I guess all this crazy traveling and abnormal sleep patterns has caught up with me. Been having stomach issues all weekend and decided to check it out at the local chinese hospital today. Always an adventure going to the hospital here….at least now I have learned what to expect! Always cash up front, I always lose my green book so …
More Strikes in Chinese Factories Over Higher Wages
Wow, what we have all been saying for years about the growth and development in China is coming true – so quickly. But what is happening is INFLATION. Prices for food, rent, and other basic things are going up so quickly. The Chinese government is still controlling their currency from rising too high to try to keep the export market …
Foreign Companies Getting Squeezed for Pay Increases in China
Back to Shenzhen for a couple days now, and just been hearing all over about foxconn factory (the one where I blogged about the chinese factory suicides) HAS DOUBLED the salaries of their workers. Here is an article I read from a Taiwanese newspaper: Commercial Times: Victims of Foxconn pay hikes 2010/06/17 13:34:56 Taiwan-based Hon Hai Group, traded as Foxconn …
Some Perspective On Selling Fake Products from China
I can remember back in High School days, maybe this is 1997 or 1998 (sophomore or junior year) and some classmates (i won’t disclose names) found a source of fake oakley sunglasses online and were buying them and sellling them on ebay, making some decent money. I remember looking at the poor quality fake product, and the O in Oakley …
Meeting Foreigners Who moved to philippines From China
Why does it seem every flight to and from the Philippines is so early in the morning? Caught a few hours sleep before waking up at 5am to head to the airport. The funniest thing i have seen here that i haven’t yet run into in other travels is the male urinals along the side of the road……but hey….i guess …
Reflections from my Shanghai Trip
Heading back to Shenzhen in a bit (sitting in a delayed terminal due to rainstorms in south china), and wanted to summarize and reflect on my 10 days in shanghai. Management – I have always admitted to myself and to others this is my weakness, details and pushing others to work. Also somewhat feel it is cultural differences in style, …
Suicides in a Chinese Factory – Who To Blame?
Been spending over a week here in Shanghai, with the majority of my time around ecommerce and ebay where Mike Song’s office is. Been seeing how he manages his office and organizes the workflow, has been very interesting. I mentioned the other day how much I like dumplings over other Chinese food, and tonight for dinner, his sister prepared HAND …
Playing both sides of USA and China Internet
Had dinner tonight with a couple guys from Paypal China, while here in Shanghai. I am talking to them about payment processing, merchant accounts, IPs in different countries. First of all, CHINA IS GREAT in the fact that I go to a Paypal office, can meet a representative, and then GO OUT FOR DINNER AND DRINKS WITH THEM. Haha, I …
Staff often calls me Teacher more then Boss….
Man….i guess I have seen what it takes to manage workers….and from my going to other offices of companies, I notice I am not alone. Hiring someone is difficult, make sure they are qualified, they want to do the job, they are honest, and hard working. But I want to see the best in everyone….hard to disqualify someone who so …
Feel Like Another Version of Movie “Last King of Scotland”
I recently watched the movie “Last King of Scotland” and in a way, I saw a reflection of myself there. The story in the movie is about a 20 something Scottish guy that is not happy with his current direction in life – working in a boring job, living at his parent’s home. He somehow gets word of opportunity in …
In China 5 kinds of friends
Chatting to my friend, Qui Qui (Jane) online the other day, and I thought I would share this, and maybe get some input from others. qiuqiu says: the sequence is that 1) a strange man who help you 2) understanding friend 3)bosom friend 4) intimate friend 5) a friend just like myself – a friend who is very very understand …
American in China Doing Business in USA – The Endless Struggle
I guess if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. And as much as I complain, I like the adventure, the struggle. But hey, I have to vent. While I am traveling in Shanghai, my USA merchant account was PUT ON HOLD. Piling up problems taking payments from resellers, and losing orders from retail customers….it caused loads of strain …
Babies Carry The Culture – Will the World Become Flat So Quickly?
In Shanghai, I am spending a lot of time with my friend Mike song, who now has a 18 month old son in the photo. Funny kid, very smart and friendly. Doesn’t cry except when his daddy leaves the home. Spending a few years in China, I have been submerged into the culture. Even more lately…I rarely spend time with …
Shanghai Travel Make Me Realize
I guess I am getting too confident on my chinese traveling skills, hit a bunch of speed bumps last night….I tried saving money to shanghai and booked a night flight leaving around 10:30pm. And of course, like normal, there was a flight delay – for “flow of flight control” per the repeating PA announcement in Chinese and English. There was …
In China – Don’t Be First, and Don’t Be Last – Be average
Still trying my best to understand the chinese culture and mindset, and I wanted to blog about a common story or reminder I am told here – you can get rich in China – BUT DON’T GET TOO RICH!!! There isn’t a specific phrase or poem that I know of, but the basic idea is, make money, grow your business, …