Heavy snow
Photo taken outside my work-place. I left the office at around 8pm and waited for a cab for more than an hour! They are all occupied! Althought it's just a 15 mins walk from home.
I am trying to get a cab nearby... but the local seems more expert to jump in a cab quick!! So, my best option is: walk home! Strong wind, slippery road, traffic jam...by the time I reached home, it's 10pm ++. Had my shower and a good night sleep. What a bad day!
Set dinner
Normally we will go for Japanese buffet twice a month at XinHua Road near the place I work. It cost RMB150 per head. Four Seasons, a small restaurant in the middle of XinHua Road, just opposite LianHua Supermarket.
But the photos above was taken at another Japanese Restaurant nearby. RMB300 for a set dinner, quite expensive huh...
Lunch today
Wow.. what's that ? It's a giant bowl of fish soup. The grill prawns are nice, cooked on cobblestones. Yeah, cobblestones! Just like those at the riverbank...:)
Nanjing
Sunset in HangZhou
What's these call in Chinese?????
Load-bearing wall~
Recessed strip lighting~
Poor thing....
Introducing Van McClean, the Australian Art Director who I'm currently staying with. Van is a fun and energetic old man :) He speaks good Cantonese and used to stay in Hong Kong for over 40 years. The only Chinese word that he know is 可乐 ~ (Coca Cola!)
Back to work...
I was checking my designers work at her PC and I feel that the AutoCAD furniture template (we have a directory of furniture block, basically a pre-drawn furniture in plan and elevation to make our life easier) that she choose need to be change. She's doing a furniture layout with a Victorian concept but she pluged in a modern furniture! I'm trying to communicate with her 'bout this for 10 mins:
Me: could you change the "yí zhǐ "?
She: Huh ??
Me: Zhè gè yí zhǐ chùo le...
She: ??? (still look at her drawing with loooots of questions..)
(maybe I delivered the wrong msg)
Me: (I get frustrated and pointed the chair on her monitor screen... and a hand sign means 'wrong')
She: OOOHHH~~~~ yǐ zhi~~
I was like.... @.@ Well... ok...
As a foreigner living and working in Shanghai, I am enjoying the benefits of being an expatriate of a country which is far wealtheir than the one in which I reside! I dine in expensive restaurants. I have a driver who waits downstairs and fetch me to work every morning. I eat sushi at least once a week. I travel accross China. I call ah yi (maid) to clean my apartment up when it's dirty. My life is nothing different from other thousands of foreigners in China. We all come here for the "China Experience" and still live our lives with the advantages of being a foreigner.
But what is it like to be one of the 6 million rich Chinese residents of Shanghai, especially those wealthy white collar? They bought several properties for investement. They invest in stock market. They buy car and paid by CASH! (This is real... no bull in the sky! @,@) They bring their whole family to Europe for a vacation. They have a driver. They wear gold Rolex (yes.. it's real Rolex!). The Chinese are rich especially those who can travel outside China. Cuz most of the mainlanders never travel in a plane! Train and busses are widely use in China.
Working in China is challenging. Things like communication problem, different working style, presentation format, plans & drawings, ... etc. That's not the hardest.... IT'S IN CHINESE!!!!!!!!!! ALL stuff and the specifications are in CHINESE!!!!!! Can you imagine all architecture and design terms are in ChinESE!!!! (Oh my God~)
Thank GOD that I have a team of designers and draftmen (with a translator) placed under me!
Granite = 花岗岩
Marble = 大理石
Stainless Steel = 不锈钢
Sections = 剖立面图
Display = 陈列品
Air Conditional = 空调
I started getting MAD with all the building materials in Chinese terms!
H-E-L-P ME~~~~~~~
Doing Business in Shanghai (Insider's Guide) - Examining basics such as the latest business trends, new business opps., and the city’s major industries, as well as analyzing economic progress of import, export, investment, this guide proves an essential tool for business professionals looking to invest in this expanding market. A useful contact directory of service-related organizations and government bodies is also provided.
Fast Boat to China: Corporate Flight and the Consequences of Free Trade; Lessons from Shanghai - A fresh look at exactly what we should be making of... the increasing number of U.S. and European companies that are relocating their factories and work force in China.
New Shanghai Cuisine: Bridging the Old and the New (Mc Cuisine) - Dining in Shanghai is an exhilarating experience.
