New things.

Hi everyone! It has been a couple of weeks since I last posted. There aren't much special to post, on one hand. On the other hand, there are so much that I can share.
Life is just fine. It is stable and routine. The traveling is keeping up. Jim is settling back well. He is making dinner, looking after the household, taking care of whatever he can do without speaking Chinese. Apparently, the maids communicate with him every time with hands gesture and noises that they cannot understand.
With 2 properties moving into Pre Opening stage, I am exposed to a new spectrum of the hotel world. I have to say I am shocked by the complication of opening a hotel. There are 450 steps for the general manager. The GM has to hire hundreds of people in a few months. He/She got moved to middle of no where with 2 suitcases. And they immediately start working 7 days a week. First job is to develop relationship with owning company, which is imaginably difficult.
And the fun part of all that is most of them don't speak Chinese! These guys are stuck in some middle of nowhere, knowing no one, and just suck it in and start that huge task. I seriously don't think I can do it. I won't survive a day.
Now it explains why hotel GM are charming, but can be uncompromisingly firm at the same time. What a personality skill!
There are more from work I will share in the next post. We are heading to Hong Kong for a few days of R&R. I am quite looking forward to it. I'm hoping the delayed flight is the only hurdle on this trip.

Ups and downs.

And that's life! Work has been very busy. Between the planning of 2 hotels' opening, other projects' on-going commitment, internal documentations and new initiatives, I can barely breathe during the day.
Jim has been back for almost 2 weeks. While I was busy at work and with my traveling, he is bored out of him mind at home. I found him half asleep when I come home most nights. Sad! I was worried that he was slipping into depression. He is better this weekend when we spend time exploring and dining out. I hope he can soon get a pattern into his life here. But it is going to be hard.
It was a fun weekend, nonetheless. We explored the Jing An Sculpture Garden, dined at a hot pot restaurant, attended Shanghai Fashion Week. We missed the F1 race. But I don't really care for it. So, it was a nice weekend as the "up" of this week.
A few pictures from the Jing An Sculpture Park to share.

April in Shanghai

After a long wet and cold winter, spring has arrived in Shanghai. It has been sunny, clear and fair temperature. We get to enjoy the balcony. Breakfast on the balcony is such a luxury!

Work

It is hard!
Busy work, busy working people, busy dealing with waves of issues.
Sigh!

Latrine

I think the title said it all. I thought for a few days before I decided to post this.
Last Thursday while visiting a site, 2 lady Interior Designers and I were looking forward to our bathroom break before lunch. The 2 ladies were ahead of me and walked into the restroom. Promptly, one came out with the other one's bag. I walked into the men's with a very wet floor. All I saw was 3 workers squatted over a latrine. There were partitions, but only 30" high.
When the 3 of us met up outside the restrooms, we bursted into laughters. I pulled out wet wipes from my pocket for everyone.
That's all!