Memoirs & Memories (Part I)

I'm 36. I'm Canadian. My Chinese name is 大海。Without going too much into the "Boo-hoos" and "ha-Has" about my upbringing, I'll cut to the Chase as best I can.

Aside: I grew up reading History & Writing (Songs, Script & Poetry) as a young man, so I will try and stay true to that in this piece without too much eye candy or extraneous photos. I am a man of thought and words, not ego, razz-ma-taz or bravado. And I like to think I have found somewhat of a poet's solace in the written word as I've studied it through the years.

Insofar as writing about myself feels kid of weird, I am doing so here because this past month, our most gracious Forum Editor, Victor, posed the question to us writers, dreamers & readers alike why we originally came to China. I didn't reply because I thought the topic was too general to begin to even think about what China means to me, and why I've given, as of now, my entire life as a young adult to this country.

To begin...

Basically, by the time I was 16, I had become very interested in people, and history and books, and culture, and music & art as a Canadian kid with a penchant for comedy. I started university in Canada, but knew at a young age that I would not let the barriers of my birth determine my future in the world. After two years studying in Canada at a 19thc. Anglican University in London, Ontario, I was growing antsy to get out in the world. I eventually decided to take advantage of a study abroad/exchange program in the UK at York St. John University, in the great Olde city of York, England.

As I look back at this, the first major decision of my own as a young man, I can't help but think of some of my current friends (Chinese & Foreign) who ask me what the value of traveling is. I'm not saying being a homebody or living in your comfort zone is necessarily a bad philosophy in life, but it is a lazy one - especially if you actually care about what is happening in the world. "The Parlance of the Times.." Are you a serious human being, or do you just care about yourself. Or something...

Anyways, after my time of studying and traveling Europe, I went back to my hometown again, this time at 23. I tried to get into McGill University's prestigious Asian Studies program, but my Chinese at the time wasn't up to snuff.

So, I went back to China in August of 2002. 23 years old. I had already conquered Europe by myself and played paid shows for money on guitar and singing, meeting amazingly friendly people, and learned a lot about life.

And then came China. I first moved to China at the aforementioned age to Jiangsu, Wuxi to teach English at Southern Yangtze University. (In hindsight, a good Uni & start to my Oddysey.)

Why did I come here in the first place? Well, that's the big question, isn't it?

Aside from post-9/11 paranoia taking its roots in America and my deepening unease to live in a certain kind of cryptic culture, I guess it mostly seemed like a natural progression after my time in England & Europe. Perhaps my historical paradigm also started gravitating from Europe to Asia, Chinese Ideas, History, Philosophy & just anything that was exact opposite from the culture I was coming from. At the time China kind of seemed like a breathe of fresh air from the N.American media/hysteria machine..

So be it, it was, my gentle readers. I was going to let my past pass once again from my native land and prepare myself to conquer my next country as a newborn 21st c. Global Citizen. This time: China.

I began my time in China in Jiangsu, Wuxi (sorry I'm writing it the Chinese Way). It is truly a great city, and one that is built surrounding Tai Hu lake. Jiangsu province in general has the best Education system in China, and its proximity to Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou & Shanghai make it an exciting town to live in with lots of branch-out opportunities.

So, yeah, I taught there for a year, and thanks to some friendly expats, a whole new understanding of myself and window into the possibilities that is the future of China, I fell in love with China after a year.

Now that this is a New Year, I want to give all my friends in this Forum a blessed New Year of the Lamb/Sheep/Ram!?

I don't care, I'm just going to eat a lot of Yangrou Chuar.

Without being too verbose, I just wanted to say that this country has pretty much given me everything I have now.

And I can't say that of my own country. I studied History because History gives people perspective.

Some people get that, and some people don't.

I'm not a perfect man, and all I can try and do is be a good man and live up to my own potential. I have seen as much or more of this country than anybody I've met my age and usually fit in with Chinese academics or older Foreigners socially.

I've been to 80% of this country's geography, but still search for the pulse of man & men alike from the Qinghai/Tibetan Plateau, to West Lake, Inner Mongolia & the beautiful rolling landscapes of Yunnan, to my very own street corner in Beijing. I speak to the locals wherever I go in this country. My mother once remarked to her friends in Canada that, "you could drop Mark off anywhere in China by parachute and he would not only land safely, but get in with the locals easily."

But enough of me. Aside from traveling China a lot and speaking pretty good Chinese, I just like the ease and anonymity of living here. And it's a perspective thing. Many people say I'm older beyond my years. Yes, I grew up going to High School in the 90s but I listened to the Beach Boys, Hendrix & Zeppelin. I was always feeling like I was out of my time when I was younger. I needed some perspective and time to think as a young Canadian on the brink.

Enough reminiscing. Enough cloying sentimentality.

Alas, Dear reader... let me gently cut to Core:

Now, that I'm 36 and am specializing in my field, and am making a good living raising my family of soon to be 4 here, and after almost 12 years, I'm still pretty enamored and in love with this country.

Yes, I still have moments of frustrations (many), and head shakes, but I appreciate everything this country has given to me in return over the years. And that's the bottom line.

The power of positive thinking is true my friends! Perspective must come first, and then you will start the understanding of your own potential, with progress unshackling the mind-forged manacles of the past.

My 12-Years in China are a whole other kind of marriage to me. Sorry to my wife, but I think it's true. I've been married to China! For a long time now! Wow!...Whew. Ha. Yeah, and I'm still here, and she's been very good to me as a Canadian who's only loved her back as much as a Bai Qiu Wen & Da Shan sandwich.

My country of my birth has already forged a great Heritage with China - the country I chose to live in years and years ago. While some of the romance has gone, my heart has also grown fonder in my appreciation of this, The Middle Kingdom, and for me to continue the great tradition of Chinese-Canadian Friendship & Family.

P.S. To my Chinese readers - Don't trust any foreigner who has lived here more than 3 years and still can't speak Chinese ;)