Wow! I Always Thought Dongguan was Big
For the three years I lived in Dongguan, I always thought it was big, but I'm just now getting some confirmation. It is in fact bigger than I really thought! Population figures vary, but I have to really believe this from
About.com, estimating at 6.5 million people!!
But it probably is even more! The counting of migrant workers is always tricky. China doesn't count the migrant workers in official population of a city. They are still counted in their home city.
This blog probably pegged it right at 5.2 million regular residents and 1.7 migrant workers for a total of 6.9 million people! That's almost the size of Hong Kong!
Labels: Dongguan, Life in China
Post Olympics Notes
And now some info following the Olympics:
Edit any bullet above to go direct to the original post.
Labels: Dongguan, Guangdong, Life in China, Olympics
In the News (In China Anyway)
Interesting news readings from China:
[Be sure to visit www.abrysoninchina.blogspot.com to link directly to the articles above.]Labels: Basketball, Dongguan, Life in China, Olympics
No Dog Next Month
In an effort to not offend visitors,
Beijing is ordering that dog meat be removed from menus for the next month, through the Olympics. Note that the article goes on to say that there was no mention about the often offered donkey meat.
I wonder if some of the other foods available in Beijing will continue to be offered for the next few months.
See this slide show of treats.Labels: dog meat, Life in China, Olympics
China News
I also have to mention a couple of other interesting posts:
Labels: China blog, Dongguan, Life in China
Olympics Info
Many people ask me about the upcoming Beijing Olympics. Two recent articles I have come across shed more light on the issue:
- Then, read about how blogging may be impacted. And note, that I was never able to access this very blog while in China, but I could previously post through blogger.com as it mentions.
It is definitely going to be an interesting event to watch, in more ways than sports alone.
Labels: Life in China, Olympics
In Dongguan Times
Interesting post on earthquake:
Labels: Dongguan, Earthquake, Life in China
Noteworthy Postings
Very good recent posts on other China blogs:
China's Earthquake: How You Can Help on The China Law Blog
Bear-Baiting China at The Opposite End of China
Autonomy & Harmony at The Opposite End of China
Enjoy!
Labels: China blog, Dongguan, Earthquake, Life in China
Taking Every Advantage
Notice how many oncoming cars are across the double yellow line and taking every advantage possible to get down the lane.
Labels: Dongguan, Driving, Life in China
Rules of Driving in China
It seems so odd now to drive on calm roads. I saw someone crossing along a road the other day, and it made me think about all the “froggers” criss-crossing highways and streets at all times in China. It was always like driving through an obstacle course. Here in the US, it is like a calm stroll in the park.
A friend in China once told me about a video driving game where the challenge was to pass through different countries of the world. The toughest was China, because it suddenly had people crossing the street and cars driving in every direction. That is a pretty good representation of how it is there.
I was recently told they have two rules in China about driving:
- Do not hit anything or anyone
- Do not get hit by anything or anyone
Anything else is pretty well free game. In fact, I am convinced after three years of riding the roads and watching, that the Chinese will take any opportunity for gain in driving. If a shoulder is drivable, drive on it. If you can get through an intersection without getting hit or tracked by a camera, running a red light is okay. (Thankfully, they put up more cameras!)
The Asian driver just has an entirely different attitude toward driving. My friends at Here Dongguan summed it up best in an analogy a few months ago: If a Westerner on a two lane road goes around a blind curve and is met by two cars coming at him in both lanes, he freaks out and brakes to get off the road. If an Asian meets the same situation, he veers over to let the cars pass and continues along driving on the shoulder.
I have had that exact situation time and time again in the backroads of Thailand. And it is just amazing. Cars just continue to pass, and everyone just makes way and keeps on moving without a care in the world. I am usually in the floorboard scared to look!
In China, it was not uncommon to have cars coming at you down the wrong way of a street or highway. Motorcycles used any lane or passageway, and frequently drove the wrong way down the inside lane to get ahead.
All the while, Chinese just “usually” obey the two rules, keep moving, and avoid each other without a care in the world.
Me, I am glad to be back on American soil driving in the right lane without the “froggers’ and cars going the wrong direction.
Labels: Dongguan, Driving, Life in China
A Bryson in North Carolina
Wow! The sky is blue! I haven’t seen so much blue in a long time.
That is at least one great benefit to being back in North Carolina. Certainly, I miss a lot in Dongguan. But fresh air and blue skies make it a little easier.
I am back in High Point. It’s a fresh new start in the upholstery industry for Decca. The plane ride was long…………. As usual. At least I got an upgrade to Business Class. That made it much more fathomable. But 15 hours is a long time, no matter what. And the total time from door to door was closer to 30 hours. It takes a toll on the body.
So, for now I am a Bryson in North Carolina again. It’s good to be back.
I don’t know how much longer I will maintain abrysoninchina. There will probably be a couple of more posts, but not nearly as many. I hope you’ve enjoyed. This has been a lot of fun and at times made a lot of difference in my survival of the Far East.
My thanks to all my wonderful friends, both at home and afar.
Labels: Dongguan, Life in China, North Carolina
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
Me, singing at the Decca Farewell Dinner at Pousthouse. Scary, huh?
Labels: Decca Furniture, Dongguan, Life in China, Pousthouse
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
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
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
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
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
Trucks line up at service station as diesel sales are limited.
Labels: Dongguan, Gas, Gas Prices, Life in China
