I’ll never forget the intersection I was at yesterday when I got the message, as it will always be associated with a sick feeling. Kind of the way I can never listen to Inner Circle’s ‘Rock With You’ as that was the last song played in my car before I walked up to greet (name removed), my junior-year girlfriend, back from her summer holiday, and she broke up with me…I digress.
There I was, enjoying (as you can see from the previous post) the wonderful town of Solo and I get an SMS from someone who is not known for their over-dramatics saying ‘Please call. Urgent’. This person has never said ‘urgent’ about anything. In fact, this person isn’t the ‘urgent’ type. 3 seconds later they called to inform me that the police had just shown up at their office looking for me, as I had done a few projects out of there. They confiscated my phone number, email address and bank records claiming I was somehow involved with Tibetan support. No doubt this comes down to ‘the diaries’ , but thank God I walked when I did. I don’t think I’m headed back. Anyone who knows anything about the current climate knows they could make my life hell, as they have done for countless others. One friend thrown in prison for 10 days without his contacts (rendering him legally blind…in a cell with 10 others) and the police did not notify the consulate for 5 days (it’s supposed to be 2). Another friend of a friend had her passport confiscated (highly illegal) without given a reason why. This is happening all over China, so when I say it’s becoming a police state I’m not exaggerating.
So why go back? Sure, my stuff is there, but thankfully, a friend of mine helped out and it’s now in a safe place. Clothes? Yeah, sucks, but only a few things were worn enough to justify a moment of silence. Books and DVD’s, sure, it’s also a pain, but I’d read/watched most of them. The important stuff is safe. I don’t think I’m headed back. I didn’t like it there. I have a few weeks left on my flat (one of the things I’ll miss the most, not the apartment itself, but the coffee talks with Scott, that’s what hurts) so I might just have a big ole free yardsale and let those who I’ll soon call ‘old friends’ inherit my ever-changing tastes. I’m still pulling in a tiny bit each month, might even be enough to get me over to India instead of rent (half, actually, Scott was paying the other half as ‘it was worth it not to have anyone else in there’) and a phone bill. I’d like that. Even Nepal. Maybe Sri Lanka. Could work out nice. I’d be eating rice and drinkin’ water, but hey, Mom promised me her enchiladas if I can get home soon. What was it Proust said, ‘We are healed of a suffering only by expressing it to the full’, right? Who wouldn’t trade some dirty cots and a dance with dysentery in exchange for sunrise on the Ganges and a sore neck from the Taj? Fuck it. I’m doin’ it. At least, I’ll try. Seems strange though, having just given my Facebook a peek that I might not see these people ever again. That’s weird. But goodbyes usually hold more cliches than a fraternity brunch, so I’d be okay with that. The people that matter I will either see again, or know I’ll miss them. Man, talk about ‘when one door closes’ (oops – see you at brunch) mine just got slammed shut. But it’s kind of the same feeling a girl slapping you after you just requested break-up sex is. In the overall sense of things, it’s over – but man, it would have been cool to end it slightly differently.
It hadn’t really sunk in until I wrote this whole thing…now it’s surreal. This could be it. Wow.
Wow, what a difference in life 24 hours makes if you let it.
Shanghai is the most western Chinese city. I’m not sure that you really know what China is. You get authentic smiles in the countryside.
Hint : If you go to India, its hidden gem is the Sikkim state.
India point taken! Thanks for that.
Per China, I’ve been to quite a few places, lived in the countryside for more than a year, have a Chinese family who I spent a month or so with in their hutong, traveled to some places for writing that even my Chinese friends have never heard of…so yeah, think I have seen enough to comment.
Wait – that sounded bitchy and it wasn’t supposed to. Sorry. If your sentiment was that people who haven’t seen the real country shouldn’t comment, then I agree (trust me, I spent more time in Oklahoma than I did Texas), but for this matter, I think I have enough in the repertoire to pass strong opinion. You do get authentic smiles, true – but not in the same way you get them elsewhere around Asia. They’re much fewer and further between. I rarely get smiled at in China – honest. In fact, although I’ve only been in Thailand and Indonesia (on this trip), I can tell you that China is constantly referred to as ‘the angry country’ by its neighbors.
But here’s the rub – it’s not the Chinese I don’t like, it’s the gov’t that I hate…and unfortunately, the majority are bi-products of that, so I’m stuck. Do I not comment because some are my friends or would a true friend comment? You can tell from the ‘diaries’ that’s what I dealt with.
Wow – long winded on my own blog. These Indonesian beers get to ya.
yikes. Glad to know you are safely elsewhere and won’t be rotting away in a Chinese prison somewhere. I don’t think Shanghai Prison Diaries would be nearly as cool I heard today about the lip-syncing 9 year old girl at the opening ceremonies. So unfair.
So there won’t be any man-dating in chinese prison…that’s good news. When are you coming stateside? Let’s make delicious mashed potatoes together.
“Becoming” a police state?
Look, in a couple of months everything will have blown over and they won’t care what you do, once again. Olympics will be long gone.
In the meantime go so real Chinese people in Taiwan; they’re nicer and the food is way better. And you can say whatever you want.
Sorry to hear that things went so sideways. Will miss your posts on CW. I think that the bit about having those women distribute the same cell phone numbers to overbearing guys was really funny.
Dude,
Just saw this, and am very disturbed… though I’d thought several times that this might be ‘it’ for you and China. Wouldn’t worry about the friends – most of those who congregated here at this place and time will either end up back home or moving on to the next spot, maybe India, 2010 or Turkey, 2015… who knows?
Am trying to make more of my time here – we’ll see now that the Olympics are done how big the thaw is (DVD shops are back in business at least, and some of them never even closed). But there comes a point when you have to move on. Will have to connect with you again some day, I’ll try to keep track of where you are.
But you have to come back for one last fling, don’t you?…
I just discovered your diaries…very addictive. (I love the pic, one of my favs movies) Ok, seriously. I am at the edge of my seat; how frightening it must have been to live under conditions where freedom of speech is censored and consequence dire. I am NOT a fan of the Chinese Totalitarianism Regime, for reasons that so many other freethinking-humanitarian-spiritual-being would agree. And a great comeback regarding the comment from Zhongtang; honesty and conviction. I admire your courage and bliss-following spirit! ~A
Exile \Ex”ile\, n. [OE. exil, fr. L. exilium, exsilium, fr. exsuil one who quits, or is banished from, his native soil;
1. Forced separation from one’s native country; expulsion from one’s home by the civil authority; banishment; sometimes, voluntary separation from one’s native country.
Aric Queen, an American citizen is not an exile from Shanghai. You were not forced out of Shanghai. He was not exiled since he was never a citizen of China, but that of a foreigner/laowai living there under VISA false representation.
Aric Queen while out of the country, you decided not to go back to Shanghai to face the music and present his side of the story to the Shanghai Police. We don’t know the entire truth behind his story. We only have your one-sided story, which is very biased in your favor.
You admits that you are not a scholar, do not possess a college/university degree, having never matriculated at any university in the States. I guess this is why you don’t know the definition of ‘exile.”
You, Aric Queen is the typical “Ugly American.” And it was time for you to depart and get out of China. To most us foreigners in China, you, Aric Queen had nothing of value to contribute to greater China. We are glad you are gone. You couldn’t be bothered to learn the Chinese language. There are many foreigners that can’t make it in their own country but think they can go to China and offer something. China has a lot of very intelligent students that come to America, earn higher edcuation, Master’s Degree, PhD, etc. What do you think you offered, other than your hooliganisms?
Even the good folks at ChinesePod were tired of you and glad when you departed their operations. The Chinese employees didn’t particularly care for you. They removed your stupid iopening jingo from all of their earlier lessons.
I noticed that you removed the negative comments about you on this webpage, the part where you wrote the wrong Chinese word Jya You, instead of Jia You.
Good that you will never return to China. China is better off without you.
wow – my very own stalker!
you’re absolutely right, I didn’t ‘present’ my side to the Chinese Police, who are known for their due process.
and you’re right – ‘exiled’ means chased out. I was chased when already out. am open to a new descriptor.
ChinesePod asked me back – a few times. And if they didn’t like me, why did they continue to contract me out to do their show openings/closings?
I didn’t offer much, you’re right – and all of my projects were selfish.
no comments were removed on the ‘jia you’ post, only my spelling was corrected.
actually, I’m just a few hours north of you there in San Fran, you should come up for a few days and put the face with the object of your affections.
I’d email you the directions, but like most who yell from a distance, you keep changing the email address you sign in with.
Aric,
By the way, you, Mr. Aric Queen made a big deal about people peeing in the bushes in Shanghai. Of course Aric Queen has never been to San Francisco’s Annual Bay to Breakers, where 60,000 runners participate. The biggest complain is how several thousands of men/women relieve themselves on the street, doorsteps, bushes, all over the route to the Pacific Ocean.
And what about golfers, whom often pee in the bushes/trees of most golf courses in America? Everything has it’s proper context.
You weren’t chased out. You are not an exile.
You left for Thailand, and decided not to return to Shanghai for your personal effects. In other words, you copped out.
Again, Exile \Ex”ile\, n. [OE. exil, fr. L. exilium, exsilium, fr. exsuil one who quits, or is banished from, his native soil;
1. Forced separation from one’s native country; expulsion from one’s home by the civil authority; banishment; sometimes, voluntary separation from one’s native country.
what’s it like to be so obsessed with someone?
seriously.
if you’ll read above, I agree with you – I was chased when already out.
but you’re on a mission.
Ha ha ha, this is pretty funny. Where to begin?
“Exile: anyone separated from his or her country or home voluntarily or by force of circumstances.” – Random House
I’d say “home” and “force of circumstances” are pretty accurate, since he lived there for five years. Nice that you chose the meaning that best served your argument. And you obviously have no idea how the Chinese legal system works. You might want to ask someone from China to fill you in.
“Aric Queen, an American citizen is not an exile from Shanghai. You were not forced out of Shanghai. He was not exiled since he was never a citizen of China, but that of a foreigner/laowai living there under VISA false representation.”
Eh? Haven’t learned yet that you don’t change tenses in the middle of a paragraph?
“Aric Queen while out of the country, you decided not to go back to Shanghai to face the music and present his side of the story to the Shanghai Police. We don’t know the entire truth behind his story. We only have your one-sided story, which is very biased in your favor.”
Oh, now you change tenses in the middle of a sentence, and then back again in the next sentence! You might want to take a course in basic English grammar, since it’s awfully annoying trying to follow your argument.
~You admits that you are not a scholar, do not possess a college/university degree, having never matriculated at any university in the States. I guess this is why you don’t know the definition of ‘exile.”~
I couldn’t put that one in parentheses since you misused them at the end of the paragraph. Which one is it, one or two? Blasting his education? A bit of a snob, are we? At least he writes well, something you haven’t quite figured out yet.
“You, Aric Queen is the typical “Ugly American.” And it was time for you to depart and get out of China. To most us foreigners in China, you, Aric Queen had nothing of value to contribute to greater China. We are glad you are gone. You couldn’t be bothered to learn the Chinese language. There are many foreigners that can’t make it in their own country but think they can go to China and offer something. China has a lot of very intelligent students that come to America, earn higher edcuation, Master’s Degree, PhD, etc. What do you think you offered, other than your hooliganisms?”
You IS? To most us?? Er… if you use “you, Aric Queen”, you need another comma after “Queen” to write the sentence correctly. I realize you’re glad he’s gone, but who are “we”? Are you now representing the Chinese people? That’s some ego you’ve got there. Instead of getting on his case for his lack of Chinese proficiency, maybe you ought to worry about your lack of English proficiency, as in “edcuation”, “hooliganisms” and your generally horrendous grammar.
“Even the good folks at ChinesePod were tired of you and glad when you departed their operations. The Chinese employees didn’t particularly care for you. They removed your stupid iopening jingo from all of their earlier lessons.”
Where did you come by this information? You work or worked at Chinesepod? When you accuse someone of something, you need to back it up with a few facts. Oh, and there’s no such word as “iopening” so you might want to turn on your spell checker, since you obviously need it.
“I noticed that you removed the negative comments about you on this webpage, the part where you wrote the wrong Chinese word Jya You, instead of Jia You.”
It should read “about YOURSELF” and not “about you”. My Chinese wife writes English much better than you do. So you’re getting on his case for misspelling a Chinese word while you’ve misspelled a slew of English words? Pot calling the kettle black?
“Good that you will never return to China. China is better off without you.”
Who made you the arbiter of what is good or bad for China? Oops, I forgot that with your limited English skills, you’ll need to look up the word “arbiter”. Wait, I’ll help you out:
ar⋅bi⋅ter /ˈɑrbɪtər/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ahr-bi-ter]
–noun
1. a person empowered to decide matters at issue; judge; umpire.
2. a person who has the sole or absolute power of judging or determining.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME arbitour, arbitre < AF, OF < L arbiter
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
I won’t even bother with the rest of your moronic comments. Do you have any idea how stupid you sound? I don’t agree with a lot of what Aric says about China and he’d be the first to concur, since our experiences there were completely different. That doesn’t make one valid and the other worthless. If three people from China moved to San Diego and one lived in La Jolla, one in Hillcrest and one in Otay Mesa, they’d return to China with three different impressions.
From your comments, you certainly don’t know much about China. You also don’t know much about the internet if you thought changing email addresses would hide your identity.
SD Steve, stay on the basis of the comments, and stop nick-picking. If Aric Queen was righteous, he would go back to Shanghai and straighten out the problem. Otherwise, he’s nothing but hot air. Many people disagree with the way he lived in Shanghai, and what he was doing there. The Chinese are better off without all the trouble he was creating there.
I agree with Mr. Booker, Aric Queen was not exiled. He’s an American, and thus was never exiled.
Sam Oberland/Mac Booker – you might want to rethink posting from the same IP address.
the more you write here, the more hits my site gets, so, thanks.
Sam/Mac/Whoever you really are: You might want to stop being a complete hypocrite, criticizing others while doing exactly what you claim they’re doing. I’m not the guy who started the nitpicking (incidentally, that’s how you spell it, you fucking moron) with the “jya you” comment and noting Aric isn’t a scholar. It’s obvious you’re not only NOT a scholar, your English proficiency is somewhere around the third grade level.
Just to let you know, I also lived in Shanghai at one time as the Asian Business Development Manager for a really, really, really large company in the semiconductor industry, so don’t give me that crap about your Chinese expertise. I didn’t hang around with expats; all my friends and colleagues were Chinese, and I still get over there on a regular basis. I didn’t know Aric until after I left the country.
So what’s your deal… troll the net looking for blogs where you try to show off your knowledge (or in this case, lack of knowledge) of China? Does this somehow make you feel important? Or have you become an apologist for a foreign government? Feel the need to use different names to try and justify your idiotic statements? By using an alias (or two), you totally shot your credibility.
You want to criticize Aric? Fine by me. But if you criticize, back it up with something that’s not a complete load of bullshit. I had a great time in China, never had a problem with the government or any of the people there, made a bunch of fantastic friends, but I’m not so naive as to believe that decisions there are made on the basis of law. Legal decisions are made by the party; that’s the system. If you don’t understand the basics of Chinese law, why are you commenting on it and wasting everyone’s time?
I stayed on the basis of your comments since everything I said was in reply to specific things you said. But it seems you don’t have the balls to address me directly but have to hide behind an alias or two. I know your type, big mouth on the net but a little chickenshit in real life. I get up to the bay area on business regularly, care to meet me up there and discuss this in person? If so, it’d be nice to tell me your real name so I know whether to address you as Mac, Sam or whatever.
SD Steve….brilliant!
You’re both pussies.
Anyone associated with Aric Queen and continues to cause trouble in China will be find themselves in trouble. Trust me.
SD Steve, or whatever your name is ARIC. What part of EXILE don’t you understand? Aric Queen is not an Exile, that’s my primary point. And for him to continue to attempt to make himself the victim is how he’s playing up his 15 minutes of fame.
ok.
this is fucking ridiculous.
I’ve already said ‘you’re right’ about the term ‘exile’, so find something else to occupy your sad time.
where are you originally from, btw?
this is cracking me straight UP! it makes me think aric is a bigger deal than i thought, which is HIGH-larious! so his antics carried such import that a post made in august of 2008 are STILL freaking people/person out???? get OUTTA town! oh wait, he did.
queenie, you know i love ya. but this is pure comedy. you couldn’t have staged it better yo’self.
Aric,
Don’t feed the trolls. I would hate to see another person give up a blog by falling victim to the effects of the Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory (Google the term.) Trying to reason or talk to trolls is like trying the same with someone severely drunk. All you can do is play babysitter and wait for the effects to wear off (or for the trolls to realize they aren’t getting anywhere and move on.)
By the way. For the longest time I wondered if Ana was an old girlfriend and you couldn’t change the domain name because people already knew where to find you. Kind of like getting a tattoo of your significant other but not having the cash to get rid of it. Just recently I realized the real meaning of the domain name.
SD Steve, Aric:
So sorry, I’m going back to Shanghai in a few days. I was only back in the States for a month on Sabbatical. Catch you later, Sport!
At least one of us can go to China.
Aric, we are all so happy that you are no longer in Shanghai ane no longer disparating the local Chinese here. You’re such a Smuck. I agree with the comments about you being an Ugly American.
BTW, you’re working with Christine Lu? Don’t you know she’s person-non-grata these days and her name is MUD in China, with TED any other CN based folks? It’s a wonder how you always get yourself into problems.
another stalker, how touching – I’ll add you to the list.
who’s ‘we’?
and Christine Lu not being big in China? now I know you’re mad.
tell us a little bit about yourself.
Yeah Aric, stop disparating the local Chinese. You were always a huge disparater, plus you’re a smuck, which I guess makes you similar to jams and jellies?
Seems like someone has decided to just use another alias but still hasn’t learned to spell. Oh wait, you and I are the same person! That’ll sure confuse Lori and Chu…