Tangental Blog Project #2

I'll be in Manaus, Brazil for the next 20 days or so, and while there I will be keeping a separate blog HERE, titled "Heart of the Amazon".

Welcome to Paradise

Well, it's official. As of this past week, I signed on as a consultant at my company and my first project will be later this month. We are doing a project on waste minimization and recycling on the Fiji Islands. (Official gov't news release here)

Obviously, I'm just a little bit happy about the fact that the project is in a tropical location. That said, we will be spending time trying to convince people living on a tropical island why it's important to recycle and compost. It's hard enough to convince someone in an office setting to make double-sided copies at the push of a button. So I realize it's going to be a real challenge to somehow tempt people away from the beach; to get out of the hammock, slip on the flip-flops and dump tea leaves in a compost pile. Well, actually, public relations is part of the work, but the main focus is a pilot project in the Lautoka Vunato dump site. How many people can say they spent a few weeks in the waste dump of paradise?
But, funny enough, I was thinking back to the first real assignment I had as an editor at my company and a blog post I wrote about it in February 2007 (here) titled, "Anyone ever considered living in a small Micronesian nation?" I was editing a report on Fiji, Samoa, Palau and the Marshall Islands that had to do with bulky waste, like auto chassis and refrigerators, and asked the question: "What happens to a broken fridge in Fiji?" Well, I guess I'm about to find out--I just hope it's not my fridge.

Things are moving ahead with my transfer into the Urban Environment section, which I previously wrote about here, and it should be decided by the end of next month. That means there is lots of negotiating to do over the next few weeks and, as a result, going on vacation to China for nearly 3 weeks might have to be cut a little short.

So now I'm deciding whether to still go to Beijing and Dalian for a couple days and cut out Xi'an, or just go to Dalian for a week or so. I didn't get to see Dalian very much last time, not to mention it was November and freezing cold, so that could be a worthy choice.

On the other hand, it would be pretty cool to be in Beijing and see some of the sights. I'm not usually one for sightseeing, per se, but having studied Chinese history, it seems less like "tourist attraction" and more of closing the academic loop to extend what I’ve read in books to what I’ve seen with my own eyes; granted, this still takes some imagination since these are mostly relics now. That said, there's lots of history preserved in China—maybe more so than anywhere else in the world—and with so many pieces of the picture, it doesn’t take much to start to comprehend what “time” really means. Dalian itself is also rich in history, although not so much as a central part of Chinese history, but particularly in connection with Japan, who subjugated the peninsula after the first World War as they began to expand their territory.

Nevertheless, as interested as I am in history, I'm looking forward to the future. The new position will bring with it many new opportunities and work/projects overseas, so--at present--I'm looking forward to those experiences as well.

Update: Was told that the other section managers met to discuss my transfer and a few people argued over getting me in their section. Nice to hear. But it is pretty much decided (as per my intentions) to enter the Urban Environment section. One project manager even mentioned to me today that he has a project coming up in Brazil that he'd like me to join! Guess I'd better start practicing my Portuguese!

After the games

I'm currently planning a trip to China once the games are over in Beijing. I still have a visa to enter the country from last year which is valid until the end of October, so I'm taking advantage of that.
Recently, J and I watched a documentary by Discovery on the Great Wall of China. I've been fascinated by Chinese history since university and the idea of actually going to the places I've read about is a real thrill. Our plans are to go first to Beijing where J has some friends that have offered to show us around, lend us bicycles and even a vacant apartment to use while there. We'll stay for a few days and I hope to go to the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, not to mention the urban planning museum I read about recently on James Fallows blog. And of course we'll visit the Olympic facility sites and get some commemorative pictures, no doubt, where I'll be sure to wear my Beijing 2008 cap I bought last year.
After Beijing we are planning to head over to Xian where the Qin Dynasty tomb featuring all the terracotta statues of soldiers, each unique and possibly fashioned after a real person, are well-known as a tourist attraction. There is also a history museum there that got rave reviews by our friend Yang who works as a museum researcher/planner.


Finally, we'll head up to Dalian to meet family, relax and eat lots of good food--especially the fresh seafood they've got. I am also considering having more clothes tailored while there since I've been quite happy with the results so far, and that has only been through mailing my sizes and pictures to the tailor before. This time, if I can get measured in person and pick the fabrics myself, I think I'll get some really cool shirts and slacks.

Lastly, about a month ago, amongst all the pre-game rioting in Lhasa, I could hardly turn on the tv or go downtown without seeing someone in a Free Tibet t-shirt or holding up a flag. J and I talked about it a bit and I realized we had very different views of the issue. Naturally, she had been fed the Chinese historical view and has had little else to go on (nor the interest) since she was much younger. This made me realize that it was not an issue of her being unsympathetic to the issue, but that we had very different access to information. Myself, and I believe most of the Western world, is hearing the side of the story represented by political liberalism and the Dalai Lama (whom I respect), and thus feel the issue is a cut and dry case of oppression. Well, 800+ years of history is hardly ever cut and dry, so I decided to read an account of Tibetean history that would give a bit of insight into the whole issue. This is a pretty fair account of leaders and interaction between the two cultures, not to mention the role of England during their East Indian foray, that says a lot about what the relationship between the Tibetean Autonomous Region and the PRC really is. It hasn't made me think differently from before, as my core belief is that Tibet does deserve more recognition in their role--or lack thereof--in forming policy for development in line with their own distinctive culture. At the same time, the book speaks to reasons why China would claim Tibet as part of their nation and not, say, a sovereign nation that can stand completely on its own. Anyone with an interest in seeing the issue from a historical point of view before judging the current day reality should certainly consider giving the book a read. Luckily, since it's an online e-book, I thought I'd share it here:
The Snow Lion and the Dragon