Last week was the company off-site trip to 千岛湖 (Thousand Island Lake), where I learned the Chinese version of Truth or Dare with my coworkers. The game starts as a card game of anyone's choosing (in this case, black jack). The loser has to choose either truth or challenge (dare). I lost once (because I'm no good gambler) and of course picked truth, being wary of what the Chinese version of a dare could possibly be.
The Question: "How many girlfriends have you had?"
My Answer: "One. When I was in 7th grade. We dated for three weeks".
Seven's (a consultant) response: "Hmm......do you have a secret?" Literally: "好像林风有个秘密!"
Well, yes and no. It's not a secret. But is it a secret by omission of details I normally would put forward immediately? Am I lying? I quite purposefully put "President of NCC LGBT Student Association" on my resume so who I was would be quite clear to any potential employer. If it's an employer that has a problem with it, I don't want the job.
These people haven't seen my resume. They have no reason to believe I'm gay, so far, and I have no idea if I can tell them or not. This is 8th grade all over again, and I really don't feel like coming out of the closet all over again.
9/7/11
Quotes of the Week
"It's called 水土病，you know, water and umm...dirt...sickness."
"You feel better? You look better! You're the correct color today."
Jessie: "Want to go to the adidas sales meeting with us tomorrow?"
Me: "Sure. Will I have to say much or prepare anything?"
J: "No, we just need your face."
James: "Lunch?? We're doing DiShuiDong again."
Me: "No, I'm skipping today. I'm going to go to Costa and get coffee."
James: "So you're not Chinese after all."
Me: "I'm in charge of it? I was under the impression I was just assisting you."
J: "You ARE assisting me. I'm putting you in charge of it. "
Me: "There's no SIM card slot on this phone I just bought. Can you not use one?"
E: "Let me see....Sam this isn't a phone."
Me: "....shit."
Me: "I would say my biggest problem is needing to know everything. Like, in a friendship or relationship I have a compulsive need to know exactly what's going on. I've learned to let go a little, though."
Mike: "That's your flaw? Fine. Here you go. I had a wonderful time. I would consider this a date, and a good one at that. I will be calling you again soon to hang out, and most likely texting you tomorrow. Anything else you want to know?"*
*After seeing my first movie theater movie in China, ever! Chinese people don't laugh at the same parts of Source Code as I do, nor did they appreciate my, or Mike's, commentary on the Chicago skyline.
"You feel better? You look better! You're the correct color today."
Jessie: "Want to go to the adidas sales meeting with us tomorrow?"
Me: "Sure. Will I have to say much or prepare anything?"
J: "No, we just need your face."
James: "Lunch?? We're doing DiShuiDong again."
Me: "No, I'm skipping today. I'm going to go to Costa and get coffee."
James: "So you're not Chinese after all."
Me: "I'm in charge of it? I was under the impression I was just assisting you."
J: "You ARE assisting me. I'm putting you in charge of it. "
Me: "There's no SIM card slot on this phone I just bought. Can you not use one?"
E: "Let me see....Sam this isn't a phone."
Me: "....shit."
Me: "I would say my biggest problem is needing to know everything. Like, in a friendship or relationship I have a compulsive need to know exactly what's going on. I've learned to let go a little, though."
Mike: "That's your flaw? Fine. Here you go. I had a wonderful time. I would consider this a date, and a good one at that. I will be calling you again soon to hang out, and most likely texting you tomorrow. Anything else you want to know?"*
*After seeing my first movie theater movie in China, ever! Chinese people don't laugh at the same parts of Source Code as I do, nor did they appreciate my, or Mike's, commentary on the Chicago skyline.
9/6/11
晚安
Walked through People's Square, through the lights of the Nanjing Pedestrian Mall, under lane after lane of elevated highway across a deserted intersection, and into my bed to sleep.
It's a beautiful night in Shanghai.
9/1/11
Dreams
1. I was driving into Naperville with David. Jayme called, and then put me on hold for hours. Then he finally picked up and kept asking "where have you been? I've been waiting for you." I got into the post office we were going into, and the entire class of 2011 came streaming in, and there was someone at the counter I didn't expected to see, who just stared at me, and looked older than he should have.
2. I kept walking by Zazu over and over again. I don't know why I wasn't in Naperville. And Zazu wasn't a hair salon, it was a video store. Jayme came out kept asking what was taking me so long.
My Mom told me one about how emotionally frustrated she was when we initially moved to Singapore, since all of her dreams were still in the US. She got a huge sense of relief when she finally had a dream about Singapore. Maybe that's what's happening. Or I need to lay off the temazepam.
2. I kept walking by Zazu over and over again. I don't know why I wasn't in Naperville. And Zazu wasn't a hair salon, it was a video store. Jayme came out kept asking what was taking me so long.
My Mom told me one about how emotionally frustrated she was when we initially moved to Singapore, since all of her dreams were still in the US. She got a huge sense of relief when she finally had a dream about Singapore. Maybe that's what's happening. Or I need to lay off the temazepam.
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