World Cup

Well it is over now for the US but that doesn't mean I didn't truly enjoy watching them make their run at it.  Should have played better against Ghana though.

The four games were all on TV here just not always at opportune times.  Game one versus England started at 2:30AM on Sat/Sun.  That was a rough night.  The photo below is from that night.  The guy in the England flag was a friend of mine back when I lived in Shenzhen.  The next couple of games were at 10PM.  The Ghana game though was another 2:30 AM.

 I guess it's now time for them to start planning on 2014!

 

Streets of the World

There are days I think I have a pretty cool job, living in China getting to see and experience things that most everyone else won't.  A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine from Shenzhen brought a friend out for the night that she knew from Holland. This guy is truly living the life of adventure.  He is a photo journalist and is on a 5 year project.  The project is called "Streets of the World."  The goal is to visit the capital city in EVERY country in the world and take one photo that encapsulates all that city/country has to offer. He spends only 4-5 days in each country before moving on to the next.  A crazy lifestyle but he will get to see things that almost nobody else will. 

You can check it out here at...www.streetsoftheworld.nl or on twitter at twitter.com/swholfs

Apparently he brings his harmonica's out where-ever he goes.  So when we were all out he asked the band if he could come up on stage and jam and here you have it...

 

Macau

It's been a while since I've been on here.  Nothing too exciting going on.  Just more of the same, work, work and work.

A couple of weeks back I made a work trip to Macau for a trade show.  At the left is the Venetian hotel.  It is huge!  Word is that it is the 2nd largest building in the world but it can't be shown completely here as there was no way to view all of it.

 Macau was turned over to China from Portugal in 1999.  However they operate separately from China, have their own currency (basically pegged to the Hong Kong dollar), have their own government, etc.

Macau has hundreds of years of Portugese rule, influence, etc and only about 10 of China.  So it is a country with two very distinct backgrounds.  A few years ago Macau surpassed Las Vegas in terms of money spent gambling.  So there are two parts of Macau, the new one that has the Venetian, Hard Rock, Hyatt's, etc and the old part that has the Portugese influence.

At the left is a view from inside the most famous Portugese restaurant on the island.  Called Fernando's.  Many folks have signed the walls or left their local currency on the walls.  Great food and nice and cheap!

This was out back near the restroom.  I guess they do all their laundry outdoors.  It was so unbelievably humid while there that I have no clue how they could get it all to dry.

All in all not a bad couple day trip.

Still need to find a way to go back and jump off the Macau tower.  That has been on my list for some time.  The weather was too windy on this trip. 

My office

This is my office building.  Right across the street is the Shanghai soccer stadium complex.  Right now we have about 50 people and split between the 11th floor and 15th floor.  While we are trying to get more space it is another "China deal."  Meaning that office spaces are individually owned and managed within a building.  We can't just say to the landlord of the building that we want more space and they find it when leases are up.  We have to work each landlord then work out a deal to get out of our space.  So I'm resigned to the fact we probably won't get more space for the near future.  I'm spending more time here than I would like of late.  Looking for this craziness to slow down a bit. 

Amusing photos

Time for the piggies to go to market and make me some bacon!

Work visa/residence permit - physical

I got my results of my physical back and I passed.  Three things came back in the "abnormal" range as they call it:

• Skin/Lymph Nodes - that didn't sound good, until I read the details.  

• Spine and Extremities - again doesn't sound good.

• My ultrasound was also abnormal (insert all the jokes here should you wish).

So in reading the details the Skin/Lymph Nodes and Spine/Extremities boils down to scars from surgery (I've had enough as we know).  The report literally reads:  "Scar of operation for fracture of knee.  Scar of operation for fracture of ankle.  Major scar of leg due to accident.  Scar of operation for ligament injury on shoulder joint.  And the list goes on and on....


The details on the ultrasound says "slightly fatty liver."  It goes on to say that suggestion is "take proper exercise, improve dietary habit."  I guess that means I should cut down on McDonalds and get back to the gym.

Work visa/residence permit

We had a nice short week work wise thanks to a holiday.  So it was only Wed-Sat (customer on Sat) but it felt like a heck of a lot more.  My life so far has truly been - work, work, work over here.  Not bad just a lot to learn and get through.
Wed this past week I went to get a Chinese physical for my work visa/residence permit.  Quite interesting.  Was truly an assembly line of rooms that I had to go through.  Started with a blood sample.  Not liking needles in general I figured I certainly wasn't going to look at one here in China.  Then an ear, nose and mouth check up, followed by EKG, surgical check, general health and ultrasound.  The EKG was the weirdest.  They hooked me up to all sorts of 1950's type wires, laid me down on a gurney, turned it on and I felt nothing.  Then it was over. 
All in all I think it turned out just fine.  Get my results this coming week I think.  Then I need to apply for the permanent resident permit and work visa.
This week should be non-stop work.  We have at least 10 customer appointments that I know of already through the weekend.  I'm sure it will be satisfying but at the same time exhausting. 

100th Post And Happy Mother's Day!

Well this is my 100th post, so I guess you want something special huh? 
Well HAPPY MOTHER'S day to all the mom's out there!  To my mom, you have done a great job in raising me and I couldn't be more thankful that there was not someone else available (inside joke that mom will understand).  Thanks for everything and I hope one day you will get a chance to come and visit!  Lov ya!

Chicago - April 2010

It was nice to be back in Chicago.  Woke up bright and early, caught the sunrise while running on the lakefront.  From there a busy day hitting the Chinese Consulate to get my work visa, hanging with my brother and picking up some stuff to bring back to Shanghai.  From there a relaxing weekend with mom in CT and then off to High Point for the furniture show.  When all was said and done it was nice to get back to China.

Heading home...

Well it's only been 6 weeks or so now but I'm heading home tomorrow (wed pm here).  Back to Chicago for a day and 1/2 to visit the Chinese Embassy for my work permit application along with other stops, then to Connecticut for the weekend to see mom and finally to North Carolina for the High Point Furniture market.  
As usual, lots to do and only a little time to get it all done.   Looking forward to getting home and seeing some friends.
Weather here in Shanghai is still unusually cold and rainy.  Every day is dreary and magnified by the pollution.  But life itself is good.  I've seen a bunch of old friends and former colleagues in my short time here so that has made the transition super easy.
Bring on Chicago if only for a couple of days!