So 12 days have just flown by. Friday night in a warm Shanghai and had a fantastic first 12 days, and only this evening have my feet really touched the ground.
I will recount a number of stories below and chronology for those that like that sort of thing. First though some thoughts:-
Hopefully these comments will help explain how wonderful this place is and the scale of the contrasts that exist as well as the sheer magnitude that is here. However my literary skills are not sufficient to cover it all - you have to come and see it, add it to your list of things to do before you die.
Shanghai is a tremendous place - whistling along with immense energy - however within it when you engage the people (with and without Mandarin - more below) you find big smiles and a genuine desire to want to help you as best they can. Certainly makes you feel better after a long day.
The team and the office have really made me feel welcome. They are charming, have fafascinating stories to learn and have made it easy to settle in. One or two are starting to reflect my humour - which may be worrying for some of you. Though I am not sure they understand what they are letting themselves in for.
If any of the office team are reading this - Thank you - what a great place to work and I really appreciate how you have looked after me.
Have been into China and seen two third tier cities - been on the high speed train, and driven down the
motorways. These may be more what we expect to see of China in the west - more industrialised, smaller workshops and huge factories. However amongst this you see huge developments and massive investment in infrastructure, housing and development. Soon these cities will overtake places like Birmingham, Memphis in sophistication, quality and lifestyle. This is where the real powerhouse in China lies, and where the opportunity will come from. Anybody who believes the China growth is a bubble just needs to see this.
Back to Shanghai - on my drive to work everyday I go past the new Shanghai exhibition centre. they have started work on a new building. Each morning two lanes deep there are about 3km (along the streets) of trucks, diggers, cranes etc lined up waiting to enter the site. This line is virtually empty when I come home. No messing about - this is a huge development, and one of many.
Myth or Fact - I was told in the office - that there are more high rise buildings in Shanghai than there are in the entirety of the USA!
Fire - you may have seen the tower fire on the news. It has created a shock in the city, there are still 36 people missing on top of the 50 or so dead. One of the girls in the office lives next door and has not been allowed home for fear of collapse.
In my 12 days I have spent 5 days in Shanghai. I spent five days in Chengdu, one in JinHua, and one in Ziangegjiang.
So arrived at Pudong on Monday 8th after having travelled via Helsinki with Finnair - excellent service. Note there was snow on the ground in Helsinki. Journey went really quick - any journey would after watching your team score in the last minute to win a local football derby. Sorry Roger - still smiling now.
We landed at 8.15 am, by 8.50am I was in the car with my luggage, having cleared immigration and the red customs channel.Arrived at my house to start check in at 9.15am. At the police station (temporary residents permit) by 10.30am, then to Carrefour for my supplies, and back - changed and in the office by 2.30pm.
First shock - Bedding - is extremely expensive - duvets run into £100's with pillows and sheets proportionately less. Maybe a little earner here - importing made in China bedding from the west into China. Saw a market stall in Xiantiendi last night selling bedding at lower prices - and they were mobbed, however it was still excruciatingly expensive. deep pockets short arms houldridge only bought one duvet and pillow. Haven't lost my roots just yet.
First experience of Chinese efficiency - as part of work permit and residents visa you have to have Chinese authorities medical. Turned up at 08.30am - as scheduled and had a battery of tests and examinations, to be back in the street dressed at 09.00am. They checked my form, asked me health questions, blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight, EEG, Ultrasound scan, chest X-ray, blood test, eye and hearing test. there were about 10 other people going through the tests at the same time. Paid my dosh. The doctors even had a sense of humour, as I started giggling when the cold gel was applied to my belly and she began the ultrasound examination.
Flew to Chengdu for Chinese Orthopaedic Association meeting and exhibition, which runs Friday to Sunday as the 15,000 surgeons who attended cant get time off to attend. We had other meetings. Chengdu is a city of about 10 million people - and is where the Pandas are. The food is excellent and is noted for its spicy nature. And it is sharp spicy not the Vindaloo curry hot. When you get a spicy bit your eyes water, your throat swells and you sneeze - all at once. Recovery can vary from 5 to 15 minutes. Of course the regulars are immune and find it amusing.
Arrived in Chengdu to attend sales force dinner (after 3 hour flight - economy) and walked through one of the downtown pedestrian squares where there were two groups of about 150 -200 people dancing to music - from a portable DVD player. Anybody can join in.
had a number of my language encounters in Chengdu - made my mind up to practice what I had learnt. The effect on the locals is amazing at times. Sometimes because you get it wrong but most times, shock, as they are stunned you know words and then they respond really positively.
Language encounter 1 - hotel restaurant for lunch - buffet - so wandered up to the cake counter, as you do, to see row upon row of exquisite cakes. Many were labelled in both Chinese and English (it was an intercontinental hotel). One chocolate cake was not labelled, so taking the chance, I pointed at the cake and asked "Zhe shi shenme?". The response from the assailant was a big smile and an excited and very rapid 30 second burst of Chinese - obviously telling em what was in the cake, where it had come from, the date it was made, the sell by date and how she felt after she ate a piece earlier. Well it could have been any of this as I had no idea what she was saying! I Had to apologise and ask her to tell me in English. To which she responded the obvious - Chocolate layer cake. It was very nice.
I have to be careful asking Ni Hao ma? (how are you) as when you get a long reply I have no idea whether it is good or bad, so have no idea how to react.
Language encounter 2 - breakfast in the same hotel - I was asked what I wanted to drink, to which I replied "Wo yao yi ge hei de kafe" - (black coffee) - the young girl quickly disappeared with concern on her face. She reappeared with her friend who in perfect Englisher asked me what I had said. I carefully repeated what I had said - with a little trepidation. The response was greeted with a - you want black coffee? Phew - so I asked what the girl had thought I had said - oh rose thought you wanted a black man! Fortunately we had a good laugh about it and they remembered me in the restaurant.
I have had great fun in the super market asking for things and trying to say no. I asked in mix of chinese and hand signals where the food hall was, and in great English was told down the aisle, turn left and down the escalator!. Why wasn't he around when I was trying to find out what the special offer was on the kettles...
Had a three hour journey on a CRH high speed train. Just like East Coast trains - but faster and on time, and the train crew smile at you,. The seats are like airline seats with tables in the arms and - leg room. The stations have no english on the signs, so you need a guide.
Went to see a supplier and obviously had questions to ask. Andrew my Chinese colleague who signs his name XX, (his chinese name) looked after me fantastically well, and translated for me. We had the usual comedy sketch where I ask a simple question. Long passionate exchange in Chinese and the the translated answer is yes.
Have managed to avoid fish and beer, by explaining I am allergic to both. The toasting when eating with the suppliers or the sales team is challenging when drinking curler or sprite. The Chinese tradition of touching glass, making a toast to you and then both of you down in one is a little challenging with four curlers or four sprites. Trying to avoid the bubbles coming back up through nostrils, ears etc.
Touching moment to end on - went for three vaccinations to complete the set. (My new job involves being a pin cushion). I went to a Birthing Clinic - it did other things as well - and the look of horror on the face of our receptionist who was sent with me to ensure I got to the right place was one to remember. However there was a corridor - 10 feet long - and on both sides floor to ceiling and full length was pictures of babies born in the clinic and the letters of thanks from parents. wouldn't be allowed in the UK in the middle of the clinic.
So 12 days of whirlwind experiences. When You wake up in the morning just remember that I have had a few more that day. 8 hours to the UK makes planning calls challenging, however my wireless Internet has worked better than at home. BT disconnect blog to follow....
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