07.24.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 18:58 by Nator
I just received the following letter from gotocn.com, which attempts to be an information portal for expats in China:
Here at gotocn.com, we get you the best articles and the most practical advice possible to let you successfully experience Beijing and the rest of China. With articles by our editors and outside experts as well as our registered members, we provide information on every aspect of living in China, whether you are a student, a tourist, an investor or an English teacher.
Because after all, what other kind of foreigners are there, besides students, tourists, investors, and English teachers?
I can’t think of any high-quality websites that cover all of China. There are plenty of decent sites for specific cities and regions, however. Lists of such sites are available here, here, and here.
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07.15.08
Posted in Hong Kong, Money / Banks, Olympics, Uncategorized at 21:50 by Mul
Actually the opposite of chaos. Peaceful and orderly lines started forming late Monday night at the Bank of China Tower (full of mostly senior citizens by my count) eager to purchase either the Brilliant Jubliation or United Pleasure set. Or perhaps one of each.
Although the HKD20 commemorative bank notes were originally scheduled for release on Wednesday, the bank started early registration on Tuesday for “purchase passes” allowing holders to return on Wednesday (or later) to purchase the notes. There were at least two separate lines at the main branch on Garden Road, one of them (pictured above) extending from the front of the building all the way to Pacific Place several blocks away. I don’t have Park Service-quality crowd estimation skills, but I would guess there were at least a few thousand people in line.
Here’s another photo in the back of the building:
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07.01.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 17:31 by SHTig
You’ve heard it said that Chinese will surpass the US because they are willing to work so damn hard (for less money, under tougher circumstances, for the sake of national glory, etc.) Well, China will continue its ascent, but lets dispell this notion that the people here work so much harder than Americans or Europeans.
Evidence? A survey currently running on www.highpk.com is asking Chinese people whether people to choose their preference:
1. “work to live / overtime is basically a pressure that hides the enjoyment of life“(工作为了生活 — 加班根本就是一种压榨，剥夺了生活的乐趣)
2. “live to work — overtime is an expression of my hard work and is the elevator to success” (活着为了工作 — 加班是我努力工作的表现，是通往成功的阶梯).
Well, as of right now, with nearly 15,000 votes/comments in, a whopping 90% take option #1, that working is to support life but not more.
And living in China, I believe it. People here are not cramming every minute of the day to work harder and do better. Heck, even the designer of the story image took shortcuts. See how he mixed up the English with the Chinese in the picture above? “Work to live” and “live to work” are in the wrong places. Obviously that dude was not OTing to get his image done correctly.
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06.28.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 19:19 by SHTig
I haven’t taken to twitter yet. Anyway, I’m sitting in the “Axis” Lounge & Bar in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Singapore. The girl who greeted me at the entrance is Japanese, so I’m slightly wondering what’s up with the name of this place. But more interesting than that are Singapore’s F-15 fighters that are flying outside the window over the Singapore Harbour at this moment. Damn those things are fast, loud and amazing. And they’re pretty good assurances that the Malaysians and Indonesians won’t get any funny ideas.
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