Posts

We are but estranged lovers

-
 I'm flustered. Simply flustered. My job is destroying my mental health.  How do I know this? I used to walk a bit less than 2 miles to feel physically good.  Now it stretches over 3 miles before I begin to wear out.  Am I in better shape? Of course not.  It's just the time it takes, the distance it takes to mentally repair myself is longer than it used to be.  Of course, this would all be much easier for me to handle if I could just visit my factories.  Managing a sourcing regime is hard, harder if you are 8000 miles away and unable to have conversations with suppliers face to face.  Fortunately, I do have competent teams on the ground.  Unfortunately, there are instances where experience tells me "truly understanding the situation" requires my presence.  Meanwhile, Thailand (open) and Vietnam (about to open), look pretty enticing.  When China continue to march to the beat of its own drum?  It plays well.  All of China believes "The West" has brought this p
13 comments
Read more

Things me and China Wife argue about

-
 Hi Everyone. It has been awhile. Dropping a quick post, stealing a moment.  I find myself wanting to write, but honestly, when I am free, writing a post never makes it to the top of my to do list.  Two weeks ago I logged in 57 hours at my job.  Enough said.  I've also felt many of the topics I've wanted to talk about I've already written about before, and I don't want to sound redundant.  Still....I want to talk about China Wife for a moment. As I write this, she is upstairs making lamb.  She asked me when we were shopping earlier today if I'd be interested in having lamb for dinner.  I said sure.  But what I really need is meatloaf.   Still I was excited to be eating lamb....until I noticed she is making lamb with carrots and some type of Chinese radish.  That is, she's making lamb "China style".   All I can do is sigh. "Another waste of meat", I think to myself.  I simply told her I won't eat the carrots and I won't eat the radish,
Post a Comment
Read more

It is just not in our DNA

-
 So here we are Christmas Eve, 2021.  The same situation as I was in last year.  Let me explain. This time last year my former dumbass boss got Covid.  He went to a church gathering or something and just like that came down with it.  My ofc was next to his, and though I felt horrific, I tested negative. Meanwhile,  the guy on the other side of me caught it.  With a newborn in the house to boot.  So now it turns out this year my youngest apparently has it, too.  Probably.  She took a rapid test and it came out positive.  We have no clue as to how she got it.  From me?  Her social animal China Mom?  Her social animal sister? No idea.  But I do know we spent three hours in a covid line yesterday.   So now China Wife and oldest are watching Home Alone again, and as I'd rather watch a Korean Zombie movie, I'm here writing this.  I'm writing this because I'm pissed off.  I'm upset that nearly two years into this I'm still having to wear a mask.  Meanwhile I'm amaz
3 comments
Read more

China doesn't miss me

-
 Hi Folks.  It's been two months.  The sad thing is I haven't thought much about this blog, in the least.  Last week I logged in probably 55 hours in the office.  Not counting the fun commute on three interstates.    And now I'm finally on vacation.  Even so, it has taken me a few days to take care of errands and rest up a bit.  I don't miss getting up at 630 in the morning.  At all.  Today I only woke up when my alarm clock did.  930 in the morning.   So now I have some random thoughts before I start posting again. I miss China.  I do.  I miss China very much so for the wrong reasons.  I wonder if I will "age" myself away from all the "Vice" that China represents the Western Man in China?  I believe I will.  China on the other hand seems to be "just fine" without us.  Very much so.  I think someday those few laowai in China during these strange days will write books of their experience.  Today I know of only one laowai, a Russian of course
Post a Comment
Read more

My Country Right or Wrong

-
 Soon after I wrote my previous post, right on cue, I read an article stating China is now not allowing smaller cities to build skyscrapers.  What bothers me about this is not the admission that market forces in China have not been behind the rise in skyscrapers, but rather what bothers me about this is that a government entity can make such an order, and it make sense.  Thomas Paine in 1776 said "these are the times that try Men's Souls".  He was talking about America.  It was the first time I'd seen the phrase "sunshine patriot".  But it can be anyone in any other country, too.  I increasingly am finding myself admiring what China is doing, and I find it most alarming.  Not allowing the market to decide who makes winners and losers is in a way, comforting to me.   In some areas, it is a fraud.   I remember I was sitting in a Dunkin Donuts in Beijing.  Next to me was an American teacher with a translator at a table and several prospective Chinese students.
Post a Comment
Read more

This is not the Land of Milk and Honey

-
 Happy to finally be able to post.  It's been awhile for me.  Quite a while actually, the longest break from a post I've ever taken.  Not on purpose.  When working upwards of 60 hours a week, it's just hard.  I manage Chinese operations for my company.  Thus I am literally working night and day.   Later tonight I have another call to make, this one with Guangzhou.  Tomorrow I have a call with Ningbo.  It just doesn't stop.  Yeah, I make good money.  I don't complain.  But work has the effect of simply draining one's passion from you to do other things.  I've found a gradual lack of interest in my main hobbies, ie exercise, photography, and my blog.    I've not given my blog more than ten seconds thought over the past several weeks.   The energy isn't there.   But I'm still allowed to observe.  I still read at night, and I struggle to pay attention to the day's events. I wanted recently to write a post about what learning Mandarin has done for
Post a Comment
Read more

More Like China

-
 I don't know where to start with this.  Everyday seems to have a new, "didn't see this coming",  take from the Heavenly Kingdom.   It is a marvel to observe.  Before our very eyes we are seeing social engineering in action, and on a national scale. First tutoring schools are banned from making profits.  Now kids cannot play video games. Ok.....but then the "niangpao" are not allowed to be on TV anymore.  These are effeminate looking and acting men.  Feminine Boys, if you will.    Famous actresses have been banned from TV, and actresses guilty of tax evasion have been hauled in. I have a few thoughts here..... What the hell is going on?  And.... I like it. Ignore the chaff, folks.  Admire the method.   If China was an American company, the CEO would be fired for political incorrectness.  For "shaming".  China's "get shit done", mantra is refreshing.   To hell with the feelings of others.  It really is all about the result folks.  Don&
Post a Comment
Read more