Two stories from a friend- Beijing always entertains
The following two stories arrived in my email box from an American friend working here in Beijing. She arrived four months ago:
My entire week really has been yucky, but today was particularly frustrating. Note that this week started on Saturday as I have been working through the weekend. At 4:00 pm this afternoon I made an executive decision and decided to treat myself to my favorite summertime treat from Starbucks. This morning, while getting my morning coffee, I noticed that this sugar filled Strawberry delight has returned for the summer. With anticipation and excitement I waited patiently for my guilty pleasure to be perfectly blended, a young Chinese women chatted me up. This lovely, American born Chinese lady from LA, arrived in China 8 years ago. Presently she heads some (my opinion) big fancy operation here in China. This brief conversation brightened my day tremendously. After the natural business card exchange I received (less than sixty minutes later) an e-mail from her connecting me with 2 or 3 colleagues in my office whom I have not met yet and invited me to an event in June relating rto my field of work. This extremely friendly and lovely young lady even works in my same complex. We will share lunch soon.
After polishing off my tasty Strawberry Starbucks afternoon beverage, and my work day was ending, I visited the young ladies room. I do not typically share this tidbit of information, but this is where this story starts: As I exited the stall, a young chinese woman with 2 large and overflowing boxes on a dolly stood hawking handbags. She obviously did not work at my office; as nobody in our office would lug boxes like this around. She sells purses, shoes, etc. Amanda previously operated a stall at the Silk market. Presently, she sells directly to the customers with whom she has relationships. I quickly learn that one of the my big bosses (I have not yet met) regularly makes purchases. She accepted my card and I hope she contacts. I believe she will be my new ghandbag friend. I Just need to provide her with the product number. She had the most awesome Christian Lubaton black open toe pumps. I soooo want them — RMB 550 — these shoes are $550 back home. As I was looking though the box of goodies she was delivering today, my colleagues were coming in and out of the restroom. Nobody really flinched or batted an eye. I kept thinking…….only in China.
