CHINA
Country Overview:
"A land of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet rapid modernization, and delectable cuisine coexists with complex political realities."
My seven-year journey in China, from May 2013 to August 2020, was a whirlwind of experiences. I taught English, pursued my Master's in Politics & Foreign Policy at the prestigious Tsinghua University, and immersed myself in the media landscape at China Today and Xinhua News Agency. Beijing was my home base, but my travels painted a vibrant tapestry of China's diverse landscapes and cultures: the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, the historic city of Xi'an, the tropical paradise of Sanya, the unique blend of East and West in Macau and Hong Kong, and countless other destinations in between. From savoring the exquisite flavors of regional cuisines to navigating the intricacies of daily life under a distinct political system, China left an indelible mark on me.
Grammy Festival - Beijing 2018
Got tickets to the Grammy Festival at the Changyang Music Theme Park in Beijing over the May-day holiday weekend. Got to see One Republic, Phoenix, Daya, Macy Gray, Carly Rae Jepsen, James Bay, and Pharrell. Amazing festival. Everyone sounded great, the artists were on time for their set, weather was nice, and despite the venue putting ice cubes in the beer, everything was perfect. I always forget how nice it is to do things that break up the routine
Band Life
I’ve always thought about being in a band, touring, having fans shout my lyrics, wearing a black leather jacket, you know, the usual band stuff. There’s just something so appealing about choosing that path in life and not settling for a corporate job and not having to chat about ‘invoices’ with some guy named Dave. For musicians, people actively consume and use what they create. We all listen to music, sometimes for distraction, motivation, to find peace, or because it reminds of us a specific time in our lives. I admire creative people. They take risks and are working to create a physical representation of something they feel inside. That’s goddamn beautiful. I respect musicians or people in a band because as a group, they can create a unique sound, which will ultimately have an influence on a large part of the population. If a song on YouTube only has 50,000 views, we think, “Well that’s not very much”. I don’t think I could speak to 50,000 individual people even if I had a whole month to try to do so.
We've all seen the videos of bands performing live and there are thousands of people chanting your lyrics, and going crazy simply because the band walked onstage. What other profession can give you instant gratification like that? Movies aren't live, and even during broadway plays, the applause is saved until the end. Comedians get immediate laughs, and although comedy is an art, I don't think it's comparable to music. However, I guarantee you people lost their mind at an AC/DC concert when the opening strums to Thunderstuck were first played. Or who doesn't sing along at an Aerosmith or Blink 182 or Bon Jovi, or Imagine Dragons concert? Or what about those moments when the lead singer holds the microphone out to the audience and thousands of people sing the words that you once wrote on a piece of paper? Incredible. All I'm saying is, being in a band would be amazing, and yet, from the recent deaths within the music industry, also extremely challenging.
I think people like musicians because the risk they take is personal. They aren’t producing something for anyone else besides themselves. The music they create reflects themselves and their body of work is largely a story about themselves. Songs about relationships, breakups, heartache, adventure, and life are generally drawn from real experiences. Now this isn’t true for all music. Movie scores are created to suit a scene and intended to evoke a certain response. Other music is created based on a demand from the music label or the ‘powers that be’. Pop music is manufactured based on what the masses want. But bands, in my opinion, at least start out with pure intentions.
When I refer to a band, I’m talking about a group of people who got together at a young age and said, “Let’s make music for us”. They had nothing to lose, no label to answer to, and no pressure besides creating something unique. I respect that. It’s hard for many people to turn down a paid job to make music without the promise of a future. It’s a risk, and as someone who was never willing to pursue my fantasy of being an actor, I salute you.
My friend is in a band and although I hate his music, I respect that he plays shows in dirty dive bars and he gives it his all. I should clarify that he plays experimental-punk-noise-metal. It’s unexplainable; I’m struggling to describe what I’ve witnessed at the many shows I’ve been to. It’s one of those bands whereas they play, I look at the person next to me and ask, “Do you they suck or are they genius?” But that’s not the question my friend asks himself. He enjoys playing music, the people he plays with are super cool dudes, and each week they go onstage and play for the sake of playing; mostly because they only get paid in drink tickets. And regardless of my lack of enthusiasm for his music, the fact he has a full-time job, but still finds time to play in a band, that’s something I can support.
Apple Airpods Review
Overview
Back in October I bought a pair of Apple Airpods, the first wireless headphones I had ever used. Here are my thoughts:
In life, there are certain things that can be labeled a “game changer”, and wireless headphones are one of those. The Apple Airpods aren’t the traditional wireless headphones, as there is no cable connecting them, so maybe not the best ones to start with, but hey, they are what they are. They have made my life so much more convenient, not having to deal with wires when riding my scooter, at the gym, or while traveling.
Design
The Airpods fit in my ears well, and will stay in there, but I have one issue. The entire Airpod is made of the same plastic, which is slippery. I do sometimes have to adjust them in my ear while on my scooter as the high winds sometimes cause them to come loose. I bought a cheap silicon thing that can slip over the part that goes in the ear, but then the charging case won’t close despite the thinness of the material.
Tech
The case is light and easy to carry around. Furthermore, the headphones charge extremely fast, and I’ve never had to worry about them dying. In addition, the bluetooth has always worked and connects fast, even when switching between my phone and computer. The sound quality is pretty good. It’s not exceptional, and they won’t even compare to over-the-ear headphones, but the bass is solid and both music and podcasts sound crisp.
A few weeks ago, I dropped the case and put it back in my pocket. When returning home, I found that one of the airpods had fallen out, which was an expensive mistake. It is possible to go to the Apple store to just buy one Airpod, but it wasn’t cheap. I bought a silicon cover that slips over the entire case, thus ensuring it won’t open if dropped again. With that said, I wish the case had a stronger magnet to keep it closed.
Rating
I hate when tech reviews give a certain number of stars or rate a product with a percentage. It’s so arbitrary, like what's the real difference between 95% or 96% when it come to personal opinion? Most tech reviews receive a 3 or 3.5 star rating, which doesn’t exactly tell me if it’s a good product or not. So, I will end my review with “Get it” or “Forget it”, and for Apple’s Airpods, I say get it.
Firespinning - Koh Tao
This should have been posted a few months ago, but you know, life. So here is a collection of videos that were taken of these Thai guys on a beach in Koh Tao. They did it every night and were always enthusiastic and friendly. If you ever get a chance, I highly recommend it.
