A Bryson in China

It's National Kidney Month

This month is National Kidney Month. I have Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD). It affects 600,000 Americans and 12.5 million children and adults, worldwide. There is no treatment or cure, but there is hope. Read more about this at PKD Foundation.

Labels: Kidney Disease, PKD

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 10:24 PM Comments: 0

Trucks line up at service station as diesel sales are limited.

Labels: Dongguan, Gas, Gas Prices, Life in China

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 4:31 PM Comments: 0

Going Home

It’s almost time to go home. I start out early Saturday, and arrive late Saturday in North Carolina. But of course, that is after crossing the Date Line and sitting on my posterior in an airplane, cars, or boats, for almost 24 hours.

I’ll miss a lot here. I know I will be back in three weeks. But the next visit is my last known scheduled visit to China. It seems difficult to believe. This has been home for three years. It has been a good three years.

I won’t miss the long rides to work. Sure it has been nice to sit in the back of a vehicle and let my driver worry about the congestion and crazy driving of the locals. Lines are forming again at every gas station, as price of gasoline has risen faster than the price regulations, and thus, dealers are limiting output.

And it will be nice to see a full news report without a cutaway to a public service announcement in censorship to some sensitive news report. Today was the first full news report I’ve seen in weeks, with the NPCC and Tibet info in the news. Otherwise, it has been repeat after repeat of Samantha Brown climbing the steps to the tower in Seville, and Jackie Stewart on Top Gear. I don’t think I can go to Seville now.

And no chicken feet on the table as soon as you sit down. Shucks. Now all I’ll get is hush puppies. ………..YES!!

Labels: Dongguan, Gas, Gas Prices, Life in China, Television

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 4:30 PM Comments: 0

It's Time to Go Home

Yep! You read it right! I’m going home to the USA! It’s been a wonderful three years here in China, but I need to be in the US for a few years through kidney transplant, and Decca is being kind enough to help make that happen.

It wasn’t exactly the way I thought it would transpire, but you have to take the twists and turns as they come at you sometimes, and this is an opportunity I figure I better take for my own health. I need a kidney transplant, and could be on dialysis in the next six months. I want to be in the US if it gets to the latter, and would prefer the transplant in the US too. But for that I would not be so picky, if it were more available. Only right now, the US looks to be the best option for me.

So this week I head back. I will be managing our upholstery operation in High Point, NC. After a few weeks, I will come back to China to transition responsibilities and should be back to High Point permanently in early May. (That is permanent only in the sense that nothing is ever permanent.)

There is no timing on the health situation, but hopefully I will get active status on the UNOS waiting list soon after I return. At my distance in china, I can only be on inactive status. But at least I am accumulating time against the long wait.

Speedy’s here I come! Throw another shoulder on the spit! It’s time to pigout on BBQ!!

Labels: Decca Furniture, Dongguan, kidney transplant, Life in China

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:57 PM Comments: 1

World Kidney Day - March 13

I was pleasantly surprised to see China medical authorities recognizing the World Kidney Day on the CCTV newscast today. It is not something you expect to find here, but 11% of China's population has kidney disease. That is a huge number of people. It is good to see the country putting more effort behind such events.

For more information, see: Alliance for Paired Donation

& National Kidney Foundation

& United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
- particularly the chart on kidney transplants!

Labels: China, Kidney Disease, kidney transplant, World Kidney Day

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 2:55 PM Comments: 1

Sunrise in Dongguan

Sunrise on a recent morning in Dongguan City. Unfortunately, that is not morning dew.

Labels: Dongguan, Life in China, smog

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:58 PM Comments: 0

Tree Trimming Time

It's tree trimming time around Dongguan. I'm always amazed at how nonchalant they can be here about things like this, but here there were no barriers or warnings put up for the work, neither in the road nor along the sidewalks. Everyone just makes their way around it without comment.

Labels: Dahlingshan, Dongguan, Life in China, Trees

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 6:02 PM Comments: 0

The Wheel is Moving

This area of China has been the hub of the world for manufacturing. Where I am in Dongguan, it has even been the new center of furniture manufacturing. A lot of that is changing fast. Costs are rising fast, and manufacturers are looking for options inland or to other countries, particularly Vietnam. Estimates now say that 10,000 factories have already closed, and more are closing.

The Guardian had a very interesting article today about the change in attitudes of workers and some of what is happening here. It’s worth a scan or good read, if you wonder how the world is changing.

Click here to open the article.

Labels: Dongguan, Guardian, Life in China, manufacturing

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 6:19 PM Comments: 0

Maybe a New Career

I’ve been asked to do a lot of unusual things, but I think today had a new first: I was asked to be a model!.......... Yep! Me!

Not too often a guy my age would ever be asked, but sure enough I got asked by our management to go to a sister plant for a photograph session displaying their flooring products. Seems a customer was in town doing some photographs for a brochure and wanted a Westerner in the photo.

Being the only “megua” or American on site, and the only Westerner for that matter, among our factory of over 3000 people, I got asked! So I guess it is not so surprising, when you consider that I was the only option.

There seems to still be a sense that showing a Westerner adds respect to something. The obnoxious infomercials that show about every ten minutes on television, are always saying that the outrageous product for making you grow taller, or put hair on balding men, are all USA products. I’ve never seen them in the US.

But who knows, now maybe our flooring will get broader sales, since I’m in some of their promotional photos! …………….. Yeah! Right!

Labels: Dongguan, Life in China, Model

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:53 PM Comments: 0

Another New Hotel in Dongguan

I thought we were entering a junkyard. In the dim light, I was squinting to watch my step to assure I didn’t step in something deep or slick. At the same time, I was glancing right and left for any strange movement, fearful that this was a great place to get robbed. “You sure this is the right way?” I kept asking of my friend Mitchell. He assured me our destination “was right up here.”

Up a final incline to a lighted area, and suddenly an opening revealed itself to our left with a lane leading to a beautiful fountain and wonderful new buildings! It was if magically this oasis had appeared out of the deepest, darkest area of Dongguan.

We were at the new Pullman Dongguan Forum Hotel. My friend, Mitchell, had just returned from the US and when I had called him to get together for dinner, he had asked me to join him for the soft opening of this “new” hotel. Yes, another new hotel for Dongguan! Another friend, Joseph, had moved over from management of the Royal Lagoon to startup and serve as General Manager of this new divisional offering of the Accor Hotel chain.

When Mitchell and I had heard about the location of Joseph’s new hotel, we had just smiled politely to our friend. Later we had privately shared our mutual concern over its rough neighborhood. Wow! Were we ever surprised to find this paradise behind the rougher stretch along the street!

The hotel is nestled back into a small valley under Qifeng Mountain. The red observation ball sits beautifully right over the complex providing spectacular views from restaurants and rooms.

Touring the facility, we saw several of the 260 rooms. Granted the “city side” does not have very good views, but the other “mountain view” side is spectacular. And rooms are pleasantly appointed with beautiful, fresh appointments, including flat screen televisions, chaise lounges, and desk for the traveler in need of getting some work done on the road. Suites are spacious with large bathrooms. Filtered water is even available on tap in all rooms, along with bottled water for drinking.

We had a delicious meal at the café on our visit. Serving a reasonably priced buffet, the chef, Jack, was gracious in accommodating and worked to please our palate of senses from pastas to steak to goose liver. They topped it off with Haagen Dazs ice cream served directly to your table. All in all the service was exceptional, and the food wonderful.

But the setting made it all the better. Sitting in the twilight we had the Qifeng view out our window while in a pleasant dining room. There is even a patio for a better view of the “big red ball,” stars, and Qifeng Mountain.

Joseph even shared some of the expectations of the hotel as it completes construction. A museum will be housed in some of the beautiful buildings directly under the mountain’s shadow. Large convention or ballroom needs can be met on a lower level under the garden. A beautiful, comfortable lobby bar will include jazz offerings and soft piano sounds.

Located near the Dongguan City convention center and centrally located for golf courses and other area attractions, staying at this hotel will be like staying in a resort right in the middle of the city.

Labels: Hotels, Life in China, Pullman Hotel, Qifeng Mountain

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:47 PM Comments: 0

New Campaign = Anti - Spitting!

A new campaign, anti-spitting! Yes, first it was how to queue. Then it was how to be polite, and how to cheer at sporting events. Now Beijing is driving to stop spitting! It was the primary editorial topic in the China Daily News today! (See editorial here.) In fact, there were three articles on the subject alone in the small daily newspaper.

Granted, it will be nice to see an improvement in this seemingly common habit. I was surprised to read that there were already several laws against spitting. As common as it seems to be, I would not have thought there were laws against it. But sure enough, even here in Guangdong, there are fines of 50 yuan, with Guangzhou considering increases to 200 or 300 yuan ($28-42).

A friend that owns a restaurant here had to recently warn a patron against spitting in his establishment. Can you believe it! The owner had to intervene and ask the gentleman to stop or be removed. You can’t count on the fines.

In today’s society, it is surprising that an anti-spitting campaign is necessary. But many Chinese habitually spit anywhere. With the health concerns prompted previously by SARS, you would have thought the Chinese would have learned to stop this shameful habit. But I commonly see workers and people do it inside factories, along streets, or almost anywhere in public.

Let’s hope the new campaign spreads to Guangdong and makes a difference here someday soon.

Other articles today: Stiffer fines

Spit in public places and pay the price

Labels: Dongguan, Health, Life in China, Spitting

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:40 PM Comments: 0