A Bryson in China

With the girls of Decca Furniture

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 6:01 PM Comments: 0

Farewell Decca Dinner at Pousthouse

I never thought I would find a family here. I found two.

When I left out of the USA three years ago, I figured this would be a good job for a couple of years. Little did I know that I would love the work, the company, and even the country of China. Maybe my expectations were low. Never did I expect to find that in China I would come to love my company and the company of my friends in Dongguan.

Last night, I had the chance to share some of that love with my closest associates from Decca Furniture. They threw me a Farewell Dinner at my favorite haunt, the Pousthouse Restaurant in Nancheng area of Dongguan City. Almost 40 associates piled into the Decca buses to ride to the city for a evening of good food and fun together.

More of the unexpected, was the norm. I knew the dinner would be good, but I didn’t expect the champagne and frivolity. They even coaxed me into singing a few songs. ………. Not so sure that was a good idea. But they seemed to enjoy.

I have worked for too many companies in my career. I never expected that I would find a family atmosphere in a company in China. We have that here at Decca. We do things together. We eat together. And we work hard together. It is a family. And a great one to have been a part of for three years.

I will miss it all deeply. At least I know, that I am not leaving the family. I am just going to be apart for a while. And I know I will return.

Photos of the party and dinner can be accessed by clicking here. Enjoy!

Labels: Dongguan, Life in China, Pousthouse

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:24 PM Comments: 0

With the guys of Decca Furniture at Farewell Dinner at Pousthouse

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 7:41 AM Comments: 0

Me, singing at the Decca Farewell Dinner at Pousthouse. Scary, huh?

Labels: Decca Furniture, Dongguan, Life in China, Pousthouse

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 7:29 AM Comments: 0

One Last Foot Massage

Nothing like one last foot massage at the Global in Dongguan. Now where am I gonna find massages like this in NC for 40 rmb?

Labels: Dongguan, Life in China, massage

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:48 PM Comments: 0

One Last OFTR Golf & Tepanyaki

It’s been an odd week, as I prepare to return to the US. Leaving a place you have called home for three years is never easy. Having made great friends here and become very attached to this area, I feel a deep loss in my stomach about leaving it.

But there is also some pain in my body. The PKD is taking its toil, and my renal function is worsening. I need to get back to the US and get “active” status on the UNOS wait list. The prognosis is still not very good though. I could soon be on dialysis. My turn on the wait list is probably a couple of years away. It could be a painful couple of years.

I did raise enough strength to play golf with my friends at the One for the Road golf outing yesterday. It was great! Our team even won on my last round with the boys. The camaraderie and friendship there among the guys is greater than any I’ve ever been associated with. I’ll deeply miss the group and the monthly outings.

And we finished the night at the Kingpot Tepanyaki for a wonderful meal. The restaurant is one of the best. Andy is an incredible chef. A night there is like no other. And it’s certainly not like any typical knife-slinging Japanese steakhouse that rustles you in and out like cattle being fed at a trough. No, at the Kingpot a meal takes about 3 hours for the six or seven courses. And each one tops the last in flavor and experience.

It was a good day. I’m just sorry it was one of my last in Dongguan…………. But I will be back.

Chef Andy prepares banana flambé in right photo.

Labels: Dongguan, Kingpot, Life in China, One for the Road, Tepanyaki

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 4:23 PM Comments: 0

Don’t Rile the Chinese! ....... Or is it Too Late?

It does look too late. The pride is so strong here that the recent events have caused a groundswell of patriotism unprecedented in my time in China. The demonstrations during the Torch Relay events have sparked the local Chinese to show their support of the Beijing Olympics and their solidarity over Tibet, and in condemnation of the worldwide media showing anti-Chinese leanings.

This past weekend demonstrations even made it to Dongguan. Many locals marched in the streets. Calls have gone out for boycotts of Carrefour a major French superstore chain with many locations in the country here. The boycotts may also extend to McDonald’s and KFC for unknown reasons.

I can’t speak to the fundamental causes of either side, but I am amazed at the local media. You get used to censors cutting newscasts when you live here. But for now, we rarely even get to see newscast at all. As I mentioned in my last posting, I have only “heard” ABC news on one day recently.

Instead, we certainly get the Chinese side in the story here. All the CCTV broadcast feature specials about the retributions in Tibet since the March riots. And features tout accomplishments and improvements to Tibet under China.

In one review today of the media reporting on the recent events, one guest made a slight defense of CNN and got promptly cutoff before completing his comments. He was attempting to note that the commentator’s comments that have gotten so much publicity were only rhetoric that gets leveled as easily against US interests in the same broadcast.

I don’t agree with public rhetoric used by the CNN commentator either, but I do accept that there are opposing views and like to hear all sides. The media should not be biased and should be more open to all views. It may be offensive from time to time, but at least it is heard. That is more than I can say in trying of much of the news here.

Labels: ABC News, Carrefour, Dongguan, Life in China, Newscast

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 7:12 PM Comments: 1

Hearing the ABC Evening News

Well, I finally got to hear the ABC Evening News the other day! It was the first time since I returned. Only as you will see on the right, I only got to "hear" the News. Either someone forgot to turn off the picture and open the full feed from the US, or China didn't want us to see all the broadcast. Few broadcast from the outside are getting through the filters right now. If they do, they are frequently interrupted.

Labels: ABC News, Dongguan, Life in China, Newscast

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 1:25 PM Comments: 0

China after 30 Hours

Man, 30 hours is a long time. I never get used to that long flight over here. And being crammed up against a bulkhead sure didn’t help me yesterday.

But I am back in China now. I’m not quite sure what time of day it is here, but I saw the sun shining. That is a good thing here anytime of the year.

So back here for a last three weeks. I’m sure it will be more later, but this is my last official weeks for the near future. It really seems odd, but I’m glad I’m here to enjoy it for now.

More later.

Labels: Dongguan, Life in China

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:33 PM Comments: 0