous rant or list of things I did the past month I opted not to blog. That aside,
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I can't believe it's 2011. I haven't been stateside since mid 2009. Where does the time go?
 I'm convinced that Korea is some strange time vortex where time just melts away.  Then BAM!, another year gone by. Well I have to say, 2010 was an exciting and productive. I fell in madly in love, learned some Korean, successfully ordered things online all in Korean, read something like 20 + books, traveled to Thailand twice, Hong Kong and India as well as explored a bit of Korea. Amongst all this madness I  found another piece of me.
On a sad note all the changes they are making  in Korea in regards to rights for foreigners ( and not for the better), I've decided this will be my last contract. After next fall, I will exit stage left.
So that means,  I'm only here for another 10 months ( you might think thats a lot of time, but trust me... in Korea it flies by)and I don't want to be one of those expats who's been here 2+ years and never seen Namsang Tower or Busan,  So  I promise to see some more Korean sights before next Nov! That aside I've given up on seriously learning anymore Korean.
 Even though I surprise myself sometimes with how much I understand.
Japan is the next destination, so it's time for this 外国人 to start learning Japanese and start scouting job opportunities. The home of the raeman shop, sushi,  karaoke, geishas, saving face, hara juku, and so much more. I am not excited for learning Kanji. I'll pull a Bill Murray, being perpetually Lost in translation. I'll be trading in my soju for sake and kimchi for wasabi. With a full waist bow I look forward to my next adventure  in Japan. Let the countdown begin!

Speaking of adventures I'll be heading stateside in 4 days! I can't believe it's time already! I remember when first bought that outrageously expensive ticket, I thought 3 months away. Now I'm less than a week away. I don't think I've ever missed my family and friends as much as I miss them right now. I'm super pumped to see everyone, eat delicious food, go SHOPPING, listen to the radio, speak English freely, and see how awkward I am acclimating myself back to America. So with a barely empty suitcase with the exception of a clean pair of undies, a toothbrush,  a few bottles of Soju and socks, I'm prepping myself to head back to the good ole US of A.

Wishing all of you the best in 2011! I better get packing. Don't want to forget my toothbrush.
Until next time...