Qingdao City- Governor's Mansion

Emmanuel T. Domingo, Advocacy Manager

The author graduated from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, with a degree in Political Science. His undergraduate thesis about poverty, the homeless, and squatting in the Philippines shows that such problems, which was present since the dawn of time, would require a change not only in laws and policies, but also the frame of mind of the Filipino, in order to solve them.

He has a degree in Law at UE Manila, and is now working at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry as Manager of the Advocacy Department. He spends most of his time writing speeches, novels, posting notes in his blogs, and managing and developing programs and projects for the business sector in the Philippines.

The author is also an avid computer geek who has started dismantling computers since he was young in the 1980s. He can install video cards and sound cards even if the computer is turned on. Forunately, he has never been electrocuted or physically hurt or damaged. Sadly, we cannot say the same for the computers he "fixed." His adventurous whims gave him advanced knowledge in the intricacies of computer world.

His expertise in computers made him adept in handling cellphones because of the similarity in desktop framework. He has silenty followed his hobby of pursuing technological breakthroughs by buying second hand cellphones in the outskirts of Quiapo and Caloocan where these gadgets abound.

While he may be fond of online computer games, the last he played them were during the earlier versions of Starcraft, Warcraft, and Diablo I, II, and III. He also likes to listen to Metallica, The Cranberries, Green Day, and several other songs, the singers of which he does not give a care about in the world.

Mr. Domingo was also a member of the call center industry for two years where he was able to master the art of calming and pacifying an irate subscriber.

Coffee and TV for my Sister

My sister has been searching for this nice video about a dancing milk carton. I found it in youtube entitle Coffee and TV by Blur. Enjoy watching it over and over again. Regards.

Some more Pictures- On the road to Jinan and Qufu

This was taken while I was inside our bus going to Jinan and Qufu. Chinese music was being played inside a bus, and sometimes the driver would show a video of music videos of Chinese songs. My Qingdao experience is definitely something I can tell my family and friends over and over again.

Tour of Qingdao Old Districts

The Origin of Mr. Dumpling

I think this is the first time that I was called Mr. Dumpling. I said to my friends, I felt like a Dumpling when I wore this long sleeve shirt because it was too small for me and so I felt squeezed like a dumpling. hehehe.

Well, another memory I had was when we were set to go to Qingdao's Old Districts. When I looked at the schedule of activities, I thought that we were going to go to some old streets with old houses. Instead, we were brought to the Qingdao Museum where there were pictures and replicas of old districts. It was memorable, not because of the things I saw there, but because of the fun I had with my friends. Here are some of my pictures in the museum wearing my dumpling suit.

Kingking Candle Factory

One of my favorite memory in Qingdao was when we went to Kingking Candle Factory. It was the first time that I saw so many different candles with different colors all in one place. If I remember it right, each candle design is registered with the IP Office. Here are some of my pictures with my friends from the Seminar.

Jinan Temples, Shandong Province

It was a long time since I wrote, well, because we traveled a very long road before we arrived at Jinan, Shandong Province. The travel was about 3 to 4 hours so we sat in the bus enjoying the beautiful scenery of China.

The Journey

I was like traveling in a cloud of dreams, the bus was running fast, the sky was blue with occasional cirrus clouds passing us by, the green fields with small houses in the middle was soothing to look at (reminded me of my home province in Nueva Ecija, where my Uncle has this small hut in the middle of his rice field and we had to pass through a narrow road to get there).

Many of my friends from the Seminar were sleeping, but me? I cannot sleep, I could not, I said to myself that I cannot let this moment pass me by. It might take a long time again before I get to experience these few splendid hours of my life. So I made every second count, I was constantly looking outside the window, feeding my eyes with all the beautiful pictures to put in the memory bank of my mind.

I was also singing with my friend, Tassanai, from Thailand. She brought her mp3 player and we were listening to Thai music, and American songs too. She introduced me to the pingpong song which was sung by Julio Iglesias, Jr. It was a nice and lively song, perfect for the time. We shared earphones, but later she was also sleeping like the rest from our bus. So I took off my earphones and began listening to the music in my surroundings.

Tassanai and Me during one of our bus tours around Qingdao City

I could hear the motor from the bus, some of my friends talking, the sound of the wheels running through the road, and sometimes the bus TV would turn on and off. It was peaceful, with some occasional music playing in the background. After passing some houses, I would see some disciplined trees and think how they got so straight. Then I would think of my friends from the other bus and how they must be also sleeping. I tried to memorize everything I saw so that I could keep it with me as long as I could. There are some things that not even the most sophisticated and state-of-the-art cameras cannot take. The eyes are still the best camera, and they could hold pictures longer, even for a lifetime.


Sometime, I was hoping that the bus ride would be longer, and sometime I hoped that we would arrive soon because my body was becoming stiff from sitting for 4 hours. Those four hours of travel to Jinan happened more than three months ago. So many things have happened by then and I am glad I did not sleep during the journey.

My camera took about 1,000 photos during my entire stay in China, but the pictures taken by my mind totaled to more than 10 million images. I can sleep anytime I want and because I did not sleep during that four hours, I have many things to dream of and many places and wonderful, timeless moments to go back to. I hope to see you there.

Cheers to a wonderful and fulfilled life.

On the Road to Jinan and Qufu

These are some of the pictures I took inside Bus Number 2 on our way to Jinan and Qufu. The whole experience was unforgettable. Everything was beautiful, the blue sky, green trees, the wonderful weather, the countryside environment... everything just made me feel at peace with nature.

I sat in the bus with my friend Tassanai and I could not remember if she was sleeping or awake but we listened to Thai music and lots of jokes during the trip. I was also sending sms to some of my friends from the Bus Number 1.

Everything is beautiful here and all I could say was a big and mouthful "WoW!" I did not sleep through out the trip because I did not want to miss the scenery. I was also watching for the disciplined trees which were carefully lined up in a straight line one after the other.

The memory of this trip will definitely last a lifetime...

Qingdao Beach

This is one of my favorite pictures taken in Qingdao Bay. That's me in the middle, Tassanai's in the left, and Maya is in the right. I can still remember what I felt when this picture was taken. Amidst all the turmoil and chaos happening in the world, there is still a place where everything, and everyone is beautiful.

This is our first time in the beach. I remember, I think it was on the 3rd or 4th night, Tassanai and I went out at night to go find the beach. We walked and walked non-stop until we came upon a highway. We realized that we were far from the beach so we went back. The next day, we asked some help from our friends and realized that if we just walked farther enough the night before, we would have reached the beach! Anyway, the excitement of trying to find it was what made the experience worthwhile.

I feel very lucky in this picture, with the beautiful view of Qingdao, and with gorgeous ladies at my side, what more can you ask for?

Moments in the Island

These pictures were taken during our tour in the Small Qingdao (Green) Island. I can't remember the Chinese name of that small island but it is just 5 minutes away from Qingdao mainland. We took a ferry ride and were treated to 5 minutes of genuine artistic, picturesque view of .... the people's backs. You see, there were so many people in the ferry that they blocked our good view of the sea and sky, so we just managed to look at their backs and their colorful t-shirts. Hmmph! Hehehe.

Anyway, when we arrived in the island, we were dumbfounded. Everything was so nice, the majestic view of nature and architecture there was really a sight to see. I have a picture here of Mutty from Malawi and we were checking out my camera and the pictures I have taken. Mutty is inspecting the camera and I said he could buy it. (I asked Mutty to buy the camera for 100 RMB but he refused, hehehe). Mutty told me that he worked in a Pasetto in Malawi (hey, Mutty can you email me if the spelling of Pasetto is wrong okay? or you can comment here).

The other picture I had here was with Maya from Indonesia, here she is enjoying her ice cream. Maya is a very good conversationalist. We often exchange views about life, religion, and intellectual property. She is also a good listener. But a conversation would be nicer if you had ice cream especially in a hot and sunny day. I finished my ice cream earlier because it was hot in the island and we had to walk long roads. But it was fun and the spectacular scenery quenched our thirst and fatigue. This island is memorable because I had meaningful conversations here with friends from the seminar.

I hope these memories will help us keep our friendship stronger and stronger. To all the IP seminar participants, fei chang gan xie (thank you very much).

Bravery

Terozita (with her I-dont-care-if-the-plane-will-leave" look), with Amelia and Tassanai during picture taking

It has been about ten days already since we last set foot on the wonderful city Qingdao. Going back to the office for me was very hard because my shoes felt heavy, it was like they were a hundred pounds each, not only because I had to bring all the gifts for my officemates, but also because the experience and memory of Qingdao was still very clear in my mind.

One of the experiences I could not forget was when we left Qingdao and went to Hong Kong for my connecting flight to Manila. I was fortunate to have with me as my companion, Ms. Terozita Uitime from Samoa. Just like what I wrote in my previous blog, we did not sit beside each other in the flight from Qingdao to Hong Kong because of problems with flight information.

QINGDAO AIRPORT
While still in Qingdao Airport, Terozita, Me, Mr. Edward, and Mr. Paul, had to wait in line for the longest time because the airport staff could not seem to find Terozita's flight details. Terozita said that the same thing happened to her in her flight to Qingdao. We were the only ones left in the line and they were already announcing that boarding for our flight to Hong Kong was beginning. Terozita was very calm and she did not panic. You know, that's what I like about Terozita, her "I-don't-care-if-the-plane-will-leave" attitude. It made me feel more relaxed knowing that she was there.

We were discussing about the luggage and I said that I will get my luggage, not in Hong Kong, but in Manila, Philippines, my final destination. Terozita said that she will get luggage in Hong Kong because she will have to wait for seven hours there before her flight to New Zealand. After learning that, I felt a kind of twitch in my stomach, knowing that something might not turn out good.

We finally got our plane tickets! "Yahoo!", I told myself and we started running towards the entrance to the departure area. But, of course, we cannot leave without saying our goodbyes to our dearest friends Mr. Edward and Mr. Paul! So we embraced each other really hard and I really did not want to let go of Mr. Edward and Mr. Paul because they have been more than friends, they were like our big brothers in Qingdao.

We finally said our goodbyes, and made our way to the entrance and through the X-ray machines and the inspection area. But you know, Terozita went back to the entrance area even though Mr. Paul and Mr. Edward was waving her to go back because she cannot go through the X-ray again, the airport officials might get mad! But she went back anyway just to say good bye and for Mr. Edward to tell Mr. Wan good bye also. We were still waving and waving even if we were already far from each other until we could not see each other anymore.

HONG KONG AIRPORT
When we arrived in Hong Kong, I accompanied Terozita to the exit area for her to get her luggage outside. I learned that she had to go outside to get her luggage. Since there was a long queue, I went with Terozita in the line. We saw some people answering this small sheet of paper and we learned it was for immigration purposes so I volunteered to go get the forms. There were so many people but I managed to squeeze out to get the forms. When I went back to the line, I noticed that the forms which I got already had names and signatures on it! Oh no! So Terozita took it upon herself to get the new forms (without names) and I stayed in the line. But then, an airport official announced something about there being another line where the passengers can go. Everyone seem to have went to the other line because the next thing I knew, there were only a few people left.

Even during that time I was still confused on whether I needed to go out in the luggage area and if the airport officials would allow me to go out. I could not leave Terozita because we did not have the time to even exchange calling cards. I felt that I needed to ask around if I could still go out. So I told Terozita that I needed to check with my airline Cathay Pacific if I could go out in the meantime. When I found the booth of Cathay Pacific, they said I could no longer go out and I would need to stay inside the airport.

I got my plane ticket and immediately went back to Terozita to tell her the bad news. But what I saw struck me like lightning. Terozita was already outside and she was debating with the guard that she needed to go back just for a few minutes. The guard was insisting she cannot go back anymore because of airport regulations and for security purposes.

She saw me and made a body language like asking if I can still go out. I sadly told her that I could not go out because I already had a plane ticket.

Terozita was still debating with the guard that she would just go in a few minutes. And without any warning, she went back to the exit area, even if the guard was already shouting, "Hey! Hey! Hey!" She just went back in to say goodbye to me and gave me the warmest hug in my life. How can anyone forget that experience!

When the guard saw us, he immediately stopped yelling and started smiling and scratching his head. Then Terozita went back outside. I looked at her as she walked farther and farther, until I lost her in the thick, bustling crowd, and then... I felt alone, by myself.

It was like the feeling of a child in his first day in kindergarten school, without parents, relatives, or friends.

I promised Terozita that I would email her as soon as I can and that I would write something about our sudden separation in Hong Kong.

It has been ten days already but everything is still so vivid. I will never forget that day when I learned what real friendship is, and how lucky I am to have such a brave friend. Thanks Terozita, I will definitely see you soon in the near future.

Tea Farm

Are you still wondering how all those delicious Chinese tea are being picked and processed? Well, these two gorgeous ladies are responsible for it. Maya (Indonesia) and Sandra (East Timor) are happily picking carefully the best tea bud that will make your tea experience as pleasurable as possible. They have to carefully pick the youngest and newly opened bud because the older and bigger leaves will be rejected. It is indeed a difficult task but from what I see from this picture, I think tea picking is indeed fun and exciting.

So, everyone, when we drink our next cup of tea, remember to drink it with care and gusto, because those tea leaves were picked by the softest and most delicate hands of Maya and Sandra. (I tried to pick tea leaves too but most of them were rejected because the leaves were already big and old. Well, let's leave it to the ladies then.)

Cheers to a wonderful and exciting tea cup experience!

Halloween Costume Party

My daughter, Kate Francine, in Chinese costume

Barely a day after arriving from Qingdao, China, I attended my daughter's costume party for halloween. I thought that the event was quite early since halloween would not happen until next week. Nevertheless, I was happy because, by coincidence, I bought Kate a Chinese costume during one of my trips in an island in Qingdao. Kate was hesitant to wear it at first, she said "Dada that is not a costume, that is a pajama for sleeping." I think she got her inquisitive mind from her father.

I assured her that, while it may be used as pajamas, it may also be used as costume for her school party. She wore it finally and she looked good even if I say so myself. Good genes I think. I took her to school and did not see her until after the costume party was over. One of her classmates came out and said that Kate was in the clinic being given vaccination shots. So I went to the clinic knowing very well that Kate does not like injections of whatever kind be it for vaccines or whatever. I was speeding to the clinic when I saw her come out with tears in her eyes saying "Dada nagpa-injection ako, " (Dada I was given an injection). She was not happy, she had band-aid in her right shoulder. I took her home to rest and gave her some medicines to fight the pain.

It has been barely three days since we left that beautiful, memorable city of Qingdao. Many have gone back in their old lives, re-integrating into the society they left about a month ago, when they first came to China with high hopes and ideals of improving the IP system of the world.

Though the seminar is over, the friendship will continue to flourish especially for those who have found true friends and shared wonderful moments with them in Qingdao. I will continue writing on this blog as long as I can, as long as my powers can allow me to, because I know somewhere, somehow, I will see my friends once again, maybe not in Qingdao but in their own countries or in the Philippines.

Let's keep the faith and friendship burning! Maya many thanks for the comments.

Friendship Forever

Novilia Mayasari created this beautiful video, which was presented during the closing ceremony and farewell party of the Seminar on Intellectual Property System and Protection.

We hope that through efforts like this, we can continue strengthening the friendship we shared in Qingdao so that, hopefully one day, when the winds of fate and destiny blows once again in our lives, we can see each other and embrace each other and re-live the moments, wonderful cherished moments, we had in the beautiful city of Qingdao.

Cheers to a happy and exciting life!

Qingdao- My First Day by Emmanuel Domingo

The doctor was measuring my blood pressure when he asked me the second time, “Why do you need this physical examination again?”

I hesitated for a while because of the pressure he’s exerting on my right arm then I said, “I need it to go to China”.

For the first time I saw his eyes twinkle when he heard “China”, and, with a faint smile, he said, “Where in China?”

“In Qingdao,” I said. I pronounced it as “Kingdaw” then.

“Where is that?”

I thought that, for a doctor, he asked too many questions and should have made money being a lawyer instead.

“I think it’s the place where they make Tsingtao Beer,” I said, trying hard to sound like traveling half-way across the globe was a common thing for me.

Barely able to hide his smile, he said “I got lost in China when I went there five years ago because some roads have Chinese names and I could not remember how to return to my hotel.” He said that he asked everyone in the street where his hotel was but he could not understand them. He was lucky to have talked with some store owners who knew English who helped him out.

Then he talked about how beautiful and spacious China was and how it recently opened up its economy to the world. Then there, in his swivel chair, he began talking like he was in a trance, more like talking to himself, while re-living some pleasant forgotten past unearthed in his treasure chest of memories. It was obvious he wanted to go back.

For a moment, I thought he forgot I was even there. When I stood up after his long monologue, he suddenly woke up from his euphoria and said, “You need to exercise, you’re gaining weight. Maybe a nice long walk in China will do you good.”

I thought that, by allowing my good doctor to remember some of his happy memories, he would give away this one medical consultation for free. But no. I still paid P150 pesos. Great.

I got all my requirements ready and went to the Chinese embassy in Makati City to process my visa. Getting the visa was a breeze. Only a few standard questions were asked and the nice lady on the other side of Window 3 said I could get it tomorrow. They gave me 60 days.

I was to leave the Philippines on September 21, 2008 and arrive in Qingdao on the same day. The e-ticket sent to me said I would take a connecting flight in Hong Kong, then take a two-hour flight to Qingdao. The whole airplane trip did not take more than six hours.

My foot felt very heavy when I left home on that cold September morning. It would be the longest time that I would be away from my wife, Bhel, and 5-year old daughter, Kate. But I bit my lip and swallowed hard. “This is for them, this is for them,” I said to myself, trying hard to control the tears building up on my eyes.

We already cried the night before, it was an orchestra of sobs and sniffs like your regular Korean television soap opera. But this was not television, this was very real. I only hear about stories like this on tv, about overseas Filipino workers going away to work abroad and not coming back until after two years. But I pulled myself back to reality. “This is only 30 days, what is 30 days anyway?” I said.

My Dad helped me take my baggage to the tricycle which will take me to nearest street corner where I could get a taxi.

There, I took a cab to the airport and was lucky enough not to have been charged extra fare. My baggage was heavy but I know it did not reach 20 kilos. On the plane, I met some Filipinos going abroad to work as sea men, and another wanted to start a business in Bahrain. Talking with them made my flight less cumbersome and it made me forget my own emotional baggage.

I arrived in Hong Kong earlier than usual and I should say that the international airport was spectacular. It looked somewhat like the international airport in Bangkok, Thailand. After waiting for three hours, I took the flight to Qingdao. Looking around the plane, I noticed that almost all the passengers were Chinese. There were some Europeans, Americans, and Africans. I figured I could say absolutely anything using my native language and no one would even care. But I controlled my naughty imagination and kept quiet during the duration of trip.

I arrived in Qingdao after less than two hours. I tried to control my awe and amazement. The airport was huge. I said to myself, “How could a city, which survive on beer-making alone, build an airport this big?” Of course, I did not know much about Qingdao then.

Thereafter, I searched for my baggage in the seemingly endless row of bags and plastic suitcases. It was very easy to find. There in the handle of my suitcase was a purple key chain given by my daughter. She said the night before I left, “Dada, ilagay mo itong key chain sa bag mo palagi ha” (Dada, always put this key chain in your bag, okay?).

I searched for the exit and searched for anyone connected to the Seminar who would take me to the hotel. There in his jeans and light blue gray polo shirt was a man, about three inches taller than I was, holding a card board saying “Seminar on IP System and Protection”. I wasted no moment trying to get his attention.

His back was turned to me when I approached, so apparently, I thought, maybe, he did not know how I looked, or that he was not aware I was a participant.

I gently tapped his back, just like a lost boy looking for his long lost father, and slowly said “Hi, I’m Emmanuel Domingo, from the Philippines.”

With a ready and jolly smile, he introduced himself, “Oh, Mr. Domingo, welcome, I am Mr. You Liming.”

I don’t know what came over me but, from out of nowhere, I immediately felt assured that everything was going to be okay. Mr. You was very kind and courteous and even offered to help me carry my baggage.

I went outside the airport with Mr. You and the atmosphere that greeted me told me that this was going to be an experience I will never forget.

After feeling Qingdao’s chilly, cold afternoon air, the gentle breeze of the wind that whispered in my ear, and the wide, blue, open sky that seemed to stretch till eternity, I quietly looked around the airport and the continuous arrival of bustling people and said to myself, “This is it, finally, I have arrived”.

Seaside Tour By Boat

The author with Silvia from Uruguay, during sea-side tour in Qingdao

We just had a sea-tour around Qingdao by boat (of course it's a boat,what do you expect, hehe). Riding in a boat brings back a lot of childhood memories I had with my father. When I was in elementary school, my Dad used to bring to this place they call "Break water" near the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). There we would watch fishermen trying to catch as many fish as possible using their fishing poles. Also, we rode on a ferry boat, a small boat that could carry only about fifty people. We would go around Manila Bay for about 45 minutes then go back to the port. It was only, I believe, about 18 pesos per person.

Life was much simpler then. I also remember my parents telling me that they used to take us in the Manila Bay to bathe during early Sunday mornings (though I no longer remember most of it). The thoughts in my head was probably placed there because my mother talked about it often, that many people bathe there in the Manila Bay in the morning. The bay was very clean then, unlike now which is full of grease and oil from passing tankers and boats, including trash which the sewers throw at the sea.

I have always been a sentimental person. But the complexities of life has taken away my precious moments of being alone and just listening to the sound of the wind, the soft rustle of leaves in the trees during mornings, and the simple conversations during long walks in the beach. I have tried to relieve those moments in my mind and it I tell you that it is the most exciting part of my day.

Qingdao has made me hear once again that faint whisper inside me saying that life and time is so important that we should take every opportunity to make our world much better, ourselves more sensitive to the needs of our fellow man and make our relationship with God more meaningful.

My memories here will definitely last forever, and will be with me as I brave the storm once again that this life of ours has to offer.

Xie Xie Qingdao!

Conversations of the Heart

I have always believed that time is so precious that we should make every moment count and do everything like there was no tomorrow. Every day given to us by God is a gift, another chance for us to be a better person, to serve our fellow man as a fellow traveler in this journey through life.

The past weeks I spent here in Qingdao is a testament to that belief. I can say that I have done almost everything that I wanted to do here and things that I did not think I could do. When I think that every day given to me is my last, it takes away all my fears, all my ifs and buts, and I charge outside my door with renewed excitement and courage to face anything life throws at me.

I always imagine myself already in the plane that will take me home to Manila. Doing this makes me ask questions like "What would be my regrets? What are the things that I should have done? What are the places that I should have visited? What should I have said to that special friend who made my stay so memorable? Should I have said this or that? Why did I not take the initiative to say what was really on my mind? Why didn't I take a picture with hmmm, secret! Why didn't I take a swim in Qingdao's longest beach?" (Hey maybe I will swim tomorrow!)

If you think that you have lived life to the fullest, then you should have no regrets. Remember that it is better to have failed in trying what you really wanted to do, than to have succeeded in doing nothing at all and thinking what could have happened.

So keep in mind that today is the only day we've got for tomorrow may never come. If you have something to say or something to do, then remember the slogan of Nike and "Just do it!"

Cheers to a meaningful life and exciting life!

Emmanuel Doming- The Author

Hi, this is me, Emmanuel Domingo, and I am writing to tell you about my experiences here in Qingdao, China, including some of the wonderful people I met along the way. We were invited as participants to the Seminar on Intellectual Property System and Protection. I am Manager of the Advocacy Dept of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. But enough of me, there are more interesting people I would like to tell you about.

No, this is not a scene from the Korean tv soap opera "Endless Love" but I hope it was! One of my favorite sites to see are the trees in the right. My friend Maya (I'll tell you about her later), calls them the "Disciplined Trees" because look, they are all in line, and in a very very straight line!

Everything in China is big and wide and spacious and... you know what I mean. Anyone who goes here in Qingdao will readily notice that what differentiates Qingdao from the others is its weather which is really cold. I heard that the average annual temperature here is about 12-14 degrees celsius.

This blog intends to describe in detail what the author has experienced here in Qingdao and how his stay here has helped him to understand more about China, its people, its history, and its culture.

Memories in Qingdao 3

Flying to China alone was a big challenge since this was only my second experience going overseas. I was told by the IP office in the Philippines that there were two representatives that will represent the Philippines in the Seminar on Intellectual Property System and Protection in Qingdao China. However, when I arrived at Qingdao Airport, I was told by Mr. You Liming that, "There is no one else from your country." Aghast! What! One month in China, alone!
My mind was blowing like a dynamo after learning the latest news but eventually I placed my fate to the plans of God.

Luckily enough, you know, making friends in the seminar was very very easy after all. Everyone was so friendly and amiable and before I knew it, I had more acquaintances than the population of China (okay I'm exaggerating!) We were 66 participants in all from 44 countries. Mr. Aliyu, Class representative, told it correctly that we are like a small United Nations.

Among the participants in the seminar, the only person who approached me on the first day was this lady whose picture appears below. After the opening ceremonies, she walked over and told me that she knew someone from the Philippines with the same first name. I learned that she is Tassanai Lerksantivong working at the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand.

This is her house (joke!).

Tassanai said that we can call her Ped, because she is aware of how long her name is. Tassanai is the biggest fan of dogs in the world! You can look at her camera and I bet you she has more pictures of dogs here in China than people. She is very nice but one thing that she really does not like is arranging her baggage, hehe. Too bad, we had to arrange our baggage almost everyday because of hotel-hopping. Yes, you heard it right people. We were hotel-hopping from one city to another. We all volunteered to help Tassanai in putting all the treasures of gifts she bought in Jimo (right spelling?) inside her baggage.

What made this trip especially great for Tassanai is that her father has relatives here in China. Quite often, she has been mistaken as Chinese which she respectfully explained was common. Tassanai has the kindest heart I know, her concern for the plight of the people here in China especially those who cannot afford the cost of the standard of living is sincere and unparalleled. She is a wonderful lady indeed!

Benedictus Setiawan

The new Emperor of China! We Did NOT borrow the costume for 5 yuan, no we didn't! (why am I so defensive?) This is the genuine cloth of the Emperors who ruled Ancient China which was discovered by archaeologists and historians thousands of years ago in the City of.... well, okay okay enough, we borrowed the costume for 5 yuan, there, satisfied?


Hehe, Benny is my good friend from Indonesia and he works at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. (This is not their office uniform). He is a very good ping pong and billiards player. He is very serious while playing ping pong so do not talk to him while he is smashing the ball or he will smash your face (just kidding!) Benny is also the biggest shopper among all the participants. He is more fond of shopping than most of the girls, (hmmmm, I wonder why). Until now, we are still guessing how heavy his baggage is (it is full of gifts from shopping of course), we think it is more than 30 pounds, some of us think it is already 40 pounds (good luck in the airport and the excess baggage Benny, hahaha).

Benny is also a world class photographer, he got most of our pictures while in Qingdao. Here he is below in action!