Hiking video
May 31st, 2010
Archive
Archive for May, 2010
Networking, Mandarin lessons, and new friends
May 30th, 2010
In Beijing I nap. For at least the last 12 years I have not been a nap person. It appears to suit me in Beijing. My activities get justified. That’s the way I operate. When I play hard I have earned the play from the efficient and productive work that I just completed. When I work diligently, it is because my desire to buy something not totally necessary or possibly my plans to play when most folks are working brought on that diligent work.
I routinely wake before 6am and go to bed after 11 pm or midnight. These hours occasionally call for a nap. Heck, Sunday calls for a nap. Saturdays typically start before 6am and end after 2am. The past week like each week so far has been full of adventures. Scheduled dinners occurred Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evening. Thursday evening contained an excitement filled multi-chamber networking event and a few hours of dancing. Friday night I stayed home in anticipation of the very long Saturday. One day I met with work related folks in their large office building wearing my shorts and t-shirt. I had tea at least once and I wrote several follow-up emails to (possible new) friends from across the world – all living in Beijing.
Friday the bike sat idle while the legs carried me to three different banks to make deposits into random bank accounts for product samples. Costa Coffee and Starbucks received a visit from me while I drank iced tea and updated website information. Late Friday afternoon a print shop updated and printed new business cards for me with my msn fun512@live.com and Beijing cell number on them. Tuesday and Thursday morning I practiced Mandarin lessons with my current instructor. After another week or two with her, my sessions will increase to the 10 hours per week range.
Saturday’s hike took nearly twenty of us to Fragrant Hills- a short 30 minute drive from town. This hike required ENERGY. We hiked nearly straight up hill for a solid thousand (meters) yards. At the top the we viewed the entire city of Beijing down in the valley. We walked back a different way after a brief rest. The group split up for the hike and arrived at our dinner place together. We dined with a group twice our size at the ‘once monthly hiking group’ party. Again, new folks and some regulars attended. Great food, good entertainment, and the best company were all parts of the evening. We ate buffet line style. I tried mostly regular (to me now) foods. The random items I ate: some egg I was not familiar with, an un sweet warm dessert- similar to a porridge, and some different peppers. Next time I may even bring a non-Chinese person on the hike and to dinner afterwards.
(Work related) Presently I am attempting to gather money to make product purchases for a shipment back to the states. The marketing machine is in action and the products will arrive back in Texas. New photos are appearing on the partymachines.com site weekly.
This evening I may schedule a dinner before my beverage outing at 8pm. After a nap I am slow to get back into the swing of the day. I am not quite there at this point.
It’s Party time at the rubber nipple
May 23rd, 2010
The shirts with English words here in China are fantastic.
I imagine that most folks do not know the meaning of the words on their shirts. I have one very intelligent, English speaking friend, Morgan, who wore my favorite shirt yet. What makes it so special to me is that Morgan knows English! It is a good looking shirt and Morgan is an extremely attractive young lady. The shirt represents only a tiny portion of the excitement on Saturday. It’s only fair to start the weekend on Thursday.
The networking event Thursday night occurred near Guomao subway stop at the Kerry Center. That means- bike ride. The participants – forty something different people all live in China and hail from Vietnam, (mainly) Canada, Germany, England, the U.S., France, and Sweden. I imagine there may have been one person I did not meet. I made a few new friends, and possibly gained business contacts. I met a dentist, a guy in logistics, a couple of gentlemen from a legal/ accounting firm. That can only help me. With each networking event I seem to get invited to another. That suits me well. I left the camera at home. Next week there appears to be a larger networking event with even more people that I will attend.
Friday turned (like most days here) into an adventure. I ventured to a subway stop on the blue (Line 10) line that I had not been to before. I headed north towards the airport, landed, walked, walked, walked, and then walked some more until I arrived at a large convention center full of audio, lighting, and dj stuff. I made a few great finds and am now waiting for follow up from potential new vendors. It’s so great being right here where most things are made. I believe I found my newest big humongous snow machine as well as a very impressive foam cannon. Photos and video to follow. The walk back to the subway from the convention took about 12 minutes. I arrived back home around seven, in time to eat, clean up and head out to a cocktail reception at an art gallery, on to Xiu bar for a little dancing, one glass of wine, and then off to Vic’s for one margarita and some more dancing with Yolanda from Port Arthur, Mary from Beaumont, and Chris from Austin. That’s correct- all the way to Beijing for Beaumont and Port Arthur! My bike gets a workout even when I go out dancing. I needed to be home before sunrise as the Saturday hike gathering took place right after 11am.
Saturday morning I forced myself to sleep past 6am. I made it til right after 7 and then prepared for a journey by subway to the meeting place near the bird’s nest for the hiking group. Once I climbed to the street level it was clear that there was a solid mile more to get to my location. For the first time I hired one of those buggies on three wheels.
About half of the folks at the hike were new to me. It’s getting very comfortable with this group. By far these are the most wonderful new folks I have had the pleasure to meet in my travels here. The diversity in the group is most wonderful, refreshing, and exciting. Everyone appears to work so hard during the week and work even harder at letting loose on the weekend and especially around their hiking companions.
We drove for a little more than two hours outside of the city into the mountains. The peaceful scenery makes the hustle of city life seem so far away for the time we spend in nature. The great big bonus for me was that we walked to the Great Wall.
After the hike we drove back to Beijing in just about two hours for dinner at a SPICY Chinese food restaurant and some more fantastic ice dessert at Bellagio. The evening for David, Ping, Danshing, and me still had several more hours in it. We left (in our hiking clothes) the dessert restaurant, cabbed it to the Village, found a club, and danced til 2am. For me it was a very long, tiring, and exciting Saturday in Beijing.
Wall hangings, lamps, and waste baskets
May 17th, 2010
On a Monday night in Beijing after twenty-four of the last thirty hours spent in bed I intend to get out and walk around. My diet of vegetables, tofu, and the occasional tiny portion of meat was interrupted Sunday. Around the lunch hour I dined on lobster, sushi, and lots of other fancy food items at the best buffet lunch I have ever had the pleasure of attending. I will go back. Next time the portions will be smaller. Wow! My body yelled, screamed, and kicked me something fierce.
The weekend activities kept me out of trouble. Friday night included dancing at Xiu bar til after 2am with friends following a lovely dinner of grilled meats and dumplings. Saturday’s hike was skipped in favor of watching Iron Man II and a trip to a local Wal-Mart. Next time I’ll choose the hike.
My bike gets a workout every day. My comfort zone expands daily with longer journeys away from my residence. Sunday, immediately after the lovely brunch I purchased city maps to hang on my apartment walls. This week I intend to get two extra waste baskets, a clock, and two lamps for better lighting. This place feels a little more like home every single day. My second mandarin lesson occurs tomorrow morning. Work projects systematically get worked through daily. Hiccups always happen but life would be boring without them.
before 9:30am on a Wednesday
May 11th, 2010
I hope all of this excitement continues for quite awhile. So far today I found a cleaners and dropped off four shirts and finally paid the deposit and purchased 5 gallons of drinking water. I had help with the water. I also ran for right over 30 minutes and ate breakfast. Now I am going to create things to do until my 7pm social thing.
I also notice that now that I am a 90% (of the time) vegetarian I am a 100% (of the time) hungry person. Hopefully the 100% of the time hunger sensation will abdicate.
Dumpling house for lunch
May 11th, 2010
I just had the most unique lunch. I decided to get out on my bike. The journey took me about 12 minutes by bike away from home in a familiar direction. I parked the bike, walked another 10 minutes or so until I saw a few words in English, “Dumpling house.” I walked in to see no more English. I waited in line to order some food with the lady behind me literally grinding against me. There is no concept of personal space here. It’s a hoot! My turn meant that I pointed and smiled and shook my head side to side. After pointing at three (two too many) side dishes the young attendant pulled a menu out with some English on it. Whew! I ordered and paid for 6 large dumplings, a huge bowl of black bean soup, and three large side dishes of vegetables. Next I walked my little slip (after paying nearly $4.75) 12 feet to the kitchen window and waved it until the young lady with a face mask on took it and poured my bowl of black bean soup. If I did not wave the slip I would still be standing there. Here I must speak up to get attended to. It appeared that the onion and pork dumplings that I ordered were still cooking. While waiting I thought about how difficult it would be to go back and get my sides. I also enjoyed the view of the three young men making dumplings from scratch behind the young lady filling orders. Everyone wears masks and hats in the kitchen.
The line never seemed to get smaller or larger. The folks waiting to order were standing 10-14 deep. All of the three rows of 4 tops seemed to be full. Each row had 5 or so tables in it. The folks waiting for their orders to get filled – along with me- always seemed to be three deep. Once I received my steaming hot dumplings and bean soup I went back for my sides. They were gone so with a smile and a bunch of pointing I received them again. I took my food to a table that had not been cleared. I straightened up the two trays and then they were quickly taken away. I was not sitting for five minutes before an older gentleman sat with me. My soup needed salt but I did enjoy it. Because I ordered enough food for two people I took half of the soup and four dumplings home. The young lady at the food window neatly packaged my extra dumplings and soup for me after I had finished my greens and two of the tasty breaded dumplings.
My first Chinese lesson begins in 75 minutes.
The internet experience – what a journey
May 6th, 2010
I still don’t have internet in my apartment. The landlord finally (after I spent 1.5 hours biking round trip and $32 purchasing a new router) said that internet is extra. I went to the management office- They took $38 more and today I’ll go (attempt to) return the router. Saturday or Sunday they will call to install my service. I must be there. Those are my two big play days. By Monday I’ll have internet in my apartment and all will be better. It’s not stressful. It’s humorous. It’s a tick.
In China the rules are made up as we go along. On top of it all- the folks here are so nice and warm and friendly. The foreigners living here are so educated and hard working. I love it!
I’ll bust out the camera again this weekend and get more material for a new video. I feel as though I am definitely getting better at the video editing. In the meantime I am working on my websites, planning a buying spree, and working on my record keeping/ accounting stuff. As of right this moment I don’t want to ever leave. The food is good. I’m experimenting by trying new foods regularly. I had a massage two days ago that I slept through. They tell me it’s really good when I sleep through it. I don’t know about that one.
Rules? What rules?
May 5th, 2010
“They” call “them” ticks. I like to break “them” into more categories. Sometimes the “ticks” are positive, sometimes they are negative, and sometimes they are just what they are…. “ticks.” “They” are folks who are not originally from here. “Them” are things that occur on a regular basis. Examples are plentiful. Yesterday I enjoyed Tex-mex food with my Texas friend, Chris, in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. We figured it most appropriate to do so. The menu that we received was reasonably (enough) priced. It was lunchtime and Chris had been there before at lunch. He asked (more than once) for the “lunch” menu before it was brought to us. The prices and selections were fantastic. The regular menu was at least twice as expensive as the lunch menu. They appeared to be hiding the LUNCH menu from us at lunch time. This is one example of a “tick.” Once the margaritas arrived, we added our own tequila from the bottle we brought in with us. Nobody said a word to us about it. We left our bottle on the table for all to see. This is another “tick.” These are normal occurrences here. Different people adjust entirely differently to this environment. I find that with a bunch of patience and a really open mind it’s fun and fairly stress free. The transplants are extremely intelligent and hard working. The locals are warm, friendly, and extremely hard working.
I purchased my own bicycle in order to never have to take a cab again here. I now take five minutes to get to the grocery store by bike. The city just got a great deal smaller to me. With my subway pass and bike I now get to go anywhere relatively quickly. The two hour cab rides (for me) that go a distance of 4 miles or so are history. I also found a park near my temporary residence. It’s lovely- photos to follow.
After a little more than a week I feel settled and adjusted to the time. I have noticed that the food I miss from home is iced tea, chips, and salsa. I can find iced tea, chips, and salsa here so I’ll be fine.
My daily routine is still getting figured out. I enjoy the challenge. My productivity level increases daily. The computer button punching is good. Without my central Texas distractions I get so much done. It appears that a foam party will occur here in ten days.