when you were young

"Can we climb this mountain, I don’t know
Higher now than ever before, I
Know we can make it if we take it slow
That’s thinkin’ easy, easy now, watch it go

We’re burning down the highway skyline on the
Back of a hurricane that started turning
When you were young
When you were young

And sometimes you close your eyes
And see the place where you used to live
When you were young"

[The Killers, When You Were Young, Sam’s Town]

 

Hitlist #295

October 30th, 2006

1. 7 (8) The Killers, When You Were Young
2. 1 (8) Jay Chou (周杰伦), Qi Li Xiang (七里巷)
3. 2 (12) David Gray, Alibi
4. 8 (13) Muse, Starlight
5. 4 (5) The Pipettes, Pull Shapes
6. 3 (3) Moby feat. Patti Labelle, One Of These Mornings
7. 5 (5) INXS, God’s Top Ten
8. 6 (7) Jason Mraz, Plane
9. 10 (6) Fergie, London Bridge
10. – (1) Jay Chou (周杰伦), Huo Yuan Jia (霍元甲)
11. 9 (7) Snow Patrol, Chasing Cars
12. 17 (2) Damien Rice, 9 Crimes
13. 13 (3) Enigma, Hello & Welcome
14. 12 (22) Jason Mraz, Life Is Wonderful
15. 18 (3) Razorlight, America
16. 14 (7) Scissor Sisters, Don’t Feel Like Dancing
17. – (1) Depeche Mode, Martyr
18. – (1) Placebo, Meds
19. 20 (4) Madonna, Jump
20. – (1) My Chemical Romance, Welcome To The Black Parade

fearless

I had such a lovely English corner! Wow, I do like to teach. I do like to communicate with people. Who would have thought that I could be very shy? Shy people need to feel that they are accepted. Here in China I feel accepted; sometimes I feel like one of the Chinese. This is a good environment for me, Calvin told me that I got a sense of achievement – something you are doing and you can see the results and satisfaction.

I have been working since the early morning. Finally my company in Poland will place the orders. My job is to take care about details… and of course the delivery should be done as soon as possible. I like this job because I can see effects of it. Many things depend on me so I’m learning how to be responsible for my decisions. Money is not important – I found out it long time ago; important is if we feel satisfied and interested in what we are doing. I experience this feeling.

The new Chinese hit approaches! After "Qi Li Xiang (七里香)" the next great song which came to my heart is "Huo Yuan Jia (霍元甲)" – in English it is "Fearless". It is sang also by Jay Chou (周杰伦)… I am really impressed!! I am fearless now. And the song is gorgeous!!! Highly recommended by me; I could say: certified with CE-approval.

Now I can sing…

 

huo huo huo huo

huo jia quan de tao lu zhao shi ling huo

wo wo wo wo

huo zhe sheng ming jiu gai wan zheng du guo

wo wo wo wo

guo cuo ruan ruo cong lai bu shu yu wo

huo huo huo huo

wo men jing wu chu shou wu ren neng duo

rebel

It is still warm although we can feel it is getting colder. In Poland it’s ugly autumn, in China it’s very late summer. The evenings and nights are cold.
Today I realized that I’m going back home to Poland very soon! My god, I’ve been in China for 7 months, time passes by so fast. People always try to catch up with time, nobody succeeds… Time is always the winner, it’s the only one that never gets older and tired. People do.
Time is the greatest rebel in the history. Doesn’t care for anybody and anything. It is always a couple of steps ahead. And everybody has to pay attention to it.
I feel I’m getting older. I’d like to get married.

one of these mornings

"One of these mornings
Won’t be very long
You will look for me
And I’ll be gone"

[Moby feat. Patti Labelle, One Of These Mornings, Miami Vice Soundtrack]

 

Hitlist #294

October 23rd, 2006

1. 1 (8) Jay Chou (周杰伦), Qi Li Xiang (七里香)
2. 2 (11) David Gray, Alibi
3. 8 (2) Moby feat. Patti Labelle, One Of These Mornings
4. 6 (4) The Pipettes, Pull Shapes
5. 4 (4) INXS, God’s Top Ten
6. 3 (6) Jason Mraz, Plane
7. 11 (7) The Killers, When You Were Young
8. 5 (12) Muse, Starlight
9. 9 (6) Snow Patrol, Chasing Cars
10. 15 (5) Fergie, London Bridge
11. 13 (10) Razorlight, In The Morning
12. 10 (21) Jason Mraz, Life Is Wonderful
13. 14 (2) Enigma, Hello & Welcome
14. 7 (6) Scissor Sisters, Don’t Feel Like Dancing
15. 12 (11) Christina Aguilera, Ain’t No Other Man
16. 16 (9) Thom Yorke, Harrowdown Hill
17. – (1) Damien Rice, 9 Crimes
18. 20 (2) Razorlight, America
19. 17 (9) The Kooks, Naive
20. 18 (3) Madonna, Jump

updates

I haven’t written so far about my trip to Qingdao. I went there on Tuesday morning, I supposed to be a translator for two Polish businessmen (my Polish boss’ acquaintances), who came to China to participate in business talks organized by Qingdao municipality. They were very confused because they didn’t speak English at all. That’s why they didn’t know that actually on Tuesday we had only a banquet, no talks. Banquet was very nice, beautiful girls played traditional Chinese music, there was delicious food, I felt like VIP – and I was quite determined to get what I want. For example I wanted to have an Internet in my hotel room (excellent suite on 30th floor for 1200 yuan!!) – and I got it immediately.
On next day we had many talks with Chinese producers. For me it was amazing that some of them couldn’t speak English – so how do they imagine co-operation with foreign customers? I translated from Polish to English (sometimes to Chinese, haha), and there was also a girl who translated from Chinese to English. I was quite tired of speaking… I didn’t have much time to visit the city, I only went to the sea side – Yellow Sea, it was very near to the hotel. In the afternoon I met one of my suppliers (for bicycle tyre and tubes); it was so nice to know that he’s of my generation, only 28 years old! Very nice, very peaceful and very promising for future co-operation.
I came back to Hangzhou on Wednesday night.
Friday was not very successful because I realized that one of our suppliers didn’t tell me the whole truth and actually I wasted so much time to talk to them. It turned out that they can’t sell the products to Europe but I got to know about it just after many weeks of talks!! Unbelievable and irresponsible. I was so angry that I began to be unpleasant for the girl from that company…
I started to feel worse on Friday night. First it was just sore throat, on Saturday I hardly could speak and I had fever. It was terrible because I had to go to school. I caught a cold… so badly that I felt I was dying. Maybe I worked too hard these days?
Also Sunday was working day. I went to the school in library by bike in the morning. After the class I wanted to go back home to take rest (still felt not well) but… I couldn’t find my bike!!! My god, friends always told me there are many thieves in China but I never thought it could happen to me! I told Calvin I didn’t like China anymore. I wanted to hit somebody (the thief!!) and cry and go back home to Poland. So bad mood, luckily later I had English corner which always makes me better.
In the evening I went to the library again for the evening class. After I finnished… I noticed my bike in the parking lot!! Haha, obviously somebody just put it somewhere else! Nobody stole it! I like China again.

sleep longer

I don’t feel well these days. I guess I’m too tired after the trip to Qingdao. I wish I could sleep longer.

alibi

"Stone blind alibi
I will eat the lie (…)

Tonight, tonight
Tonight I’m running wild, I’m running
Tonight I’m running wild, I’m running"

[David Gray, Alibi, Life In Slow Motion]

 

Hitlist #293

October 16th, 2006

1. 1 (7) Jay Chou, Qi Li Xiang
2. 16 (10) David Gray, Alibi
3. 4 (5) Jason Mraz, Plane
4. 2 (3) INXS, God’s Top Ten
5. 3 (11) Muse, Starlight
6. 9 (3) The Pipettes, Pull Shapes
7. 8 (5) Scissor Sisters, Don’t Feel Like Dancing
8. – (1) Moby feat. Patti Labelle, One Of These Mornings
9. 6 (5) Snow Patrol, Chasing Cars
10. 5 (20) Jason Mraz, Life Is Wonderful
11. 13 (6) The Killers, When You Were Young
12. 14 (10) Christina Aguilera, Ain’t No Other Man
13. 10 (9) Razorlight, In The Morning
14. – (1) Enigma, Hello & Welcome
15. 11 (4) Fergie, London Bridge
16. 7 (8) Thom Yorke, Harrowdown Hill
17. 12 (8) The Kooks, Naive
18. 17 (2) Madonna, Jump
19. 15 (9) Evanescence, Call Me When You’re Sober
20. – (1) Razorlight, America

 

passport

My boss (the Polish one) asked me to help his friend, also boss – in another Polish company. He’s coming to China for branch fairs and he needs a person who can speak English and who knows China – at least a little. Well, I can do it. Fairs are in Qingdao, I’ve been there once. But… there is one small problem which may be decisive for this journey. My passport is at the police station since my visa expires next week… Perhaps I won’t get it on time. And then I won’t be able to go.
Passport is necessary for foreigners if they want to travel by plane. It would be a great pity!!
Today I’m going  with Victor to swim again! I had a longer break in swimming, it’s time to come back to this healthy habit.

communication

I need to buy another bicycle. The old one is gone… at first it broke, then it stood in the downtown because I didn’t have time to take it back home, and finally it’s gone. I want to have a bike, I don’t want to live without it. I got used to! It is my healthy habit.
I had an emergency English corner. I always call it "emergency" when I get a message that someone else can’t come… and if I have time to take it instead. I always take! I like it so much, although sometimes it’s so hard to think the original topic.
Today we discussed about USA… Well, I have never been there but it doesn’t mean I can’t talk about it, does it? And the discussion was very good; many students had something interesting to tell. I’m getting excited when I see how they want to tell something!! It’s one of the greatest feelings to know that there’s a communication between us.

days we don’t know yet

Yesterday I talked to my older brother and my sister-in-law. I realized how much I miss them… and how great internet is. It’s unbelievable how people could communicae with each other before – yes, by phone, letters. But phone calls are so expensive when you’re far away, and letters need time to be delivered. Did people miss each other more? I think it’s possible. Now I have a chance to see my family, to hear their voices, to know frequently how they are and what they are doing.

Marek Grechuta – one of my favourite Polish singers – died yesterday. In my opinion his songs are timeless. He was also my parents’ idol… Great lyrics, very poetic and gentle music – unfortunately he lost his fight with illness. Now he will be singing in heaven.

"Important are only those days we don’t know yet…" – so beautiful and hopeful quote!! It is the expectation that future is bright and… ours. Take it in your hands.