D-2

In two days the most awaited sport event of the year will be happening in Beijing.

The event will be taken place mostly in Beijing, which is around 1300km from Shanghai or about 2 hrs with plane or 9 hrs driving but you won't believe all the security measures they have implemented for this event here in Shanghai.

1. No liquid allowed for air travel has been implemented since min. 3 months ago (see this post)
2. X-ray machines and dogs check all luggage going in and out of China
3. The government has imported millions of "explosive residue detection kits" from US to swab all incoming and outgoing passengers in order to see if they have been recently in contact with explosive materials
4. All bags must pass security control in the subway stations
5. All shops and vending machines located in subway stations are closed for a month without government compensation to shop owners (imagine if they try to implement this in a capitalist country!)
6. The government removes the business license of many small Chinese manufactures if they don't meet certain environmental standard (resulting unfortunately major price increase in China)
7. The government enforced "no free plastic bag" regulation when shopping in any store in China, also in spirit to be more environmental friendly (in Germany is only applicable for shopping in supermarket, but not when you shop for clothes in the mall!)
8. Gasoline stations are only open before 9 am and after 7 pm at night because the government banned trucks traffic into the city during the day time (imagine the long queue every night!)
9. And last, yesterday my friend told me that the government will ground all Chinese airlines traveling any places on earth for a period of 5 hours before and after the opening ceremony! (Thank God I am flying on Saturday!!!)

Another blogger wrote, and I must agree to his words, "Almost all of the action is taking place in Beijing, hundreds of miles from here, but from the frantic security tightening around town, you’d think Osama Bin Laden was coming to officially open a new Mosque here in Shanghai."

I'll be glad when it's all over!!

Complaint to China Post!

This is a complaint to China Post!

It has been a while since I came back from Germany but I haven't managed to post this in time.

I was really upset in the last visit to Germany as my credit card was blocked by the credit card provider.

I was in a finance conference with other financial officers of our subsidiaries worldwide. It was held in an exclusive resort and spa in Bad-Herrenberg. When it came to hotel billing settlement time, the receptionist lady told me that my credit card was blocked for use. Immediately I was confused as I don't remember using the credit card a lot in the last weeks. In fact, I rarely use my credit card in Shanghai as I have only a German credit card, which I reserve it only for either emergency or holiday purposes to avoid loss in conversion rate and the overseas charges. I have of course tried to apply for a local chinese credit card but soon realized that it is almost impossible for a foreigner to have one. Don't ask me the reason why. After 15 months living in China, I have learned that some things should remain as a mystery.

Anyway, I was lucky that I still have my debit card from my German bank so I can pay my hotel bill without embarassing myself by borrowing money from colleagues around the world (remember, it was an international Finance conference!).

After the conference, I called my credit card provider just to learn that the credit card was blocked because the replacement card* was returned back with a remark of 'address unknown" from China Post! Being German as they are, they immediately blocked both current card and the replacement card for security purposes.

For those of you who don't live in China. China is a new emerging country in the world economy. The country is at the moment the only country in the world that has surplus economy. The country enjoys long time benefit for being a Low Cost Country and has focused its main activities with export to US and European market. I bet you money that you'll find chinese made product in the shop next door.

However, little that you know that the country has faced serious problem with foreign language ability. In the offices in Shanghai, you will find only the managerial level has acceptable foreign language skill. The staffs level have still difficulties communicating in English. Outside of the office, eg. taxi drivers or shop owners, speak either very little English or none at all. If they do speak English as they claim, they can only express the general word and not your specific requirements. Easy example is when you shop for clothes. They can only say that the clothes are made of good quality (read: expensive!) but you can't ask them if you have to handwash the material or dry clean, let alone to explain if it's made of cotton or polyester.

In China Post, they have special department which their daily task is to translate every address in the envelope into Chinese characters so the post delivery man can understand. But imagine they will translate millions of international letters every day and perhaps one of them, like my replacement card, is sort of slip in the translation process and here I am stucked with the bad situation. So far, it is not my first experience with missing mails. I have never received christmas cards sent by my friends last year also and only God knows which other letters I have lost as well.

I strongly suggest China Post to educate their staffs with minimum English or at least to read the normal Pinyin** to ensure safe arrival of our letters in China. Afterall, we, the foreigners, have copped up also with our other limitations in here.


Notes:
*apparently my card will be expired in October so they sent in advance the replacement card to my shanghai address (which is my billing address).

** all international letters have chinese address written in Pinyin (romanized mandarin based on its chinese pronounciation)

Extended!

Today I signed the extension of my contract here until 30th June 2010. I do hope I won't regret it!

The Pins are out!

Finally! After 11 months attached to my shoulder, they are finally out! And the truth, they look scary also! Good thing I didn't bother to see how they look before the doctor put them in my shoulder otherwise I will never agree to have the surgery a year ago!

I was very nervous when they prepared me for surgery but the anesthesia doctor was a friendly and efficient german lady and she checked me very thorough and ensured that she will take care of me during the surgery. It was quite a relieved and before I realized, she put me to sleep already.

The recovery (post surgery) went very well also. I stayed one night in the hospital and the nurses were very surprised that I didn't request for any pain killer at all. I also insisted to got back home on the second day as I don't like hospital and its atmosphere in general.

One thing happened on the night at the hospital though. I was half-sleeping when I heard loud noise outside of my room (which is very near to the nurse station). One german lady was talking on the phone in german and she was trying to explain about somebody who had an accident and had a fracture in the bone (she didn't mentioned specifically in which bone). She insisted that an operation needed to be done ASAP and she wanted to have the person in the other side of the line to call her back to the hospital, to the bed number 1210 to be exact! Guess what, THAT WAS MY BED NUMBER!

I was half-asleep and felt already quite annoyed with her loud voice but I tell you now..I was almost jumped out of my bed when she said my bed number loud and clear in german! 1210! I immediately thought that my anesthesia doctor (remember she was also a german lady!) found something in my medical record, came back to arrange another surgery for me for that night!

I immediately thought for the worse to come and I was panic that I started to look for an escape way. Of course I cannot do too much with an I.V. and heart beat monitor attached to my arm. The fact that the room was located on the 12th Floor also didn't give me much option either. So I gave up and I woke Jorge up, hoping he could clarify all the discussions going on outside at that time. I jumped into glory when Jorge came back and said that the lady meant bed number 1310 instead! *Big relieved sigh*

So anyway, the wound is so far healing up good also. The doctor told me that he will remove the stitches on Monday but I have to wear my arm sling for another week and should not carry heavy items for about a month. Other than that, I am good to go back to the office and also to go for holiday! Yay!!!

Celebrating 1 Year in China

time flies really fast here!

Bad Weather in Asia

This is something that you don't expect to have when you are about to travel somewhere.
Shanghai continues to receive heavy snowfall since yesterday and it causes delay and flight cancelation in both of Shanghai airports.

At the same time, my mom has been sending me text messages to give some updates about the rain and flood in Jakarta which also cause flight cancelation/reroute as the runway is covered with 50cm high of water and visibiliy is only about 300m.

The weather outlook for both cities for the next week are not very promising. Rain and snow are still expected in both cities. In China especially, the Chinese New Year holiday is coming next week and they expect heavy travellers traffic trying to reach home to spend the holiday with their families.

So either we are stucked in Shanghai airport or somewhere between Singapore and Jakarta. We actually plan to spend the Chinese New Year golden week with my family in Jakarta. We will have to see if that will be possible.

* Photo is taken from Shanghai Daily showing hundreds of thousands of people waiting for train home in Guangzhou train station.

Last Working day in 2007

Finally I made it through...

Friday was my last day at the office for 2007. I woke up in the morning feeling excited that I will soon be off for the long-waited holiday but also sad knowing that I have to say goodbye to a colleague who will go back to Germany. I hate farewell, especially to those people I feel most comfortable to interact with.

I found this as a big disadvantage of being an expat, it took you sometimes to make friends but by the time you've finally made one, it is already the time to say goodbye again and move on with your life. It sucks.

We had a big farewell dinner from the company last night. Some of us stayed longer for a drink at Cloud 9 Bar at Jinmao Building. We chatted till morning and looked back to the time that we have spent in China and all the achievements and the frustrations that we've shared together. I will definetely miss the time we worked and fighted together for our result. He is one of the people that I respect in my life and I have the pleasure to have worked together with him.

And now, I can actually prepare for my trip! We are flying by 9 am on Sunday morning.

Happy Holidays to all of you and I hope you have a great one too!

One more week to go!!! Yay!!!

At about this time next Sunday, we will be on the plane flying somewhere on top of the Pacific ocean en route to Los Angeles to catch a plane to Mazatlan, Mexico.

I have checked with Jorge’s nephew, he’ll be in Mazatlan by 20th December and will stay there until the new year.

We will be staying in Mazatlan until 2nd January and after that we will catch a plane to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Our German friend who used to stay in Buenos Aires for quite a long time has given us an address for a delicious steak house right in the downtown. Asado, they are the best in the world!

After Buenos Aires, we will catch a plane again to Iguazu Falls, right in the border of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay to see for the first time the famous Garganta del Diablo (the Devil’s throat). From Iguazu, we will cross the border to Brazil and make our way to Rio de Janeiro where we have a hotel reservation waiting in the beach of Ipanema. Yay!!!!! Can’t get more excited than I am right now! Beach, sand and caipirinha..I can smell them already!!! I feel like packing for the trip now!! We actually have bought new pairs of trekking shoes for the trip to Iguazu.

We’ll be back in Shanghai on 13th January 2008 and believe me, you don’t want to see my calendar in January! It discourages me to come back!

Anyway, before we can finally have our Christmas holiday, I will first have to fly to Changchun (8.20 flight tomorrow morning) and hopefully I can come back on time on Wednesday night. I’ve checked the weather forecast in Changchun, it will be -10 degree on day time and -18 degree at night. They’ve expected scattered snow shower on Tuesday and Wednesday which, in Changchun, can translate into flight delay, if not cancellation. Wish me luck, guys!!!

Bike ride

Today is the company "Biking day" where each is suppose to bike 60 km. I really enjoyed it, I was also really fit and manage to bike 30 km before I accidentely crash the biker in the front, leaving me with a fractured left collarbone/clavicle.

Here I am lying on the hospital bed waiting for the doctor who will operate and put a plaque to help the bone to heal.

I guess I am not that sporty.

Moving to Shanghai - Chapter 6: D-Day

After 4 years, 6 months, 13 hours and 30 minutes we finally left Germany.

Until 2 years, guys!

Next on the agenda: Shanghai!

My company has announced that I will have a 3-year-assignment in Shanghai, China starting from March 2007. It seems to be far away but if we consider Christmas holidays and preparation time, well, it is really not that far anymore.

My friends keep asking how do I feel about moving to China. I can't really tell you as I'm sort of having a split feeling about it. On one side I am full with excitement for all the new adventure I will have; the new culture, new friends, new works and new language, new travel plans, etc. But on the other side, I am sad to leave Germany and all the things that I have established in here. You probably don't know this but the Germans are not very popular with their hospitality especially if you don't know the language and still stubborn enough to work together with them for 4 years.

Some people have also told me that I am crazy to trade Germany and all its excellent high-end facilities and infrastructure with China, a country with a lot of question marks. I know that Shanghai is an international & megapolitan city with over 20 million population but nevertheless the infrastructure in rural area of Shanghai is probably not as develop as in Stuttgart. Plus China is also full with complexities and full with intransparents regulations that one can never understand.

Put aside all the facts above, I have indeed one thing that worries me the most. I have a big question that I have never managed to find the answer.

'When will enough be enough for me?'
how do you know how much is too much
too much too soon?
too much fun?
too much adventures?
too much flexibility?
too much to ask?
and when it is all just too much to bare?

For those who don't know me, I have wandered in almost half of the world. I was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia until I finished my high school. I spent 4 years in USA to pursue my university degree and then came back to Jakarta to start my first working experience. Upon 5 years in Jakarta, I decided that I had enough with the city and packed my bags for a job offer Germany. I can't never recall what I had in mind at that time; to work in a country that I don't even speak the language!!! Lucky for me that it turned up ok, thanks to my very tolerance work colleagues who were willing to cope up with my 'I-don't-speak-German-but-let's-just-give-it-a-shot' German skills. And now, after 4 years striving here and managed to settle down a bit, my adventurous ego called me back in and hunger for another adventure..again..in a country that (again!) I don't speak the language! Not to mention that they will have different alphabet this time!!!

If you ask me if I have fear of making another step? I'm terrified! I have all sort of questions going on in my head. What if I am no good for the job? What if I don't find any friends? What if I never learn to speak the language? What if I am wrong? What if I am making a decision that I can't undo? What if I don't like Chinese culture? Where will I end up after my 3 years-assignment is over?

I know I will never find the answer to all my questions before March next year. I know that China is also not my final destination. I know after 3 years I will try to move to another land that I can't even think of the name today.

But here is what I know. That if you are willing to make a change, whatever it is the result that's waiting for you in the other side, knowing that you have at least tried, it beats the hell out of never trying.

And perhaps someday, if I am lucky, I will find a place that I can call 'home'

Just my two cents, and the song fits the mood...

Happy Anniversary

Exactly this day, four years ago, I landed in Germany...

The Heart of England

Now that I am working in UK for the next 3 months, I feel that I have to write my first impression of it in my blog.

The city called Wolverhampton, it’s about 30 minutes drive from Birmingham; a small town of about 300,000 people. The area is called as "The Heart of England" as it is located right in the middle of the country.

Well, do I like it here??

It’s different, but I have to say that it’s rather different as I expect it would be.

The office building is not that old as the one in Germany, but I have to admit that I won’t eat in their canteen. I have really to say that I don’t find the microwave nor the canteen table is that hygenic. The last time they clean the canteen is probably a year ago. It does smell and you can see the various kind of food sticking inside of the microwaves. Seriously..think twice before heating your food there!!!

The apartment where I live is about 20 minutes drive from the company. It’s located in a small city called Albrighton; a small village in UK, something that I always want to try..living in a country side of England.

The apartment itself is ok, not state of the art but rather small and cozy. The only challenge is the shower..well, if you can even call it shower!!! Some friends of mine, who have stayed in this apartment, have warned me about the shower situation. They called it ‘English Shower’. And I thought..heck, how difficult it could be..well..guess again!!!

There are two separate taps in the shower, one for the hot water and the other one is for the cold water. Unfortunately, the cold water is really-really-and-really dominant compared to the hot water. So you have to open completely the hot water and do NOT open the cold water at all!! Otherwise you will definitely got cold shower!!! And..you just have to wish that the hot water is not too hot for you to take your shower!! Again..if you can call as shower!!! The two taps are connected with a shower pipe; which is unfortunately only reach up to your waist (and I am only 165 cm tall!). So there is no other way for you but to sit down in the tub. Unfortunately, the bathup is too small for you to really take a nice sincering bubble bath. So, just try to shower as quick as you can before you actually have a back pain.

Ok, the shower is a mess. But other than that, it is really ok! The colleagues in the office are really nice. I got to know two Brazilian girls and they are really cool. We have planned to have some girls’ night out together.

I’ve got a company car as well as a gasoline card so I can tank anywhere in the UK. So there will be lots of weekend travels to plan ahead here!! Some of my german’s friends have planned to visit me also. My brother will actually come to visit me in the beginning of October. I can’t cook so what I have done is to buy the frozen food and warm in up in the office, so I think I will be on track with my diet plan also! I will also live in a community that I don’t have to concentrate and think twice about the language (I found English is much easier than German; even with the really black English accent they have here). Nah..I have no complaints but to enjoy the next 3 months here!!!!

And of course, you are all invited to visit me and try the English shower!!! *blink*

Do you know...

There are 194 countries in the world today, unless if you don’t count Taiwan as an independent country from China. The newest country in the world is Montenegro, which gained its independence from Serbia in June 2006. Before Montenegro, the newest country was East Timor, which became independent from Indonesia in 2002.

Among the 194 countries in the world today, 192 countries are already members of United Nations. The exception were Taiwan and Vatican city. The newest members of United Nations were Montenegro (2006) and Swiss (2002).

Among the 194 countries in the world today, Indonesian citizens do have visa free-priviledge to 11 countries. They are Brunei, Malaysia, Phillipines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hongkong, Macau, Chile, Marocco and Peru. The other 182 countries (Indonesia excluded) are visa required.

That’s just my humble thought as Indonesian citizen...

PS: And yes, I finally got my work permit from UK Govt!

Wolverhampton: mid July-Oct 2006

Ok, this is the next on the agenda! I will have to work there during summer and so far I dunno whether to be excited or to worry a bit! I’ve posted a thread in Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree Forum just to know what to do in this city for 4 months, and I received this as reply “as for things to do in wolverhampton for 4 months? drink heavily and spend as much time as possible in Brum”. All I can think of is only “Great, I don’t even know where Brum is!”

So summer in UK, anyone???

Tongeren: The Oldest Town in Belgium

Ok, for those of you who probably wonder where Tongeren is; don’t even bother to find it in a map, I can tell you that it is a small city about an hour from Brussels and Aachen, Germany and maybe 30 minutes outside of Maastricht, Netherland. Find these 3 cities in your map and perhaps you can imagine more or less where Tongeren is.

The population in Tongeren is only about 29,000 people and after 2 weeks that I worked there, I feel that I know already 150 of them! Those are the people who work in our company plus some of the hotel’s staff! But seriously, the city is really small that everytime you go in a restaurant, you feel immediately that you are foreigners in there as the whole restaurant knew and greeted each other but yourself!!!

Amazing from this city is only that the natives there speak minimum 4 languages!! Their actual mother language is Flemish (a local dialect which combines Dutch and French), then they started to learn the correct Dutch and French in school, and later on they have the possibility to learn either English or German (well, if English is your choice, you will have no problem understanding German also as it is not so different from Dutch). What a very multilingual community!!!

Pictures of Tongeren:

1. The city is surrounded by old city wall
2. The 15th Century church dome stands arrogantly in the middle of the city center
3. Ok this one is my fave!! This actually a one-way street in the direction of the approaching car. Don't ask me why they decided to put a traffic light pointing to the opposite direction, too. But officially you are not allowed to go on the opposite direction, except of course if you are a tourist who doesn’t really familiar with the local situation or should I say, Belgian’s logic??