2019-02-16.html (17943B)
1 <div class="wide64"> 2 <p> 3 I dream of seeing the end of the fossil fuel age in my lifetime. I would 4 love to play a role, however small, in helping to bring the era to a close. 5 And to help the next one — the ecological age — off the ground. 6 <br> 7 </p> 8 <p> 9 But I acknowledge that in that mission at best there's irony, at worst, 10 hypocrisy. It's unlikely someone with my background would exist in a world 11 without petroleum. <a href="https://www.thomhartmann.com/blog/2007/11/last-hours-ancient-sunlight">Ancient sunlight</a> played the matchmaker in my parents' marriage. 12 </p> 13 <p> 14 Unlike many immigrants, I've been lucky enough to return home throughout my 15 life. I treasure the connection I've been able to maintain with my family. 16 But I also realize it comes at a cost. 17 </p> 18 <p> 19 It takes 150 trees a year to sequester the carbon from a flight from Newark 20 to Shanghai. It takes a tree about 40 years to sequester a ton of carbon. A 21 flight from NYC to London is about 1 ton. I wonder how much arctic ice has 22 melted, how many <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/11/russian-islands-emergency-mass-invasion-polar-bears-novaya-zemlya">polar bear cubs have had to starve</a>, 23 so that I could live this unnatural life, crisscrossing the globe like one 24 my ancestors' deities. 25 </p> 26 <p> 27 The ethical choice would be not to travel. At the very least to not travel 28 so often. That would be better for the planet and most its inhabitants. The 29 cost in that case would be personal, limited at most to my family. But so 30 far, I have failed to muster the courage. 31 </p> 32 <p> 33 In a sense, my travels "home" are days spent listening to sirens' song. The 34 return ticket is the lash that binds me to the mast. The truth is that I am 35 never home. Wherever I am, family, rhythms, the earliest memories, are 36 somewhere else. 37 </p> 38 <p> 39 And yet, there's the irresistible embrace of the song. The feeling of 40 safety and belonging. The joy of returning to land, natural terrain; for 41 even after all these years, New York City still feels a little like being 42 at sea. A familiar ship at best, a fortress in the archipelago of Cyclopses 43 and lotus eaters. But not home. Not Ithaca. 44 </p> 45 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190205T195842.jpg"> 46 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190205T195842.jpg"> 47 </a> 48 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190205T174305.jpg"> 49 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190205T174305.jpg"> 50 </a> 51 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190206T070449.jpg"> 52 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190206T070449.jpg"> 53 </a> 54 <p> 55 My last stay in Shanghai was in January and February of 2017, also for the 56 Lunar New Year. Before that trip, I was absent for five years – 57 probably the longest span in my life so far. In 2017, I felt like I was 58 reviving long lost memories; this year felt more like return to a natural 59 rhythm. 60 </p> 61 <p> 62 Winter still feels like an unusual time to be in China. Most of my memories 63 of China are of summer. Besides 2017, my memories of China in winter are 64 mainly from 2006-2007 (December and January), then maybe one or two visits 65 as a child. One of my earliest childhood memories of China is setting of 66 fireworks with my uncle Ju Gong (朱巨公), outside the old home on Li Shan Lu. 67 </p> 68 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190206T102651.jpg"> 69 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190206T102651.jpg"> 70 </a> 71 <blockquote> 72 <p> 73 <i>Waiting for the tea lying pillowed in the breeze,</i> 74 <i>Spring is in the voice now that the heart's at ease.</i> 75 </p> 76 77 <p> 78 Journey to the West, Chapter 64. 79 </p> 80 </blockquote> 81 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190206T162939.jpg"> 82 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190206T162939.jpg"> 83 </a> 84 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190206T115448.jpg"> 85 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190206T115448.jpg"> 86 </a> 87 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190207T175201.jpg"> 88 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190207T175201.jpg"> 89 </a> 90 <p> 91 I spent the majority of this stay within a 500 meter radius of the new 92 apartment on Yan Chang Lu. Besides catching up with family, I spent some 93 time on personal projects: getting this website up and running again (using 94 <a href="https://orgmode.org/">org-mode</a>), learning <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emacs_Lisp">Emacs Lisp</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86_assembly_language">x86 Assembly</a>, and catching up on some more practical reading (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Millionaire_Next_Door">The Millionaire Next Door</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Life_Changing_Magic_of_Tidying">The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up</a>). Once or twice a day I would 95 take a walk in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhabei">ZhaBei</a> 96 Park (闸北公园), to enjoy the scenery and think a little bit about life. 97 </p> 98 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190207T180027.jpg"> 99 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190207T180027.jpg"> 100 </a> 101 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190207T170132.jpg"> 102 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190207T170132.jpg"> 103 </a> 104 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190207T170504.jpg"> 105 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190207T170504.jpg"> 106 </a> 107 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190207T172035.jpg"> 108 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190207T172035.jpg"> 109 </a> 110 <p> 111 Shanghai shuts down the week of the Lunar New Year. Nearly all of the local shops and restaurants were closed, and the streets were relatively empty, until about the last two days of my stay. 112 </p> 113 <p> 114 Unlike 2017, I didn't bring my bicycle. For the most part I didn't miss it, as this was a more sedentary stay. In the long term, I will try to keep one in Shanghai. It's a great way to get around the city. 115 </p> 116 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190208T052925.jpg"> 117 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190208T052925.jpg"> 118 </a> 119 <p> 120 My alarm clock every morning was birdsong. A pleasant surprise, given the heavily urban setting. 121 </p> 122 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190208T071951.jpg"> 123 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190208T071951.jpg"> 124 </a> 125 <p> 126 This was my first time seeing snow in Shanghai. ZhaBei Park is visible from the apartment, and vice-versa. 127 </p> 128 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190209T140913.jpg"> 129 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190209T140913.jpg"> 130 </a> 131 <video autoplay loop muted 132 src="/static/media/dwrz_20190209T142546_720p.mp4" type="video/mp4"> 133 Your browser does not support video. 134 </video> 135 <p> 136 Most of my family doesn't know how to play Mahjong, as it was banned, and stigmatized, during their youth. 137 </p> 138 <video controls> 139 <source src="/static/media/dwrz_20190209T140220_edit.mp4" 140 type="video/mp4"> 141 Your browser does not support video. 142 </video> 143 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190210T154420.jpg"> 144 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190210T154420.jpg"> 145 </a> 146 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190210T154429.jpg"> 147 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190210T154429.jpg"> 148 </a> 149 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190210T172452.jpg"> 150 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190210T172452.jpg"> 151 </a> 152 <p> 153 Authentic Chinese cuisine paints with a different palette. There are nuances of flavor that are hard to find abroad. 154 </p> 155 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz-20190210T124458.jpg"> 156 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz-20190210T124458.jpg"> 157 </a> 158 <p> 159 My grandfather and grandmother, with my cousin Zhu Yun. 160 </p> 161 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190210T125410.jpg"> 162 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190210T125410.jpg"> 163 </a> 164 <p> 165 My brother and I with my grandfather. August of 1999. 166 </p> 167 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190210T125837.jpg"> 168 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190210T125837.jpg"> 169 </a> 170 <p> 171 With my grandmother and cousin Zhu Wei Yi (Kim). August of 1997. 172 </p> 173 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190210T123606.jpg"> 174 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190210T123606.jpg"> 175 </a> 176 <p> 177 With my parents. August of 2003. 178 </p> 179 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190210T220450.jpg"> 180 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190210T220450.jpg"> 181 </a> 182 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190211T111406.jpg"> 183 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190211T111406.jpg"> 184 </a> 185 <p> 186 Free dance class in ZhaBei park. These seemed to be offered multiple times 187 a day, and were very popular with the elderly population. 188 </p> 189 <p> 190 I was struck by how much of the community seemed to congregate in the park. 191 Besides these classes, people practiced Tai Chi together, played Chinese 192 chess and musical instruments, and sang in choruses. Others, like me, 193 seemed to be happy to roam in the park, chat with friends, or meditate 194 among the scenery. 195 </p> 196 <p> 197 I struggle to think of a comparable community life in New York City. 198 Someday, I hope I will live among elders that emanate the same health, 199 contentment, and ease I saw in ZhaBei. 200 </p> 201 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190211T111537.jpg"> 202 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190211T111537.jpg"> 203 </a> 204 <video controls> 205 <source src="/static/media/dwrz_20190211T160813_edit.mp4" type="video/mp4"> 206 Your browser does not support video. 207 </video> 208 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190211T112317.jpg"> 209 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190211T112317.jpg"> 210 </a> 211 <p> 212 Sign placed above urinals in Zhabei Park's mens restroom. There is a lot to 213 the Chinese regime, and its history, that is dark. The lingering spirit of 214 collaboration and social camaraderie still manages to shine through. 215 </p> 216 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190211T112925.jpg"> 217 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190211T112925.jpg"> 218 </a> 219 <p> 220 This machine, widely used, another example. 221 </p> 222 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190211T112939.jpg"> 223 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190211T112939.jpg"> 224 </a> 225 <p> 226 Perhaps, if we had more PM 2.5 displays, worldwide, more people would be 227 able to quantify the value of environmental contexts. 228 </p> 229 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190211T113930.jpg"> 230 <img class ="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190211T113930.jpg" 231 </a> 232 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190211T153903.jpg"> 233 <img class="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190211T153903.jpg"> 234 </a> 235 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190211T162500.jpg"> 236 <img class="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190211T162500.jpg"> 237 </a> 238 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190212T104711.jpg"> 239 <img class="img-center" src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190212T104711.jpg"> 240 </a> 241 <p> 242 At the local market, vendors are now using Alipay. You scan the QR code to 243 place your payment. Two years ago, it was still cash. Perhaps more slowly 244 now, but still the signs are of a nation ascendant. 245 </p> 246 <p> 247 Also heartening was the strong presence of small businesses in my 248 neighborhood. This made me note the difference in the application of 249 technology. Supporting small businesses instead of a monolithic retailer. 250 The flourishing of the just as convenient as the latter, without the 251 resulting social ills. 252 </p> 253 <a href="/static/media/1920/ylj_20190212T180734.jpg"> 254 <img class="img-center" src="/static/media/720/ylj_20190212T180734.jpg"> 255 </a> 256 <p> 257 With my uncle, Zhu Ju Qi, and my nephew – my cousin Zhu Yun's son. 258 </p> 259 <a href="/static/media/1920/ylj_20190212T180644.jpg"> 260 <img class="img-center" src="/static/media/720/ylj_20190212T180644.jpg"> 261 </a> 262 <p> 263 My niece, HuiHui, my cousin Lin Sen's daughter. 264 </p> 265 <a href="/static/media/1920/zy_20190212T202404.jpg"> 266 <img class="img-center" src="/static/media/720/zy_20190212T202404.jpg"> 267 </a> 268 <p> 269 With my aunt's, uncle Zhu Ju Gong, and cousin Zhu Yun, at the Gondelin 270 Vegetarian Restaurant on Nan Jing Lu. 271 </p> 272 <video controls> 273 <source src="/static/media/dwrz_20190213T113726_edit.mp4" 274 type="video/mp4"> 275 Your browser does not support video. 276 </video> 277 <video controls> 278 <source src="/static/media/dwrz_20190213T171353_edit.mp4" 279 type="video/mp4"> 280 Your browser does not support video. 281 </video> 282 <video controls> 283 <source src="/static/media/dwrz_20190213T171856_edit.mp4" 284 type="video/mp4"> 285 Your browser does not support video. 286 </video> 287 <p> 288 I love Chinese gardens. They are fractal, meandering, varied, harmoniously 289 integrating human needs with natural patterns. The nooks and crannies 290 offering private, intimate space. It's the kind of setting I would love to 291 work in, every day. 292 </p> 293 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190213T113948.jpg"> 294 <img class="img-center" 295 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190213T113948.jpg"> 296 </a> 297 <blockquote> 298 <p> 299 <i>In the bamboo grove I delight wise kings;</i> 300 <br> 301 <i>A hundred acres of me by the Wei brings fame.</i> 302 <br> 303 <i>My green skin is naturally marked by the tears of the Xiang Goddess;</i> 304 <br> 305 <i>My scaly shoots pass on the scent of history.</i> 306 <br> 307 <i>My leaves will never change their color in frost;</i> 308 <br> 309 <i>The beauty of my misty twigs can never be concealed.</i> 310 <br> 311 <i>Few have understood me since the death of Wang Huizhi;</i> 312 <br> 313 <i>Since ancient times I have been known through brush and ink.</i> 314 <br> 315 <br> 316 Journey to the West, Chapter 64. 317 </p> 318 </blockquote> 319 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190213T165429.jpg"> 320 <img class="img-center" 321 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190213T165429.jpg"> 322 </a> 323 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190213T170021.jpg"> 324 <img class="img-center" 325 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190213T170021.jpg"> 326 </a> 327 <p> 328 There seems to be a healthy, thriving community of community cats in the 329 neighborhood, fed by volunteers. Unfortunately, the vast majority of them 330 do not appear to be spayed. 331 </p> 332 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190213T170617.jpg"> 333 <img class="img-center" 334 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190213T170617.jpg"> 335 </a> 336 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190213T171237.jpg"> 337 <img class="img-center" 338 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190213T171237.jpg"> 339 </a> 340 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190213T124011.jpg"> 341 <img class="img-center" 342 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190213T124011.jpg"> 343 </a> 344 <p> 345 The Song Yuan teahouse outside ZhaBei Park. 346 </p> 347 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190213T112852.jpg"> 348 <img class="img-center" 349 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190213T112852.jpg"> 350 </a> 351 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190213T173920.jpg"> 352 <img class="img-center" 353 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190213T173920.jpg"> 354 </a> 355 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190213T192724.jpg"> 356 <img class="img-center" 357 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190213T192724.jpg"> 358 </a> 359 <video controls> 360 <source src="/static/media/dwrz_20190214T162515_edit.mp4" 361 type="video/mp4"> 362 Your browser does not support video. 363 </video> 364 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190214T163432.jpg"> 365 <img class="img-center" 366 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190214T163432.jpg"> 367 </a> 368 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190214T164630.jpg"> 369 <img class="img-center" 370 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190214T164630.jpg"> 371 </a> 372 <p> 373 The aparment, seen from ZhaBei Park. 374 </p> 375 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190214T190048.jpg"> 376 <img class="img-center" 377 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190214T190048.jpg"> 378 </a> 379 <p> 380 The last dinner before departure, again at the Song Yuan teahouse. The 381 dinner, was 120 RMB, i.e., less than 20 USD. We had leftovers, and a free 382 rice pudding desert was included with the meal. 383 </p> 384 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190214T193818.jpg"> 385 <img class="img-center" 386 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190214T193818.jpg"> 387 </a> 388 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190214T211323.jpg"> 389 <img class="img-center" 390 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190214T211323.jpg"> 391 </a> 392 <p> 393 All packed up. If I close my eyes now, thousands of miles away, I can still 394 feel as if I'm there. In the weeks after a return home, the mind struggles 395 to tell which is real, and which is the dream. The reality on return is 396 familiar, but a sudden shift from something that felt just as real. 397 </p> 398 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190214T232759.jpg"> 399 <img class="img-center" 400 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190214T232759.jpg"> 401 </a> 402 <p> 403 On the way to the airport, heartbroken but grateful. 404 </p> 405 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190215T090530.jpg"> 406 <img class="img-center" 407 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190215T090530.jpg"> 408 </a> 409 <a href="/static/media/1920/dwrz_20190215T054134.jpg"> 410 <img class="img-center" 411 src="/static/media/720/dwrz_20190215T054134.jpg"> 412 </a> 413 <p> 414 Recollection is the only way the immigrant can ever be at home — in 415 more than one place at the same time. 416 </p> 417 </div>