Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Remembering How Happy She Was
There's a pizza place across the street from where I live called the Pizza Company. It's a glorified Chinese pizzeria trying to give off the impression that it's an American establishment (place mats: The Four Factors of Deliciousness!). Earlier this semester Jon, Anna, and I held a group meeting there to hammer out some project details for class. I remember our waitress was this young lady who couldn't have been much older than we were. She had an unbelievably radiant smile and from what I could tell, it was genuine. It was an innocent smile. It was an enviable smile and I was incomprehensible to me.
Why was she so happy? I could imagine working at this place paid better than most others, but could that be it? I don't see the other waiters or waitresses being the same way. And why was I so obsessed with knowing why? Was it because I was jealous of her? No, that's ridiculous.
By now, Jon had ordered for us and despite being the stereotypical blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigner, his Chinese is impeccable, especially in restaurants. As the waitress read the order back line by line, I nodded as to confirm each item. Jon furrowed his brow.
"Hold on, that's not what we ordered," he said.
Now it was my turn to be surprised. It wasn't? And then it hit me. No of course it wasn't after I had processed what she had said. How did that happen? I looked her in eye. She smiled back.
Why was she so happy? I could imagine working at this place paid better than most others, but could that be it? I don't see the other waiters or waitresses being the same way. And why was I so obsessed with knowing why? Was it because I was jealous of her? No, that's ridiculous.
By now, Jon had ordered for us and despite being the stereotypical blond-haired, blue-eyed foreigner, his Chinese is impeccable, especially in restaurants. As the waitress read the order back line by line, I nodded as to confirm each item. Jon furrowed his brow.
"Hold on, that's not what we ordered," he said.
Now it was my turn to be surprised. It wasn't? And then it hit me. No of course it wasn't after I had processed what she had said. How did that happen? I looked her in eye. She smiled back.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Graduation Angst
Despite China's phenomenal economic expansion, recent college graduates have a hard time finding jobs. The smartest kids end up doing one of three things:
1. Work for the Ministry of Commerce
2. Work for a MNC
3. Graduate education in the U.S.
A precious few also start their own companies.
Come to U.S.! You'll love it so much you won't go back!
1. Work for the Ministry of Commerce
2. Work for a MNC
3. Graduate education in the U.S.
A precious few also start their own companies.
Come to U.S.! You'll love it so much you won't go back!
Sunday, December 03, 2006
IFF
I always leave the class in international crisis and conflict management more afraid for this world and my safety in it. While it hasn't done much for my jumpiness, it did teach me a thing or two about treading lightly. Notes to self:
-There are no permanent allies as there are no permanent enemies.
-Friendship is perhaps the gateway to conflict.
-It's all over when lines of communications are broken.
-The DPRK has nothing left to trade except threats, so let them.
-There are no permanent allies as there are no permanent enemies.
-Friendship is perhaps the gateway to conflict.
-It's all over when lines of communications are broken.
-The DPRK has nothing left to trade except threats, so let them.
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