So come back from vacation have one day in Shanghai, including the wedding I just went to. Tomorrow back to the office for a few hours, then off to the airport for a flight to Shenzhen. Meet with JCP on Monday night and then first thing Tuesday fly back to Shanghai. Spend the afternoon in the office, have dinner with a colleague and their family that night.
Then on Wednesday begin the trek back home to the USofA! First stop NY. Spend the end of the week in our office there. Then the weekend with Mom in CT. Sunday off to NC for the High Point Furniture show.
After all that then off to sweet home Chicago for a few days before returning to China. I'm excited to come home, see some folks, etc but am tired thinking about all the travel. Thankfully I'm well rested after vacation!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
A Chinese wedding
I got back from Bali around midnight last night. All in all a very good trip. I will post an update and photos in a couple of days.
Tonight I went to another Chinese wedding, of a colleague. Upon arrival with another western colleague we find ourselves, not surprisingly, to be the only foreigners in attendance. All weddings i've been to here are totally different from each other as well as a western wedding. This one being Shanghai families was a bit more upscale. Much of the wedding part was in tuxedo's. We arrive, take photos with the couple and then are lead to our seats. First they check the seating chart. It's easy for us to find our names as all the other ones are in Chinese characters and then, almost in bold you see the names "Nolan" and "Megan." Too funny.
Throughout the evening the bride changed into 4 different dresses making a ceremonial entrance each time. In addition she and the groom came out one time wearing jeans and white t-shirts that they had all the attendees sign upon arrival. That was pretty cool.
The wedding itself was fast, an exchange of rings, a few speeches and that's it. On to the games and the food. One of the games was that they flipped through the photos that were taken upon arrival and someone yells "stop" and the person who's photo is on the screen wins. I was winner #2! Got myself a nice chopstick set! Winner #3 was actually my CFO. There were only 4 work people there and two of us won prices. Not a bad showing. When I went up they asked me to say a few words about the bride and groom. That was a bit tough given I don't know him at all. The audience was never so quiet all night until I had the mic in my hands.
From there the bride and groom go table to table drinking with every guest and saying thanks.
A nice evening and a beautiful bride and groom. Photos to come.
Tonight I went to another Chinese wedding, of a colleague. Upon arrival with another western colleague we find ourselves, not surprisingly, to be the only foreigners in attendance. All weddings i've been to here are totally different from each other as well as a western wedding. This one being Shanghai families was a bit more upscale. Much of the wedding part was in tuxedo's. We arrive, take photos with the couple and then are lead to our seats. First they check the seating chart. It's easy for us to find our names as all the other ones are in Chinese characters and then, almost in bold you see the names "Nolan" and "Megan." Too funny.
Throughout the evening the bride changed into 4 different dresses making a ceremonial entrance each time. In addition she and the groom came out one time wearing jeans and white t-shirts that they had all the attendees sign upon arrival. That was pretty cool.
The wedding itself was fast, an exchange of rings, a few speeches and that's it. On to the games and the food. One of the games was that they flipped through the photos that were taken upon arrival and someone yells "stop" and the person who's photo is on the screen wins. I was winner #2! Got myself a nice chopstick set! Winner #3 was actually my CFO. There were only 4 work people there and two of us won prices. Not a bad showing. When I went up they asked me to say a few words about the bride and groom. That was a bit tough given I don't know him at all. The audience was never so quiet all night until I had the mic in my hands.
From there the bride and groom go table to table drinking with every guest and saying thanks.
A nice evening and a beautiful bride and groom. Photos to come.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Vacation in Bali...part 1
So what is my agenda during my vacation to Bali? To relax, get some sun, see the culture, etc but the most important piece is getting the rest and relaxation to make it to the next holiday which will be Christmas in the states.
First things first I had to get to Bali. First I took a red eye flight from Shanghai to Singapore, landing about 5:30AM. My connection to Bali wasn't until 4:30PM so I had 11 hours to kill. Thankfully because of status on United airlines and therefore their partner Singapore Air I had access to the lounge. But that wasn't enough since I didn't really sleep on the flight. So at 9AM I tried the airport transit hotel in the Singapore airport. I got a 6 hour room for about $50. It was the best decision ever. Quiet and pitch black room allowed me to somehow sleep for more than 5 hours at which time it was time to get on my plane.
Arriving in Bali I used points to stay at the Westin in Nusa Dua. This is the high class resort area and was great. My plan was to stay there for 3 nights before finding another hotel in a different part of town.
My next problem was found when I tried to use my US debit card to get cash and found that it expired in August! Crap! My China debit card is not accepted outside of China so now I'm here with no cash and no easy way to get it. Thankfully the folks at the Westin helped arrange with a bank for me to get some against my credit card. Not enough for the trip but enough to get started.
With that behind me and finding the next hotel the rest of the trip was set. I've got 1 full day and 2 half days with a tour guide taking me to the must see places.
So far so good...
First things first I had to get to Bali. First I took a red eye flight from Shanghai to Singapore, landing about 5:30AM. My connection to Bali wasn't until 4:30PM so I had 11 hours to kill. Thankfully because of status on United airlines and therefore their partner Singapore Air I had access to the lounge. But that wasn't enough since I didn't really sleep on the flight. So at 9AM I tried the airport transit hotel in the Singapore airport. I got a 6 hour room for about $50. It was the best decision ever. Quiet and pitch black room allowed me to somehow sleep for more than 5 hours at which time it was time to get on my plane.
Arriving in Bali I used points to stay at the Westin in Nusa Dua. This is the high class resort area and was great. My plan was to stay there for 3 nights before finding another hotel in a different part of town.
My next problem was found when I tried to use my US debit card to get cash and found that it expired in August! Crap! My China debit card is not accepted outside of China so now I'm here with no cash and no easy way to get it. Thankfully the folks at the Westin helped arrange with a bank for me to get some against my credit card. Not enough for the trip but enough to get started.
With that behind me and finding the next hotel the rest of the trip was set. I've got 1 full day and 2 half days with a tour guide taking me to the must see places.
So far so good...
Friday, October 1, 2010
China National Day
Today is Oct 1st. It is the 2nd most important holiday in the Chinese culture behind the Chinese New Year. It celebrates the founding of the People's Republic of China on Oct 1, 1949. It has officially become a 7 day holiday with offices, government services, etc being closed Oct 1-7.
I know to many who do business with China that it seems like we get lots of holidays/days off here. I'd say that is somewhat true. A week ago we had Wed-Fri off for the Mid Autumn festival. But to make it up we had to work the following Saturday and Sunday. For the National Day we also have to make up two of the days on a Sat/Sun. So it is less than it appears but annoying as all get out to me. I say if you get days off you shouldn't have to make them up later!!!
So I woke up this morning on Oct 1st and the city is dead quiet. Not the rush of cars, horns, people, bikes, etc out my window either. It's been a very peaceful couple of hours. However it's now nearing 11AM and the fireworks have started. I'm sure they will be in full effect later this evening as well.
As for me I'm using this opportunity to visit another country I've never been to before. I'm heading off to Bali, Indonesia late tonight for a week on the beach of sun and relaxation!
I know to many who do business with China that it seems like we get lots of holidays/days off here. I'd say that is somewhat true. A week ago we had Wed-Fri off for the Mid Autumn festival. But to make it up we had to work the following Saturday and Sunday. For the National Day we also have to make up two of the days on a Sat/Sun. So it is less than it appears but annoying as all get out to me. I say if you get days off you shouldn't have to make them up later!!!
So I woke up this morning on Oct 1st and the city is dead quiet. Not the rush of cars, horns, people, bikes, etc out my window either. It's been a very peaceful couple of hours. However it's now nearing 11AM and the fireworks have started. I'm sure they will be in full effect later this evening as well.
As for me I'm using this opportunity to visit another country I've never been to before. I'm heading off to Bali, Indonesia late tonight for a week on the beach of sun and relaxation!
Nanjing Trip
So after all the debate of where to go was done the trip was taken. It certainly wasn't without complaint though. But I was planning to make the most of it.
Upon checking in to the hotel some rooms weren't right so more complaints, including the "this is the worst company trip ever, I'm going home one." Now people this is a free weekend with hotel, food, sightseeing, etc shouldn't we just all get along?
Saturday was a full day of sightseeing as you will see in the photos, followed by a dinner that included plenty of drinks sent my way. Not sure if this was respectful or a "we are going to get you because we don't want to be here" type things. But during the sightseeing one thing we visited was the memorial of the Japanese invasion to China where 300,000 Chinese were brutally murdered. I must say it was a spectacular memorial, very first class and respectful. I would love to go back and really spend some time there.
On Sunday we packed up and headed an hour towards Shanghai when we stopped at a hot springs resort. No cameras were allowed of course but we had a good time relaxing and letting our muscles recover from all the hiking and walking of the day before.
Enjoy the photos...
http://picasaweb.google.com/nolanmitchell14/Nanjing#
Upon checking in to the hotel some rooms weren't right so more complaints, including the "this is the worst company trip ever, I'm going home one." Now people this is a free weekend with hotel, food, sightseeing, etc shouldn't we just all get along?
Saturday was a full day of sightseeing as you will see in the photos, followed by a dinner that included plenty of drinks sent my way. Not sure if this was respectful or a "we are going to get you because we don't want to be here" type things. But during the sightseeing one thing we visited was the memorial of the Japanese invasion to China where 300,000 Chinese were brutally murdered. I must say it was a spectacular memorial, very first class and respectful. I would love to go back and really spend some time there.
On Sunday we packed up and headed an hour towards Shanghai when we stopped at a hot springs resort. No cameras were allowed of course but we had a good time relaxing and letting our muscles recover from all the hiking and walking of the day before.
Enjoy the photos...
http://picasaweb.google.com/nolanmitchell14/Nanjing#
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