tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-350318592012-02-16T12:23:56.215-08:00Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.comBlogger441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-16299381119883625542007-04-26T00:08:00.000-07:002007-04-26T01:07:49.508-07:00

During my final weeks in Shanghai, I was obviously doing a lot of thinking. As a matter of fact, during the final month or two in China, my brain was riding a wicked rollercoaster. At times, I went through periods of being homesick. I missed my wonderful family that I had not seen in such a long time. I missed my friends and the college lifestyle that I had come to cherish and enjoy at UCSB. Even

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-14094752247247847572007-04-23T01:30:00.000-07:002007-04-23T22:32:13.515-07:00

Let me begin by admitting that I should have continued using my blog more as my time in Shanghai neared its end. It seems that during the course of my life, I go through times when I feel very willing to discuss, penetrate, and isolate certain thoughts and experiences that happen with me, and other times when I just want to struggle through them without writing about them. For whatever reasons (

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-3435754856787521002007-02-28T08:10:00.000-08:002007-02-28T18:57:34.351-08:00

In a previous post, I discussed what it was like to experience my first Chinese New Year in Shanghai. Although I did not spend it like a traditional Chinese person, meeting with family, watching CCTV, and having a great big meal, I did spend it with friends had a fun time watching the amazing fireworks show.When the clock struck midnight, there were bangs and explosions heard throughout the

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-1479914290829924562007-02-21T07:26:00.000-08:002007-02-21T08:02:31.364-08:00

I know this post has absolutely nothing to do with Shanghai or myself. I just felt like finding some interesting pictures on the internet and I settled on some very cute pictures on animal families. Here they are and more are in my album:From Animal FamiliesFrom Animal FamiliesFrom Animal FamiliesFrom Animal FamiliesFrom Animal FamiliesFrom Animal FamiliesFrom Animal FamiliesFrom Animal

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-84777219758851182802007-02-19T18:20:00.000-08:002007-02-19T19:06:47.990-08:00

The Chinese New Year took place this past weekend. You would never believe the kinds of celebrations that materialize in Shanghai.The Chinese calendar is a lunar calendar and is mostly derived from the movement of the moon and sun. The start of the New Year takes place with a new moon and lasts for 15 days, ending on a full moon. New Year's Eve is a very important night for Chinese people and

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-81472629329605976022007-02-18T05:50:00.000-08:002007-02-18T06:22:05.783-08:00

I have been picture hungry lately. I have put together some really nice pictures of my university (UCSB) in Santa Barbara, CA. Please check my entire picture album here. Otherwise, here are some thumbnails:Storke Tower is in the center of our UCSB campusFrom UCSB and GoletaCampbell Hall is the biggest classroom at UCSB. Many classes!From UCSB and GoletaA Natural Bridge on the PacificFrom UCSB

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-34849514878312383072007-02-17T19:30:00.000-08:002007-02-17T19:54:52.460-08:00

Since I do not feel like writing right now, here are some amazing pictures of Lake Tahoe. Enjoy.From Lake Tahoe Sc...From Lake Tahoe Sc...From Lake Tahoe Sc...From Lake Tahoe Sc...From Lake Tahoe Sc...From Lake Tahoe Sc...

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-88726808821250436182007-02-15T17:42:00.000-08:002007-02-15T18:49:24.182-08:00

In Shanghai and in China, there are certain common Western foods that are very difficult and sometimes impossible to find in the supermarkets. The trouble and confusion I have is that there are many restaurants throughout the city that serve just about every food you can imagine. I can go to a pizza place called Babela's, order a 9 inch meat combination pizza for less than $3, and yet I cannot

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-33297776688478187672007-02-13T19:39:00.000-08:002007-02-13T20:35:50.230-08:00

I am too tired to write about anything, so instead I will upload some pictures and videos. You can appreciate what I have been doing from the pictures....This is a video of me in a restaurant talking with Kevin and eating a chicken wing.My roommate and I recently went out to dinner at an Irish Pub. The food was pretty good and I had some real barbeque ribs.From Dinner @ Omal...From Dinner @

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-88709120056696906572007-02-11T18:39:00.000-08:002007-02-11T08:38:12.360-08:00

For those of you who are extremely envious of where my university was located, this is the view from my apartment during my Junior year. Pretty amazing pictures:From Santa Barbara...From Santa Barbara...From Santa Barbara...From Santa Barbara...

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-4321316194885374242007-02-11T07:39:00.000-08:002007-02-10T18:25:10.687-08:00

Let me start by explaining that in China, disputes are handled a bit differently in China than they are in the U.S. Individual policemen have more authority than they do in the U.S. and official law does not really matter as much.For example if there is a car accident, the people have many of the same choices that they have in the U.S. The first choice is the most serious, involving getting the

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-32731303598360413922007-02-08T20:09:00.000-08:002007-02-09T19:43:54.156-08:00

For Americans, the word 'discrimination' has a bad connotation associated with it. I think Americans tend to think about prejudice much more than the rest of the world and since they are so conscious of avoiding prejudice, it is very rare to encounter discrimination from people who do not realize they are being discriminating.In Shanghai, I have the experience to be on both sides of the isle

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-90635013710036480932007-02-07T00:21:00.000-08:002007-02-07T00:27:06.212-08:00

I added some good pictures from Tibet. Here is a good sample (full album): From Tibet 1 Group... From Tibet 1 Group... From Tibet 1 Group... From Tibet 1 Group... From Tibet 1 Group... From Tibet 1 Group... From Tibet 1 Group... From Tibet 1 Group... From Tibet 1 Group... From Tibet 1 Group...

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-89710774531969328152007-02-06T23:13:00.000-08:002007-02-07T00:19:49.187-08:00

Well I finally got together some of the pictures from my trip a while ago. Here are some of my pictures from Beijing (full album): From Beijing - Gro... From Beijing - Gro... From Beijing - Gro...

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-13231585246220486692007-02-06T08:15:00.000-08:002007-02-06T08:49:58.515-08:00

Well, I have added some interesting pictures. Enjoy all of them.JJ and I saw a somewhat famous Hong Kong singer named Zhong Han Liang giving an interview for a promotional advertisement for some small restuarant inside a shopping mall. We ate in the restaurant and of course got our hands on a few pictures.From Zhong Han Lia...From Zhong Han Lia...I went to Hangzhou this last weekend. I will

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-34983266761774844382007-02-06T07:43:00.000-08:002007-02-06T08:02:30.340-08:00

My roommate had a writing experiment in his class that prepares students for a national speech competition. They are all middle school students and he had them pair into small groups and each contribute a single sentence to a story. Here are two stories that the students came up with:STORY 1:The baby is crying because it is hungry. His mother is hungry too. They have no money. Its mother

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-79808171606276827732007-01-30T09:31:00.000-08:002007-01-31T09:14:43.910-08:00

I have uploaded a few videos of past events that I have described in previous entries. This is a short clip of my Christmas Eve party. A few funny moments .... Here is a video from my English lesson with my roommate. You will see how bad my Chinese was in front of 70 people a few weeks ago ...Starting from today, here is a baritone sax player and his band playing some lame music in front of a

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-47511288270717468952007-01-30T07:10:00.000-08:002007-01-30T08:21:38.482-08:00

Well, today I had a blast. Since I started actively studying Chinese about two weeks ago, I have not really had an opportunity like I had today. Usually, when I am in the city, communicating with local Chinese people and attempting to practice the Chinese words I have learned, I am with other Chinese friends. Sometimes I am with JJ, sometimes with my roommate and other times with some of my

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-83649290136306115182007-01-28T08:34:00.001-08:002007-01-28T19:37:24.420-08:00

For those of you who do not know, I was almost pickpotted in Turkey during my travels their this past summer. Literally in the first hour we were in Istanbul, my friend Jon and I boarded a cable car that goes throughout the city, confused, a little bit lost, and carrying way too much luggage. The cable car was also jam packed with people and about five minutes into the ride, I looked down to

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-73973122562717555702007-01-25T17:40:00.001-08:002007-02-01T08:24:55.163-08:00

I recently went ice skating in Shanghai. I have not done this in a very long time so I was a bit out of practice. Here is a few pictures of our trip:From Ice SkatingAnd of course a small video :

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-34602792360430787842007-01-22T07:09:00.000-08:002007-01-22T07:48:16.184-08:00

This post is not necessarily about a specific event or experience I have had in China. I think this post is a bit more important because I am digging deep into my soul and revelaing feelings you never knew about me. (Ok, maybe it is not that important, but maybe you will enjoy reading). For my entire life, I have always battled self-confidence. I do not know why or where this lack of

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-62862740529793794232007-01-20T19:15:00.000-08:002007-01-22T08:25:31.850-08:00

When you ask a Chinese person in Shanghai what they do for fun other than eat good meals, their answer will most likely be to go toKTV. In China, KTV stands for Karaoke but it is a whole lot different. KTV is usually a big, fancy complex and inside has many rooms, some small and some big. Our Karaoke places are usually terrible. They are mostly all at bars, with large open spaces, a small

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-53344195582462149182007-01-17T07:02:00.000-08:002007-01-17T07:13:05.853-08:00

Although I have been discussed bit and pieces of the DVD market in Shanghai in past blog posts, I want to finally write a longer post about how DVD's are purchased. In the States, as you all know, buying many DVD's can be an expensive hobby. The average price for is probably somewhere in the $15 range. Pirated movies in the States have become more and more popular in the last few years, but

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-13186297120105457932007-01-17T04:03:00.000-08:002007-01-17T04:35:30.345-08:00

Hey everyone!Just a short post. I have added a bunch of pictures and even had to create a new site just for more pictures. The China pictures 2 link on the right (HERE) will link to the pictures. I have added pictures Suzhou, Playing Pool, Christmas Eve Party, English Teaching, and My Last Day at Work. Here are some highlights if you only have a little time ...From Random Pool a...From

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-6378797843361800302007-01-15T07:32:00.000-08:002007-01-28T19:39:53.975-08:00

I just wanted to say I posted some new pictures of some of the things I have been doing in the last few days ... Please click on the Pictures 2 link on the right to find them all or view some of the highlights below :From Yu Garden and...From Tennis with K...From Qibao

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-51548501204538938002007-01-15T00:10:00.000-08:002007-01-15T00:13:42.635-08:00

Recently, I have the pleasure of being a guest speaker at my roommate's English class. He teaches English at one of the biggest and most prestigious English school in Shanghai (and in China), and it was very interesting to have the opportunity to try out my provincial teaching ability. Over the last month or so that I have lived in my new residence, I think my roommate has been very interested

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-720618693721234082007-01-04T17:19:00.000-08:002007-01-04T17:38:05.152-08:00

I have described some of the other kinds of massage places in China in the past but I have yet to relate to you about the bling massage. All over Shanghai, there places with a staff of blind people that give foot and body massages for very reasonable prices. A few days ago, I had the opportunity to experience this first hand.I actually knew very little information about the blind massage when

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-5784629984420433822007-01-02T09:32:00.000-08:002007-01-04T17:19:14.237-08:00

I have discovered in the last week something about myself that I never knew until now. For the past seven days, my life has been missing, and when I say my life, of course I mean the Internet. About one week ago, there was a very big earthquake in the ocean near the coast of China. The earthquake measured 7.1 and great deal of damage was done to the communication cables that connect China and

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-88997430108013565002006-12-25T00:24:00.000-08:002006-12-25T00:50:40.219-08:00

Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas to all. Today has been a quite a new way to spend Christmas day, sitting on my computer, at work, surfing the net and doing not much else. My work seems to give me less work every day. It boggles my mind to think what they have me do at work. I think the powers that be know that I am pretty talented at what I do and the skill sets that I have. The company is pretty good

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-85933598479402031342006-12-23T00:07:00.000-08:002006-12-23T00:08:48.716-08:00

The last night was about the most different experience I have had in my entire life. This blog post might be a bit long but it is worth it. The place I went to last night was just downright awesome. First I will describe some background information and then go into detail about my experience.In Shanghai, they have a service that I have never seen before. All over the city, it has become

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-11862656608011069222006-12-21T06:46:00.000-08:002006-12-21T07:42:35.366-08:00

First of all, I am sorry it has been so so long since I have contributed to my blog. I've discovered that full-time work leaves very little time for anything else. It is very difficult to have a life outside of a 9-5 job. By the time I get home, unpack my things, change clothes, travel somewhere, I have already reached 6 or 6:30, not to mention the fact that I need to be finished by 9:30 so I

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-32981895916854328042006-10-19T03:08:00.000-07:002006-10-19T03:09:03.154-07:00

Haining

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-49610816739439898922006-10-19T02:55:00.000-07:002006-10-19T03:06:51.485-07:00

You might never have guessed, but in just over a month's time, China is now pretty normal. At first, as you well know, just about every encounter I had with anything in China was overwhelming. Crossing the street was damn near impossible. Buying a subway pass to get to and from work everyday was equally difficult. Even getting a taxi driver to understand me when I attempt to pronounce my own

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-54852030514799723392006-10-12T01:17:00.000-07:002006-10-12T01:19:30.234-07:00

The working system in China is a bit different than the Western world. Part tradition and culture, part efficiency and effectiveness, they set aside two weeks per year for what is called National Holiday. The first week is in the fall, usually early October, and the second is in the spring. The holiday is not for everyone, though. Only people in jobs that require service to the public have to

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-86488359305604925482006-10-11T23:19:00.000-07:002006-10-11T23:25:00.179-07:00

I don't know why but getting a massage has never been something I wanted to do. The whole experience seems so strange to me. I don't know if it was the story about Papa Dave, who, for his birthday, receieved a gift certificate for a massage only to find out it was from a giant black man. I think I even associate it with the uber-rich businessmen who, when I worked at Edgewood Golf Course,

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-82719693154356010962006-10-10T01:14:00.000-07:002006-10-10T01:15:09.801-07:00

Pajama PartyOct 10, 2006 - 33 Photos

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-70071709753757759852006-10-10T01:13:00.000-07:002006-10-10T01:14:03.190-07:00

Apartment PartyOct 10, 2006 - 50 Photos

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-87285427581618757752006-10-10T00:50:00.000-07:002006-10-10T00:52:02.822-07:00

Sorry for the delay. I've been without a computer for a week and finally have organized my pictures and begun working on my next blog post. Here are links to the latest pictures for now. Enjoy....Chinese Holiday - Putoshan IslandOct 10, 2006 - 57 Photos

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-1159514283385237392006-09-29T00:16:00.000-07:002006-09-29T00:18:03.403-07:00

Seven thirty in the morning; rise and shine. My phone alarm rings and briefly wakes me up. I hit snooze, try to sleep for another ten minutes, and finally creep out of my bed, doing my best to avoid waking up my three other roommates. Fortunately, Arne, from Germany, has already left for work and Florin, from Romania, is sleeping on the balcony with his thin mattress sprawled out on the floor.

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-1159258176708886932006-09-26T01:08:00.001-07:002006-09-26T01:09:36.710-07:00

My first journey to one of several fake markets in Shanghai was truly a unique experience. I have literally never been to a place filled to the max with people, buying, selling, and scavenging, all for fake products. Words just cannot describe this place.When you arrive, you first see the people. There are tons of them, walking down the streets, walking every which way, in and around the main

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-1159258113326448282006-09-26T01:08:00.000-07:002006-09-26T01:08:33.330-07:00

Home sweet home. Back in Shanghai, my home away from home. It has been a long and strenuous week, but an interestiong one nonetheless. Overall, I had a great time, met some great people, experienced new places, new food, and a whole lot more and it all cannot be described in a single sentence. Here are some highlights: Yesterday, we took the day off, we being myself, the manager of the

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-1159257172225279122006-09-26T00:51:00.000-07:002006-09-26T01:07:56.106-07:00

Ughh. Another long day of rather useless and archaic committee meetings. I spent the morning in a four hour meeting that dealt with the most useless information. I have realized that these standards organizations are backed by the most trivial rules and regulations, and are so strict, that nothing can ever get done. I can see how things like political committees in Congress may take so long,

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-1159250070676298362006-09-25T22:52:00.000-07:002006-09-25T22:54:30.676-07:00

Well it has been a very interesting last few days. China is one different place, lemme start off with that. I have never experienced an environment so unlike ours, where so few people speak English, and even very few people know about American culture and living. It is truly just another world here.That being said, I have had a fantastic last few days, and have gotten the opportunity to travel

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35031859.post-1159249805049828962006-09-25T22:49:00.000-07:002006-09-25T22:50:05.060-07:00

I havent really been gone very long but so far the trip has gone as smooth as can be. We, grandparents and myself, left at the crack of dawn this morning, (or I guess it was yesterday morning). We drove to the Sacramento train station, took the train to Richmond, and boarded BART heading for the San Francisco Airport. The line was fine, everything was in order, and the plane was on time (Jon:

Sean Fannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14816177457420544038noreply@blogger.com0