with the advent of fall, i marvel at the momentous summer that just passed, and only now are we beginning to fathom its legacy. the monumental events i'm referring to are both optimistic and dismal--but one thing's for sure, this year will go down in history as a point of major significance, that at least in my realm, is life-changing to say the least.

so i was in Vegas this past weekend. there were many causes for celebration--my homecoming visit this fall, a successful wrap-up of busy summer projects, and of course, simply the joy of being around loved ones. but as soon as I breathed in the nostalgic air of debauchery and revelry, I noticed how significantly toned-down the atmosphere was. We did some investigation and found out that gaming revenue has been down 30% this summer. Though gamblers are still placing their bets, they’re doing so with much reservation and less confidence.

By now we all know I’m referring to our nation’s fiscal crisis, and this day will do down in US financial history as the day of the “1 trillion dollar loss.” In some American regions, the energy crisis also broke out with the shortage of gas and their cars being completely immobilized. Soon the credit crisis will ensue and we’ll all be watching what and how we’re spending. I consulted my genius father about this, and harboring his perpetual disdain for most things American, he scoffs and dismisses this situation as a crisis in the making since the nineties. The signs have always been there, he says.

Growing up, I was familiar with his theories on how Asia would be the frontier of the 21^st century, especially the Middle Kingdom. In high school, I always listened half-heartedly and embraced my American roots more than my Taiwanese side. But in college I started to see my dad’s point. The days of US as a superpower will be limited, because we as Americans are content, and maybe a little too naïve and pompous, always so sure of our economic stability, of the superiority of all-things American, and always so petulant--paying the minimum on credit card bills, applying for mortgages way out of range, and altering the adage “save for rainy days” to “save for vacays.”

Living abroad in China and traveling throughout Asia for about 3 years now, I am confronted with the daily cultural differences such as, working hours, work ethics, the financial and educational system, propaganda and ambitions etc. Observing the work ethics of that of China, Japan, etc., and propping that up in comparison with my experience in the US, it’s easy to see how a nation of 3 billion, whose people work as long as 12 hours daily, with little to no cushion financial flexibility for hedonistic pursuits, can someday surpass a nation of people,  whose consumption habits are based on pleasure-feeding, not to mention regulations for credit application which are easy to skirt around.

In no way do I agree or advocate foregoing personal time and pleasure. In fact that is probably my number one gripe about working in China, the inhumane working hours in a high-stress and high-pressure environment. Pain in the ass? You betcha. But does it produce results? Absolutely.

The newly opened Shanghai World Financial Center recently claimed the crown as the tallest building of the world. I’m always amazed by the speed of China’s architectural world; it appears as if skyscrapers and office buildings sprout up overnight. A nation which values ambition and efficiency above all else, China is determined to show the world her strength and redeem her shameful colonial days of the last century.

I witnessed this at the Beijing Olympics. I heard her people’s roars and saw the glory of the Olympic structures, which have been praised globally. I walked away from the experience in awe too. That a nation which sent only 1 Olympian to the Olympics about a century ago, can now lead with the gold medals. it's said that the Olympic performance is much more than just a showcase of physical prowess, it's the display of strength in all facets--militaristic, economic, morale and confidence.We heard how the China teams went through excruciating training, how they would not accept less than the best. It’s a thriving environment, to be at the epic center of where ambitions are given new heights, and where victory is not seen as a tall order, but as the expected outcome.

So how does the financial crisis or the glory of the games affect me? As I navigate between these two worlds constantly—my heart longing for my loved ones in the comfort of the States, but my passions driving my career in the emerging markets of Asia and China, I must discern the direction which is bestowed upon me. I always believed in the security of my homeland, but now with the market crash and ongoing terrorist signs, is security just an illusion? Are the opportunities in the emerging new world beckoning, and is it my destiny from the Lord to seize them, for myself as well as for the future security of my loved ones? This deserves some long hard pondering.

2008 Beijing Olympics-

my grandfather passed away.

marks the third funeral i've attended in the last three years...

the adventures in China continue...this vast nation is so huge there seems to be endless corners for exploration.

in An Ji (film site of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) and Gui Ling (where film director Zhang Yi Mou staged the world's largest natural stage show--on the Li River!)

this was supposed to be THE year for China.

indeed it has been. beginning from Chinese new year, the snow storms that befell and trapped transportation and halted thousands of people from going home for the festivities. it was also my first time seeing snow in Shanghai; in fact, i was fortunate enough to have caught a flight home since all the planes the day after ceased to fly out of the blizzards.

in March the Tibetan riots and independence movement threw China into a grave PR crisis. instead of the positive Olympic global recognition the Chinese government was expecting, around the world the Olympic torch relay events became protest grounds for Tibetan independence. nationalism flared in China along with anti-western sentiments, which threw my job as PR officer for a French luxury brand into a crisis.

in May we are currently dealing with the deadliest quake in China's history; the fatality numbers are shooting up every day. though i've never been to Chengdu and the Sichuan province and the distance to Shanghai is relatively far, the catastrophe has affected all that are residing in this nation. every day reports stream in my inbox about a heroic story and unbelievable bouts of courage. it is not unlike the 9/11 tragedies and personalized stories that hit us all; we wept with the family members that heard their loved ones dial them before their plane crashed, we couldn't believe that people witnessed the jumpers that had no choice but to fling their frail bodies out the burning flames and hit ground zero. Now, here, we mourn with those and applaud those heroic feats we hear: the mother that literally sawed off her limbs that were stuck underneath the rubble just for the sake of staying alive to care of her son; the teachers that sacrificed their lives while protecting the students; and the scores of volunteers that have made their way to the remote areas to help. it is truly a historical moment--the first time in history China is accepting foreign aid for a national crisis, and probably the first time China is gaining positive PR for their reaction towards crisis management.

through this all, as an expat living in this nation, i am trying to contribute my bit part too. it seems totally inappropriate and maybe even trivial now, what my professional career entails. times like these, where quake survivors have called "the end times," i wonder of the purpose for the daily grind to further this luxury company's goals. one of our product's sold here can probably buy several families' meals. it is true that luxury is an accessory to the self-indulged and bored, when all basic necessities have been met and narcissism suddenly elevates to a survival need.

there are superstitious Chinese sayings that 8 is the unlucky element this year: February 6, March 14 & May 12 were the dates of the human and natural catastrophes that struck China, which in numerology all amount to "8" (2+6, 3+1+4, 5+1+2). coincidentally, August 8, 2008, the date of the Olympics, plays on Chinese superstition that 8 IS a lucky number since when pronounced it sounds like the auspicious "get rich" phrase. but personally, in observing the aftermath, i think God's purpose in these crisis are clear, which is Human Rights matters. in natural catastrophes where pain is not inflicted from one human to another (one brother to another), unity to stand up again post-tragedy can be very powerful. the snow and quake crisis humbled the Chinese government to recognize the environmental crisis that has resulted in this nation, and the Tibetan movement has lent new focus to human rights issues. the outpouring of love and aid for the China quake is also lending attention to the Myanmar tornado crisis and that government's decision NOT to accept aid.

there is much to mourn during these times, however also much to marvel at. and we're only halfway through this year.