20230115 Day #3 (13th) and #4 (14th)

Day #3

Lovely to play with Lumi at hotel. Interesting evening – and morning – time at the hotel lobby. We went to Gym, walked stairs up and down, talked with receptionist, bought some bread and milk to eat, talked. 

Then coming up to Hollywood, at Sheraton, just next to Universal Studios. We rested the “jetlag” a little at hotel, at hiked up to the Studios. Talked with Bart Simpson, Hello Kitty, saw Back to the Future professor, visited Jurassic Park experience, and spent time on the alleyway, e.g. eating “real” Chinese food after a Long time. They undercharged us, I felt bad and went to say and paid the full price. They were so taken, happy and surprised. Opened up fully, the Chinese staff, and talked very friendly and openly. 

Hotel really nice. 

Day #4

We continued our journey in Hollywood. Visited Hollywood boulevard, which looked more like a Skit Road, than a fancy boulevard. Felt restless, scary, weary, and cheap. Dirty and unspirited. Plus it was raining. I got my Uber and Uber eats working. Could order stuff, exciting experience, compared to China – or Finland. 

Lumi has been watching some American TV, and the cartoons – and commercials – are SO American. I once again felt like 1990s, when I was child. Looks like the US has not been developing as much as China in the past 30 years. But the starting point has been hugely different. So maybe somewhere in 2014-15 Chinese advanced cities, and the US were more or less in the same level. But Hangzhou or Shanghai in the 2020s are – or at least feel – MUCH more developed and advanced. I feel though the same in Finland when I go back – we’re lagging behind China. Look at smart manufacturing, local life, services, automotive industry, and so on. But still: culturally and entertainment-wise the US is running much ahead. At least if you prefer the Western entertainment. It’s still more creative, more fascinating, more exciting. But it also gets more competitive here. Working in LA or Hollywood is not necessarily a “Gansta’s Paradise”, or actor’s paradise. I felt pretty tense visiting the Sheraton downstairs, where agent matchmaking sessions, and young talents, models, actors where aiming to promote and advance their careers. In many ways I guess I still prefer frank entrepreneurship. Just selling your thoughts and your services – not your whole body and soul. 

Mingle Advisors, I feel, has been a TOOL for me to advance many things I’m interested about, but to keep my sensitive mind and personality still “sheltered”, a little bit away and distant from the action. This way I’ve been able to keep my mind and soul away from getting too sensitive, too personal and so on. Being professional, not personal. There’s a different. 

But how are you professional if you’re selling yourself? Maybe you can be. And excellent career actors, and musicians, that you see here a lot, are able to do that. Look at L. Di Caprio, Hans Zimmer or others… Looks like they’re managing it. 

But in the end what is most important is your own life and close ones. When people are dying, they rarely miss their professional and career things – they more miss the time they didn’t have with their kids, spouses and close friends. 

Any society can be good – if you choose the right angle that admires it. That same goes to USA, China, North Korea, West Germany, East Germany – even Russia and Soviet Union. Or ancient civilizations… Or agrarian village societies. Or Amazon’s native people. 

Here we are! 

Ps. Would have been great to visit the Universal Studio’s 1h introduction to the production making and their story, but need to wait for the next time. I spent my limited hours in getting into the Mummy, Transformers, Jurassic Park, Simpsons and Mario Karting simulators… Was indeed a big rollercoaster round! Tea cup should only be filled 2/3, so that you have space also for the next cup. 🙂 

P.P.S. I really love my family, Aurora and Lumi. And I’ve got much closer with Lumi here too. We have laughed a lot and had some really funny small moments. I feel the Lord is with us, and he is supporting us to take care of each other, guiding us, and showing right directions. 

Let’s keep it up!