ChongQing, China

Photo of me looking out at the highest point in ChongQing, China.
The largest municipality in the world rarely sees a full sunshine ,
blue sky day. However, the Government and volunteers are working
hard to clean up the city to improve air quality and living/working
environment.

It is a busy, fun city with a taste of traditional China to the new China.

a couple hours from North Korean border in China

Not what I expected. Very Flat. Poor, very nice people. Lots of farming. more photos and video later.

Chinese Math Class made fun

I was visiting Wei Wei's math class today as it was parents day.
I realized how much more fun the teachers make math class
in China than in the USA.
Maybe another example of why many Chinese are better at Math than in the west. Besides they work much harder at their math homework than kids in the West.

Dinner in our home in China

An absolutely fabulous Chinese dinner. Fresh Lotus flower soup, poached eggs,
fresh ribs from the market and fresh seafood from the market.

paying bribes

It has been a couple days since I talked to my fiancee (Ting) and I was worried once again.   She finally touched base and told me she lost her cell phone and then sent a message to the person using her cell phone that she would pay a finders fee to get her SIM card and number back as she had so many numbers on the phone along with expecting an important phone call from the embassy in Gaungzhou for a US Visa interview date.

She told me that she met with the people that found her phone and she paid them $100 USD to get her SIM card and phone back BUT, they would NOT give her the phone back.   

We were both happy that she acquired her original number back from these thieves but sad that their thinking was so small and would not deliver all the goods back to the proper owner.  

Two schools of thinking to justify the thieves thinking.  

1) they needed the money worse than Ting did.

2) they are selfish and dont think about "good karma".

Chinese New Year is close.

Since the last week started, I continue to get frustrated with my office in China.    It is Chinese New Year holiday around the corner and most of my staff has mentally shut down.  All we do is make mistakes and come up with excuses why things can't get done.

I have learned to accept this part of the Asian culture before the CNY holiday and one week after, as it is so important to all Chinese around the world.   

When you are working with an Asian, accept this fact when trying to assimilate with the culture.



Happy CNY!



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Chinese take Western Style New Year Holiday

I was surprised the Chinese Government declared January 1st--the western New Year, a holiday in China. 
Especially when the Chinese New Year Holiday is within a couple of weeks away.  Which Chinese will take two more weeks of holiday time.
All schools and businesses and government agencies are closed today.  Cheers to a "new" Chinese Holiday.  I have heard that Government leaders are considering to make the Chinese New Year holiday shorter as there are several one day  holidays in a Chinese calendar year and two long 5 to 14 day holidays but, this is a wait and see.



Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year.