A new chapter of this trip

After 6.5 weeks, Jim left today. He was a huge help on this move. I feel guilty for dragging him through all these hurdles for my career. Without him, I won't have settled down as well as I have now... Probably would have got kicked out of Shanghai.
It will be another 6 weeks before he returns. I hope next time we will be seeing Shanghai and China, finally. With Nick & Sung A's and Brandon & David's visit in December and January, it will be so exciting.

End of October

I wrote some words this morning. Unfortunately, it acted up and didn't get posted. It was good sincere writing. Oh well...
Jim is sick, and he is leaving this Sunday. I am already sensing loneliness sinking into my space. He was tremendous help in settling down. In fact, he was the brain of all moves in Shanghai. Without him, I could not have set up as we have now. I can't wait for Christmas for his return. I hope he doesn't forget the two words of Chinese he learned in last few weeks.
New friend Rachel is also leaving this weekend to start her preparation of a new hotel opening in Zhongshan. She has been so wonderful and fun in this beginning of my adventure.
Last weekend was most comforting during Bubbles's visit. Her familiar face and smile gave me the boost I needed. The love and encouragement is beyond everything in the world.
Julia, my old boss, was also wonderful beyond this world. Her positive and enthusiastic energy on China helped us both to feel the future is going to be fine. Bronwen and Eric were so generous with information, helping hands, and even with money when we need a bridge to get through the renting and the ridiculous banking set up.
The moral of the story is that we need friends. You never know who is going to be by your side when you most need. I am blessed with always having great friends around me. Thank you God!
These two weeks are full of work and meetings, but less traveling. YEAH!!!
Posted a couple of India's pictures. They were taken by my new dear colleague Serina. She is such fun and knowledgable person. She was the one who dragged me to see the sunrise Taj Mahal. With her around, there is no doubt it will be fun.

October is almost over...

...and we are slowly settling in. There is working Internet and working TV in the apartment. Ayi (cleaning lady) has started coming to do weekly cleaning. And we received our first visitor last weekend. It was so comforting to see the warm and familiar face of Bubbles. That soothing feeling is beyond words.
But Jim is leaving on Sunday for NY. Next 6 weeks will be another set of challenges being alone. I will have to start looking after "all these" at home.
It is comforting to know that I have a few friends here to lean on. Friends are treasure when one lives in a foreign country. And sometimes, you won't even know who is going to give you the hand when you need. There are still a few people I have yet to meet up in Shanghai. I had better get on it.

More Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal photo

India

In Delhi this week for a work training/conference. It is somewhat of an immersion and an opportunity to meet the colleagues from other regions.
Apparently Internet access is installed and hopeful satellite TV will be done today. It's quite an experience for someone who can't speak the language to receive technicians, call up friends to help with translations. Special thanks to Jenny who helps him over the phone. It's important to have friends, especially when you are in foreign land.

Nothing is easy.

It is my karma that everything I do in Shanghai is not going as smooth as it should be. It generally involves hiccups, double processes, delays and many extra running arounds.
Long story short, no internet and TV yet!!! And this time, it is my fault as I was confused and signed up for service with the wrong company! We waited for hours for the internet guy to show up today, just to tell us that this complex is not serviced by his company. At 530pm Sat, we rushed to the right company and restarted the ordering, all over again. With all this delay, TV satelite still can't be set up. Lovely!!! If I were plotting for Jim to jump off our 27th floor balcony, I believe I just need to give a slight shove.

BTW, another food experience

Disclaimer: Don't read before you are about to have a meal.

Last night there was a plate of nice looking seafood for Korean BBQ last night. The oysters are huge.
And so, my tummy wasn't feeling well today after eating the oysters. My food experience led me to use the infamous Chinese's hole in the floor. Another first!

Up in the Air

I traveled 4 days out of the last 6 days. Last night, when I walked to my room with my rolling suitcase along the corridor, I felt like George Cloony in Up in the Air. At least it was a Shangri La Hotel, praise Buddha!
Going through these 3rd tier cities are surreal. I, also found out the typical middle class Chineses are all obsessed with investment, cost of properties and luxury items. They all have several properties as investment. These are not even the senior directors or chairmen. Everyone has properties making rent. What have I done, meanwhile?

My first worm tasting experience

I was seeing a client yesterday (yes, it was a working weekend after the National Day Week holiday). My boss and I flew to Xiamen on Saturday night, met the client on Sunday morning and off we went to the project sites. After seeing the first site, the group took us to their own restaurant for lunch. The restaurant is quite tastefully designed. We were seated in this huge room that can sit 20 people. If you are familiar with China's custom, private dinning room is the only way for proper meals. The 6 of us spreaded out around this gigantic table of 8' diameter and were served a nice simple lunch of a whole steamed fish for each person, fried rice, a beef roll, etc. But the starter was a local delicacy - a jelly with a school of white worms. Some with guts hanging out. After I skillfully avoided the pieces with the guts, I tasted a few pieces of the white worms. The verdict is: I am sitting here writing about it.

After a week off, back to work!

Oct 1 to 7 was China's National Day's Golden Week. 2 days before the holiday, I was in HK getting an India Tourist Visa for an upcoming trip. So, officially, I was out of the office for almost 9 days! As you saw from my last post, we moved into our apartment. I promise I will take pictures and show you. Let's say, it is nice. I am quite happy. It will be better when there is Internet, TV and when I have time to go sign up for the gym.
Back to work today is certainly a hard task to adjust. First of all, it is a Saturday. Secondly, we will be working 7 days straight. A lot of work to catch up, and a lot of work to prepare before the India trip next Sunday. In between now to India, I am at the airport to Xiamen tonight for an overnight trip. And another overnight trip to Fuzhou next week. Phone was ringing all day with clients wanting our input. And I am still sorting through the projects I took over, as well as bracing myself for the projects that I am going to take over. The guy who is leaving next is not known for efficiency and organization. He is more a talker than a doer, to say the least. I am picking up 5 projects from him. It will be interesting.
One good thing is the the new VP spoke to me today and he is envisioning a system reorganization so that we can have better project system. Praise Buddha!
Jim is still suffering from the cultural shock and the lack of Internet connection. It is comical to see the poor man hanging outside coffee shops to get free wifi. What to do?! I wish I can just go get a MiFi for him right this minute. At least we found most of the household supplies from the 3 supermarkets. He is happy in that department.

How long has it been?

Finally, we moved into the apartment. It is a small testament of the country's room for improvement. Design and construction standard is still needing some help to fine tune. TV and Internet set up required jumping some hoops. The dishwasher is so small that it only works for cups and glassware. The washer and dryer only handles small load. It took 2 days to finish all the washing from last 3 wks. We have spent so much on dishes, glasswares, sheets and towels...
But having said all that, it is a nice apartment and I will enjoy it.

After 3 weeks...

We are in desperate need for some settling down. Moving into our apartment tomorrow... not without some major navigation through banking and money spending.
People Square was a total nightmare today. Tens of thousands of people are visiting Shanghai this week for The National Day. They made the usually busy Nanjing East Road Pedestrian Mall beyond humanly acceptable.
Had a really big lunch, and a liquid dinner at the Puli Hotel. Nice space and yet disappointing service. What does it take to teach them proper service?!