The beginning of... another beginning?

It's been more like 4 years 3 months but I'm rounding up to 5 for added effect. In that time I've had extended stays in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Delhi, but my greatest "a-ha" moments haven't necessarily come as a result of experiencing the unique features of those cities, rather they've come from situation of being away from home and on my own. Sure, there are different cultures to experience, unique foods to eat and languages to learn, but my most profound moments have actually come from relatively unspectacular pauses between those events - from sitting on the plane, in laying in thought on my bed or sitting on the couch, from my visits home to the states. I'm creating this blog to recollect some of these thoughts - to keep them for me and to share them with you. There will be no order to these. Just random capturing of moments from memory. And here we go..

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1

One of the experiences I treasure most is the sum of many nights in Delhi (actually 30km southwest of Delhi in a town called Gurgaon) when after work I would sit in the living room - watching each movie in the Step Up series over and over again on HBO Asia (because they kept replaying them for some reason), sitting on the couch half-undressed from work either in an undershirt and slacks or a dress shirt and boxers, having the same chicken masala, curry over rice dinner - day after day after day. At first it was sad, then it became routine. I'd remind myself that "it's all part of the journey" and convince myself it was a humbling experience. After all, I'd lost touch more with friends in that time than in any other leg of being in Asia because I'd had little human interaction outside of work for over 3 months time. But the solitude was exactly what I needed. It was good in a way to not have friends and family around if just to prove - Hey I'm OK on my own. I may not want to do it again, but it was an experience I'll always appreciate.

2

When I visited Saratoga for the first time after being away for almost two years, I was just passing the time in the room I grew up in, tasked by my mom with transferring some old home videos from VHS to DVD. I was watching as the recording was going and there was my sister and I as little kids just running around the backyard while our parents were doing yard work. We didn't worry about paychecks or mortgages then - it was just GI Joe, Ninja Turtles and Hot Wheels for me; Barbie, Care Bears and My Little Pony for her. We had no smart phones, tablets or work laptops. We rode tricycles instead of cars and colored inside (and outside) the lines instead of typing email. We didn't care about what other people thought, and knew nothing of expectations, disappointment and failure. It was just scraped knees, bowl haircuts and running around in the rain for the sake of running around in the rain.

Irene has a baby boy now, almost a year old. He has hope in his eyes. And I remember my grandma joining me to watch the home videos. She was 86 at the time, still aware of things but not as sharp as she'd once been. She took little steps and moved pretty slowly by then, but she sat with me and watched home videos and she remembered. And I remember she turned to me and smiled. And I couldn't help but give an accepting smile back. We were thinking the same thing: we've come a long way. We have more now, but we were just as happy then.

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And a random thought:

Losing touch
 Looking back on when I first came to Asia, I'd say that there was a pretty wide set of people who I'd considered good friends: the type of people with whom I'd have no hesitation to randomly text for dinner together or to catch up with just over the phone. Now that I'm nearing the end of my stay here, I'm actually not sure who amongst those friends to reach out to and let know that I'm coming back. In truth, the extent to which I've been able to keep up with most of them include checking their updates on facebook. I more or less know their "statistics" including new jobs, relationships, kids, vacations. But for many friends, I haven't really caught up with them on the "how've you been" and "what's on your mind" basis. I feel a bit disconnected. I'll start reaching out one by one and hope that it's not awkward!

..wow, I just read back on this and realized this whole post sounds rather somber, but I didn't intend it to be. They are all good memories brought as a result of my travels.

And yes, you read it right. I'm coming home.

More next time!

Hello Shanghai

It's official - I'm in Shanghai for what should be "going forward". I'm with one of our retail clothing brand groups to be part of their marketing efforts. I'm seeing a Chinese tutor 3 times a week to get my language up to speed and at work have been learning about how Chinese consumers think. Also I have a great and supportive team to learn and grow with. Couldn't have asked for a better situation.

Must mention that I got a lot of advice about how to "work in China", but I have really just been myself and feel like it's worked out better than well. Think all this time abroad and being around people of different cultures and expectations has helped me have an open mind. I ask questions, listen and treat people with respect - this has been a successful formula regardless of situation. Also, never underestimate the power of a smile to diffuse a situation and a written thank you card to show appreciation.

A present my team gave me. It sits on my desk right next to the computer monitor =)

On the lifestyle front, I've been here one month now and it already feels like home. I actually unpacked my bags for the first time in almost a year! It's calming to open my closet and see shirts hanging and pants folded. I even picked up a bike (only $50US!) to get around on. My first time riding a bike in years and I will honestly admit I felt joy like a kid riding it - think Jerry Maguire singing in the car.

Ain't she a beauty? Came with a basket and bell too!

And I joined a friend's basketball team called - the Crazy 88's - so I get to play 2-3 times a week now. I'm within walking distance to the office and just a 30 minute subway ride to the city. Not shabby at all. The weather in Shanghai is perfect right now and, between nights out on the town and days at the office, we find time to picnic at the park!

Keeping it together long enough to take a guys picture. Yes, that is a Salmon-colored shirt.

As for the Lee family, my dad not too long ago moved to South China for a project, my sister is in NYC working for a fashion group, and my mom is still home in Northern California holding down the fort. It's tough for us being all scattered about the world, but we've found ways to stay in touch. Now, every time we see each other, we appreciate one another that much more.

Funny that whenever I call my parents, the inevitable advice about relationships comes. It's all good though. If you know me well, you know that I'm a family-first guy at heart, and would like nothing more than to settle down. But I'm in no rush. Last week, I actually obliged to a family friend's request and went on a blind date. Good story and will share with anyone who asks!

Realized some random habits I've started such as taking vitamins everyday and wearing face moisturizer. I read the paper and take walks at lunch. I guess I'm starting to act my age - or at least more my age. 29 now and hoping there won't be any mental breakdown when I turn 30!

All in all, life's pretty damn good. I enjoy work, appreciate having the great friends that I do, and most of all am thankful everyday for having a wonderful and supportive family. I know this has sounded a bit like a wrap-up post, but it does feel like a new chapter has begun. And the best part about it is that the story has only just begun. Cheezy, yes. But those who know me know that I've no hesitation to cheez-it. HA!

Fun times with new friends at Mr. X! That's a game room out here.

Lastly, if anyone's worried about me and the h7n9 virus in China, I'm in good shape and have been able to outrun the zombies. I've put to practice everything I learned in Zombieland and always stretch before I leave the house + double tap when necessary. Thanks for your concerns though. I'll be fine!

Peace out, India.

Three months passed by both quickly and slowly. For as much as I've traveled, I actually don't like traveling in the traditional sense: vacationing and sightseeing. What I do enjoy is being in another country and living there as if I'm a resident. I decided to take the subway and collect subway cards at each place as a keepsake and also as a little badge of being a local.

From left to right: Delhi, Seoul, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei + SIM cards

Of the little sightseeing that I did, I must say that the Taj Mahal truly was beautiful and amazing and well worth the 4 hour drive. And I'll also definitely miss having "real Indian food". Kudos to Ankit, my HKUST classmate, who invited me to his place in Delhi for a family bbq.

BBQ smoker!

Ankit and Andrew

Must say that to be truly on your own for a such an amount of time has been fun in its own way. Not  depending on others for company or having avenues to vent made me confront and come to peace with a lot of things. I'd imagine everyone has memories they suppress because of immaturity or embarrassment or even shame, but with all this time to myself I've found the learning points or silver linings in those (by the way, Silver Linings Playbook was excellent!). As I've gone through my 20's, I'm happy that I make fewer excuses and take more ownership over life's events.

I'm certain that I will miss having the simplicity of not having social pressures or deciding what to do on a Saturday night. With that said, I'm ready to unpack my suitcase and start calling a place home again. I'll be in Hong Kong for a few days, then to NYC for two weeks, and finally back to Hong Kong to figure out where home will be.

Don't know who said it, but it applies:

To travel is better than to arrive.

It's been a good run; I'll remember these past two years fondly. On to the next.

After 2 months in India...

I've been scolded by some for not having yet visited the Taj Mahal or other attractions, but really it's like asking those of you working in Shanghai if you've visited the Great Wall. True it's certainly worth seeing, but I'm not here for vacation nor can I just roll out of bed and walk over to see it. The Taj Mahal is a 5 hour drive from here and I do plan to see it before I leave next month, but for now I'll really be talking about life as a normal working Indian resident.

First, I must say that while English is the national language, it is often mixed in with Hindi. In my experiences outside of the office, about 50% of people speak English well enough to hold a coherent conversation. So it can be a challenge to get around. 

Another aspect of living here is that the power really does go out several times each day. Sometimes it's out just for a minute; other times, up to 30 minutes. However, everyone just goes about their business as if nothing is wrong. Really makes me appreciate the little things we usually take for granted such as clean water and available electricity!

Contrary to popular belief, I do NOT eat curry every meal! And I'm happy to say that so far, I haven't gotten sick in India (knock on wood). With that said, I've probably been overly conservative about food.

If you look up Gurgaon on a map, you'll see that I'm a 40 minute drive from Delhi proper, and that the surrounding area really just consists of some office parks and otherwise undeveloped space. Just a few years ago, most of this area was farmland. There is no public transportation around me, so to leave I have to call several hours in advance to reserve a taxi. For food and supplies, I go to the nearest market which is a good 30 minute walk. Because of this, outside of work I usually just stay home and hit the gym, watch TV, read, or sleep. 

Speaking of time, my Indian co-workers laugh and shake their heads disapprovingly when I joke around about everything here always running late. When people say "5 minutes" it typically means 30; when they say 15, it typically means an hour. During my first several weeks, this was probably my largest source of frustration. I've since adjusted the way I schedule meetings, taxis and other things. 

I realize that this account could come off sounding a little depressing, but this is far from the case. While I haven't exactly been a social butterfly, I really have come to appreciate the simple livelihood afforded by this arrangement. I believe everyone has, to varying extents, a need for attention, companionship, and distractions. Not having easy access to any of it has actually been nourishing for my soul (and probably my body). 

While I may never want to live here long term, I very strongly believe this is and will continue to be a fully worthwhile experience. I definitely have a better understanding of the Indian culture and mindset now. And I've certainly learned a lot at work about the business. Most importantly, I've had a lot of time to be introspective and settle myself. After I leave next month, I may end up missing the simplicity of it all. 

Local Saturday afternoon pick-up cricket game near my place

The streets of Bangalore

Sad: one of many billboards protesting sexual assault/attack in response to a recent well-publicized gang rape 

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In other news, I'll be back in Hong Kong from February 19-23, then spending two weeks in New York through March 9. After that, two more weeks in Hong Kong, then taking some much needed vacation in California for the week of March 25.

The Lee's in Taipei during the holidays for Irene and Will's ceremony

Happy 2013!

Catching up on life!

Dear friends,

Apologies for not having updated the blog in half a year! Things have been going 100 MPH and I've been flying by the seat of my pants. In the past six months I've been through six countries and have now ended up in India. Many of you probably know the story but maybe not all the details, so I'll do my best here to summarize the past six months of my life:

In May, I was finishing up my first year of MBA and looking toward summer internships. I had an offer for a marketing internship based in Beijing which I was really happy about. This would've gone right along with my plan to take a summer job and then, having overloaded on credits, take some time off in the subsequent fall to take Chinese language courses. But then, I got a full-time job offer that completely changed that plan.

In June, I finished up my MBA at HKUST and accepted a full-time offer to join an Asian MNC (will keep the company name off to be safe). The company is involved in consumer goods from sourcing to retail and the program I'm a part of is built to help us learn the different parts of the industry by taking projects at their different offices around the world. Fun stuff right?

After spending June at home in the states to visit family and friends, I set off for a month of training in Hong Kong. After four weeks of learning, I was sent on my first project which would bring me to Korea, Taiwan and China to learn about Asian retail. Being so mobile meant I'd have to travel light so I only packed one large suitcase. Living out of a suitcase is liberating! I really only have a choice of five shirts to pick from every morning. Korea was great fun - I had a lot of good food and made some new friends at work. And of course I'm in Shanghai and Taipei all the time so those parts were a blast.

We didn't have a common language but we had no problems getting along haha

That project was over way too fast. Two weeks ago I went home for a one week vacation and saw my sister get married + have annual thanksgiving dinner at our family friend's house.

This isn't a wedding picture of course. I posted those on facebook. But I was uploading pics from when we were young and came across this one. I consider myself one super lucky guy for having such a great and supportive older sister. And I can't be happier for her to be married to a really great guy. Go Will and Irene!

And of course I had boiling crab, Ike's Lair, In-n-out, Peet's Coffee, and some home-bbq'ed ribeye steaks =)

Then I took off for my next assignment: India! So the area I'm in is a district outside of Delhi called Gurgaon. This place is still developing. The environment is really different than anything I've experienced before. The infrastructure is still being developed so there are frequent power outages and spotty internet coverage. Also, I think I may be the only one living at my service apartment building.

Breakfast is lonely here...

I'm getting used to the constant power outages too. So much so that yesterday when the power went out while I was in an elevator, I didn't freak out!

Yes this is actually a picture taken inside the elevator during the outage. 

After running around doing anything and everything for the past year and a half, I think it'll be really nice to have some alone time (outside of work I mean). I'll have time to catch up on things I've been neglecting such as going to the gym and reading.

One thing I've reflected on, especially after being home last week, is the decision I made almost two years ago to pick up and leave for Asia. On the whole, even though things didn't go according to "the plan", it's been great for me. I think grad school and the new experiences really gave me a good jolt to start working on self-improvement again. I've learned a lot about a lot of things, including myself. Being away from comfortable environments and away from the friends I always rely on made me get back out there, explore and meet new people. The lone regret I have is missing some major events of family and friends such as weddings, births, birthdays, and other celebrations. Those are memories and stories I didn't get to share with a lot of people I care about.

After this India project, I'll be placed somewhere more permanently (I may up my stuff to... TWO suitcases!). I've promised myself to not miss the important stuff anymore no matter how far and out of the way it may be. I've got 6 weddings to attend in the next twelve months and I've already booked the tickets for three of them. So far so good.

More updates soon.

Until then...

Just gangnam style

Homecoming

Got some great news earlier this week. Won't reveal the details until it's finalized in ink, though. As a result of the good news, I've got even better news: I'll be coming home for the month of June! It's been almost a year out here in Hong Kong.

Planning to spend two weeks in Saratoga, then I'll drive down to LA and San Diego toward the end of the month to make some visits. Any takers for Vegas on June 29th weekend? Then I'll be heading back to norcal for the fourth of July weekend and finally back over to Hong Kong the second week of July.

I'm looking forward to catching up with everyone (plus in-n-out, boiling crab, carne asada fries, noodle world, crustacean, redondo crab, etc etc).

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Random thoughts:

I still can't tell the difference between an Australian accent and a British accent. Brits don't appreciate it.

Saw Qihai and Lydia in HK last week. Great to see them - glad they're doing well.

When my hair gets long, I still don't look fobby - I just look homeless.

When I get home, I need to buy clothes and shoes because I can't find anything big enough to fit me out here. Costco run!

Been doing a health-conscious month of May. McDonald's has been taunting me.

Is it strange that I like Ron Artest more after the elbow? Metta World ELBOWWW - it's kind of awesome.

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See all you Americans soon!

Two of my faves, Rhea and Tulip

PicsOfAznsTakingPicsOfFood

Home stretch

8 weeks left until the year is out!

With that said, I still haven't finalized summer (and beyond) plans. Should have a solid picture by the end of April, so I apologize to those who've been waiting on responses from me for trips/events. I'm not purposely trying to be noncommittal - I hope to have good news for everyone soon.

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Was chatting with a friend recently about old times in college and reflected on how funny and immature we were. It's fun to think back about how our priorities were so different back then. With that said, it's all part of growing up. And we sure enjoyed ourselves.

When people ask what I miss about being in the states, they usually ask about food or places. Honestly, I don't miss any of that. I do miss the people though. I'd like nothing more than to have some of my favorite people over for bbq to catch up on life.

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My parents just had their 32nd wedding anniversary a few weeks ago. It's amazing.

When preparing for interviews, I know one of the questions companies want to ask me is why I've come to Asia: it's interesting that once upon a time my parents came to America for grad school and to find opportunity - how parallel it is that I've left the states for Asia to do the same thing some 35 years later. Cheers to them for the love and success!

They sent me a picture from their anniversary dinner and my mom was wearing Ugg boots haha. Always the stylish one in the Lee household.

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And cheers to everyone else. Spring has officially arrived.

Recent trip to Shanghai  

BBQ pic at home from a year ago