Alas, it would be very interesting to get together in Shanghai, but I leave to go back to the states today (Friday, the 26th). If I had known you were in Shanghai, I could have probably convinced myself that it would be worthwhile to go there as some of our equipment was being repaired in Shanghai.

 

I've realllllly enjoyed your commentary. Please chime in on the differences when you get back in the States.

 

Actually, I haven't found a huge difference in costs between goods in the states and goods here. I had to buy a jacket here (I stayed longer than I anticipated and it got cold). I ended up buying the only jacket I could find that fit, and it was about $110 (875 RMB)

The Chinese guys I work with seem to be pretty well dressed, and one of the young guys (29 YO) just bought a condo, so it must afford them a comparable lifestyle in some things (just not in cars).

When I told them I had four cars (including one company car), the look of shock was very evident. I guess they consider that pretty extravagant.

I didn't discuss rent or costs of living with the engineers that much - we mostly talked about movies. There is an underground in American movies and TV shows here. More than a few people I worked with learned spoken English from Friends or 24 or Prison Break. They all have a working knowledge of written English (which I found surprising at first).

I was told that China started making all children start learning English in kindergarten about 50 years ago. Given the animosity between China and the US 50 years ago, I was very surprised to hear that.

 

Two words - UTTER PANDEMONIUM

Those two words describe everything you can think of automobilie wise without the carnage, though I did see several wrecks, and one that looked like a bicycle rider went through the windshield of a van.

I consider myself OK in the bravery department. I mean I ride a 1400 pound 5 year old horse with feet the size of dinner plates. I know danger

BUT I saw roads in Beijing that I would not even consider trying to cross, but yet even 90 pound Asian women are staring down trucks and (even more death defying) taxis. I shudder at the thought.

 

I'm telling you--it's the 90lb grandmas on those silent electric mopeds that are the REAL danger! You never hear them coming, until WHAMMO.

 

One last example of the driving life here in Beijing. We had to go out to the refinery this afternoon, and I was really watching the driver as he drove us out to the site.

The technique for entering a major street from a side street is to build up speed on the side street, fly into the main street, honk a few times, look for oncoming traffic after you have pulled into the street, then slow down and upshift to 5th at 30 miles an hour.

If you are driving a bus or truck, you can delete the look for oncoming traffic part.

OK, enough frivolity, I need to go to bed.

 

My +1 still thinks that it is a huge mistake on our part that we haven't all been learning Chinese. He encourages our grandkids ALL THE TIME to learn Chinese.

 

OK I haven't made it to bed yet. I plan to see if I can learn some Chinese as I think it is very likely that I will go back. One of my colleagues starting learning Chinese using Rosetta Stone. I'll have to ask him how successful it was.

 

My friends live and work in Shanghai. They took immersive Chinese for a year, and still couldn't order correctly from a menu. Bottom line, they didn't need to learn Chinese (even for business) as English is so pervasive in business and retail life in China.

I'm sure it doesn't hurt to learn a few swear words....

 

I have experienced the same thing in Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. I believe that they believe that they are saving fuel by their "super" short shifting technique.