Loving Hunan Brought Me Brothers

Two different races, two different languages, two very different cultures, yet we are brothers. Yes, the true love for each other and the brotherhood in our hearts doesn’t make us feel, even for one second that we are from two different places, geographically dispersed, culturally different. This is a true story of how I came to Zhuzhou city, Hunan province and why I can’t leave Hunan behind. Let me take you to this mesmerizing story of two different races but hearts like one, beating together with sheer love.

I opened my eyes in a small town of Pakistan, in an idyllic family. I was the only son. I was the diamond of the family. I was lucky to have a loving sister and adoring family. However I always have missed the love and company of a brother by my side creating a never ending emptiness and search for a brother in my life.

Life went on. I graduate, get job experience. An opportune opportunity brought me a job offer from China. I flew to China to join my teaching position at Lanzhou Jiao tong University, Lanzhou city, Gansu province in 2001. With my dedication and commitment I soon won best foreign teacher award, best foreign singer award and the highest Achievement award “Dunghuang Award” from Gansu Government. I was honored and surrounded with sincere and friendly Chinese people wanting me to stay there, but there search of a true brother by my side, was simply pushing me to move on.

In 2005 I meet a simple and very interesting man. Jack, a resident of Zhuzhou city, Hunan Province. He attended one of my cultural lectures in Language village, Zhuhai City. After the lecture he approached me and extended a warm friendly hand. He invited me to deliver the same lecture in Zhuzhou, Hunan. I say, “I never heard of that place, is that a good city?” Silly me. I never knew I was going to a place that will put chains of love in my feet. Jack patiently described the major attractions of Hunan and invited me to not only deliver lecture but also taste Hunan specialties. I thought about refusing but there was something in his way of talking, his sincere smile, helping feeling, and above all his utmost trust in me. I therefore didn’t think much, and accepted his invitation. Jack sent me an expensive laptop to modify my lecture as per the needs of his audience.
Jack left me a confirmed air ticket from Zhuhai to Changsha and flew to Hunan province the next morning.

God, that blind trust, that pure sincerity and feeling of care, I have never felt anywhere in this world. He knew nothing about me except that I was just a foreign teacher somewhere in Gansu province. He simply trusted me just like he’d trust his little brother. Jack, a man from Zhuzhou city, Hunan province left a deep impression of trust, friendship and love of Chinese people to me.

Time flew, and there I was, shaking hands with Jack at Changsha airport. We drove to Times Group in Zhuzhou, and we had this wonderful seven hours cultural seminar. Two days with Jack brought me a true feeling of love, trust and brotherhood. Two wonderful days filled with joy passed just like two minutes and I had to return back. At the airport, I said to Jack, “Well Brother, keep in touch”. He smiled and said that he’d like to have this honor in real, to be my real big brother. And that moment Hunan gave me a brother. We shook hands. He said “Remember you have a brother now, call me when you need me and I will be there”. I turned and walked to check in counter with tears in my eyes. I did not want to leave Hunan. As I knew my search for a brother was over. There he was, standing and waving at me with a supportive and caring smile, just like a real big brother, telling me to take care and be back soon.

It was my first true feeling of having a real brother by my side. It simply is a captivating relationship that beautiful Hunan sends my way. I leave and fly back to my job. Finally my search for a brother ends. I sit comfortably in my seat looking out of plane window. I knew I’ve found a brother, a brother in a Chinese province Hunan, in a small city Zhuzhou.

Finally time came to choose a new workplace. I knew where I was heading. I refuse all the offers and call my brother. I had no job offers in Hunan. When Jack hears about my decision, he says, “Pack your stuff and a job will be waiting for you” He introduces me to Hunan University of Technology. University sends me a contract right away. It’s not my resume or award; it’s my loving brother and Loving Hunan making way for me to settle in.

The day came. I came out of Changsha airport once again. I see my brother (Jack) standing there with all the warmth of brotherly love and care. All my worries were gone. We headed to my workplace in Zhuzhou in a big luxury car. I knew, comparatively this university and city is nothing to those cities and universities in China who offered me a job, but I was happy and peaceful, because I had my brother by my side, telling me how wonderful life is going to be.

I started working in Hunan University of technology with same dedication and commitment. Life became a routine. Meeting my brother (Jack) now and then is still the most fascinating thing however.

I wagered I’d leave in a year or two. I was wrong. Working in Hunan province, didn’t only brought me a brother but also brought me prosperity. I bought my own car and became the first ever foreigner to register a car on my own name. It was a small Chevy Spark and I loved it. It was my brother Jack who treated me a big dinner just to celebrate this little happy event. It was him who drove me for hours with another sincere friend (Joanna another sincere friend Hunan Province sent my way) around different Car Showrooms in Zhuzhou and Changsha city. He was always by my side, talking to people, giving me suggestions, and pushing me with a smile to sit in all the different cars.

Jack wanted me to find a car that best fits me. He was concerned about my safety. He wanted me to buy a car that I can drive easily and won’t get any accidents. Finally Joanna (who left a deep image of a loving sister in China to me) helped me to close the deal in the best possible way. Imagine this brotherly love and care, from people who belong to different race, different culture. It’s simply priceless.

It wasn’t only buying a car; there were many things that I learned in my life with Jack, all with his extreme care, love and support. I grew mature with his brotherly guidance too. He always kept in touch despite of his busy schedule and managed to find time to get together. We share the same taste. Food, cars, music, language learning, you name it. Overall we share the most beautiful feeling, the love of brothers.

Day by day I fall in love with Hunan. This is not it. I haven’t even started about my beloved province Hunan. As life went on, more and more loving and caring people gather around me who love me like I’m one of them, care about me like I’m the most important person in their lives. Overall I feel true love from people around me, urging me to stay longer, forever in Hunan. I can’t break the chains of love of Loving Hunan, can I?

Not only brother and friends, Hunan also brought me my soul mate. I am so much in love with her, as much as I’m with Hunan? Hunan knew I was lonely, so my beloved Province sent a charming and lovely girl to my way. A Hunan girl (Changde city resident) who took my heart away in first meeting. An enchanting meeting after which it did not take us long to be together. Yes, that is another Chain of Love from Hunan Province that I can’t break, even if I tried. Now I’m bound by chains of love. Brother, earnest friends and a loving life partner. I can’t wait to be the son in law of Hunan and dissolve in this beautiful place.

Story doesn’t finish here. Time flew as usual. Loving Hunan did not forget my sleepless nights of planning lessons for my students, my dedication to promote Language learning, and sent me a big honor in return. The Zhuzhou Friendship award. It is not just an award; it’s the soft voice of Hunan province, delightfully whispering in my ears, asking me,

“Where would you go now, do you feel how much I love you?”

With Hunan’s gentle loving whisper I closed my eyes. I did not need to see and think anymore, because loving Hunan already made a decision for me. I opened my eyes, smile, and hold my award high, whispering back gently,

“I love you Hunan, I love you just way I love my mother land, today boundaries and differences are gone. Hunan becomes my home, just like my home Pakistan”

Time stretched its wings. I started a flying RC Airplanes and met more likewise people, extending my circle of earnest friends. This unconditional friendship and brotherhood among us, the RC Pilots of Zhuzhou city is simply indescribable. Regardless of social status, wealth and race, we are one family, you can’t tell us apart. Together, we have appeared in numerous newspapers and TV programs of our beloved city Zhuzhou, proving we are one, no matter what.

My colleagues at Hunan University of Technology regardless of their positions brought me the pleasure of working with a preeminent team. I’m grateful to Director of Foreign Affairs, Dean of English Department, and other higher officials at HUT for their sincere support and precious guidance. All the credit goes to my loving Hunan for bringing me nothing but the simplest and the finest to my life.

Yes Hunan brought me loving Brothers, sincere friends, loving life partner, happiness and prosperity. What else can one dream of? I now drive a big MPV. Thanks to my sister Joanna’s help and efforts again who helped me for hours to get me my dream car. I work with greater dedication to tell Hunan Province that I’m returning the favor. I play my part with devotion, utmost sincerity in developing the language awareness and educating Chinese nation in China. I believe this is the only way I can return something back to Hunan, back to China.

I’m still working with HUT, living in my simple, old 4 room apartment. I simply love my life. I no more feel like I’m in a foreign country, I no more feel that I live with Chinese people. I simply feel that I live with a family. A family comprised of sincere, loving and caring people. My identity has dissolved, I’m no more a Pakistani, No more a Chinese. I’m a man simply living with my family; I am a man playing my part to promote the ever lasting friendship of two brother countries, China and Pakistan. I’m the man who simply loves China, loves Hunan, and loves Zhuzhou, just the way China loves me, Hunan loves me, and this little city loves me. There is only love that left in my heart, nothing else. Love that will last forever.

Thoughts from 2005 - Can I fly this plane?

Hello everyone, I thought I would write to tell ya'll how am I passing these August 2007
vacations here in Zhuzhou Hunan China.

Well first I am not so careless, so I am working part time to make
some money for the month of August. Cuz during August foreign
teachers are not paid :(

Second, yeah, I have finally moved on to bigger Nitro Engine
powerful planes. you can check photos in the new album that I have
uploaded.

Let me tell you how did I move? Ehehehehe

For my first Nitro plane, My friend Mr. Yang, who is an expert
Engine RC Airplane pilot in Zhuzhou, Helped me out and built the
plane together with me. You can see the big Yellow Trainer in
pictures. During that time he trained me on how to prepare planes
and engines.

He also helped me by giving useful suggestion before my first Nitro
Engine RC plane flight and monitored my first flight, take off, and
landing after which he was satisfied by my performance and he told
me that I can fly these planes without troubles now.

Well then, after three or four weeks of flying, I finally worked on
another Beautiful and expensive plane Edge 540 Red Bull. I spent
about 2 weeks working on it at home. Finally, today we all ran to
field.

My car was filled with plane, and other accessories. We reached
there, and saw that Xiaofeng (my friend, best helicopter flyer) and
other Xiao (A learner flyer, crashes what ever he flies LOL) were
already there waiting for us.

I brought the plane back and received admiration from my friends. We
then sat down to start the Powerful ASP Engine for the very first
time. I was so excited. I ignited the engine, and put my finger on
prop to hand start. The Engine started smoothly without any
troubles. We were happy, I was even more excited. Engine stops
(natural) I then put my fingers on prop to start the engine and
notice the blood on prop :) Surprise? whose blood was that? Well I
was so excited that I did not notice that the propeller is new and
sharp as a knife. My mother ran and brought me bandage. I then used
Electric Engine starter and started the Engine.

We left the plane for Engine Break in period. I was so patient
though I wanted to fly it badly. But I was patient. I waited.
Prepared other parts of the plane, flew my little helicopter, played
my little Nitro Engine Truck. and finally we all moved to our old
place where we fly planes daily.

there I started putting the parts together and setting up the Plane.
I then configured every last thing that was necessary. Finally since
2:30 Pm it was 6 P.m. That plane got ready to fly.

I brought Edge 540 Red Bull to fly strip. Plane moved smoothly
towards the end of the flying field to take off against the wind.
Finally I pushed the throttle and plane rose up in the sky
beautifully with a very smooth and well tuned Engine sound.

I circled the plane around, doing regular and basic aerobatics to
check if every surface is working properly and what this plane is
capable off.

I flew it for few minutes and then Edge 540 Beautifully aligned
itself to runway and gave us a smooth landing. I turned and saw my
friends who clapped for me and admired my skills.

It was time to take pictures. so we took pictures and then brought
the plane back for disassembling to carry it in my small car.

Finally 6:55pm we headed back, stopped and bought ourselves a large
hot and spicy Pizza from Pizza hut. came back, swallowed the pizza
and started writing this message.

Well now the story of the day is over. It's just one day of my
holiday. Most of the days are filled with excitment, thrill,
adventure, romance and challenge. :)

Alright folks, Thats All Ali Wrote.

Drop me a line or write back how are you passing your vacations.

She left me

She left me nothing but memories of her soft and extreme love.

At the airport, she hugged me and kissed me twice, she told me to be strong, she said “don’t cry, I will be back”. She then silently picked her bags up and walked away. I was happy to see that she was walking strong, so I filled my heart with hopes that she will come back soon.

I stood there once again, looking at her all the time, until she walked away from my eyesight. I knew, and I felt that she is wiping her tears off, right behind the corner. I knew she was looking at me too, just wanted me to go home without worries. So I turned slowly and walked back. But just like her, I stood behind a corner too where she couldn’t see me. I knew that now she will walk to the gate to board the plane.

I then sat on a chair, waited. Waited for nothing, my eyes were empty and my mind was thinking nothing. My thoughts jammed, my heart just like stopped too. Seems I was all alone in the world. World to me was soundless, colorless and empty.

I get up, and walk in the rain. I walk with empty heart and find my car. I open the door, put myself in driving seat. I knew it was time to get back home, (Home? Well just a place for me to stay and continue my life with all the memories). I put the keys in ignition but I have no courage to start the car and drive back. So I sit there, once again watching the rain drops falling on windshield and flowing away. I thought about nothing but Mother and Father. Nothing but mother’s safety, nothing but waiting for her to come back.

Finally I gather my courage and start the car. Car turned, and moved away from Airport so slowly. I drove like I have no destination. In fact I really don’t have a destination. I came back. I reached back to a place called home at the moment.

Outside the house, the very first thing that reminded me that she was here, were all her plants, and flowers that she used to plant. All are there, standing strong, healthy and beautiful. I tell myself I will keep the alive till she comes back. Just a mere thought though, I know they need her care too, without her they will die and so will I.

I open the door of my apartment and I get in. First thing, I looked at her room and just like a flashback I realized how many things I just couldn’t do for her. I enter her room. Her room, so clean and so tidy, everything in place, and so alive like she just stepped out for a moment, and will be back asking me to look at her hands where she will be holding a small wild flower that she found. But only in my heart I knew, I knew she was gone. She was in a plane that was taking her far away from me.

I sit down by her bed, I touched the empty bed, I fill my heart with her smell there. And I couldn’t help myself. Eyes got filled with tears. I missed her so bad at that very moment. Bed side, her stuff on the table was all there, neat and clean, nicely arranged. Her Cream, Hair oil, Honey, Medicines and everything that she used daily, was there. Only she was gone. She left me nothing but with more memories and empty heart missing her again.

I tried not to cry. But when I looked under her bed, I couldn’t control over my tears any more. Tears just rolled down from my eyes one after another as I saw one empty bottle, and a paper cup. There was nothing but a dry flower in there. I realized I should have brought her flowers everyday but I was too busy to do that. I sat there, holding her bed and crying her name. I wished, I’d give everything to see her again. I begged God to keep her safe and healthy and to give me one more chance to keep her with me so I can do all that I couldn’t this time.

I begged and begged, and I cried with my painful heart.

She was here, I tried everything to keep her happy. She knew that. I thought I was doing so much more this time, but now that she is gone, I recall every moment. I realize I can never win from a mother. She actually did so much more. She once again gave me so much more love with all her tolerance towards my ignorant and stupid mature behavior. Not only love she gave me much more than I could give her. And over all she gave me all her blessings and prayers every moment when she was here.

I know now, when I go to teach, no one will say “go with God’s graces and protection”, and when I come back, no one will say with the most beautiful smile “Aagaya Beta, chal khana kha le (you came back son, come and eat food)”.

She was there; I was happy and peaceful in my heart. Just by looking at her sitting in her room doing something, filled my heart with happiness. But now, when I look at her empty room, my heart just fills with more worries and pains.

I miss her beautiful loving eyes and that loving smile when she looked at me. I miss her silently doing all the stuff for us. I miss her care. I miss her protecting me from everything like I was a child.

And I know I can’t describe how much I miss her at this moment. I now pray every moment that soon she will be back to me, my paradise, my mother and I will do everything to keep her happy, healthy and peaceful. Amen.

I now sit and count seconds, to receive her call that she is safe and sound and that she will be back soon. GOD, I pray don’t give people the life that I live. A life where I live far from my old parents. Parents who need me in this age but still do a lot for me. Parents who never asked me anything but kept on worrying about me only. Parents who I love and want to be with, but I can’t. Parents who are the only precious thing left for me in this world.

Every moment and everything makes me miss my mother now. I realized how many things she used to do for me when she was here. I realized that I have to work harder next time to do more for her. For My mother, for my father. My mother and my father, the two most beautiful and precious persons in my life. I am nothing without them. I realize, I am living for them, I realize, if I lose them, I will lose my life.

So I sit and pray, every moment. I sit and miss them, I sit here and wish I will see them together soon. Amen.

7 Years Ago

I came to China 7 years ago, and that was the time when I heard that next Olympics will be held in Beijing in 2008.

Well finally it came true and I saw the celebrations so big that I thought Olympics has started now. I asked, where can I see swimming events? LOL

After that for all those years till now all the foreigners are gone deaf by hearing things about Beijing Olympics everyday all day by Chinese People. 7 Years ago, they started talking about it and it is going on.

I am sure Olympics is a very important and at the moment a critical event but just wanted to know, haven't Chinese people taken it over seriously? aren't they over reacting on this?

7 years, I am hearing Olympics Olympics Beijing Olympics, for 7 years if I ask a student where would you be 5 years from now? Answer comes, Olympics. God my ears are now bleeding and I am just hoping that Olympics finishes quietly nicely and quickly so that we can get rid of this torment :) LOL. ask any one, and first thing comes out, Beijing Olympics. Now its gone totally serious. Ask someone, where do you wanna go, Olympics LOL.

What else, life is so difficult due to this Olympics. You can't send packages, you can't send liquids. One of my friend is facing extreme losses because his company can't ship Textile machinery and ink due to this Olympics. Security is so tight that people can't breath.

In addition, Chinese people are basically rude in their tones. Specially in post offices, Train stations and other government offices like Police, their tone is so rude that foreigners feel offended. Their tone sometimes make you feel like you are the culprit.

I recently ordered a security camera equipment that uses a 2.4Ghz transmission and Receiver. Something went wrong. Company says, send it back, we will replace it. When I goto China Postal service, it was so terrible treatment. First they looked at me with scary eyes. like I was a terrorist and came to place a bomb there, after which bomb will fly itself to Beijing and ruin it.

Well then I told them I wanna send this parcel. The lady started opening it. She was carrying it in a way like it has a very powerful and sensitive bomb inside. GOd I wish I had made a video of that. She opened it by keeping distance. I was feeling embarrassed. She then looks inside, first thing she saw were some cables and she started yelling that they can't send it. Without even looking inside for other stuff, she wagered, impossible to send.

And Her tone GOd, made me feel like I am going to make a bomb out of that camera equipment and that could ruin the Beijing Olympics. I was in post office for 5 minutes and during these 5 minutes she mentioned Beijing Olympics for 20 times may be :(

I couldn't take it anymore and came back home with my stuff. You know what? I have to drive to Hubei Province in my car and send the products back to the company. And I am afraid they will check my car using dogs and other electronic stuff worrying that I will be carrying bomb making stuff or may be my car is stuffed with explosives.

GOD I am sick of this Beijing Olympics. It has become a torment instead of Entertainment and honor due to Chinese people's behavior and over reaction on this Honored event.

so I wanna ask myself or all the other people , what is the purpose of Olympics in Beijing? to make lives of other ordinary Chinese people and Chinese businessmen difficult or to be the no.1 country in the world? Will Beijing Olympics make China a no.1 country? Don't think so.

I believe Olympics is an honor and we should honor it by behaving sober and carry it out in a way that we don't make the lives of the citizen of that country a trouble.

I am now hoping that

1. Chinese people take this blog with open mind and don't start to hate me.
2. Beijing Olympics will finish nicely and safely
3. That for the coming 10 years I don't have to hear anything about "Our Beijing Olympics"

Yes last I forgot to mention, may be it's the language or may be it is people, but Chinese people are so possessive. "Our China, Our Chinese People, Our Beijing, Our Beijing Olympics blah blah blah"

So again it is a request to all Chinese people, I have worked very hard here in China educating and training Chinese Students for 7 years and I have won two awards from Chinese government, I love China, and I love beijing Olympics too, so please don't start to hate me for this blog.

What I wrote here is truth and is what majority of foreigners working in China since 2002 feel.

Well, hoping everything goes well and I don't have to delete this post.

All Chinese people Please Enjoy the honor of Beijing Olympics 2008 and keep it in memories, but learn that when you talk about something so often and for years, it is not pleasant any more, instead it becomes torment.

Cheers
I am open to discussions

alishanmoa

Well Just an Introduction first

I was never into writing blogs, but then I thought, hey, I am free, so let's just write one.

Introducing myself here.

I am Ali, basically from Pakistan (not a terrorist, please clarify LOL) living and working in China for 8 years now.

I teach English and have won two big awards in China for my hard work and dedication to my job. I love my job, and love my life here in China.

I am totally into RC Airplane hobby and now I am a Pro Pilot too. Got 11 Aircrafts at home including RC Electric and Nitro Engine Planes, RC Electric Helicopters, and Nitro n Electric Trucks.

Running two widely viewed online RC and other video broadcast channels too because I like to make videos.

Check out

www.metacafe.com/channels/alishanmao and
www.youtube.com/alishanmao

I love music, singing and have learned a bit of classical singing in Pakistan. But now when I sing, people just wanna jump out of the windows. you can check my singing on my channels :D but please shut the windows before that.

Rest life is simple.

I love cars, movies, Playstation II and computer Games, Superbikes and girls LOL

Well gotta split now, will keep on updating my introduction if something new came in life.

Cheers

Ali