Tuesday morning I checked my facebook, I found that Ah Shin was in Beijing and see if I want to have lunch with him. I had not checked facebook for weeks, it was such a coincidence. I guess God really wanted us to meet.
I took Shin to Lan Lou Kung Xian – a hip hutong area. We walked along some local shops, had dinner at a Taiwanese place, and then had coffee at a fusion café. We spent a wonderful brunch together. I knew Shin at college, it was already eight years ago. Actually we did not meet often, but whenever we are together, we had endless topics.
Shin is a very good storyteller. I love listening to his life stories. One of my favorites on that day was that one of his subordinates faced the toughest moment in her life. During last two years, her closest family members die one by one. She needed to pay off the debt from her families. Her life was in a serious mess, she thought about suicide for a couple times. Even my tried very hard to comfort her, coach her and train her, there was no breakthrough in her career and living. With his persistence, my friend finally helped her close a 30 million deal. Her commission helped her pay off all the debts, and gave a restart to her life. I really feel proud of Shin, he has such a strong stand to others. I wonder if you can help a person for two years, I can’t imagine if I can help as much as he does.
Shin really loved Beijing, because it is such a clean and comfortable place to live in. The street are clean, the food are great, the Beijing people are friendly. The only one thing that he can tolerate is the attitude how local Chinese treat the cultural heritage. When he was walking at the Old Palace, he saw a guy holding his son peeing at one of the Towers in Old Palace. An over five hundred years old world’s heritage was stunk by the pee.
Shin loved writing so much, writing his own book was always his dream since he was 13 years old. He wrote a story plot about his own novel series, he planned to finish his book in 5-10 years. It was a real dedication to write a book, I hope his book will be as successful as Harry Potter – even though I had not even finished one of the Harry Potters.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Near death experience
Last night was the most horrifying day in last couple years, at one moment I thought I would be dead in Beijing – maybe it is a bit exaggerating, but at one instant I really asked myself whether I have any regrets in my life if my life ended at that moment.
I was very tired after work, so I just grasped a tuna puff and went home. At midnight, I was woken by my hunger. I cooked some dumpling with my brand-new wok, and chucked down all dumplings quickly and got back to sleep. Half an hour later my stomach got really sick, I thought it would go away quickly. So I waited for half an hour. But I was completely wrong, the pain gradually become more intense, even I can’t even walk properly. I realized I might faint out if the pain continued. So I called 999 for emergency service. My Mandarin was really very poor, and my voice already became very weak at that moment. The agent at call centre could not even recognize what I said. I called twice, but both calls failed to get my address. Immediately I grasped my jacket and wobbled down to get a taxi. I saw the security at the lobby and asked for help. The security called his peers at the front gate to find a taxi for me. But there was no response for a while. I really could not hold the pain, so I ran out of the back door and tried to find a taxi myself. The weather was terribly cold. I stood for 5 minutes but there is no any single car passing by. I was shivering in the cold breeze. I knew that I might pass out in any minute. A thought flashed at my mind that I may die in Beijing. I can’t help asking myself if there is any regret when I die now. Suddenly I saw a flash light approaching. A security found a taxi for me. I asked the taxi driver to take me to the nearest hospital.
The taxi driver took me to the local hospital nearby. There was nobody in the emergency room, when I stepped in. I called for help; finally I woke a nurse sleeping on the sofa. She asked me to the cashier for paying the fees before I can see the doctor. After the doctor examined me, he asked me to pay AGAIN for the blood test. When I walked back to cashier, I saw other local patients lying on the corridor and waited for blood test. The nurses put the needles all around the floor. I did not want to get any contaminated shots. I rushed out to the local hospital and asked the taxi driver to take me to an expat hospital.
The receptionist at the expat hospital thought that I am a local, so she sent me to the doctor immediately after I paid the fee. When I talked to the doctor, he recognized my accent and told me to get upstairs for the expat section. Even I was seriously in pain, they ignored my request. The expat session was at the other end of the building. I kept walking for 10 minutes in a long and cold corridor, but no one was there. Then I just got lost, and started screaming for help, there was no one answering me. Finally I found a security on another floor and took me to the expat session. I went through all the process again – pay to see doctor, pay to do some tests and pay to get shoots. I went back and forth between the emergency room and the cashier 5 times to get everything done. The only difference was that I had a premium service – a wheelchair. When I got home, it was 4am – 5 hours after I started the pain.
Though I may exaggerate a bit, the medical system is really bad in Beijing. I can imagine if I forgot to bring cash with me. I can easily die in Beijing. I will recommend anyone in China do bring your credit card when you get into emergency room, otherwise you will not get any treatment. What an amazing start after Chinese New Year!
I really thank for everyone who asked about my status – all of my new friend in Beijing, my good buddies in Hong Kong/Shanghai and my fellows in Los Angeles. I love you all!
I was very tired after work, so I just grasped a tuna puff and went home. At midnight, I was woken by my hunger. I cooked some dumpling with my brand-new wok, and chucked down all dumplings quickly and got back to sleep. Half an hour later my stomach got really sick, I thought it would go away quickly. So I waited for half an hour. But I was completely wrong, the pain gradually become more intense, even I can’t even walk properly. I realized I might faint out if the pain continued. So I called 999 for emergency service. My Mandarin was really very poor, and my voice already became very weak at that moment. The agent at call centre could not even recognize what I said. I called twice, but both calls failed to get my address. Immediately I grasped my jacket and wobbled down to get a taxi. I saw the security at the lobby and asked for help. The security called his peers at the front gate to find a taxi for me. But there was no response for a while. I really could not hold the pain, so I ran out of the back door and tried to find a taxi myself. The weather was terribly cold. I stood for 5 minutes but there is no any single car passing by. I was shivering in the cold breeze. I knew that I might pass out in any minute. A thought flashed at my mind that I may die in Beijing. I can’t help asking myself if there is any regret when I die now. Suddenly I saw a flash light approaching. A security found a taxi for me. I asked the taxi driver to take me to the nearest hospital.
The taxi driver took me to the local hospital nearby. There was nobody in the emergency room, when I stepped in. I called for help; finally I woke a nurse sleeping on the sofa. She asked me to the cashier for paying the fees before I can see the doctor. After the doctor examined me, he asked me to pay AGAIN for the blood test. When I walked back to cashier, I saw other local patients lying on the corridor and waited for blood test. The nurses put the needles all around the floor. I did not want to get any contaminated shots. I rushed out to the local hospital and asked the taxi driver to take me to an expat hospital.
The receptionist at the expat hospital thought that I am a local, so she sent me to the doctor immediately after I paid the fee. When I talked to the doctor, he recognized my accent and told me to get upstairs for the expat section. Even I was seriously in pain, they ignored my request. The expat session was at the other end of the building. I kept walking for 10 minutes in a long and cold corridor, but no one was there. Then I just got lost, and started screaming for help, there was no one answering me. Finally I found a security on another floor and took me to the expat session. I went through all the process again – pay to see doctor, pay to do some tests and pay to get shoots. I went back and forth between the emergency room and the cashier 5 times to get everything done. The only difference was that I had a premium service – a wheelchair. When I got home, it was 4am – 5 hours after I started the pain.
Though I may exaggerate a bit, the medical system is really bad in Beijing. I can imagine if I forgot to bring cash with me. I can easily die in Beijing. I will recommend anyone in China do bring your credit card when you get into emergency room, otherwise you will not get any treatment. What an amazing start after Chinese New Year!
I really thank for everyone who asked about my status – all of my new friend in Beijing, my good buddies in Hong Kong/Shanghai and my fellows in Los Angeles. I love you all!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Red Pockets
Today I got my first red pockets in last few years, I am so happy! It is not about the money, but I can feel the atmosphere of Chinese New Year.
Working in Beijing, I found there are huge differences in customs between Mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Red Pockets
- Mainland: Red Pockets are only given to kids/youngsters in your close families or from your very close friends. You need not to give red pockets to your coworkers/ so-so friends. Since you will not give a lot of red pockets, people tend to fill the red pockets with stacks of RMB$100 notes. People tends to have specific red pocket to specific people. Giving red pockets means that you are important to me.
- Hong Kong: Red Pockets are given to any SINGLES. No matter whether you are a baby or a 50 year old guy, you can get red pockets from the married. You can get red pockets from whoever you know, including relatives, coworkers, schoolmates... etc. So people tend to have stacks of red pockets in varied amount, putting in different pocket in jacket for men/ pursue for women. So they can choose the RIGHT amount for the RIGHT person. Giving red pockets means that I know you (and I can't avoid seeing you during CNY). The amount of red pocket indicates how important you are.
- Taiwan: Red Pockets are given to kids who did not start working. Once you start working, you can't get any red pockets any more. On the other hand, once you start working (even you are not married), you need to give red pockets. Giving red pockets means that I have a job and ability now.
If I were a kid, I would choose to live in China, since you can get the thick-stack red pockets. Being an adult, I definitely love being in Hong Kong. Get red pockets as old as I can.
Working in Beijing, I found there are huge differences in customs between Mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Red Pockets
- Mainland: Red Pockets are only given to kids/youngsters in your close families or from your very close friends. You need not to give red pockets to your coworkers/ so-so friends. Since you will not give a lot of red pockets, people tend to fill the red pockets with stacks of RMB$100 notes. People tends to have specific red pocket to specific people. Giving red pockets means that you are important to me.
- Hong Kong: Red Pockets are given to any SINGLES. No matter whether you are a baby or a 50 year old guy, you can get red pockets from the married. You can get red pockets from whoever you know, including relatives, coworkers, schoolmates... etc. So people tend to have stacks of red pockets in varied amount, putting in different pocket in jacket for men/ pursue for women. So they can choose the RIGHT amount for the RIGHT person. Giving red pockets means that I know you (and I can't avoid seeing you during CNY). The amount of red pocket indicates how important you are.
- Taiwan: Red Pockets are given to kids who did not start working. Once you start working, you can't get any red pockets any more. On the other hand, once you start working (even you are not married), you need to give red pockets. Giving red pockets means that I have a job and ability now.
If I were a kid, I would choose to live in China, since you can get the thick-stack red pockets. Being an adult, I definitely love being in Hong Kong. Get red pockets as old as I can.
Chinese New Year
Many of you said that I am disappeared online. Since it was year end, I have tons of annual plannng presentation for Yili. I want to make sure I deliver a good impression to the clients, so I work very hard on each presentation. Luckily most of the presentation went well. One day I did 3 Mandarin presentation. It is a tough job for me, it is an even tougher for my client to understand my Mandarin. Anyway, things will get better.
In terms of social lives, I met a couple interesting people in Beijing. I met a group of expats through Yanny. We hang out every week and explore Beijing, they makes me feel good living in Beijing. Of course my coworkers are very nice to me as well. We always played "Killer" after meals.
I was out of HK for the last Chinese New Year. This year I flied down to Hong Kong on Eve of Chinese New Year. It is good to see my families and friends again. I got a serious cold in Beijing, so it gives me some time to recover as well. 0
My new resolution is to practise yoga, have good mandarin, and meet more interesting people in Beijing.
In terms of social lives, I met a couple interesting people in Beijing. I met a group of expats through Yanny. We hang out every week and explore Beijing, they makes me feel good living in Beijing. Of course my coworkers are very nice to me as well. We always played "Killer" after meals.
I was out of HK for the last Chinese New Year. This year I flied down to Hong Kong on Eve of Chinese New Year. It is good to see my families and friends again. I got a serious cold in Beijing, so it gives me some time to recover as well. 0
My new resolution is to practise yoga, have good mandarin, and meet more interesting people in Beijing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)