Yukon Jay - 小祥

Chinatown - Nightmarkets

Well I had a nice surprise today. A job I applied to while in Tulsa finally invited me to an interview... was quite shocked when notified by SFU since it has been so long. Then later today I got an interview with Fisheries and Oceans for next Thursday. So 2 interviews next week... still choked about the Environment Canada job though.

Last Friday the family and I went to Chinatown's nightmarket. It's one of those family events that only happen in the summer. It was lame... nothing like the nightmarket in Taiwan. Nonetheless, here are some pictures.

This is where the nightmarket started.

Food was good... as good as it gets in North America anyways.

Back in the 1800s and early 1900s, this was a housing rooms for Chinese sojourners. It was common for many Chinese from Fujian, China to come to work, send their stipend back to China and return when they get old. They were poor, had shitty jobs and shared rooms with lots of other workers. Historically, this is pretty much the marginalized side of town.

This is the Chinese Cultural Centre... it has ummm, got culture things inside? Never actually been inside, but I thought this made a great view.

So yeah, there's a bigger nightmarket in Richmond. This one is quite lame.

Need More Practice for Interviews

Fuck, why can’t I get the job I want with Environment Canada. Just as I predicted, I was shortlisted for a phone interview with them on Tuesday from Ottawa… this is my second interview with Environment Canada (first one in Vancouver last year). What can I say, my cover letter is that good when it comes to climate change issues.

However, I suck at interviews. Ottawa called and told me he was quite 'impressed' with the letter and got straight to the point. It went a lot smoother than the first one, mainly because I have more experience with interviews. Apparently, still not enough. I was nervous the whole time... managed to answer all the questions except what E10 was. He said it’s ethanol & alcohol based fuel... I replied “OH! It’s what they are using in Brazil.” We discussed it further... I think I redeemed myself nicely there. Robert and I even discussed it my last day in Tulsa... I just didn’t know the terminology.

Anyways, I guess my letter was not as ‘impressive’ as he thought it was, or else he would just give me the job. I didn’t get it... I came in third (not sure out of how many, last time there were 6 candidates). I’m pissed... I need more practice with interviews.

Now I got 4 more jobs I’m looking at. The first choice is with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in West Vancouver assisting Erin, a UBC PhD candidate, with her research aimed at reducing environmental contaminants in fish farms. It turns out that my friend Geoff works in the same lab with Erin and he’s been putting in a good word. So I hope it works out. If not, there’s a research position availabe in their downtown office, another one with Environment Canada dealing with species at risk and last job pertaining to what I did in Thailand… international development, human rights and governance. I’m confident one of these will work out.

Damnit, these are still government jobs and I hate their interviews... even thoough it is what I want. Praise my excellence you fools!!!

Chinese Spies EVERYWHERE 中國間諜

Man, it seems everywhere I turn, the subject of Chinese threat to the world keeps coming up... For example:

1) Current events... e.g. Chinese state own CNOOC threatening US security by purchasing UNOCAL
2) At the bar with friends in Plano discussing China & politics
3) This week I watched CBCand BBC's documentary called Holidays in the Danger Zone... they did a story on Taiwan and the fear of Chinese invasion... how Taiwan will be the cause of World War III.
4) Today I'm playing Battle Field 2, which as you know... is United States vs China in the near future... superpower vs superpower.
5) Past week Chinese top general said China will nuke dozens of American cities if US defends Taiwan.
6) And now I just read an onimous report that China's "student spies", as young as 22, are EVERYWHERE... Even Canada made the news.

Their mission: to help speed China on its way to becoming the next global superpower. Me, as a Taiwanese, am well aware of China's capabilities and potential... e.g. Today 750 Chinese ballistic missiles are pointed at Taiwan and the much feared Dongfeng 東風 (means East Wind... what's East of China?... YOU!) nuclear warhead missiles, which can be launched from mobile tranport thingys... making it harder for US to destroy.

So let me say this: we will all die in 3 years when Taiwan auspiciously declares independence while China hosts the 2008 Olympics... which China said will attack no matter what. Enjoy your life while you still can!!!!

阿姨, 我今年確定我不會再去台灣了. 我的大學說我現在需要找我下一個的工作(我在泰國的也算工作) , 然後需要面談, 所以我不能出國. 我六月份從泰國到台灣的時候, 是很想在台灣停留久一點, 可是因為飛機第二天以後沒有空為, 我就該馬上回溫哥華. 我才在台北睡了一個晚上. 那我工作的是, 我現在還在等他們通知我.

現在北美的新聞,特別美國和英國,一直報告再過50年中國會當世界上最強的國家. 大家現在都有點怕. 在溫哥華也有人一直談這件事, 而且在我跟小齊的大學. 昨天英國的新聞有個故事說很多中國的學生間諜都在外國. 我的大學百分之30到40都是華人, 會不會有些是中國的間諜?

Housing Market

With all this free time, it has given me time to think about my future and what my plans are. You know... 10 to 40 years down the road... my career with who and where, finances and grad school. Going away every year is taking its toll financially, especially after this trip. I'm not necessarily talking about the money I'm spending overseas, but the money I'm not making when I'm away. Just crap like that...

Then everyday when I go out, I get reminded how dismal my future might look. You see these two homes... just a block away from my house... they were built sometime earlier this year, brand spanking new! (Most homes in Vancouver are usually old, anywhere from 10-40 years old...)

Guess how much they are asking for it..... Stop right here and carefully think about it before you scroll down further.

I mean... how much would you be willing to pay for it.

Does this house look similar to yours? If so, should be the same price as yours eh?

Came up with a price yet?

...... ready to see value on these homes?

.... I doubt you are!

..... alright, here goes....

They are asking for $760,000 Canadian. That's about $623,000 U.S. with the weak US dollar. That's right... its disgusting. Like other homes here, it comes with a big basement - 2 bedrooms, washroom and etc... probably get about $1,200/month if renting it out (very common here here).

Aesthically speaking, its not even that appealing compared with other homes in the neighbourhood. Anyways, that's your housing market in Vancouver... it has soared over the last couple of years. Homes that use to be $400,000-$500,000 now cost over $700,000. The soar in prices is simply "North Vancouver is simply the place to be"... I use to think it was partly due to the 2010 Olympics. Well, you haven't seen the West Vancouver homes yet... > MILLION DOLLAR homes. That's what Jon and I can do next time, stroll down the strees of West Vancouver and visit the Canadian NHLer's and Hollywood celebrities' homes.

As for my future... maybe I should move to Calgary where the homes are about the same as Texas.

2nd Paycheque of the Year

Ok I'm not gonna write in detail about my story with Canada Customs... too lazy to do it. Short version is I didn't declare my laptop and they threatened to scanned the serial number... But first they gave me a chance to redeem myself and if I didn't change my story, they would then prosecute me. So I said it wasn't purchased at Futureshop and I paid $650. They didn't believe the price I quoted... searched through my pockets and bag... found my phone bought from Thailand and then I had to explain my activities for the past 6 months.

In the end... they scanned my laptop and it confirmed the price I quoted. Don't mess with Canada Customs... or customs from any country. They can scan the serial number of the electronics and find out where you bought it and for how much. I got let off because I told the truth and I was a student from SFU.

Today I picked up my paycheque for before the wedding... my 2nd cheque of the year. According to the slip... my year to date is only $275. I have some serious money making & saving to do for the rest of this year... or I could just take this and live on it in Thailand. $275 can go a long way and have a fantastic time... hehehe.

Back Home... Bored Again

I swear not working the past 6 weeks (except for 4 shifts) since returning from Thailand has definately made me more lazy. It's only 11pm and I feel exhausted. If only I had money saved up for travelling instead of school, then I wouldn't be here wasting away. Then again, I have to stay in the city, write more cover letters for co-op and wait for interviews... which is why I had to come back early. I can't believe I haven't had interviews for the 7 cover letters I wrote... I had better luck before my first co-op job.

Anyways, I am now back in Vancouver. John picked me up at 5:30am (thanks again John!!) and we got to DFW at 6:20am. Thanks to Roberta's advice, I asked if it was possible to fly earlier instead of waiting till my 10:17am flight... they put me on the 7:45am flight and I was routed to Chicago without a problem.

The problem was when I went through Canada Customs in Vancover... I didn't declare the laptop Jon ordered for me. I was caught and was detained for questioning... long story and I will post tomorrow or something. I'm just lucky they decided not to prosecute me...