Kiinan-vuosi 1: Arkea Hangzhoussa, marraskuu 2003

Asuin vuosina 2003–2004 puolitoista vuotta Hangzhoussa Kiinassa, jonne olin lähtenyt työkomennukselle. Pidin silloin englanninkielistä päiväkirjaa. Tähän sarjaan olen poiminut siitä vain työn ulkopuolisen elämän: kaupungin, ruoan, matkat ja ajatukset. Työasiat ja työkavereiden nimet on jätetty pois. Teksti on alkuperäistä englantia, ja hakasulkeissa ovat omat lisäykseni.

Perjantai 14.11.2003

In the evening we were in Shanghai with a couple of friends. Nice to have them here in China for 2 days. We had dinner in one Tepanyaki-restaurant and then visited some bars like Cafe 1931.

Lauantai 15.11.2003

I had sushi for breakfast and lunch. Dream came true! We went to dress market and then had lunch at Cafe Montmartre, which is a piece of France in Shanghai. We tried to have drinks in the rooftop bar in Peace hotel but there was a wedding going on there. Pity. Then we did some sightseeing and ended up via a Sichuan restaurant to O'Malleys.

Sunnuntai 16.11.2003

We just took it easy and enjoyed life. Some nice food, some wine etc.

Keskiviikko 19.11.2003

Weather: 15 degrees, fog, rain. No wind.

One should have at least 2-3 [hours of] free thinking time. Maybe one should walk outside 1.5 hours a day. It is easier to think while walking than sitting in the noisy office. From now on I will walk 30 minutes btw 12 and 13 so that I have time to think something and get some fresh (?) air.

Lauantai 22.11.2003

Heuristic of the day: in order to understand something, you must not try to understand everything. Aristotle.

Really nice weather: sun, 8 degrees, no wind. Just like it should be.

I got up at 8.30, had some noodles, checked what HS has to say about the state of the world, walked some 30 minutes, took taxi to office and took shower. The shower at office is much better than the one at our home. Actually, I cannot wash my hair at home.

The new park next to my home is taking shape at last. Now there were some people cleaning it or doing something else.

Sunnuntai 23.11.2003

We went to visit the Zhejiang Yonggan Curio with friends. It was kind of fun, nice weather and nice people. Big house full of exotic furniture. We did not buy anything large, since we may go there another time. And we do not have any house/home in Finland, so it is a bit hard to decide what to buy.

We also had lunch at a local place and some beer plus one bottle of Shaoxing wine. The wine is always as fun to drink.

In the evening I read Chomsky and went to bed early. Quite fun book, especially after reading Paul Krugman's "Great unravelling" and one book of Chinese foreign policy. Reading is fun. And makes one a little more enlightened.

Maanantai 24.11.2003

Nice weather continues. Sun shines, more than 10 degrees.

After 2 week break I also cycled back home. It made me quite happy. I saw two policemen fining some poor person who were selling some food by the bikelane. Stupid, they were just trying to eke out a living. At the same time many cars were speeding on wrong lane, driving against red lights and endangering the lives of tens of people. No fines for them. And then these two policemen had also confiscated some oranges from the poor people. They really should be ashamed.

We had dinner in the Sichuan restaurant nearby our home. We call it the "Snake restaurant", because when we first had dinner there they served some small snakes. It was in February. Now the owner is a friend of mine and always brings really nice and good food for us.

I also started to really write diary. It slows the speed of time. Without a diary one loses too much, weeks go by so fast. Especially here in China.

Tiistai 25.11.2003

Heuristic of the day: The beginning is the most important part of the work. Plato.

Cycling was fun in the morning. I had only T-shirt on and did not feel cold at all. I was not sweating either. Nice.

In the evening we (almost all Finns) went to listen to some good music by Olli Mustonen and Finnish Chamber Orchestra. It was almost too beautiful, I also broke in tears. I think UN should declare Mustonen as World Heritage and protect him from whatever evil.

Keskiviikko 26.11.2003

I cycled with a friend towards Rose Garden and then back home. Rather quiet it was near the zoo. And dark.

In the evening I read books on China and some newspapers.

Something I learned today: Taking things too seriously is plain stupid. I have known it before too.

Torstai 27.11.2003

Heuristic of the day: Anyone who gets carried away by a sense of personal significance is an idiot ... if we were not [in front of the camera], it would be someone else, who would probably do the job rather better. (John Simpson, BBC)

New day, new rain. It had rained during the night and the streets were wet. I got my trousers dirty. I should take another pair with me.

We had lunch in Holiday Inn, a buffet. Quality was much better than I anticipated. I did not anticipate that much. They also have a wine buffet for 70RMB. It is a decent price for a bottle or two of wine, I think.

Lauantai 29.11.2003

I took taxi to the Radisson hotel, bought International Herald Tribune and went to a small cafe to read it. On the way I bought 10 CDs: Damaged by Black Flag, Never mind by Sex Pistols, Back in Black by AC/DC etc.

I went with S to Carrefour. There was a small fire and everyone run out of the cafe downstairs. Good, since I could get some food without any queueing. They have quite good wine selection. We bought 7 bottles. Especially this year's Beaujolais Nouveau (by Laboure-Roi) is excellent. I recommend buying a few bottles. It is really refreshing when you drink it chilled with some mild cheeses or just drink.

Later, we had dinner with friends in one nice Japanese restaurant in Qingtai Lu. Very good and quiet place. And then to Shamrock.

Sunnuntai 30.11.2003

Whole day reading books at home. And drinking wine etc. Lazy. Nothing to remember, but still enjoyable. I took 2 naps, but also managed to read "Beyond fear" [by Bruce Schneier] for some 150 pages. The book is excellent.

Created by Claude from Mane's diaries.