Category: Life

• A student
• A teacher
• A costume designer
• A film writer
• A film director
• A film editor
• An actor
• A cameraman
• A sock puppet
• A giant sock puppet
• A news anchor
• A referee
• A general technician
• A mini celebrity (referring to status, not stature)

In other words, I’ve been working on the program staff at summer English camp. More pictures (and maybe videos) will be coming.

Looking at that list, you will notice some important absences. While I’m not saying I did nothing more than the list denotes, I am going to mention that I could not include, say, correspondent on the list. Some of you have noticed. Most of you really didn’t. Either way, I did.

I’m not apologizing for my internet silence. Just explaining.

Go for the Gold!

I have long been a fan of making people come to my blog to read what I write. I have made a dramatic departure from that policy. Welcome, Facebook readers.

The reasons I wanted you to read from my blog itself are perhaps best illustrated by my most recent post. There is a youtube video and a popup link that just don’t work from Facebook. However, in an attempt to include as many friends as possible in my occasional musings and reports, I’ll give this a go.

I make no promises for its continued form or existence.

As I wrap up my first year in China and lube the skis to glide blithely into the second, I’ve given some thought to what I’ll do a year from now. I’ve realized that overseas journalism might just be my ticket.

I’ve been thinking about it and have realized that there are a few prerequisites to a career in overseas journalism.

• Love of travel. Check
• Love of writing. Check
• Loving audience, or at least people willing to read your writing. Check. (Judging from the lack of response to most of my postings, I’m assuming here. However, no one can prove me wrong because that would require having read this.
• Ability to appear intelligent and reliable. Check (see previous line for proof).
• Silk scarf. Seriously, all the reporters in Asia have them. And while I don’t have mine yet, I consciously chose not to buy one in Thailand and Cambodia, so that makes me different, not underqualified.

There might be other stuff, too, but I think those are the basics. I thought I was in pretty good shape for this career, when my ponderings were confirmed.

I’m not announcing any plans, hopes or even desires, but I thought I’d share the joy of my first big break.

I was published in by an international media giant.

Knowing you would be skeptical, I secured proof (or you could go see it for yourself):

Yes, indeed, ladies and gentlemen, that “Justin J” in Changchun, China, is the rising star you discovered early. And before you go and pass it off as my commenting on an article online, allow me to direct your attention to the post heading: “Your letters.” It clearly indicates my piece of writing was subjected to scrutiny and selected for mass reproduction. It is not obstructed by a screen name or subjugated to the possibility of a user’s complaining about it.

I made it to the big time.

Actually, if you want to know the truth, they’re only returning the favor. Do you think it’s a coincidence that my feature in BBC’s Magazine Monitor came within a week of my plugging it? I don’t think so either. So, I know you’re reading this NY Times, but I’ve not heard from you yet. You could still beat Reuters, Slate and even the Onion. But you’ll have to work fast—the BBC and I are getting pretty cozy.

A student at my English corner yesterday made an insightful observation: “I think technological advances have made our lives worse.” Her point was that the increased availability of goods and services, from food to communication, has decreased our satisfaction and, consequently, enjoyment of life.

There is certainly a lot of good that is lost as a society progresses. Let’s all share examples.

I’ll go first.

I’m not sure of China’s official label on the developed/developing scale. I do know, though, that the North, my region of residence is less developed than the South. I also know that my city is less developed than some others in the North. I also know that my immediate vicinity is termed the ‘Jing Yue Economic Development Zone’ of the city. Suffice it to say my neighborhood is economically and technologically marbled. I’ve looked on unsurprised as BMWs passed a donkey-drawn cart in front of my college.

A few months ago, I was needing to transfer some of my Chinese salary to my American bank. It’s actually a frighteningly expensive and awkward exercise. Western Union gets the job done, though, and I was glad to learn from their website that WU considers Jing Yue developed enough to host a branch. Upon arrival, though, I learned it was a developing branch. As in, a computer glitch was blocking them from transmitting or receiving funds. John, the designated foreigner liaison used his smooth English to promise me the difficulties would be resolved “soon.” He collected my number and promised to keep me informed of developments.

I made the trek downtown and settled my affairs after three days with no word. Problem solved, the limping Western Union managed to escape my ponderings.

John called me last night (Saturday night. The bank was closed.). He remembered my visit, my name and my need to transfer money and wanted to let me know the system was again functional. He hung up with a wish to see me soon. Twenty seconds later he called again to give me his personal cell phone number in case I ever needed his help with anything. When was the last time your banker did that?

We may be behind with some technological advances, but we remember what good old-fashioned customer service is like. And it worked: I’ll definitely go there next time I need to send money. And it won’t have anything to do with cutting out the two-hour trip downtown and back.