Cold cup of joe

I’ve received sad news.

I found out that my mentor, friend, 2nd dad and former boss passed away on NYE.  It was really sudden and unexpected.  He was in great health, exercised regularly, and still had many, many years to enjoy.  No one really knows why he passed, but it is believed (or hoped) that he passed in his sleep.

I’m definitely at that age where people I know and love are starting to pass.  No longer is it just an old, distant relative that you saw maybe once every 5 years.  Now, it’s people who really matter to us.  It’s horribly sad.

J taught me many things, not just about law, but about life and the way we should treat people.  While other attorneys shoved, pushed, and clawed their way to get their bottom line, J taught me that we should treat them with dignity, no matter how stupid we think they are.  He taught me to do things the right way, even if it meant going the long and tedious way, because in the end, quality counts.  He taught me that the truth always comes out, no matter what is said and done to cover up the truth.  He taught me that you do certain things, even if you don’t want to, because sometimes, the right thing to do is the only thing to do.

J also taught me about good chocolate and good coffee.  Good chocolate will help you get through those long hours of trial prep.  Good coffee will always be good, even cold.

I’m  at a loss for words to describe the incredible respect and fondness I had for J.  Until I figure out my words: J, you will be greatly missed.

Crossing the Street for Dummies (or, my 1.5 months update of living in Shanghai)

I can’t believe it.  It’s been one and a half months already of living in Shanghai.  Pretty crazy, isn’t it?

Since moving here, I’ve started Chinese classes (my classes are almost over already!), I’ve learned to take cabs by myself, oversee the remodeling of our yet-to-be-ready apartment (with my mother-in-law and M helping 99.9%), attended a SDA church in Pudong, traveled to Taiwan and Seoul, and I’ve learned to cross the street by myself.

Speaking of which, allow me to provide a step-by-step instruction on how to cross the street in China.

1.  Look right.

2.  Look left.

3.  Look behind you.  Never forget that scooters, bike riders and small cars may be on the sidewalk barreling towards you from behind!

4.  Take a step off the sidewalk.  If you haven’t been run over by now, you’re doing good.

5.  Find a local person to stick close behind.  They are professional street crossers.

6.  While following the local from a close distance, keep looking left, right and behind you.  Just because the signal light for oncoming traffic is red does NOT mean that cars will stop.  Dodging cars, scooters and bikes are necessary while crossing the street.

Now that the craze of settling into a new country has calmed a bit, there are quite a few activities I’d like to get started.  In particular, I’d like to get to know the city better, and get involved in the expat community.  Hopefully, my Chinese will improve at I start my second Chinese class and I’ll be more functional and useful.  =)

UGH!

I saw this article and I was HORRIFIED!  REALLY?!  Is THIS what is happening to our world??

And actually, it only gets worse.  I hate Glenn Beck.

Sorry I can’t directly post the Youtube video of Glenn Beck making fun of poor Americans (because youtube is blocked in China), but if you read the transcript, it’s really horrifying.  Where is his humanity?  When did it become okay to mock someone who just lost everything??  When did it become okay to be such an awful human being??  For someone who touts himself as a Christian, he is failing miserably at living a Christian walk.  As a Christian, I am ashamed that he claims himself to be Christian.