A lot of interesting things happened. I remember Melodong telling me once that my life is interesting but I always tell her it’s always because of perspective. I believe life is about making the mundane extraordinary. Well, for starters, I was up earlier than AKZZ and AZ today and I managed to spend some time with AM (Ah Ma) over my breakfast of soup. Incidentally, today was Gong Gong’s (GG) 17th death anniversary. As she reminisced, I was suddenly filled with nostalgia. I remembered how much GG loved me. I remembered I was the most favoured as I was the firstborn amongst the grandchildren. I remembered how he, in the later stages of his multiple cancers – lungs, liver, throat, nose – still found ways to pamper me.

You see, GG had a literal hole in his neck/throat – the doctors had to remove his voice box (the Adam’s apple region) completely and it left a gaping hole the size of a fifty cent coin smack in the centre of his throat, where the Adam’s apple was located. He couldn’t speak of course, and had barely any energy to walk. I will always fondly remember how he got out of bed when I came home from school, knotted a handkerchief around his throat with frail arms and made it kinda look like a scarf (so that he doesn’t scare people with the hole), took my hand with purpose, and without a word (obviously), he brought me out to the mama-shop at the opposite block downstairs to get my favourite ice-cream – Paddlepop rainbow. We did not speak, neither did we make much of any eye contact – I was oblivious to what was going on then. But he held my tiny hands and I held on to his big weathered hands, and as a grandfather-grandson pair, he took me out – proud as a peacock – as if it was the last time he was going to parade in the neighbourhood with his eldest grandchild.

I was eight-years-old when he passed away – too young to remember full details but old enough to remember how much he loved me.

I listened intently to AM as she shared with me anecdote after anecdote and when her voice started to get shaky, I looked up at her face and realised that tears had already welled in her eyes. I gave her an assuring pat on the back and I calmly said, “我也很想公公，不要哭了吧”. She said GG would be really proud to see the man that I have become. Actually, I thought he would be really proud to see all his 14 grandchildren grow up. He passed away too early. I would have kicked ass with GG, I know I would. Suddenly, I really miss him, though I never really knew him as well as he knew me. And these are things that you can’t change. It is true; when someone is in your heart, they are never truly gone. They can come back to you, even at unlikely times. You really can find something truly important in a minute.

And that minute with AM and GG was probably the best minute I’ve had since I arrived.

A lot had happened over the weekend. Actually, not much. Haha. Just that the weekend passed by really quickly. Well, it’s a brand new week at work and I’m really motivated to excel. I keep telling myself that I will do better, learn faster and perform more effectively. I believe I will succeed in this job. I believe I will get to see the world. I believe this experience will enrich my life and better equip me for the future.

Actually, I’ve been wanting to update, but I guess the country’s firewall has gotten to wordpress too (sigh), so my log-ins are sporadic. Whenever I can, I will update. It’s been frustrating, and I can’t use Anonymouse to access wordpress because they don’t accept cookies; Anonymouse is a good website that allows me to bypass the firewall so that I can still have access to popular sites like wiki, youtube and blogspot – which means I have been able to read some blogs after all. Heh. Ok, too much information. Do be patient when you see that infrequent updates on this wordpress – it’s due to this reason.

Church wasn’t really all that enjoyable yesterday. Some archbishop from some African nation came all the way to Shanghai to put me to sleep. Urgh. His accent, sermon and deadpan delivery were perfect antidotes for a sleep-deprived week. Allow me to share my sermon notes:

HSL Int Church
28 Oct 07
Archbishop of Somewhere in Africa

God of surprises and the extraordinary.
Luke 18:9-14
“Lord, have mercy on me.”

• humility = not thinking more highly of yourself than you ought to.
• humility entails making excuses for all others except yourself.
• humility is to model Ch thrist
• the necessity of confession – rock on which Christ tr is u
• have a lifetup
• we are in a communithy of comd com mo communities

Erm, ya, it ended there.

Yup. That was exactly what it looked like in my sermon notebook. I typed exactly what I wrote. Heh. I guess preachers from Africa have special powers on Asians… Hurhur. This is when I really miss R-age – familiar faces, familiar accents, familiar jokes… Ahhh… The familiarity. Oh well. While I was dozing off in my pew (and pretending to look like I’m awake by looking and studying my bible), CAMY had their DG; I’d have loved to be there instead – cleaning the chapel and the third level hall and washing feet. I am just glad to be able to participate in the slightest way possible by asking people about it and by reading email updates or blogs. It’s the best way I guess.

I spent most parts of Saturday shopping for new furniture at IKEA. And IKEA here is humongous. I’m serious. It was big beyond my imagination. Well, the bill came up to about S$400. Of course, it was fully paid for. I’m blessed. =) The main things I bought were a table, a chair, a table lamp, a small wardrobe, blinds, a full-length mirror and a cool black thing (which can be hung on the back of a door and it can hold all my cosmetics toiletries, four photos, two scarves, sunglasses, cap, towel and daily home clothes) – now that’s pretty good. Now my room really feels like a room. I will post pictures soon. Haha. I know that’s an empty claim but hey, it will come soon. Soon.

The locals are really enterprising. They hawk their services at the marketplace section and they approach people with trolleys full of huge items. They offer to deliver and assemble at a much lower price than IKEA’s and they can do it immediately. Of course there’s no guarantee, but there was no wait. So we took it up. Heh. Once we engaged their services, they’d push the trolleys for us, line up for us, and get this – even pay for us first so that we can give the queue a miss. And we just pay them the total amount when they’ve delivered and assembled it at our place. That’s pretty neat, at least to me.

My room really feels like a room to go home to now. I’m delighted with how I’ve been able to maximise the space – kinda felt like doing my own room in my Ghim Moh flat (which I miss very much)! Ahhh… The comfort. My room is paradise, really – those who’ve been there can attest to it, and if they don’t admit to it, they are lying! Haha. But seriously, so far, all who’ve been to my house said my room is “woah, nice“. Haha. Of course, it’s my room ok!

Well, back to work, I was formally introduced at the weekly staff meeting this morning. I felt my face turn red. AKZZ’s first formal task for me was to collate the employees’ job descriptions for the entire company. It’s a win-win situation because I’d need to be familiar with everything in the company as I am assisting the boss and it’ll also allow me to get acquainted with everyone – from top management to delivery man, lorry driver and office cleaner. I’m looking forward to meeting people. It’s gonna keep me entertained for the next month.

So, I had to introduce the project – in Mandarin – and that’s when I felt my face turn red again. I stumbled for words and phrases and it’s frustrating because I cannot communicate what’s in my mind due to an obvious lack of vocabulary, especially in those business jargons. Friends, if you are still schooling, take your Chinese seriously. I mean it. Take the advice from the old man. I regret not doing so and now I face the arduous task of re-learning my Chinese. It’s daunting. I was just sharing with my old cell that one of my strengths in my profession is presentations, but today, I felt so crippled by my language incapabilities. And it was a rather big blow for my morale. But nevermind, if the Great Wall was built in 20 years, then surely I can re-learn my Chinese in less than a year. I told myself that I just gotta be patient, and not let this great wall of language prevent me from being positive about the work ahead. Self-talk helps. Yes, it does. Yes, I will make it. Yes, I am of Chinese descent. Ok, next!

I also hit the gym with AZ this evening. The place is called Will’s. I have no idea who or what it means. And as predicted, AB pung-sehed me, to no surprise of his parents. Haha. The branch that I visited was not a big place, but this establishment is probably the equivalent of California Fitness Centre here. Well, like most gyms, most of the personal trainers there were men, and those men were only interested in training women… Urgh. So I was left alone, which I didn’t mind, because I probably wouldn’t understand much of what they would say anyway. I cycled for 20 minutes, ran for 40 minutes and did some weights while AZ went for her routine yoga class. It was good to work out and burn 500+ calories, but the meal after really negated the 90 minutes spent there. I still do not like what I see in the mirror. Haha…

When we returned, I had the wonderful opportunity of hearing my AZ share her life story over dinner; I thought mine was dramatic until I heard hers. It really is a privilege when someone shares something private with you because it communicates trust. And I appreciate that. She said, “Joe, you’re the only one besides Zekzek who knows this story”. I was really really honoured to have heard it. I think their story is worth a book, at least. It is filled with colourful anecdotes and it is a success story after all. Inspirational too. Guaranteed best seller. Hmm. Maybe it’s a project worth considering – a husband/wife autobiography, and I’ll be their ghost author, like most autobiographies.

It’s midnight and I shall go to bed early today. I really need to focus at work and I’ll need all the concentration I can at work. Besides, I have dark eye rings and sleep is the best medicine (besides BodyShop Eye Rescue Serum. Hahaha…) Thank you for reading and taking an interest in my life. My blog stats reveal things that are really heartening. Heh!

The Group’s operations may be adversely affected by risks outside the control of the Group including labour unrest, civil disorder, war, subversive activities or sabotages, fires, floods acts of God, explosions or other catastrophes or epidemics.

I’m thinking… You limit God to only floods??? How foolish. Hahaha… Obviously they didn’t read the old testament. Heh.

Onto related matters, I’m heading for cell tonight – either Omega Love, Omega Peace or MannaFest. Pretty funky names for cell uh? I want to join a cell group that is filled with young adults around my age, my situation, exuberant, hopefully Asian, dares to break out of the superficiality, serious about the Word of God and… UNMARRIED. I say this because it was super strange when I went to cell group that day to have a semi-asleep baby. I mean, cute and all that, but come on… I want peers my age! I do hope I can find a good bunch of guy friends, like the buddy-pally types. So important to have chums. Heh…  Actually come to think of it, I’d much rather lead a youth cell group in my new church in future, perhaps. Nothing beats being with young people.

I totally overslept today. Haha. At 9:45am today I was still in bed and usually we leave home at 9:30am! Man, it was embarrassing. Haha. XG was nice to return home again to pick me up. AZ took the mickey out of me when I arrived at the office at 10:45am. She said it so loud, so blatantly, there was nothing I could do or say except to laugh it off and with what’s left of my dignity, retort, “Aiya, 扰了我吧!” Heh. I shall not disclose the reason why I overslept because it is quite embarrassing. No more sleeping at 6am! Hahaha… I am here to WORK! =P Joey Asher Tan, sleeping so late really affects your concentration and your ability to absorb!

Speaking of which, one of the shareholders in the company just told me, “(The new MAC OS) Leopard’s gonna be out in Shanghai next week, but if you don’t mind waiting for (me to return from the States in) two weeks, I’ll pass you a free copy.” Of course, without hesitation, I very gladly told him I didn’t mind waiting. HAHAHA! WOOOH! Another S$80 saved! Oh yeah, good things come to those who wait! This is the same guy who owns a few Apple stores in Hong Kong and has the new PSP (“smaller, a lot lighter, and best thing is you can download games”), the much talked about iPhone which I am considering purchasing soon (he got it before everyone else did), the new iPod Touch, the latest IXUS and an extremely powerful MacBook Pro. To think that I actually lamented about how Hann and Jon bought theirs already and didn’t jio me and that I had nearly committed to sharing one with Shah. Ok, but I shall not count my chickens before they hatch. In two weeks I will gloat (again).

I’ve been quite blessed, honestly. I enjoyed the renowned Shanghai hairy crab for the first time on Wednesday; I accompany my uncle for work meetings with big businessmen held in posh hotel suites; I eat at above-average restaurants every evening; I’m heading to Tianjin and Beijing next Wednesday (and will be back on Saturday); and the big one, if all goes well, I should be heading to France(!), England(!) and Spain(!) next February, after Chinese New Year. I thank God for all these opportunities, really. For now, I just want to keep learning and growing – as a businessman in the corporate world, as a good employee, as a future father and husband. Like I’ve always said, I’m building a future while I’m here.

And finally, to those close friends (and anyone else) whose mind I’m on (haha), think of it (my absence) as, “I am somewhere obscure in Singapore where buses, trains and cars cannot reach”. =)

Into my mouth, a piece of chocolate I popped in
And into my heart, a piece of you raced right in
Indeed, great things happen to those who wait and win

Something random, but my uncle pronounces skype as “SKAI PEE“. Unbelievable. Cracks me up each time he says it, and  with that disgusting air of confidence, like it’s the right way to say it. Hahaha… I know Maisie would be laughing at this one.

I miss you more than Michael Bay missed the mark,
When he made Pearl Harbor.
I miss you more than that movie missed the point,
And that’s an awful lot, girl.
And now, now you’ve gone away,
And all I’m trying to say,
is: Pearl Harbor sucked… and I miss you.

I need you like Ben Affleck needs acting school,
He was terrible in that film.
I need you like Cuba Gooding needed a bigger part,
He’s way better than Ben Affleck.
And now, all I can think about is your smile,
and that shitty movie, too!
Pearl Harbor sucked… and I miss you.
Why does Michael Bay get to keep on making movies,
I guess Pearl Harbor sucked, just a little bit more than I miss… you.

I stayed up to watch the Man Utd vs Kiev game with AB. United convincingly won 4-2. It was a great game even for the neutrals considering that there was six goals in the mix. But that game felt different.

There was no more Lester watching the match with me at my place.

There was no more mocking Giggs for the sake of. There was no more “Turn your magic”. There were no more random farts. There was no more looking at myself in the mirror and thanking God for His beauty. There were no more exaggerated looks of disgust. There was no more “Eh go down and buy food leh“. There was no more fighting over the yellow blanket because the aircon in my room was unbelievably cold. There was no more one cold leg accidentally touching the other. There were no more homophobic reactions. There was no more “How’s Lian Hua?”. There were no more Winning Eleven games at half-time. There was no more waiting for thy kingdom come while he toggled endlessly with the tactics and formation and never once won (or barely scored). There was no more “Actually my hair not very curly what”. There was no more “Shut up your mouth”. There was no more manly talk about girls. There was no more “Eh you go and shower first”. There was no more mockery of my not-so-flat-belly. There was no more mastering of mandarin songs amidst hysterical laughter. There were no more sudden out-of-the-blue leg cramps. There were no more sounds of sinus-nose-sniffing. There was no more familiar banter.

At half-time, AB said, “Ok, I’m going to sleep already ’cause Man U surely win one.” And he returned to his room, leaving me half-conscious in the living room; I was already dozing off by the end of the first half and obviously I didn’t make it past the first minute of the second half. I ended up sleeping on the living room couch until 5:30am.

There was no more Lester to wake me up by annoying the living daylights out of me so that I’d watch the game.

I miss you, my dearest boy. In my life, there will only be one Lester. Cheer up ok? I’m sad too. Let’s look forward to the soccer nights when I come back for Christmas. I love you, bro.

1. Cell Phone: +6590230083 (Singapore) or +8615021157717 (Shanghai)
2. Home Address: 4 Ghim Moh Road #11-254 Singapore 270004 (25cents postage) or 徐泾中路858号26E，青浦区，上海，邮编201702 (65cents postage)
3. Email: captaincramp@yahoo.com, joey.asher@gmail.com or joey.tan@singxia.com – just use the first one
4. MSN: surachaijatturapaturapongwarapongsritongin@hotmail.com

Now, there is no more excuse not to keep in touch. Haha. I am so shameless right, I know. However, I am of the opinion that this world is altogether separate. Technology allows us to be connected and seemingly makes the world smaller, but it also disconnects us from each other at the same time. Nothing beats a face-to-face meet-up. Ahhh… That day-to-day intimacy that I spoke about in my final few weeks in Singapore – I will sorely miss.

It’s been a productive day at work. But I need to find a way to keep myself awake during meetings (I attended four today), especially when I get lost in the language. There’s a lot to learn and a lot to catch up on. The Chinese phrase for me this week is “虚心学习”; it’s literally an XXXX 成语 (or is it even one?). Haha. I hope I got that right. Heh. Gonna head for a massage now with AKZZ. No, it’s not the sleazy type. Haha. Did I just read your mind? Heh. Sadly, that word carries sexual innuendo. It does bring back recent fond memories though. Dinner beckons after that, then home. Next week at this time, I would be hitting the treadmill at the gym. AZ is on her way to her yoga class as I type and she’s gonna acquire membership for me.

This city was pitch black by 5:40pm; it kinda feels like 8pm now. Tuesday… Supper night. =)

As I’ve mentioned before, there are two domestic helpers in the household. One is called XiaoWang (XW) and the other, I don’t know actually, but she’s older, so let’s just call her LaoWang (LW). Although she is older, but she is certainly NOT more experienced; she was employed after XW and is actually quite a blur lady. She attempted to wake me up from my afternoon nap today and by george it was ridiculously hilarious.

LW [nudges my leg]: KJASNCIWFEFEICNKLENCAENFIEFNCANCEWCENFIWE…

Joey [flabbergasted and semi-awake]: Huh? 你讲什么？

LW [looks amused that I didn't understand her]: IWEURIOWENAVMNAMWECANENAE…

Joey [still flabbergasted and semi-awake]: Huh??? 我不明白你在讲什么.

LW [resiliently]: XVNCBNDBVJHFWEIUERWEUREWNCWECIW…

Joey [realising the hopelessness of the situation]: HUH??? 对不起我真的不明白… [shouting] AH BOY! WHAT IN THE WORLD IS SHE SAYING???

Then I heard footsteps pacing up the stairs…

AB [almost laughing out loud already, grinning]: Mummy is bringing us to Japanese dinner tonight to celebrate your birthday. RobinZekZek is here to pick us up. Once you are ready we can leave.

Joey [absolutely befuddled]: Woah lau, why in the world did you send her to tell me this??? I had no idea what she was trying to say!

You see, LW speaks with an accent so thick you probably need x-ray hearing to understand what she is saying. I guess this is what happens when you’ve worked on a farm for almost all your life. Haha… I thought this incident was quite amusing and I related it to AZ and she said that if she could not understand LW, how could I possibly do it? Then she looked at her son and asked him how he came up with the ingenious idea of sending LW instead of XW to wake me up. Hahaha…

So, I woke up and I got dressed to head for a nice dinner. The first dinner is usually significant. I wore the Zara cardigan and my new pair of Levi’s pencil-cut jeans today. Hehe. I slapped on the BodyShop Seaweed Daily Shine Control Moisture Cream and I was ready to go. (Random thought: this blog feels like an endorsement for the products I use and wear. Heh.) RobinZekZek, my third uncle who is also working here, talked to me about traffic, cars, accidents and getting my driving licence converted while he drove us to Wine Mall. And my my, that place has become quite swanky! It’s due for soft opening soon and I just heard that the company’s official listing date is on 29th Oct. Very exciting!

It was nice to see familiar faces like Allan and Shah again. We got into the car and Shah, being the idiot (haha), said, “Joey, you’re going to hate me for this…” And hands me his iPhone… Sick. Gross. Then he said he got it for 4200 RMB (that’s about S$840). Ah. Cannot covet. Cannot covet. So if I cannot covet, cannot get jealous or envious, then the best thing to do is to purchase it. Hahahaha… Maybe, maybe not. Hahaha… I shall be patient. The rationalising cognition said, “But Joey, you have been using your 7370 for nearly two years already… It’s time to upgrade…” Being an extremely determined person that I am, I did myself proud and thought, “Ya, I concur.” HAHAHAHA!!!

Ok, my wrist is hurting as I type. Those six pills and that plaster apparently did not take effect. And I think that right, if I continue to blog at this intensity and level of detail, I will never get to do anything else, so I think if you’re reading this, you should enjoy this word spree while I am still enjoying this. I am here to be a businessman, not an author. Hehe. Ok, but it’s quite fun blogging in such great detail. Enough for today. I shall go to bed now. First day of work beckons. It’s been a good first day in Shanghai. I miss you, just so you know.

I’ll post pictures tomorrow. It’s quite troublesome.