Rainy Days in China

I wish I had better things to say about my time this week in Dogguan, China. . . but I don't. Last week when the crew packed the show up in Shenzen, it took them eight hours. That is an insanely long time. On average, it takes the show four hours. Then the next day was travel day. There were many cranky techs on the bus.

We arrived in Dogguan on Monday afternoon. This town is a moderate size and has a Wal*Mart.
That's right. . . there's Wal*Mart in China. In fact, they are celebrating ten years in of Wal*Mart in China.

I wish I could tell you that China isn't a horrible country, or that it's nothing like you think Communism would be like. . . but it is. Some of these people are desperate, and it makes this country unsafe. One of our cast members was mugged on the way home from work the other night. She was even walking with others. Some guy just walked up and ripped her jewelry off and ran for it.

It's kinda been a "When bad things happen to good people. . . " kind of week. Another cast member got word from home that her family's house has burned down. They have lost absolutely everything. It is the most horrifying thing. We're all trying to do our best. . . but when you're so far away. . . . what can you do but be a friend?

We've also had lots of injuries the past two weeks. Some blame the rock hard beds at hotels, some blame lack of decent food, many people blame the extended tour dates. Many of us are worn out. We'll be home in thirty days or less!

Rough Start in China

 

We started working in China the other day.  Things are not going so well.

 

Here's an example:

Yesterday we had our first "real" rehearsals here in China.  The local narrators are so thin and tall they don't fit into anything we have for narrators to wear.  Charlie ended up going shopping for something for them to wear.  Charlie asked the translator to write the name down of the big shopping mall near by so she could just go buy a few things to try.  So Charlie got into a taxi with the piece of paper and the taxi driver drove her away.  The translator wrote down the fabric district which was 20 minutes away.  Charlie was so pissed.  She came back in a rage. 

 

In the end, it all worked out.

 

 

However, I have had my own problems with translators.  While trying to explain to my locals how to do their job, the translator gave me attitude and kept telling me that it wasn't their job.  It was really awful. . . I was trying soooo hard to hold my temper but I ended up loosing it a little.  The translator, who's name is Bright or something that sounds like it, said to me, "Well maybe that's how you do it in America, but that's not how we do it here in China."  I lost it.  "I'll have you know Bright, I've never worked this show in America.  I've never even seen the show in English.  Since I've been with the show, this is how we've done it in Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and now we're gonna do it here in China.  If you have problems with this, you need to speak to Andy." (Andy is my boss' boss)

 

I'm not even asking them to do that much.  Hang the clean laundry.  Vacuum the floor of the character room once a day.  Help dress the characters.  That's it.  It's the easiest gig in the show.  I couldn't believe the audacity of this translator.  Who by the way, is the worst translator I've had out of every country I've been to.  I may not understand Chinese, but I know how translators should work.  I say something in English, I take a pause, the translator says it in the language of the country we're in.  The translators here do not work that way and it is very fustrating.

 

Besids that. . . It's hot here . . . food has been rough.  Whatever your idea of Chinese food is, throw it out the window. Because Chinese food in China is completely different!  I mean, they consider chicken feet a delicacy here and they don't take bones out of chickens.  They just pluck the feathers out and chop it up and cook it.  It's pretty gross.

 

So you've got hot, tired, and hungry people working with people that can't understand English... it's not a very good combination.  We're all very cranky and unhappy.  I pray that the next few weeks fly by and are a lot better!

Splendid China LIVES!!!

For those Orlandoians, you may remember a little theme park just west of Disney's main entrance called Splendid China. This theme park had all the wonderous sites of China. . . in miniature. It included such things as the Terra Cotta Warriors, the Forbidden City, and even the Great Wall of China that was only half a mile long. Sadly, Splendid China closed it's doors in 2003 to auction off all pieces (including the Great Wall) in 2004.

Well guess what!?! SPLENDID CHINA LIVES!!!
Not only does it LIVE but it lives in China, of all places! Yesterday, Angela (another Orlandoian) and I braved the 90+ heat and went.
And look! There's even the mini-Great Wall!
The closest I'll come to the real Great Wall will be Beijing. Hopefully, we will go there. . . but for now, enjoy mini-China pics!

I'm in China!!

I am now in Shenzhen, China. My travel day yesterday included a plane and a bus. We flew into Hong Kong then we traveled into China by bus.

I have recently learned that travel day is less of a hassle, if you sleep through it all. So I stay awake all night the night before we get on the plane. Then I just sleep through the whole flight. I don't freak out, I'm not uncomfortable because I'm so tired that I just can't stay awake.

On the bus on the way into China, I took some pictures:


However, shortly after taking these, I fell asleep again. Stay tuned for more China excitement!

My All-American Meal

Before leaving for China, I found a grocery store that had an "International Foods" section. So this is what I had for dinner:
And it was FANTASTIC!!!
I mean really, when have you ever seen a girl so happy about green beans!

Still in Mayalsia

I would love to tell you that this week while we're on "break" I've been doing lots of sighseeing. . . but I'm not. Instead, I'm sleeping late, shopping, and taking long walks through the park across the street.
While taking an early morning walk (we're talking about 11:00 am for me), I met some Muslim teenagers in the park that wanted to talk to me. Being American and all, they wanted to know all about the States and stuff. They also wanted pictures with me. So we all took pictures with everyone's camera. Sadly, I look really rough. I mean I'm almost down to my last set of clothes, so I'm wearing really ugly T-shirts.
Here's a shot of the Petronas Towers at night. Pretty eh?
Here's a shot of it durning the day time, from another angle. There is the top of a Mosque in the shot. Alright, leaving for China on Monday. It will be a long travel day.

Happy Independence Day!

On this great American holiday, I would like to take a moment and tell you what I miss about home:

 

1.  Firm beds

2.  Nice pillows

3.  English speakers

4.  Waiters that actually wait on you

5.  Air conditioning

6.  Taxi drivers that know the city they drive in

7.  People who wear deodorant

8.  No "service charges" on restaurant bills

9.  Actually knowing what it is I'm eating

10.  Courtesy

11.  Wendy's

12.  Olive Garden

13.  Not being hit on simply because I'm white

14.  American TV, that's right, I miss being able to watch crap

15.  Target

 

 

I'll leave it at that for now.  Quite frankly, I'm a little tired of being in Asia.  I'll be home Labor Day weekend, after a 8 week stint in China.  Happy FOURTH!!!