See you later...

“Finally I’m going to live by myself…I wanted you to come to my inauguration party however given that the neighborhood is a little bit different and I was worry you could get lost…I decided to gather all my friends in a Farewell Cocktail Party…” more or less like this…I called my friends to be with me for a last time before going to China…

…despite being a little bit nervous in the beginning and some absentees …they were nearly 100 people…so I couldn’t be more pleased with that…everyone [or almost everyone] even some that took I while starting liked the sushi and counting for the empty bottles also the excellent red wine “Quinta de Covelos” [Diogo you can pay me later the promotion…]…it last until 4 am…it was a great night and I owe it to the excellent friends I have[this includes family of course]…THANKS TO YOU ALL!

Please meet…

One of the problems when I’m abroad is for people to understand and say my name correctly…if you look to my sisters and brothers´ names you can translate, or at least get close to each one: Catherine or Catharine [for Catarina], Philippe or Phillips [for Filipa], Sophie or Sophia [for Sofia], Diego or James [for Diogo], Richard [for Ricardo] and Peter [for Pedro]…now for translating my name what you get closer is Gonzalo [Spanish] but it still is hard to understand…or I always can say “Speedy Gonzales”…that’s a nice way to start a conversation and “broke the ice” and if that’s not enough, and only in an emergency situation, I can also use Gonzo [one of the Muppets]…

…to write it down it’s a complete new problem…the majority of the languages don’t use “ç”…so, should I choose the “c” or the “s”? I always choose the “c”…but later on I get people calling me Gonkalo…

…so for this new adventure in Asia…I was re-baptized by my Mandarin’s teacher, Mrs. Lin, as Göng Sháo Lòng…that can means Arch (Göng) [like the ones used by Robin Hood or William Tell], Young (Sháo) and Dragon (Lòng) [my favourite…many of you can understand why…it’s the symbol of my Football Club – FC Porto and also one of symbols of my hometown…so I couldn’t be more pleased]…

…by the way, I was told that in Shanghainese…the dialect of Shanghai…it can get much closed to Gonçalo…

…so I’m pleased to present you…Göng Sháo Lòng [only the name changed (and just for I while) the “product” it’s still the same…ah!ah!]

Despite not being in China yet…I had the chance to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Portugal, it was really funny…everyone had to go with a Chinese costume…my brother lent me is rope and a hat that he bought in Thailand in is honeymoon…everyone was extremely nice and the food was great…

…I wish you an excellent Chinese New Year…this is the Rooster's year…known to be a good/lucky year…

Getting in love with and...

I’m the first to admit that it took to long to write a new post…however to be honest…only now I’m “down on earth”...but still floating...

Before going to New York I had never left Europe…so I couldn’t be more excited, and I already knew that this was an unbelievable city…arriving there wasn’t easy…after being held in Paris for one night [yes! of course I took the advantage to visit the city…do you remember the last post…“Shanghai was or still is the Paris of Asia”…so imagine the coincidence]…

..the plain was about to land and I already could see the City not far away…arriving into New York couldn’t be easier, I went straight to Salsa’s house in East Village…I only had time to take a shower and we went straight off to Duvet [is not like I had another choice…ih!ih!]…it was a French Tuesdays’ party [very appreciate in New York…I can’t imagine why! (I’m with my ironical look, right now)…by the way thanks Rui for putting me in the guest list]; then we went to Cain…at this time I was already in love with New York…after that I start fowling in love in New York…

…being in New York for 15 days…overcome my highest expectations…the city is beyond belief, its life is incredible…“the city that never sleeps”…now imagine this with snow all over…absolutely magical…Central Park, Times Square, Pier 17, Brooklyn Bridge…full of snow couldn’t be more exciting to watch…

I was able to live [or at least I believe I was…] like a New Yorker; so I couldn’t get a more fabulous experience, knowing the city as a tourist is not enough…even like I was, I would need not less than one year…

I definitely want to go back [after Shanghai of course]…I already miss New York…by the way everyone speaks about Chinatown, Little Italy…do you want to know what was my favourite part? “The German part”, however I realize that it’s a very personal point of view…but it’s just like that [this is still my web spot isn’t it? ah! ah!]…

I don’t want to wear you out with all the excitement…so I will stop writing and add some photos so you can get a clue of what I’m talking about…

Thank you Pia, Raquel, Rui and Salsa for the wonderful time…