9-20/21-04

Business trip. The last two days were without a doubt one of the most interesting days I've had in China. The story is long and I don't feel like disclosing the entire truth for privacy reasons. In short however, I'll tell you that I was sent to some factories in NE China (Qingdao) where I was a high positioned boss from England. I was on a business trip visiting the factories from which we buy various types of textiles. There I acted upon my role of "negotiator" as I made presence and ensured service quality.

I learned several things. I learned how important it is when Chinese people give out business cards in these kinds of situations, they are usually very significant. Dinner is in no way a formal environment. As we sat there in a very fancy restaurant, people still had time to get on a cell phone conversation, even open their laptop on their laps to check emails. Seems a little off subject I know. Doing the "gan bei" (dry cup) or "toast" is also important. This act of drinking whatever drink is left in your glass shows how one is able to drink for the other person as you show the rest of the table how your glass is empty. The clinging is also important. When your glass makes contact with the other person's, the one with the most importance must keep his/her glass higher as the other persons touches it from underneath. Then everyone fights to be the most humble one. All these and other very intersting and useful customs they have here.

All in all the trip was great, very educational, me and Gavin (the other Irish guy doing this job with me) had a great time. I personally got a lot from it. Cheers!

 

9-12-04

Wednesday night I get a call from Gerald, the guy that built my new bike. He had taken my passport and residence permit the day before to finish all the legal paperwork on it. He tells me he's downstairs and that he has my passport and residence permit ready. I go downstairs, and to my surprise, there stands the long awaited WWII Chang Jiang classic Venture Sidecar Motorycle. He gave me some paperwork and that was pretty much it.

 

9-1-04

Here's a short update from Shanghai. We got here yesterday after a 2 hour flight. After checking into a nice hotel we headed out for a walk around the downtown area. First, on the Pudong side, we saw the Pearl Tower and once again went up to the Hyatt's main lobby which is located on a 54th floor where you can enjoy a free view of the city! On the way to the Pudong side of the city, we crossed the river through a tunnel, described by the Lonely Planet as a "psychodelic experience". On the way back we took the ferry. Shortly after we arrived it started drizzling and since then it hasn't stopped which is why we're here in the hotel room waiting for the rain to stop while I post these few words.

Also, I took some pictures showing the rapid modernization and contrasts seen throughout the city. Needless to say this is a phenomenon going on all around the country but clearly visible in some parts of what could be considered the business and modern capital of China.

Modernization eats up whats left of old Shanghai

Fruits? meow.
An exhausted man falls asleep against his broomstick in the busy city of Shanghai.