A Bryson in China: More News from Dongguan

Friday, October 30, 2009

Reports continue to come out that fewer workers are returning to southern China as economy improves. More are remaining in hometowns, creating shortages for some companies increasing production.

The Financial Times reports conflicting information on wages in the Guangdong Province. One estimate reports wages increasing 19-38 percent in the first quarter. But other sources claim they "see the opposite."

In an interesting twist, The People's Daily, the main newspaper of the Communist Party of China, is claiming Google is censoring some of their content. It has usually been the other way around!

It's Halloween season, and that means some big parties in Dongguan! Hollywood Baby Too and One for The Road will both be having special events. It's definitely one of the biggest party nights of the year. And also a little strange to see locals trying to understand why foreigners dress up in very weird costumes.

In some news, not related to Dongguan, more patients with failing kidneys are going straight to transplant and foregoing dialysis. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a transplant before having to start dialysis. I have now been on peritoneal dialysis for one year, and on the wait list for a transplant for 3 1/2 years.