7/9/08-7/10/08

7.09.08

The area where work is located is a TRAP. My office building is in the World Trade Center. Upstairs are office buildings and downstairs and undergrounds are full with name brand shops, Christian Dior, Gucci, LV, Todd, Prada, you name it they have it. I circle all the shops once everyday during my lunch break. I think I even licked Dior’s glass windows couple times. Lol.

It is a nice area and working there is a treat. Thanks for cheap labor. My office has housekeepers 24/7. They bring you water, dump your trash, wash your glasses. I have fresh fruits and Chinese snacks every morning, yum…. There are so many people in the office and none except the Head of China has an office to himself. My boos, SVP of China Hotel stays in a cubicle next to me…. Lol.

People here work so hard. My co-workers stay at work till 9:00pm almost every night and all nighters are normal. Most of the people work here are American or European educated Chinese nationals. So they pay 1/3 of the money they would pay for an American or a European but still get the stuff done. No wonder they can hire around the clock housekeepers.

Beijing has changed a lot. I haven’t had much time to go around but I can’t recognize any part of the town. There are so many malls! And all of them are huuuuuge. Just imagine Saks Fifth Ave. in NYC but 100 of them scattered around 1 city and 100 times of its size. People here buy so much.

So guess how many times have I eaten dumplings? How about 5 already and I’ve only been here for a little over 1 week?? Mom knows dumplings are among my favorite foods, so she’s been fixing dumplings almost every night. I love it! But it is a lot of work.


7.10.08

The ladies here dress like cartoon characters. Beijing ladies are fashionable and fashion here is very different. Bright colors, busy lines, and lots of ruffles. It’s not my cup of tea but whatever it’s in, right?!

I think I’m the only Chinese girl with straight black hair. I know it sounds funny but most of the girls here have perms and have died their hair yellow or red. Working out and tanning are not normal here either. So people do give me that look when I’m in the subway.

AC is still not in every public buildings and not all subway cars are equipped with AC either, well all lines except the line that I take everyday to and from work..... At least not until August 1st. Thank God for the Olympic Games, all public buildings will have AC and all old busses, subway cars, trains will be replaced with new ones with AC. WOOHOO!

I start liking using public transportation. It is very convenient. I can do work or sleep when I ride on a bus or subway.
Anyhow, my friend Pedro is visiting tomorrow. I am so excited. I shall keep you guys posted.