Foster Oscar Has A Home!
Click here to view Oscar with his new family:
http://remyomar.blogspot.com/2008/06/ying-and-yang.html
My foster Oscar needs a forever home.
Hello Everyone,
I am writing to tell you that I have a dog up for adoption that I am currently fostering. He is an 8 year old purebred Italian Greyhound named Oscar. He is a little man with a black coat and a lot of salt and pepper.
He came from a backyard breeder in Long Beach that just left him outside to freeze when he wasn’t going to be able to breed him anymore.
Oscar loves people and other dogs. He is not really an alpha male but he is not a wimpy dog either. He does not bark unless to alert you that someone is at the door. He is very sweet, affectionate and quiet.
He is current on all of his shots, grooming, and dental. Oscar is really healthy and is estimated to be about 8 years old. He weighs 13 lbs and has a very muscular build. Thankfully, Oscar will never be used as a breeder stud again because he was finally neutered (which helps to protect a dog’s health and lowers their risk for cancer).
Check him out in the photos I attached below.
Every dog deserves a chance at a really great life in a loving home. Thank you so much!!
Send me an email if you have any questions! amyholbrook@gmail.com
Buying Time
A Special Thanks to My Readers:
I want to thank you for visiting my site. Because of viewers like you, my little blog avenue (which was created with the specific intention to keep my family up to date during my travels) has constructed itself into a well traveled highway!
Arcsoft, my hosting company, has informed me that if I do not pay $100 for grossly exceeding my alloted bandwidth, that my site will be removed.
So thank you for letting your voyeuristic curiosity get the best of you. As for Arcsoft, your check is in the mail.
.amy lynne.
p.s. Photo Booth!!!
Consider this.
You are moving and cannot take your animals? Where could you possibly be going that is so important that you have to abandon your dog or cat? If your landlord won’t allow you to keep your pets, then MOVE. Your pets are the only creatures on Earth that will love you more than you love yourself. Please don’t abandon them.
Here are a few of the highly adoptable animals that I have found at a couple of shelters in Los Angeles within the past week:
ROBBIE lab mix (sweetest, most innocent 4 month old puppy ever!!)
#206 papillion (means butterfly in French, he is indeed a little butterfly)
#421 poodle (her gums bled from biting the metal cage)
The Thrilla From Manila
Dear Kimmy Zhang Robins,
Your article from yesterday’s Malina Times was just passed along to me.
A month late and you couldn’t even manage to lock down a quote from Miss Philippines, Krystal Ann Dizon?
It is nearly impossible to consider this as a current event when the pageant was held over a month and a half ago.
Why is there no mention of you anywhere else on the web, even in other languages? Is this your first published report? If so, I must commend you for finding your way to the pageant with your “Five Star” accomodations, meals and airfare paid for, all courtesy of the Chinese government of Hunan.
Next time, why don’t you consider writing about something that matters…. possibly like the 60,000 people who were killed in the Chinese provence of Chengdu during last week/yesterday’s terrible earthquake.
If this topic strikes your interest, you are welcome to email me for your next piece and I will fill you in via NPR.
amyholbrook@gmail.com
www.npr.com
Beauty Olympics Preempts China Olympiad
By Kimmy Zhang Robins, Special to the Manila Times
Sure, the whole of China (and the world!) is excited over the coming Olympic Games to be held in Beijing but a different Olympics recently took China by storm. It was the annual Miss Tourism Queen International Beauty Pageant participated in by 112 beautiful delegates from around the world. The latest to make it to the prestigious group of grand slam pageants, Miss Tourism Queen International takes its place among the top pageants in the world—Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth. It broke its own record of 108 contestants joining last year.
The contest reportedly started off on the wrong foot. Many of the contestants were not warned of the late March to mid-April weather in China , particularly in Zhengzhou , Kaifeng , and Luoyang . It was freezing! The girls complained that they had to brave the cold wearing their flimsy evening gowns during the evening gown competition which was won by Miss Venezuela . Thanks heavens the swimsuit competition was held indoors or the girls would have frozen stiff!
Then seemingly from out of nowhere, Miss United States of America suddenly quit, complaining about lack of sleep hours, taxing schedules, and limited food for the contestants and vegetarians like her. Many contest franchise holders and national directors were alarmed and checked on their candidates only to find out that the girls were actually having a grand time with the best accommodations and overabundance of sumptuous food. And although young girls will be young girls (and to them gourmet food goes by the name of McDonald’s), they nonetheless enjoyed the five-star food prepared by the hotels. Then Miss South Africa withdrew for serious private matters she had to attend to back home while Miss Korea withdrew for rather unclear reasons.
The show had to go on and as in the previous years, China showed off her most beautiful tourism attractions, wowing the girls. One thing discernible in all the places the girls visited was the sincere eagerness of the Chinese to please. The whole community from the senior citizens to the youngest children was involved in the welcoming festivities. China always spotlighted their remarkable culture and art which the girls found exotic and intriguing. As the contest finals drew near, the girls have bonded and have become close friends. But the competitive spirit was still there with almost everyone keeping an eye on the coveted crown, especially the driven South American beauties and some of the African delegates.
The finals night was spectacular as the Chinese producers and TV crew left no stone unturned to come up with a truly spectacular show. The stage was so huge and gigantic that the contestants were dwarfed by its sheer size. Using the latest in laser and computer technology, the theater was transformed into a Chinese Disneyland. But some members of the press were actually surprised that the show looked more like a musical presentation than a beauty pageant. The pageant proper took only a small part of the show while international performers were flown in to entertain the people: the international band Michael Learns to Rock, pianist Richard Clayderman from France, Miss Tourism Queen International ’04 Zabina Khan and her troupe of 22 dancers (yes, all flown in from Mumbai), Coco Lee and Soon Nah singing the Olympic theme song, the world famous Shaolin Boxers from the Shaolin Temple in Henan, plus hundreds of dancers and traditional Chinese performers.
Miss Tourism Queen International must be the most expensive beauty pageant to mount as the organizers fly in all the contestants, press, and media people, and take care of all the food and accommodations. A late-bloomer in the beauty contest field, China is finally hit by the beauty contest fever with even the big producers like Miss World holding their competitions in the mainland. Determined to promote the entire country as a top tourist destination, China is succeeding by leaps and bounds through all the events, pageants and conferences held there almost non-stop.
The Miss Tourism Queen International crown went to Miss Peru , Silvia Vanessa Cornejo Cerna, joining the roster of past winners from India , Greece , the Philippines (our Justine Gabionza won the crown in 2006), and Russia Miss China Tong He, was first runner up, followed by Miss Canada Sahar Biniaz, Miss Montenegro Dasa Zivkovic, and Miss Japan Akemi Fukumura. Although Miss Philippines Krystle Ann Dizon did not make it to the top 20, she placed first runner-up to Miss Thailand as the Miss Tourism Queen of Asia.
Disneyland
Miss Laura Shields & my Julian.
Where “Faux Fur” Comes From…
The Chinese government does not have any laws or regulations for animals who are slaughtered to make fur garments. Many of these animals were once pets in someone’s home. Many people are not aware that “faux fur” manufactured in China is really fur from domesticated dogs and cats. Please educate yourself.
Content Warning: This video contains images of animal abuse.
BEE MOVIE.
KCRW Shoot.
And a new photo:
Thanks Marc!
New Pageant Friends.
Thank you to William and Miguel for a lovely brunch!!
*From left to right: William Prendiz de Jurado, Amy Holbrook, Miguel Castro-Rivera, Luther Ramos, Oscar & Bibiana Cortes, Tino Valadez and his friend Cipriano (who was hiding).
Happy 40th Birthday Miguel!!
.amy lynne.
Miss Bolivia & El Salvador Speak Out.
• MISS BOLIVIA SPEAKS UP : In an interview with a local press, Bolivia’s representative to Miss Tourism Queen International 2008, Katherine David, revealed some anecdotes when asked what the worst part of her stay in China was. David said that the change in schedule had affected all the candidates to the point that it caused them hormonal imbalance. David, who will represent Bolivia in Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam, stated that she had water retention which caused her body to be bloated. She also fell hard while getting off the bus because her chaperone had pulled her quite violently, thus tearing off her pants. (Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 4/16/2008)
• SAIDIA SPEAKS UP : A former contestant of Miss Tourism Queen International 2007, El Salvador’s Saidia Palma,, left, (a former Miss Mesoamerica International), wrote an e-mail to her friend Miguel Castro-Rivera, a CB reader, in which she recounts her misadventures in China last year. This is in reference to the claims reported by Amy Lynne Holbrook in her blog. Miguel forwarded Saidia’s e-mail to me (originally in Spanish and dated April 8, 2008) and that Miguel has translated into English:
“Hello, Miguel. I am speechless about what is going on in China and to tell you the truth, it is not strange to me, since what the girls are going through now, we lived it last year. That has been the worst pageant that I have gone to. If it was up to me, I would tell the delegates not to participate in it and to the directors NOT TO SEND ANYBODY!
Seriously, reading what Amy has written just reminded me what we experienced in China. I was counting the weeks, the days, the hours, and even the minutes just to leave with Miss Colombia. Each day that went by was a day closer to go home, and as tragic as this may sound, it is the truth. We did not have enough sleep. Many times we were under the rain almost naked with the uniforms they had provided, and we could not wear the coats because they told us that we could not take them out with us from the bus.
Regarding food, they had a huge buffet, Chinese style, but many girls did not like their offered food. Many girls were not used to this kind of food. I tried a little bit of everything, but as you know everyone’s digestive system is different, and there are some stomachs more sensitive than others and are accustomed to certain kinds of food. The buffet should have been an international cuisine to accommodate all the girls from different parts of the world. How do they expect people to tolerate and eat food that we are not accustomed to, and for a full month?
In that trip I spent a lot of money in cookies to kill my hunger when I was starving (hahaha). We were complaining about the food, the poor attention, the hotels (I believe we stayed in ONE-STAR hotel, where it was written on the door of the room that they recommended to lock the door and windows because the hotel would not be responsible if any thing should happen. What was that all about? And where was security? In reality we felt like as if we were in a circus tour, where every other day we would travel to a different place and we never knew where we were. Sometimes we were sleeping on the buses, there were some nights I could not sleep at all, and many times because we would arrive at midnight and they gave us one hour to put together our suitcases again because the next day we were going some place else. The wake-up call was at 4:00 AM. Cn you imagine going to bed as early as 2:00 AM to wake up at 4:00 AM?
This pageant was something else, and if I tried to tell you everything I would never finish, but be assured that I had 90% similar experience to what the girls are experiencing now. The only good thing about this pageant is that because of the bad experience we got closer among each other and became close friends with some of the girls and that made up for the moment, but not for everything else. I would NEVER go back to that pageant, not even if were I crazy! I am so happy that Amy is back home and released herself from all that stress. Give her my greetings and a big hug for you!”
Critical Beauty Interview:
“It is not unusual for a beauty queen to speak up against unacceptable conditions in a pageant in which she is competing. How many times have we heard of pageant contestants getting sick from food poisoning, complaining about bad facilities, or being treated rudely by the pageant organizers? And how many times have we heard stories of pageant winners not getting their prize money and other prizes that had been promised to them by the organizers or sponsors? Recently, Amy Lynne Holbrook gained worldwide attention for speaking ill about the Miss Tourism Queen International 2008 in China. Amy represented the United States. Amy had been chronicling her misadventures in her blog, and when MTQI organizers learned about it, they demanded that she take it down, to which she refused. Despite MTQI’s fervent attempts to convince Amy to stay, she decided to withdraw from the pageant - much to the dismay of her fellow contestants and supporters. Critical Beauty has found a kindred spirit in Amy - someone who loves pageants, who promotes vegetarianism, and who supports animal rights. CB is honored to interview this beautiful, articulate and intelligent young woman.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a 23 year-old student, managing a busy international salon in West Hollywood. I have two Italian Greyhounds named Delphina and Tashi. Abundant joy comes in small packages! When I am not herding Italian Greyhounds, you will find me studying or working my free time away on my Mac…that’s if I’m not stuck in traffic. I plan on transferring to UCLA in 2009 and I am currently preparing for a Liberal Arts major. I am dedicating my career to the cause of Animal Welfare.
I love watching documentaries, reading, and writing. I consider myself a huge computer geek! My immediate family lives in San Diego. My mother has been a 2nd grade teacher for 37 years. She taught me how to read by singing hymns and circling words in the church bulletin. One of my fondest memories with her was our visit to Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France and Murren, Switzerland. My father is a defense attorney by profession and a political folk singer. He is the ultimate Renaissance man on a Kawasaki 1000 (police motorcycle circa 1996).
My sister is a beautiful peacemaker who keeps my family sane. She is an excellent cook and is constantly fascinated by the weather. She has a cat named Emma who has six toes. My best friend, Julian, has deep compassion for those who are in need financially or spiritually. He is currently studying International Relations, Urban Planning, & Marketing at USC and is a faithful student of Dzogchen Buddhism. He should own stock in Barnes & Noble, his personal heaven:-)
How did you get interested in pageants?
I have watched the Miss USA and Miss Universe competition since I can remember. I was a tall and gangly little girl and beauty queens were so glamorous to me. My good friend since high school was the outgoing Miss San Diego Teen USA when we were 15 years old and she encouraged me to enter when I showed interest in the pageant. My parents thought I was crazy but they wholly supported my ambition.
Name three things you value in life and why?
Honesty. Loyalty. My experiences.
Which person or persons do you admire and why?
Princess Diana. She was the first high profile face to show the world that AIDS could not be caught through skin contact when she was photographed touching a man who was dying of AIDS. Also, the work she did to gain public awareness for the atrocities caused by land mines was unmatched.
Define happiness. What makes you happy?
Chocolate. Finishing a great novel. Failed parking meters.
Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
Optimist.
Do you believe in God or the afterlife?
I was raised with a Christian mom and a Jewish dad that I believe led me to be very exploratory with my spirituality. I also believe that religions separate people. I am currently studying Buddhism and I believe in the basics of Good and Evil. I believe in reincarnation.
If you were to describe what the purpose of life is to a child, what would you tell him or her?
This question reminds me of the Q & A at Miss Earth 2007 which was “How will you describe the beauty of Mother Nature to a blind child?” Nothing further.
AMY’S FAVORITES
• Perfume – Chanel Mademoiselle
• Flower – Night Blooming Jasmine
• Color – Black
• Cuisine – Afghani, Mediterranean
• Music – Justice, David Bowie, Prince, Moby
• Book – “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll.
Also “Slaughterhouse” by Gail Eisnitz, a must-read about the USDA and the horrors of animal cruelty
• Author - Lewis Carroll
• Designer – Karl Lagerfeld
• Quote – “We read the world wrong and say that it deceives us.” - Rabindranath Tagore
• Philosopher – Mahatma Gandhi
ON MISS TOURISM QUEEN INTERNATIONAL 2008
How did you become the U.S. representative to this pageant and how did you prepare for it
I got a call from my director and he asked me to represent the U.S. in the pageant. This is my fourth international pageant (three have been under his direction) and every other experience was incredible. I attribute much of my traveling from his faith in me.
Did you have any idea what you were getting into when you joined this pageant?
Obviously not. Since my return, I have had numerous people send me emails from around the world stating their personal experience with Miss TQI and thanking me for exposing the truth.
What do you say to your critics who claim that the only reason you stirred controversy is to attract attention to yourself?
I am a catalyst for change, not a fame whore. Not everyone living in Los Angeles wants to be famous.
I’d like to share some facts with you. I have been to China before and I made the choice to go back after I had such a pleasant experience at Miss International held partially in China. I left my full-time college course schedule IN THE MIDDLE OF MID-TERMS to go to China because I saw my participation in Miss TQI as a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am still not caught up on all of my assignments.
I also postponed my new job working full-time as the manager of a salon and I have a ton of work to do now. I spent four months preparing for the pageant, practicing my walk with a coach, finding time to go to the gym, finding the means to buy my pageant wardrobe on a very limited student budget and then driving all over California to pick up these items, and then putting my life on hold to go to Miss TQI.
It just made no sense for me to go home since I feel I came prepared to do my best at the pageant. How sad it is for people to say that I just wanted some media coverage. If I really wanted media coverage, I would have just carried around my “Free Tibet” sign. That could have done it!
Describe a typical day in Miss Tourism Queen International 2008.
NON-COMPETITION DAYS
Wake up call 6:30 AM (we would get up at 5:30 or 6 to have an hour to prepare for the day)
Breakfast - 7AM
Leave the hotel at 7:30 AM and drive to first event
First event 9AM to 11AM
Possible second event - 11 AM to 12 PM
Lunch (a/k/a publicity tour) - 12 to 1 PM
Third event - 1 PM to 3 PM
Drive back to the hotel to prepare for dinner - 3 PM to 4:30 PM
Arrive at hotel to prepare for dinner event - 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Dinner Event - 6 PM to 9 PM
Drive back to hotel - 9 PM to 10 PM
Pack luggage and take it downstairs (we changed hotels 4 times) - 10 PM to 11 PM
Personal time to email, call, and prep for the next day - 11 PM to 2 AM
COMPETITION DAYS
Wake up call 6:30 AM (we would get up at 5:30 or 6 to have an hour to prepare for the day, packing and prepping for competition)
Breakfast - 7 AM
Leave the hotel at 7:30 AM and drive to first event
First event - 9 AM to 11 AM
Possible second event - 11 AM to 12 PM
Lunch (aka publicity tour) - 12 PM to 1 PM
Rehearsals - 1 PM to 6 PM
Prep for competition - 6 PM to 7 PM
Competition - 7 PM to 10 PM
Drive back to hotel - 10 PM to 10:30 PM
Pack luggage and take it downstairs (we changed hotels 4 times) - 10:30 PM to 11 PM
Personal time to email, call, and prep for the next day - 11 PM to 2 AM
Throw in the elements with sleep/food/cold situation and it was quite the experience!
And as a catalyst for change, have there been any changes?
Within 24 hours since my blog went global, there had been some major changes. The girls were given continental meals with plenty of veggie options. Also, the girls had a boxed dinner before the Miss Charm show and I was told that they were offered vegetarian meals. They had the opportunity to sleep for one extra hour and were given one afternoon off. The girls were finally taken to a supermarket to do some personal shopping. I am so glad that these changes started to take effect. I no longer had the luxury of enjoying them but the rest of the contestants enjoyed them. For me, this was a positive compromise.
How did the contestants feel about you withdrawing from the pageant?
Some of the girls would sneak in my room because the pageant isolated me from the rest of the girls. In fact, when we arrived to the last hotel, I was put in a room with Miss South Africa (who was also going home) as to not infect the other contestants. Our room was positioned right next to Jerome Too.
I actually wrote notes on scrap paper to 10 girls that I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to which we delivered by one of the girls who snuck in my room to see how I was doing. Others would write me emails from their room to mine to say hello and ask how I was doing. It was not in their best interest for the organizer to see them communicating with me for competition purposes. I got a few emails from my friends as the pageant that said, “Congratulations….you escaped!”
Since you came back home from China, have you received any updates about the pageant? Have you kept in touch with the contestants?
I am still in contact with about 10 girls. I am actually going to have lunch with Miss Liberia today! We have discussed very little about the competition since the girls have left the pageant. I want to maintain our friendship on the grounds that we enjoyed each other’s company. If I never hear another word about Miss TQI, that would be ok with me!
After your unfortunate experience in MTQI, has it changed your opinion about pageants in general? Would you still encourage young women to enter pageants?
I am still a strong supporter of pageants, although I have not made any decision to vie for another title. Pageants have positively affected everything in my life, from the multiple friendships I have now to the places I have visited all over the world, to the ability to have confidence in my personal choices.
ON MISS INTERNATIONAL 2004
You placed second in the Miss International 2004 pageant, which took place in China. How would you compare your experience in that pageant with the one that you have experienced in Miss Tourism Queen International 2008?
I absolutely adored my time at Miss International. We spent three weeks in Japan and one week in China and I have the fondest memories of visiting the Shinto Temple in Kamakura and having a lovely feast at the Great Wall of China. I also met my dear friend at the pageant (Laura Shields, Miss UK Int. 2004) and now I have the pleasure of seeing her a few times a week since we both live in Los Angeles. There is just no comparing the two competitions because the very mention of Miss International compared to Miss Tourism Queen International is slanderous. One focuses on quality, the other focuses on quantity.
Did you get along with the organizers of this pageant? Were there any problems with the organizers that were tantamount to the problems that you experienced with the MTQI organizers?
Miss International was extremely organized and took excellent care of the contestants. Being the 1st Runner-Up was such an honor considering the long U.S. history of the pageant when it was held in Long Beach, California. My experience at Miss International was divine.
ON VEGETARIANISM & ANIMAL RIGHTS
When, why and how did you become a vegetarian?
I made the choice to become a vegetarian when I was 18 after reading “Fast Food Nation” on the plane ride home from Ecuador, where I represented the U.S. at Miss Teen International. That became my “gateway” to a humane way to maintaining proper health and nutrition. When a subject interests me, I usually research it to find out all of the information available.
After seeing videos on PETA’s website that showed cows who are too lame to walk being dragged to the slaughterhouse by a chain wrapped around their ankle and a forklift, I knew that something had to be done and sometimes it only takes one person to influence a sea of change.
Also, I have done some volunteer work for the animal shelter in Los Angeles, which is forced to put down over 50,000 domestic animals per year due to overpopulation. The very least I could do was to personally decide to stop contributing to animal suffering.
In your blog during your trip to Turkey, you wrote: “As you can see, I have successfully removed any sign of meat from my plate but my mom would be proud that I ate the fish (which is cooked whole in these parts….eyeballs and all).” Does this mean that you don’t regard fish as meat? They have feelings, too, you know!
I try to look at everything I support in a very objective light. I have decided that vegetarianism is the humane way to nourish my body and I do not find it at all difficult to be a vegetarian in my own country. I have discovered that traveling can make my dietary preferences limited, depending on cultural circumstances. Fish DO have feelings and I do not choose to eat fish. On this occasion, I was hosted by a group that would have found it very offensive if I had chosen not to partake in the fresh catch. I decided that trying the fish was the diplomatic thing to do because of the hospitality that they had shown me. Over the past year, I have really taken the time to explore animal rights as my chosen profession and I will never look at fish the same way again.
How did you become interested in animal rights and welfare? What can humans learn from animals?
Through my experience at the shelter, I feel that everyone has the ability to grasp the feelings of an animal and experience a deep form of natural understanding if they are quiet, patient, and just listen.
Animals are soothing and live natural lives so they depend on the Earth for resources. Humans have become their greatest predator by domesticating them, depleting their habitats of natural resources, and hunting them for entertainment.
Lastly, it is absolutely shocking that the U.S. Government allows cows and pigs to be jammed in cages so tiny that they cannot even turn around for their entire life and many enter the slaughterhouse with puss-filled lacerations caused by the metal grates at the bottoms of the cage. Chickens might experience the worst treatment of all since they are fed a diet of growth hormones and antibiotics in order to make them grow four times faster than normal which can make their heart explode in their chests and then their lifeless bodies are put on the conveyor belt for human consumption. The beaks of chickens are seared off without any anesthetic so they will not peck each other to death after going insane in those tiny cages, never being able to spread a wing during their entire existence. We can learn to understand the importance of compassion if we choose to. Everything is a personal choice and everyone is responsible for educating themselves.
What is your opinion of PETA? Do you think it is a radical group?
I love PETA. Very few organizations have the gall to stand up to government organizations like the USDA and large corporations like Burberry, KFC, and Sara Lee (who owns Coach Leather Goods and one of the largest slaughterhouses in the Midwest).
If you were to come back as an animal in the next life, what would it be and why?
A giraffe. I like being able to see over people at a concert!
ON POLITICS & SOCIETY
The U.S. presidential elections will take place in November. Will you vote? If so, for whom? Who do you think will win the presidency?
I am a supporter of Dr. Ron Paul as a political activist and I completely support his views on the unnecessary war that the current administration has gotten us into.
In the November elections, I will vote for Barack Obama. Not only is he an excellent speaker and will do wonders for our image abroad, I also feel that he is the perfect candidate to challenge the thick vein of racism that we still have in this country because of his multicultural background. Hopefully, his administration will come prepared with a plan to pick up our failing economy and bring our troops home.
I project that he will be our next president.
Do you think the U.S. soldiers should stay in Iraq or come home?
This is quite a complex issue and I admittedly have never served in the military but I grew up in San Diego, which is home to four bases and the largest military housing community in the world. Many of my friends have had and continue to have their families torn apart by deployment and death in the name of precious resources. Also, the conditions that are often provided for a military family are just not up to par with what they deserve for all of the sacrifices they have made to support our country.
What is your view on illegal immigration in America? Do you approve of the construction of a 700-mile wall along the frontier with Mexico?
I live in Los Angeles, which is a city that is constantly bursting with diversity. It is such a pleasure to walk down the street and hear five different foreign tongues being spoken on the same city block. America is unique for its amazing diversity.
I was born in this country and I have no idea what it would be like to risk my life stuffed under the bed of a truck for $1000, hoping to find work for menial wages rather than stay in my own country. It would be unfair for me to form an opinion on this issue since I know so many people that are living in the U.S. illegally, many of which have earned the monetary resources to file the documents to be “legal” but just can’t get through all of the red tape.
What is your take on same-sex marriage?
Simply stated, love is love. On my insurance form, there is now a box to check called “domestic partnership”. I feel that we are moving in the right direction in terms of accepting other people’s chosen lifestyles.
What is your view on abortion?
I was adopted and I owe my birth parents a world of gratitude for giving me up to my family when they knew that they could not provide me with a proper upbringing. I decided to reconnect with my birth parents (and their children) when I turned 21.
It is hard to fit every woman’s family planning situation into the same small box but I am an advocate of life. Women who find themselves in this difficult situation should know that there are tons of adoption success stories and many options. A child can never have too many people loving them.
What do you think is the greatest problem facing young people today and what can be done about it?
I feel that biased media outlets and the bombardment of advertising are responsible for creating the greatest communication breakdown of our time. Kids no longer have to think for themselves because MTV does that for them.
We must begin to enlighten our young people, teaching them to ask questions, celebrating their unique abilities and help them escape from a lifestyle that supports total disregard for the truth.”
INTERVIEW BY RAFAEL ROBERT DELFIN
From CNN
A coincidence or is someone in the CNN newsroom reading my blog?
Source: CNN
Article From Critical Beauty
MARCH 2008
| 04.07.2008 | Monday
“• THE AMERICAN GIRL : Amy Holbrook, left, the American representative to the Miss Tourism Queen International pageant taking place in China, decided to withdraw from the competition last Tuesday (April 1st) after the organizers discovered that she had been writing unfavorable comments about the pageant in her blog. Amy cites that the candidates were being subjected to 3 to 4 hours of sleep, to poor nutrition, to freezing temperatures without proper attire, to minimal security, and to poor medical care. She also wrote that one of the organizers, Jerome Too was rude to her and told her that vegetarian girls like herself would not be allowed to compete next year. The organizers even attempted to persuade her to take down her blog and also gave her the option to maintain her blog - but on the condition that she retract her statements. Holbrook decided to keep her blog as it is, citing freedom of expression.
Global Beauties, which covers the pageant, published a comment written by its correspondent Thiago Castro in which Castro denounces Amy and calls her statements “baseless.” Castro also posted an “official statement” from MTQI organizers that was supposedly sent to all the national directors:
“We would like to inform you that Miss America’s allegations and claims are not true and baseless. We’d like to say that this event is organized by the Henan Government and Henan TV station and their expectations are high for the contest as well as the contestants. They have spent millions in US$ in terms of round-trip fare for the candidates to come to their respective countries, international journalists as well their local journalists which include hotel stays and food and beverages. The China organizers have done their best to make all welcome both contestants and the 120 journalists from the international and national press that are currently with us. This event is high publicized. We provide sufficient and top grade meals for all contestants. We have big buffets spreads which consist of good food and in her case, plenty of vegetables, salads, fruits and soya based food. We do not feed bugs, dogs, cats and “Fear Factor” meals to our guests, journalists and contestants. There are sufficient security provide by both police and army. Last year alone, they activated 10,000 security personnel for the pageant. However sometimes there are occasional overzealous locals who tend to pull the contestants to snap photos with but usually this contestant who are being “harassed” will be ushered away by the chaperones. We have a trained doctor, paramedics and the ambulance are with us at all times during activities that the candidates are involved in. Should they be sick, they are immediately attended to. Other issues about phones cards of which this can be purchased at hotel concierge or gift stores. This will include feminine products as well. If the hotel do not have any available, they can approach the chaperones who will get the hotel to purchase for them on their behalf. Many of you have worked with us over the years and you know we are very strict and look after your girls well so we do not allow such things to happen. I have journalist here with us who can vouch that what was written in the blog mostly was a pack of lies. I will attach their comments in my next email for your judgment. Attached is also the Founder of Miss Tourism Queen International, Mr. Charlie See’ wife who has given us her thoughts”.
Amy reposted the above statement in her blog and called it a “public relations nightmare.” Notice that the statement insists that the pageant is highly publicized by “120 journalists from the international and national press.” I just searched for “miss tourism queen,” “miss tourism queen international,” “miss tourism,” and “mtqi” in the News section of Yahoo and Google and I didn’t see any links to a coverage in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French - languages spoken by over a billion people. Global Beauties is the only pageant site that offers full coverage; the other sites could care less. Notice, too, how the writer admits to a lapse in security while referring to “occasional overzealous locals who tend to pull the contestants to snap photos.” Sufficient security does not always translate to guaranteed security, as the contestants could get hurt especially if they were pulled aggressively. Imagine international athletes being treated like this when they come to China for the Summer 2008 Olympics. And why is there only one “trained doctor?” In her blog, Amy describes the substandard conditions in a local hospital to which she was taken after she had experienced stomach ache. It seems that there was not even one good doctor to examine a patient suffering from a simple stomach ache that, according to Amy, was caused “by lack of sleep and food poisoning.”
What I’d like to know is who exactly wrote the so-called “official statement” from MTQI. Notice how the statement starts with the collective “We” and ends with a singular “I.” Why weren’t the names of the MTQI organizers Jerome Too and Alex Liu mentioned in the statement? And more importantly, why is the statement not even posted in the official MTQI website? The statement ends with a reference to an attachment - a letter supposedly written by Ann See, the widow of MTQI founder Charlie See. What exactly did Mrs. See say and why is her letter not posted on Global Beauties or MTQI websites?
After being held “hostage” in China for a couple of days, Amy was finally able to fly out of China and returned safely in Los Angeles last Saturday. Another contestant, Miss South Africa Alyssa Revelo, also withdrew from the pageant “due to medical reasons,” according to Global Beauties, although one would suspect that she had also gotten ill due to food poisoning. Reliable sources informed me that nearly twenty candidates also wanted to leave, but that their passports were being held by the organizers. It would be interesting to see new stories come out once the pageant is over on April 10th, that is if all the girls (except the winner and runners-up) get to leave safely!”
Source: Critical Beauty
amyholbrook@gmail.com
~”The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.“~ GHANDI
Content Warning: This video contains images of animal abuse.
Photos.
Special thanks to Joe from Thai Miss. Thank you for your kindness and the beautiful photos:-)
Home In Los Angeles.
Again, I would like to thank everyone for their care and concern in regards to my health and safety while in China.
I finally arrived home in Los Angeles, had a proper meal, called my family, had a nice shower, spent some time cuddling my two Italian Greyhounds, and now I’m finally going to sleep! I have a doctor’s appointment first thing tomorrow to check out my reoccurring stomach pain.
Furthermore, it is my heart’s wish to thank all of the girls who supported my decision to withdraw from the competition. I hope that you never have to hear Michael Jackson’s rendition of “We Are The World” again. Thank you for keeping me laughing and visiting me in my room. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, it was all worth the trouble if it meant having the opportunity to get to know you. (More on this in my blog below entitled Miss Tri-Country Tourism….)
Lusine, we cried when we parted ways (all three times!!) and please know that you are such a special beauty in my life. It makes me cry again just reflecting on the common bond of friendship that we built so quickly and how much I already miss you. You truly have one of the most delicate hearts I have ever seen and I look forward to coming to visit you soon. Please tell Mom that she raised you to be a real gem.
Please check back soon as I have still have some things I need to address.
.amy lynne.
OFFICIAL MISS TQI DOC TO THE PRESS
On March 24th, I was asked by my chaperone to provide the organization with the contact information for my personally selected journalist so that the pageant would have press coverage in the United States. I thought this might interest a few respected journalists that are used to working in an international setting. This is what Miss TQI sent to my selected journalists.
letter-of-invitation-of-the-press.doc
After careful deliberation, my journalists refused the offer citing other obligations. I posted this on my blog so that you can see for yourself that Miss TQI makes no attempt to hide the fact that the “journalists” are essentially paid to come to the pageant by offering them kick backs like free airfare, travel within China, all three meals, and accommodations.
Is it really fair to let the viewers who follow this pageant be influenced by glorified pageant coverage blanketed by the disguise of “journalists” who will obviously maintain a very biased slant in favor of the pageant? Is it possible that the only way the pageant can maintain a sparkling clean image in the media is by paying the “journalists” with freebees? Would a proper journalist take the pageant up on this offer? You decide.
My Fellow Americans.
I particularly appreciate the way that one foreign “journalist” used the term “AMERICAN GIRL” as though it were a bad thing.
~“Stereotypes are devices for saving a biased person the trouble of learning”.~
Please keep in mind that I have no reason to lie about my experiences here at Miss TQI. The “journalists” that are covering the pageant were offered free airfare and free hotel accommodations for three weeks which was all paid for by the government of Henan, China and the local sponsors. The only expenses that “journalists” are required to cover are their personal meals and any other incidentals in exchange for “reporting”. It would be very surprising for “journalists” here to say anything that might reflect unfavorably on the pageant.
Globalbeauties.com suggested that the organizer has “disqualified [Miss America TQI] on grounds of fabricating untrue matters.”
Apparently, GB has not been following my blogs. I decided to drop out of the race on April 1 when I realized that it was more important for me to do what was right rather than suck it up and let the organizer and the Government or Henan take advantage of “the American girl”.
(See my blog entitled “Shared Concerns”)
Official Miss TQI Press Release
Please read in order to inform yourself about the Miss TQI public relations nightmare:
“We would like to inform you that Miss America’s allegations and claims are not true and baseless. We’d like to say that this event is organized by the Henan Government and Henan TV station and their expectations are high for the contest as well as the contestants. They have spent millions in US$ in terms of round-trip fare for the candidates to come to their respective countries, international journalists as well their local journalists which include hotel stays and food and beverages. The China organizers have done their best to make all welcome both contestants and the 120 journalists from the international and national press that are currently with us. This event is high publicized. We provide sufficient and top grade meals for all contestants. We have big buffets spreads which consist of good food and in her case, plenty of vegetables, salads, fruits and soya based food. We do not feed bugs, dogs, cats and “Fear Factor” meals to our guests, journalists and contestants. There are sufficient security provide by both police and army. Last year alone, they activated 10,000 security personnel for the pageant. However sometimes there are occasional overzealous locals who tend to pull the contestants to snap photos with but usually this contestant who are being “harassed” will be ushered away by the chaperones. We have a trained doctor, paramedics and the ambulance are with us at all times during activities that the candidates are involved in. Should they be sick, they are immediately attended to. Other issues about phones cards of which this can be purchased at hotel concierge or gift stores. This will include feminine products as well. If the hotel do not have any available, they can approach the chaperones who will get the hotel to purchase for them on their behalf. Many of you have worked with us over the years and you know we are very strict and look after your girls well so we do not allow such things to happen. I have journalist here with us who can vouch that what was written in the blog mostly was a pack of lies. I will attach their comments in my next email for your judgment. Attached is also the Founder of Miss Tourism Queen International, Mr. Charlie See’ wife who has given us her thoughts”.
There was no message from Ms. Ann See attached to the document that I received. I’m just as curious as you are!
The Bottom Line.
I have been waiting in my room all day for the organizer to give me my flight information that they promised to organize for me. I am still here after I was woken up abruptly and told that it was time to go to the airport. I stood outside for 30 minutes and then they told me that my flight was later and that the organizer wanted to meet with me again. I AM ONLY HERE BECAUSE THE PAGEANT TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE STILL LOOKING FOR MY PLANE TICKET CONFIRMATION NUMBER THAT I ORIGINALLY PROVIDED FOR THEM WHEN I ARRIVED. I ended up changing my own flight by calling Beijing myself and I have missed the domestic flight for today. Read on:
Dear Family and Friends,
I thought I was going to have quite the international incident last night when the (official?) journalist from the Miss TQI pageant payed a visit to my room and told me that I was in jeopardy of being deported from China because of my free speech blog about the organizers of this pageant.
This particular journalist spent about an hour in my room explaining the implications of my writing and tried her best to encourage me to remove my blog. I will give it to her: She was very charming and persuasive.
She was directly from the pageant’s press team and told me that I needed to meet with the governer of this city (Kaifeng) and the chairman of this pageant to discuss what I had written in my blog (which I vow is the ultimate red flag of truth but it is now edited so I can get home safely). I was called up to the 6th floor to meet with the chairman and others so they could decide if I would ever be allowed back into China (or forced to leave) after being honest about my pageant experiences via my personal weblog.
When the chairman walked in, I stood up and greeted him in Chinese and told him that I could understand a little too (I have been studying Chinese for a few months and so far it seems that the locals can understand me). The woman from the press gave a heavy sigh of relief because she had told me earlier that she was worried that I would be deported right away for offending the organization and would never be allowed back into China. (By the way, the US Embassy in Beijing called me and said that this is oftentimes threatened but not a reality). The chairman smiled and we got on with it.
Altogether, there were two men from the organization, one of which was the chairman. No government was present as far as I was told. The same woman journalist from the pageant and two translators were present. There was another woman there who only spoke in Chinese and I don’t know who she was.
We discussed the concerns I had written in my blog. The first thing they showed me was an email sent around to all 120 of the national directors by an anonymous email address and no signature. The writer picked apart my blog and puzzled it back together in a convenient fashion. In fact, they thought that I knew the person who sent it! I assure you that I have no idea who this person is but they certainly took my information and ran with it! I do not know who this email address belongs to. It is not really shocking at all that someone would send this around but it must be someone that is on the inside because they had EVERY NATIONAL DIRECTOR’S EMAIL ADDRESS!!! LET ME REITERATE. INSIDE JOB.
The food and sleep issues were both addressed. In fact, they only wanted to discuss what it meant to be a vegetarian. I was told that the Chinese people did not know that the word “Vegetarian” meant “NO MEAT”. They thought it meant a lot of vegetables in a dish with a little sprinkle of meat. They said that they wanted to accomodate me now. Seriously, stop focusing on the petty issues like my eating habits and get to the “meat and potatoes!”. THE ISSUE IS NOT ABOUT ME CHOOSING TO SPARE 90 ANIMAL LIVES PER YEAR BY CHOOSING TO GO VEG but this organization has made it the issue. THE FACT IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN OVERWORKED FOR OVER A WEEK WITH LITTLE CARE UNTIL THIS ISSUE STARTED GOING GLOBAL.
(Update on food: Miss TQI has arranged for vegetarian meals to be sent to my room today after I met with the chairman last night. I really appreciate the effort. Thank you.)
I told them what Mr. Jerome Too said to me about not allowing vegetarian girls into the competition next year. I told them that Mr. Too gave me the passport and he told me that I needed to make my own arrangements to get home. I explained how much he had offended me by his comments and lack of care which were stated in a previous blog. They told me to ignore him because he is rude to everyone and is stressed out.
They assured me that they would make the plans for me to go home if I truly was going to leave. Why couldn’t someone help me to make these arrangements over 24 hours ago? It was clear to me that they had expected to smooth things over with me and make me shut up by coaxing me to stay here with my personal needs met. Please understand that my struggle is not about my needs. This is about everyone’s right to be properly cared for. I just happen to be the only one writing it down in a public forum.
Then we talked about the temperature. They said that the cold weather was unexpected. Perhaps it would be bright to give blankets to the girls during our outdoor activities when sponsored track suits are required so we will not freeze outside anymore. Just a suggestion.
Lastly, they asked me to take down my blog. I didn’t say anything and made no eye contact. Then they told me that I was allowed to keep the blog up but that I needed to write a retraction statement NOW. I asked what they wanted me to type in the blog. They said that I needed to state that “this was just a cultural misunderstanding”. Hmm…
Then they told me that they wanted very much for me to stay and hoped that I could enjoy China.
It was expressed to me very clearly that the organizers had spent over $4 million on this pageant and that the chairman would go to prison if I left the pageant and all the other girls started to leave. This is true in China or anywhere if you get sponsors, they spend money, and then no beauty queens show up.
I highly doubt that most of the girls will press the issue about going home however I believe it should be each contestant’s own free will to leave if this is what they decide is best. The pageant had a turn around about the time that my blog was being fed to every hungry gossip fan and I believe that YOU, the reader, are really the ones who made the difference. They took the girls to the supermarket to get products and food. They also requested a continental buffet for the girls and gave them one extra hour of sleep this morning.
I said that this is my 2nd time in China and I made the choice to return because “I love China and its rich culture”. Xie xie.
Then I said that I would need to contact my national director and organizer and that I would appreciate it if I could give them my decision in the morning.
I have made the choice to return home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~MORE~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Even more, we (S. Africa and I) were called at 8 am to go down to the lobby with our luggage to be taken to the airport, fly back to Beijing, and then home to our cities. We were told to rush because we had to leave right away! Thanks for no notice but I should have expected this! Then we waited. And waited. And waited. Finally, a half hour goes by, they load S. Africa’s luggage into the van and then tell me that I am not leaving. The organizer wants to speak with me again. I was SO CLOSE to hitching a ride to the airport but my dreams were shattered by a Chinese man screaming over a shattered walkie-talkie.
Whatever he said, it wasn’t good news because the chaperone who was handling our flight arrangements had me go back inside with my luggage and told me to meet the chairman’s translator in her room.
The translator requested that I tell her again the reasons why I was leaving and she tried to persuade me to stay. She reminded me that we had stayed in the “best hotels” in every city we had visited. They were all 5 star by the Chinese government’s standards (I was told that the government is the one who decided this. Conde Nast is outta luck on this one.) I assured her that the number of stars in the hotel was not an issue. I continued on about how I was used to traveling alone and staying in student hostels so this mattered very little to me. What did matter was the amount of time that my eyes remained shut sleeping in the room. I explained that we were never allowed to spend any time in the hotel room sleeping so who cared about the number of stars!
It boggles my mind that they would want to keep me here now. I do not understand their positioning at all. She told me that a flight would be arranged for me and that I would pay for nothing. Now I am just waiting for them to book a ticket for me.
(Update: I booked my own flight home from Beijing by changing the dates. Miss TQI is paying for my domestic return flight.)
If you read my blog, you can see that the situation got progressively worse throughout the week. I had emailed my concerns earlier in the week to my director and my parents just to let them know what was going on here. The press likes to paint a pretty “Bob Ross” picture of the situation which is just NOT the truth. I do not feel that I have been inconsistent in my blog whatsoever. It was a total progression from “Wow, exciting! I just arrived.” to “Oh my God! Get me the hell out of here!“. I admit, I also smiled for the cameras for a few days too long and put on the act that everything was “fine” when I should have said something at the very start.
Lastly, it has come to my attention that one of my readers has named me as the “Spoiled American”. It’s so easy for you to come to this conclusion if you are only looking at my face value. Just walk a mile in my shoes and see how fast it takes for the soles to wear out and your toes to bleed.
Thank you for your care and concern. Thanks to those who have helped me through this.
EDIT.
EDIT
The organizers of the Miss Tourism Queen International pageant are holding me EDIT in China. I just called to change my flight and it has been cancelled which means I don’t even have a flight arranged for me to go home in 11 days as previously planned. EDIT
This is a EDIT.
I have been told that it would be “the right thing to do for me to come down to dinner tonight and dine with the rest of the girls so they don’t think that the organizer has abandoned me”.
In reality, they EDIT. I have been told that I must find my own way back to Beijing (which is at least 10 hours away by car or rail) because I am not the pageant’s EDIT.
Also, the trains are very unsafe in China and they have told me that I only have the option to fly back to Beijing but that the cost will be EDIT by me. This is going to cost about EDIT (US) for an hour and a half flight.
Truth be told, I would not be having major stomach cramping and throwing up if the organizer had decided to feed us properly and let us sleep. I was told by Mr. Jerome Too and Mr. Alex Lui that sleep was a luxury. Sleep is necessary for proper health, especially after being jet lagged. They also said that they would never allow another vegetarian contestant to enter the pageant because they were not going to accommodate “special diets”. I never asked once for a “special meal”, all I needed was proper nutrition. They said that I needed to pay to go home. I would not be going home (and directly to an American hospital) if the organizers had taken better care of me.
I worked for Mr. Too and Mr. Lui for 8 days before I was too ill to even get out of bed. Now this is how they repay me.
I have no idea what to do so I’m calling the US Embassy again.
(UPDATE: If you are abroad and are experiencing trouble, always call the local US Embassy in the country that you are currently in. Although they cannot act as law enforcement, they are extremely instrumental in assisting you in a time of need. While in China, I was in contact with the US Embassy located in Beijing.)
Shared Concerns.
I love participating in international beauty pageants but I have some important concerns about this competition. There are 115 girls here with little to no official organization. Each night, we are given a total of 3 to 4 hours to sleep and the girls are getting sick with no medical care. They finally took one of the poor girls to the hospital after 3 days with a serious ailment. Also, we have not had a proper meal in days and all most of us have been eating is bread, cakes, and rice, and french fries. Needless to say, I feel terrible! I rarely eat this but I have to eat something! I am not just being picky either. I don’t know too many people that are willing to try “Sea Cucumber in Blueberry Juice” or “Fermented Bean Skin”. I am trying to maintain my composure and eat what we are fed in order to show respect which is sometimes a very difficult task here. We have no place to buy food during the day either.
Some of the girls have asked for feminine products and we have been unable to buy them. In my eyes, this is totally unacceptable.
Lastly, the security does very little to protect us. They stand around while the Chinese tourists are aggressive with us, poking us and pulling us so we will come take a photo with them. Some of the girls have had their hair pulled by tourists when they tried to walk away! I know they are excited but I do not think it is right to let them do this.
A few of the organizers are constantly rude to us. They bang loudly on the door when the doorbell would do just fine. They are always screaming and stressed out. I realized they are trying to gather over 115 girls but it is unfair to us that they have not planned the events properly before we arrived. There are too many contestants and not enough chaperones to help us with our needs.
Also, the evening gown competition we had a few nights ago was in 40 F (7 C) weather outside. Some of the girls were sick the next morning.
Yesterday, we were required to wear cocktail dresses in freezing weather while we hiked down steep terrain equivilant to the Grand Canyon.
We have visited many businesses to take group photos with the staff but we never actually get to experience the tourist sites which is very disappointing since China is such a beautiful country and we have only seen it from the bus rides.
We have no formal itinerary and no idea what the wear, where to go, or what city we a currently in. Currently, I have no idea where I am.
Most of the girls have been unable to call home because they cannot find a shop to buy an international phone card and no one seems to help the problem. After 5 days, someone finally bought the girls phone cards but they were for domestic use only and were not useful to call home. With all of the international news about China, it is very important for everyone’s parents to know that they are safe and well.
Thankfully, I have a phone that works internationally at all times. I have let some of the girls use my phone because they cannot call their families otherwise.
They took our passports for “safe keeping”. The real reason they take the passports is so we cannot decide to go home on our own.
It is possible that the pageant was recently changed to new hands but it seems like the organization as a whole is half hearted and that they do not truly care about our well being. They seemed to have thrown this pageant together in a matter of weeks because the planning has been awful. I feel bad for the few members of the staff that truly have their heart in assisting the girls and making this an enjoyable experience for everyone. There is a very special woman from Australia who has been extremely helpful to all of us and she is the only one I feel safe with. Thank you Gaelle!
All I am asking for is a good wholesome meal and 8 hours of sleep.
Hospital Of Horrors.
i ended up going to the hospital aFter walking around with a stomach ache all day. i had a mass exodus of junk from both ends. yum-yum. my roommate stayed in all day today with the same stomach bug. there are about 15 giRls that have ended up with the same illness.
when i told one of the staff that i wasn’t fEEling well, she gave me amway mint breath spray as medicine. wow…let me contain my enthusiasm.
the docTor came in and started poking me violently in the stomach asking if it hurt. of course it hurt!!! then she told both lusine and me that we had appendicitis. well, using my best judgement, i knew it was nearly impossible that we both had appendicitis but we were forced to go to the hospital anyway.
at the hospital, it was just more poking and chInese people screaming at each other. i was given a look of distain when they wanted to stick me with a catheter drip and i refused it, especially after viewing the very unsanitary conditions of the hospital. there was no way that i was about to let a small town chinese hospital stick a dirty needle in my arm for a simple stomach ache caused by lack of sleep and food poisoning.
i called my health advisor and attorney, dr. douglas holBrook, and asked him what to do. he supported my decision to deny treatment for appendicitis and i had to sign a paper at the hospital to release myself from the treatment.
i had to explain the situation but I think the photos of the hospital speak for themselves. i havE posted photos of the hallway, patient’s toileT, and the sink to wash your hands after the bathroom. yikes.
Miss TQI, SURVIVOR EDITION!!!
Dear World,
It has come to my attention that some websites that are reporting about the excellent time the girls are having at this pageant. My question to them is “Are you here experiencing it with us?”…. Secondly, “Are you insane?“….. Since when did freezing to death in banana colored track suits, being fed marinated animal part delicacies, and sleeping for 3 to 4 hours each night constitute as fun???
Of course the girls are going to smile and say that they are having a great time. This IS a pageant and the overall goal should be to win, or at least the desire to represent your country well. I leave many details out of my blogs for my own safety here in China but let me tell you that the conditions are less that stellar.
This pageant should be called “MISS TQI, SURVIVOR EDITION“. The girl who doesn’t die at the end, wins!
Let me also say that China is NOT the problem. I have visited the country before and I loved my time here. I LOVE CHINA and everything about its rich culture. This pageant reflects very poorly on China for the girls who have never visited before and that saddens me.
International pageants have been instrumental to my personal growth, thoughts, ideas, and goals. I have represented the USA in other international pageants and I loved every experience. For most of the girls, this is their first international experience and I’m afraid they are getting the wrong impression about what pageants are really about.
I hope this reaches the big man upstairs who was put in charge of financing this train wreck.
(UPDATE: I met with the chairman of the pageant and I feel that his only intension was to manipulate me into removing me blog and staying in China so that the press would not get wind of my concerns about the pageant.)
Cyber Space.
We arrived at our new hotel tonight which is a retro space theme. It reminds me of “Star Tours” at Disneyland or a little boy’s bedroom with modern furniture and a rocketship ashtray. I don’t think any other guest has stayed in this room before because it still has the “new car smell”. This is the best hotel we have stayed in yet and I know my Astronomy professor would geek out on this place!!
Here are my photos from the Longmen Grottoes, which is a UNESCO world heritage site. The grottoes feature many very large scale Buddhas carved into the mountainside. This site makes the original Eastern-most starting point for the Silk Road which went all the way through the Middle East to Europe. It is really a stunner!!
I also got to buy some beautiful incense at the Gaunlin Temple. This site was the former palace of the Emperor Guan (who was a famous Chinese Warrior Lord) and is now the home to the only recognized goddess in the world. Being the diva that she is, she decided to stay inside today.
Conversations With An Iron.
Apparently, the irons at the Jiaozuo hotel have taken on a life of their own.
My roommate, Lusine, called down for an iron the other day and she was told that “The iron is very boring...” and then the woman at the service desk hung up.
I called all yesterday but no one at the desk spoke English so they hung up on me. Then I heard a knock on my door about 20 minutes later. There were now two men who worked for the hotel that still could not understand my request. I ended up using my pantomiming skills to show them what an iron was. Unfortunately, I never got my iron.
I just called again now. I was told that “The iron is very busy. You need to wait for him“.
Comical, I guess.
Final Night Notes:
I just returned from the choreography rehearsal. Here is what we discussed:
The final night competition will consist of national costume presentation, evening gown presentation, sportswear presentation (from the sponsor), and the final question.
It is in discussion to only have a Top 5 and no other finalists called. The Top 5 will answer the final question onstage and be ranked accordingly.
There will be no swimsuit competition and the sportswear will be centered around the 2008 China Olympic Games and tourism. We were told that the sportswear will consist of the girls acting out the role of the fight attendant and the passenger in coordinating outfits.
I guess that last night will be the only other time that I will be on a stage in swimsuit. No more eyefuls of my junk.
Goodnight:-)
Frozen China.
Today we visited a scenic park called “Qingtainhe”.
When our group arrived at the mountain lake to take photos with sponsors, we were not told to bring appropriate shoes for walking, which I left in the bus. None of us were told to wear heavy coats and boots (which I brought and could have worn) but the organizers did not have a plan to tell us ahead of time. Finally, someone caught on and requested coats and blankets for the girls. Still, some of us were wearing open toed shoes and daytime heels!
We ended up being outside on a boat for 4 1/2 hours in 35 F degree weather. They made us walk down a rocky path so I had to remove my shoes and walk barefoot!! Bare feet in 35 degree weather!!! My feet were so numb that someone insisted that they give me some hot water to pour over my feet because the organizers were afraid that I would be sick. My feet still hurt so badly from the cold that I cannot bend my toes properly. Thankfully, Brian and Gaelle saved me.
Also, our Chinese tour guide thought that she would be understood more effectively if she used a mini electric megaphone to yell through even though she was right in front of my face. I wish I had a photo of it. Only in China…
Tomorrow night they are making us dance outside in mini skirts and heels for the disco competition. We will be outside in freezing weather again for 2 or 3 hours with no coat!! It is SO cold in China!!
Moving on….
I have hit it off with a ton of girls here. I really love the contestants this time around and I know that I will remain friends with most of them for a long time after the pageant:-) This is where Facebook and Myspace comes in. The only saving grace of this entire experience is the friendships I have made and I am so thankful for this.
Liberia Et Moi.
Hill Fungus Mixed With Walnut. Mmmmmm….tasty.
:-)
Brazil has become one of my favorites. She is so facially stunning and charming….and check out her body! Wow wow wee wow!
Chocolate Ice Cream & Kites!
This morning we visited a dairy plant called “Mengniu” and they gave us chocolate ice cream! Most of use were excited about it despite the temperature because it tasted wonderful after not eating anything recognizable for a while.
Then we left to go fly kites at a park on the lake. We had tons of fun with the local people as you can see from the photos.
Lastly, we finished off with the swimsuit competition, Miss Bikini. Thankfully it was indoors. China does not believe in using heaters which is odd to me. The choreographer named Raphael is really talented and creates beautifully intricate runway sections. We usually go out in continents first and then in alphabetical order. Unfortunately, most of us are so tired that the whole group is making position mistakes on the stage.
Hopefully, we can get some decent rest and fix these simple mistakes.
Feeling World Beauty
Xiaozhai Valley
Talented Chinese Folks.
Photo, Photo, Photo!!!
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Amy
This years pageant slogan is “Feeling World Beauty”….. What does it mean? I have no idea.
I took a ton of photos today at the Sholin Temple which is an ancient Buddhist temple from the 56 A.D. era. This is the birth place of 3 martial arts. It is home to over 10, 000 boys between the ages of 3-25 who study Chi Gong, Tai Chi, and Kung Foo as a profession. They call the boys “Fighter Monks”. Watching them preform moved me to tears, and not just when the boys broke metal rods over their heads (YES, I DID SAY METAL!!).
The temple is so soothing with many large scale Buddha figures, incense, and boys practicing their art. The temple also has many monks that are strict religious figures who train the boys. The calm on the monks faces amoungst the calamity of having 105 girls (all clad in yellow jumpsuits), 100 photographers and international press, the Chinese government officials, and all of the other temple worshipers is uncanny. They don’t even blink.
This whole city is under construction for the olympic games. Huge skyscrapers have been built overnight and they are trying to beautify the city to show the world that China is ready, advanced, and can’t wait to have a sea of tourists. They are expecting over 96 million guests for and after the games. “Oh ling ling pa, Beijing” means Beijing 2008. We are required to say it everywhere we go:-)
Bye for now. We have a cocktail party tonight.
Random Visual Musings.
Miss Armenia & Me
The Homies.
Miss Tri-Country Tourism Queen World International Model of the World Beauty Pageant Competiton Update.
Happy Easter Everyone!
I am writing you from a city called “Zhengzhou”. We arrived here after a 5 hours train ride from Beijing which gave me tons of time to get tho know Miss Liberia. The provence is called Henan. We will be staying here for 3 days.
I have made a ton of new friends. The girls are much nicer at this pageant! Some of my friends include Liberia, Uganda, Canada, Barbados, Scotland, S. Africa, El Salvador, Armenia, Phillipines, Ireland, Hawaii, and Kenya.
There are four girls at the pageant who live in California and I am counting on spending much more time with them after the event. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree:-)
Miss (The) Netherlands is one of the most brilliant young women I have ever met and I wish her success. The conversation we had about her medical career, Autism, and immigration was enlightening and refreshing.
It was also particularly encouraging to discover how much Miss Barbados and Miss Canada know and understand about North American politics since this is a subject that is of great interest to me.
Miss Liberia…. Just tell them that the back seat is taken:-) I love you Girl.
Miss Kenya, I am voting for Obama but I am still holding out for Ron Paul in the interim.
Miss England, I totally support you in your dream to move to LA and I agree that you would get along well in my city. See you when you get here.
Miss Ethiopia, you truly have the gift of healing. Thank you for sharing your gift of massage with me (and my feet:-)
Miss Indonesia, you are truly one of the classiest young ladies that I have ever met.
There are many girls that live in Canada and Russia (and the UK). This pageant should be called “Miss Tri-Country Tourism Queen World International Model of the World Beauty Pageant Competiton”…..
Moving on to another thing, we were all made to wear these “sport outfits” in red, blue, black, or yellow depending on our group. We look like we are going to the International Ping-pong Competition. They are “One Size Fits All”…..
Some of the girls are wearing black stielleto heels with this little outfit which makes it even more unflattering…. www.gofugyourself.com needs to cover this fashion mistake!
I brought a ton of great outfits and my entire Louis Vuitton shoe collection (I worked for LV for 2+ years… Great company, treat their associates very well). Sadly, we have been wearing these less than flattering jumpsuits for the past two days. I hope it ends soon so I can express my own personal style because I just look like a nerd in my championship ping-pong attire. It is also so cold that the thin material of the jumpsuit does very little to warm us.
Miss India is the only other vegetarian in the whole group of 115. Tonight’s dinner was lovely….if you were a meat eater. All the girls chowed down while I found lonely India circling the buffet with an empty plate and a perplexed face. I told her that I was a vegetarian too and that we needed to speak to a chaperone about our need for some veggies, rice, bread….anything but meat. She looked at me and proclaimed “Wow…Miss America is a vegetarian?!? I’m surprised!”….Basically she was saying that her perception of Americans was of beef eating smelly slobs. At least she knows that there is one who is not….. (disclaimer: eating meat is a personal choice, don’t let me trouble you with my thoughts).
Speaking of shorter hair, I am so glad that I chopped mine off. There are way too many blondes here that look exactly the same with long hair. I have been told my numerous girls that my hair makes me look unique and that it is part of my personal style.
I have done a ton of press interviews with the Chinese media. Sometimes I break out my speeches in Chinese too. Hopefully, they know what I am saying:-)
Tomorrow we are required to wear a cocktail dress from 7am to 6pm. Weird.
I found out who was voting for me…..they people of China. I can’t believe that people that I don’t know personally would support me in a pageant. That would SO NOT HAPPEN in America!!
We were supposed to go to the olympic stadium in Beijing for a press conference but it never happened. Bummer.
It’s now 11pm and I have to be ready by 6am. I’m going to say “Sigh Je-an” from China.
As Julian would say “Do it for China”…..
.amy lynne.
Ping-Pong.
This was my train photo-op. Check out this kid’s cool haircut!
I am the walrus.
The following is what happens when I am jet lagged and am trying to entertain myself so I don’t fall asleep at 4pm….
Channeling Julia Roberts….
Wordy Rappinghood.
I’ll see you in China for more travel blogging:-)
Riddle Me This….
After my visit to France, I am quite puzzled by the lifespan statistics for women living in France compared to the good ol’ U.S.A. For the record, the average lifespan for a Japanese woman is 85.6 years, just slightly beating the French position at 84. The average American female lives to be 80.1 years young.
At this point, I began to compare the populations to see if the the vast difference in numbers had anything to do with it. Au contraire, this only makes the case for Americans worse as there are almost 5 times the amount of people living in The States as there are living in France. With an increase in numbers, our average as Americans should be better than the French but the “French Paradox” lives on!
Population Stats as of July 2006:
USA 298,500,000
Japan 127,500,000
France 61,000,000
After visiting France, it is easy to recognize why an early death would be inevitable by American health care standards.
First off, upon stepping from the plane into France, it is hard to ignore the large smoking populous due to a sudden lack of oxygen combined with billowing clouds of second hand smoke. Americans have learned from countless public service announcements through anti-smoking ads, political campaigns, and the implementation of the useless D.A.R.E. program that tobacco is BAD and recycling is GOOD. I Repeat. Preventative health care is BAD and restorative health care is GOOD. Last one. Butter is BAD and Margarine is GOOD. (I’m not going to even go here today….but I think we all know that the U.S. government cares more about $$$ than the health of it’s citizens).
Secondly, dinner will be a nice cream based casserole, a glass of Bordeaux, a few pieces of lettuce covered in olive oil, ending your meal with french bread, 17 different types of cheese, & a cigarette. As the educated American would say “Quelle Domage!”…but the French know better, whimsically savoring their national cuisine all the while gracefully puffing on a cigarette, defying American medical knowledge with each inhale. The French also have a low obesity rate (11%)considering their fatty diet and lack of cold sterilized gyms on every corner. Americans weigh in with a 64% obesity rate!
Lastly, France is a dirty place. Dog crap covers the street in a blanket of fecal bacteria, the hand rails on the Metro are greasy because 37,000 people have already grabbed the same spot that day, and there are no health regulations for any bathrooms in France (the most commonly heard phrase in France while entering les toilette is “Il ne marche pas”….translation: “The toilet is not working”)….It seems like the French are immune to illness due to their overexposure to germs. Nonetheless, I recommend that Americans bring their own bottle of hand sanitizer. Its recommended that you build up your immunity slowly….but you will end up wanting to shower yourself in sanitizer anyway!
The American would call it a health crisis but the French think very little of prevention, thanks to socialized medicine which they are known for not actually taking advantage of. As for Americans, we are notorious for using up 50% of the World’s prescription drugs and still don’t have the same quality of life as the French…”C’est la vie!”…
So what can be learned from the French Paradox?
#1. Drink a glass of wine at least once a day. The flavonoids kills free radicals that cause cancer.
#2. Eat bread, preferable bleached white.
#3. Eat expensive cheese and cook with butter, cream, and olive oil. France loves their free range farm animals!
#4. Learn how to use a squatter toilet and don’t worry about washing your hands.
#5. Don’t exercise unless you are running to catch the Metro….but walk everywhere!
#6. Smoke cigarettes. Trust me…it will make you feel so French…
CLICK ME!
Flying To France….
The French are quite a quirky group. They always lay their peice of bread on the table as opposed to their plate and clap in unison in the cabin as the plane is landing, as to help the wings fly properly. Why don’t they just flap their arms instead? It’s all quite strange.
The French Alps From 100,000 Feet….
Before I forget, here are my photos from Aspendos…Ruins actually worth seeing! This place is a traditional Greek theater located in Asia. FYI, Turkey is located in Europe & Asia = Eurasia!
Ruins make me happy 
Going Au Natural In Turkey…
Step 1. You will get hassled by a little Turkish man until you buy a massage package, as you are walking to your hotel.
Step 2. Put on your swimsuit and let a French woman that looks like Susan Powder lead you to the dry sauna. Sweat for 5 minutes.
Step 3. Enter the steamy Turkish Bath. It’s a large dimly lit room made of gray marble slabs with fountains splashing water everywhere. In broken Franglais (English/French), the big burly Bath Master will make you lay down in the middle of the marble room and publicly humiliate you in front of 10 other bathers while he scrubs you down with an exfoliating cloth. Rinse. Repeat.
Step 4: Allow yourself to be covered in soapy bubbles by the Bath Master. Repeat humiliating scrub down. Rinse. He will towel you down and allow you to exit.
Step 4: Go into an empty room, have a cup pf apple tea, and let a little smiling elf give you an olive oil facial. Let dry 10 minutes. Rinse.
Step 5: Kindly introduce yourself to Mr. Massage Therapist (semi-tall, semi-dark, and very handsome). How ironic is it that Mr. Massage has an unprecedented resemblance to your “what was I thinking” ex-boyfriend. Allow yourself to relax and let him work his magical Turkish hands. (FYI, nothing illegal happened..ew!)….
Step 6: Rest for 5 minutes. Get dressed. Let Susan Powder make your next appointment with Mr. Massage. Good to go!
Relax & enjoy the beautiful views that Turkey has to offer….(they couldn’t pay for better publicity!)
Spices, Sheesha & Fake Designer Bags….Oh My!!!!
You know you are nearing the Turkish Bazaar when you begin to hear shouting from the tents in 40 different languages.
“Where yhoo from?…Francais?….Dutch?….Engleesh????…..
It became an amusing game to tell the shopkeepers that I was from different places around the world….Argentina, Kenya, Scotland, Antarctica…..It is so impressive to me that the Turkish barterers can communicate in so many tongues, primarily speaking German, Spanish, French, and very good English.
I didn’t stop to barter for faux multicolore Lewis Vitton luggage but I could not pass up the chocolate Turkish delight.
The Turks can turn anything into a tourist attraction. Nonetheless, I have taken so many photos, later to say to myself “Self, do you really need a photo of every stray cat, oddly shaped squatter toilet, & over sunned tourist wearing a traditional Turkish scull cap made of cheaply dyed felt and sequins?!?” The answer is a resounding YES! Good people watching is crucial to an unforgettable visit to anywhere!” So here’s a few photos that I have taken in the course of the week, sans the toliet photos….
I can just picture the bloody little sweat shop hands working on this disgusting peice of fakery….
Death Of A Turkish Salesman….
Question: “What Makes Tonight Different From All Other Nights?”
Answer: My family is having the Passover Seder & I am in Turkey, where the population is 98% Muslim, and no one would dare to admit to their Judaism.
I could hear the daily prayers over the city’s scratchy loudspeakers, echoing through the streets as the locals seem to go about their daily business. Most seem so jaded by the daily grind that no one stops to pray.
Before I could hide the