Okay, been over a month since my last post & really have minimal excuse except for the fact that I was totally burnt-out after the holidays/new year's, and that I was in a mentally dormant state until Spring classes at Babson kicked-off this past week. Anyone who is still checking-in on this blog is either: a family member, a friend, or someone who's bored at work or should be paying attention in class. :)
Speaking of classes, at least two of my course syllabi for this semester have outwardly stated that students should challenge/critique each another and the professor...[music to my ears!!!]
---------------------------------
Close Encounters of the Cosmetic Kind?
Was driving back from a weekend in CT with my family earlier today, and was desperate to stop for gas after the low-fuel light came on. Made a pit-stop at the first exit in Massachusetts and was elated to see the price of $2.99/gallon - I can't remember the last time I filled-up for under $3.00.
Anyway...a pink Cadillac sedan (circa late 1990s) pulled into the pumps, and the NH license plate read: "MARYKY" The plainly dressed woman who got out of the passenger seat had a short 'n curly hairdo right out the 1980s...and my wife and I spent the next 10 minutes on the road contemplating if that was perhaps the REAL Mary Kay (because of the 'do), or just one of the many top salespersons who's been awarded with a signature pink Cadillac... Turns out it was the latter, since M.K. passed away in Nov. 2001 [Thank you, wikipedia...]
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Now playing: Nellie McKay - Ding Dong
via FoxyTunes
Jan 27, 2008
Dec 22, 2007
Pop Quiz #2
Ah, the comforts of home!! Gotta love Boston, and returning to 10"+ of snow on the ground on Thursday. (And that is definitely NOT a complaint.) It was a long 24 hours of travel home, and Ella got about 5 1/2 hrs sleep on the 13 hr flight. (Kyla & I got a combined 4 hrs of sleep!) At least we made it home to sleep in our own beds.
So, while I try to buy some more time attempting to return to my blogging rituals, recovering from jetlag, and adjusting to non-Chinese prices....Here's another pop quiz in time for the holiday season.
Read the question below, and select your answer in the radio buttons in the right margin. The correct answer and results will be posted after the New Year...
[BTW - if the format looks familiar to some of you, that's because its modeled after our beloved data sufficiency questions on the GMAT. For the rest of you...it'll be confusing, but will give you a taste of the crappy kind of questions MBAs have to endure just to apply to programs...]
Question:
Answer choices:
Good luck!!
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Now playing: Johnny Cash - I've been Everywhere
via FoxyTunes
So, while I try to buy some more time attempting to return to my blogging rituals, recovering from jetlag, and adjusting to non-Chinese prices....Here's another pop quiz in time for the holiday season.
Read the question below, and select your answer in the radio buttons in the right margin. The correct answer and results will be posted after the New Year...
[BTW - if the format looks familiar to some of you, that's because its modeled after our beloved data sufficiency questions on the GMAT. For the rest of you...it'll be confusing, but will give you a taste of the crappy kind of questions MBAs have to endure just to apply to programs...]
Question:
In the course of the last year, China has had:
-
The world’s first company to have a market value of $1 trillion
-
Only 0.6% of the $50.4 billion in 2007 capital investments (in Beijing) directly related to Olympic venues and facilities.
Answer choices:
| A. | Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. |
| B. | Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked. |
| C. | BOTH statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question asked. |
| D. | EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question asked. |
| E. | Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question asked, and additional data specific to the problem are needed. |
Good luck!!
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Now playing: Johnny Cash - I've been Everywhere
via FoxyTunes
Dec 13, 2007
Build to last, or built too fast?
Yes, yes…this is not breaking news; you can read about it in almost any publication. China’s economy has grown from the sixth largest economy to the fourth largest in just the last 4 years - behind only the US, Japan & Germany. Dot…dot…dot. But how does all that progress actually translate into changes one can actually witness?
How about these trivial examples for starters…(remember, try to imagine how long these things would take back home):
- When I arrived in early-Sept, there was an old building at Tsinghua (near the dorms) that had already been demolished down to its foundation. By the 3rd week of October, that site had been fully cleared, smoothed out, and grass was growing on it.
Several older men were flying kites 500 meters high when I snapped this pic. (BTW -this new field was probably ready even sooner than the date shown…a friend had to point out to me what this space USED to be - and on Google Earth that bldg is still there!) - Since moving to the center of the
- Today - A few weeks ago, we passed by a storefront where scaffolding and posters/signs (to cover-up during renovations) where being erected. One of the signs said, “We’ll be reopening our doors in 25 days.” - wanna bet that it is now completed?!
We pass by one of the best hotels in China everyday on the way to the subway, and we sometimes cut through it because the weather has gotten so cold. 4 weeks ago, we were going our usual route when we got stopped inside by one of the attendants. He said, “Where are you going? I’m sorry but the hotel is closed for renovation and repairs.” Turns out it had closed earlier that morning…from now until May 2008!
The first few days of renovation, when you passed by there'd be a new stack of old fixtures/appliances lined-up outside. One day there were stacks of interior doors + rows of porcelain alter-tables (for you non-drinkers, that means a toilet bowl), the next day old carpeting was laid out as if the road outside was as clean as the marble floors it once covered, the following day old bathtubs were ready to be carted away. On top of the capital investment to renovate this 5-star hotel, what are the opportunity costs of closing hotel operations for 6 months in a prime location in
Assumptions:
- Occupancy rate = 85%
- Current rate (avg): $275/night; future rate: 15% premium
- Renovations = $15 million
- Operating Margin = $15%
| # Rooms | 273 |
| Days of Renovation | 180 |
| Avg Occupancy | 85% |
| # nights forgone | 41,769 |
| Cost of Renovations... | |
| Avg rate/night | $ 275 |
| Total Opportunity Cost | $ 11,486,475 |
| CapEx renovations | $ 35,000,000 |
| Total cost | $ 46,486,475 |
| Total cost/room | $ 170,280.13 |
| Recouping Investment... | |
| New rate/night (25% premium) | $ 343.75 |
| Operating margin (@ 15%) | $ 51.56 |
| # days payback | 3,302 |
| days/year @ 85% occupancy | 310 |
| # years til payback | 10.64 |
(Yes, I know...didn't do a real DCF...but I'm also feeling lazy - plus I said they were going to be simple.) Honestly, I think my estimates on capital expenditures on the renovations are on the low side - considering that the Mandarin Oriental (HK) underwent an 8 month, $140 million makeover a few years ago. Hmmmm...guess if there are 30+ new hotels to be completed in Beijing in time for the Olympics, now is probably a good time for a 5-star hotel to undergo a facelift...to continue to entice guests for years to come.
That’s Boloni!
Remember the trip to the Chinese factory tour I had planned to go to a few hours before my family was arriving at the airport? Well, after some changes in plans we were able to go back in mid-November.
The Boloni facility we visited was far from the city center...and fortunately we were able to catch a ride in the company van that left from headquarters (within the 4th North ring road). Ironically, the trip took longer in the van than if we took another means of transportation b/c we had to make stops at Boloni's flagship store in Beijing - and the driver had to stop for lunch! (The company also uses the van as a courier service, to avoid costs of FedEx/DHL/etc...)
Anyway, we got to tour a facility that produces interior doors. It was great to get an in-depth look at the (mass customization) production facility, working conditions, and a play-by-play on some of the new equipment that was brought in...and how additional cap ex on machinery is being deferred until a new factory is opened next year...that will be 1 sq. km!
What was particularly interesting was the mix of manual labor and machinery. It seemed that more precise tasks were done manually...For example, most doors were planed by hand (see pic on left), and also this material called
"honeycombing" was inserted into the middle of doors by hand. Essentially, this material was thin cardboard inlaid in the paneling of doors, and before it is coated in lacquer (see pic on right). (Its strong enough that you could jump on it, and the shape wouldn't give out...)
Also, 25-30% of the employees were quality inspectors...dressed in red. And over 80% of all doors produced underwent inspection. (Obviously, the more manual labor involved, the greater the chance of variance...leading to the greater need for inspection.)What else?...How about figuring out the payback on lower-tech machines versus the
top-of-the-line equivalent? The company recently purchased a new air-compressed machine for 40,000 euros, and required 4 persons to operate it but with a waste reduction from the replaced machine of 50% to 25%...this option was still far less than the 200,000 euro top model substitute that only required 1-2 people to operate it. On waste reduction
alone, the payback on the 40,000 euros was less than 6 months!! (To the left is pre-treated panels, to the right...the post-machinery task...)Given the copycat nature of the interior design industry in China (and most industries for that matter!), if something new is on display in the the company's mega showrooms, than Boloni needs to have production turnarounds fast-enough to have them ready to ship within 6-8 days.
In terms of working conditions...It took a while for my nose to adjust to the fumes of cleaning solvents and other industrial materials, but on the whole they were tolerable. Actually, for the workers who did the layers of paint or finish - it took over a year to convince them to wear masks b/c workers didn't understand the long-term risks of heavy inhalation. There were a few areas that were not insulated - so in the winter these few folks had to
wear a ton of layers to keep warm (...and in the summer those same workers would be covered head-to-toe in sweat). On the cold afternoon we visited, one guy had the fortunate job of fueling the flames of the vacuum system (to extract dust)...although it's probably not the job people are fighting over come June-August...
The day were were visiting, the factory was working on an order for the 
Olympic games of 6,500 doors...among other products. Interestingly enough, a few weeks after my visit to Boloni I was actually touring one of the sites on the Olympic green for the Games next summer...although I will have to postpone that story for another post...
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Now playing: Ben Folds - Annie Waits
via FoxyTunes
Nov 26, 2007
Odds & ends
Queuing up
The people in China have DEFINITELY changed (at least those in Beijing and other big cities). When I was first here 22 years ago I remembered that organized queues didn't exist, and that the generally mentality was "push or be pushed". From personal experiences of riding the bus with my Great Aunt & Uncle - I still vividly remember hot summer days on a crammed bus was at least a foot shorter than everyone else...(with no air conditioning), and trying to look up the entire ride to get some room to breath.
Less pushing and crowding does wonders for one's own sanity...Now, people wait in lines - which is fantastic - but there's still more progress to be made. Por ejemplo, people love to stand on the left side of escalators, and stand directly in front of the subway doors on the platform (even though there are explicit markings & arrows of where to stand), rush to get into the subway cars even when they are jam packed with a huge crowd of people getting off. True, you could make the argument that these behavioral quirks are no different than in the US when a driver cuts in front of you in the leftmost lane...only to drive 7o MPH...but here, these are the norms - not the exceptions!
Of course, there is still the rare situation where you MUST push - such as on the subway when both direction cars arrive at the same time at a transfer station. Mind your wallet/cell phone/iPod/purse & get your elbows ready. :)
Netflix...don't even think about it(?)
Back in the States, Netflix is probably the best convenience to come along since pizza delivery!
What does an average movie cost from Netflix...about $8.99 for a basic 2 movie/month subscription?...with average costs falling depending on how frequently you return movies in a given month...
Um, yeah...better keep that business model out of China - where you can own 13 new DVD's for the same price as a one month membership to Netflix. If you can deal with a couple of typos on the packaging, and perhaps an origination other than English (I've seen Ratatouille here, and the copy had all the signs & menus in Russian; and another movie where we couldn't get rid of the Russian subtles)...who needs Netflix in China?
Actually, on a more serious note...such a company should probably abandon its traditional distribution system (home delivery) altogether and focus on content delivery/"on-demand" - something it is still toying around with in the U.S. With 5,000 some-odd titles available for online viewing, that hardly scratches the surface. China has over 162 million internet users, 2nd only to the United States in total # of users (at 210 million)...it will also be the largest market for broadband subscribers in 2007. Main questions/issues are: 1) Where do most people access the internet? (work vs. home)... 2) How would you collect payment? (Even Chinese online travel sites don't accept credit card payment - it's C.O.D.!!)
[For those of you who know me well (and those who hardly know me), the following section may come as no surprise...]
Lucifer likes lattes...
In Beijing
, one can hardly go a few blocks without seeing a Starbucks...and it drives me nuts!! I foresee this fast-food chain becoming solely responsible for eventually breaking China's millennia-long pastime - tea. Wait, did I just say fast-food chain? Hmmm...maybe that's a bit harsh, but Starbucks is definitely a QSR (quick-service restaurant) so its not too far out of the question. First it offers breakfast sandwiches...what next, "Would you like some StarFries with that?" or "Would you like to make that a Starry Meal?"Ah, let the tirade begin...
Do you think that most people drink Starbucks because of:
(And if you're curious about what I brew at home...I order Deans Beans online, which is 100% fair trade & organic. + costs about $7.50/lb.)
The people in China have DEFINITELY changed (at least those in Beijing and other big cities). When I was first here 22 years ago I remembered that organized queues didn't exist, and that the generally mentality was "push or be pushed". From personal experiences of riding the bus with my Great Aunt & Uncle - I still vividly remember hot summer days on a crammed bus was at least a foot shorter than everyone else...(with no air conditioning), and trying to look up the entire ride to get some room to breath.
Less pushing and crowding does wonders for one's own sanity...Now, people wait in lines - which is fantastic - but there's still more progress to be made. Por ejemplo, people love to stand on the left side of escalators, and stand directly in front of the subway doors on the platform (even though there are explicit markings & arrows of where to stand), rush to get into the subway cars even when they are jam packed with a huge crowd of people getting off. True, you could make the argument that these behavioral quirks are no different than in the US when a driver cuts in front of you in the leftmost lane...only to drive 7o MPH...but here, these are the norms - not the exceptions!
Of course, there is still the rare situation where you MUST push - such as on the subway when both direction cars arrive at the same time at a transfer station. Mind your wallet/cell phone/iPod/purse & get your elbows ready. :)
Netflix...don't even think about it(?)
Back in the States, Netflix is probably the best convenience to come along since pizza delivery!
What does an average movie cost from Netflix...about $8.99 for a basic 2 movie/month subscription?...with average costs falling depending on how frequently you return movies in a given month...Um, yeah...better keep that business model out of China - where you can own 13 new DVD's for the same price as a one month membership to Netflix. If you can deal with a couple of typos on the packaging, and perhaps an origination other than English (I've seen Ratatouille here, and the copy had all the signs & menus in Russian; and another movie where we couldn't get rid of the Russian subtles)...who needs Netflix in China?
Actually, on a more serious note...such a company should probably abandon its traditional distribution system (home delivery) altogether and focus on content delivery/"on-demand" - something it is still toying around with in the U.S. With 5,000 some-odd titles available for online viewing, that hardly scratches the surface. China has over 162 million internet users, 2nd only to the United States in total # of users (at 210 million)...it will also be the largest market for broadband subscribers in 2007. Main questions/issues are: 1) Where do most people access the internet? (work vs. home)... 2) How would you collect payment? (Even Chinese online travel sites don't accept credit card payment - it's C.O.D.!!)
[For those of you who know me well (and those who hardly know me), the following section may come as no surprise...]
Lucifer likes lattes...
In Beijing
, one can hardly go a few blocks without seeing a Starbucks...and it drives me nuts!! I foresee this fast-food chain becoming solely responsible for eventually breaking China's millennia-long pastime - tea. Wait, did I just say fast-food chain? Hmmm...maybe that's a bit harsh, but Starbucks is definitely a QSR (quick-service restaurant) so its not too far out of the question. First it offers breakfast sandwiches...what next, "Would you like some StarFries with that?" or "Would you like to make that a Starry Meal?"Ah, let the tirade begin...Do you think that most people drink Starbucks because of:
- Image?...the perceived image of being seen sipping from a white cup with a green logo on the side of it? Well, how prestigious will it still be if this establishment,
born out of Pike Place Market, has aspirations to someday have more locations than McDonalds (currently with 30,000+ worldwide)? - Did you know that there is (or soon to be WAS) a Starbucks inside the Forbidden City? That's disgusting. [Hey, why don't they just stick one in the Potala Palace in Tibet, or in the middle of Valley Forge National Park, or aboard the USS Constitution?]
- Taste? DYK that Consumer Reports rated Starbucks coffee behind that of McDonalds in 2007? Mmmmm...yummy, nothing better than sippin' on some burnt coffee beans! (I've been complaining about its over-roasted burnt beans for years!)
- CSR? Ah, for all you corporate social responsibility (CSR) fanatics you better sit down for this one...
- According to its website, Starbucks has given $12 million to youth related causes over the last 10 years...that would be $1.2 million/year...and for 2007, total revenues = $7.7869 billion - so that only equals 0.015% of revenues. Thank you for your generosity :(
- Fair Trade only constitutes about 5% of all Starbucks coffee. Hmmmm, is fair trade a genuine effort for the company or more of marketing move? The counter argument could be made that there isn't enough fair trade coffee in the world to meet 100% of Starbucks demand - but if this Goliath wanted it...more farmers would turn out to supply it.
- Heck, if Wal-Mart is successful in selling 100 million energy-saving bulbs this year, 1 for each of its customers, than Starbucks should be able to throw its weight around given its market dominance.
(And if you're curious about what I brew at home...I order Deans Beans online, which is 100% fair trade & organic. + costs about $7.50/lb.)
Nov 16, 2007
Long, long overdue
Alas, despite my best intentions, it has been difficult to spend time with my family these days...let alone get to a posting. Finally, classes are starting to wind down, and I only have 2 exams (and some papers) due next week.
The girls arrived safely on Friday (2 weeks ago), and we were able to spend that first weekend together. Kyla got over jetlag (seemingly) overnight since she hardly slept during the 13.5 hour flight. Ella took 4-5 nights to get on track...and those first few nights for us were tough getting woken up at 3:00am - not knowing if that was all the sleep all of us were going to get.
In terms of the adjustment of being in Beijing with a toddler
, well we're still trying to get the hang of it. The subway is NOT stroller friendly; taxi rides are REALLY exciting for the little one since she has been constrained by a car seat her entire life until she came to China; Ella has to sit in one of our laps for most meals, locals (especially older women) tell you that your child needs to be wearing more clothes, etc.
As adults, we take for granted that we can adapt to new environments quickly, a
nd we thrive off the adventure of being in a new place. But...what about for a toddler who is just learning how to communicate, and who has grown accustomed to the bucolic suburbs of Boston?
Consider this as an 18 month old: A 12 hour (now 13 w/ Daylight Savings) time difference, busy city life, and new sights/sounds...not to mention a more aggressive attempt by your parents to each speak a different language to you! Yeah...you'd probably be throwing a few tantrums and just sprawling out on the ground in protest at least once/day...(such as in this picture to the left...)
But in the end...she's a still a love. She understands a TON when you speak to her in either English or Chinese...and it's interesting to observe which language she defaults to for certain words ("thank you" has now become "xie xie"...although "bye bye" and "zai jian" are used interchangeably).
With my classes still in full swing, we needed to get some help here! Last week we hired an Ayi (or "auntie") to help take care of Ella a few afternoons during the week, plus help keep the apartment in good shape. Ayi is amazing!! Although she doesn't speak any English, she's incredibly patient and has a great demeanor...not to mention - all our Chinese is improving with Ayi around!
The 'hood
You know the criteria for real estate "location, location, location"? Well...our sublet apt is absolutely stellar. There's a great park just 2 blocks North (Ritan Park - photo to the left) that the girls like to go visit any day it's sunny (and above 50 degrees)! It's hard to distract Ella from the balloons - so far we've ended up with 2 at home. :) For the early birds, there is a large group of folks doing tai chi daily...
We're right on the subway line, so it's pretty convenient (and cheap) to get to places like Tiananmen Square & the Forbidden City, Wangfujing, etc... The only challeng
es are that the subways are not stroller friendly (or anything with wheels - like luggage) and we have to plan our outings around Ella's nap schedule. Classes, group projects, exams and commuting have limited my time at home - but we've managed to sneak in some great half-day adventures (like the Temple of Heaven earlier today - see pic on left).
Where we live, it's actually a challenge to get some good Chinese food! If you want Mexican, Sizzler, pizza, TGI Fridays, "Steak & Eggs", etc...all of that is a stone's throw away. Searching out hole-in-the-wall places is a (fun) challenge. One of the closest places to get such food lies just behind the soulless Silk Market.
Last week, we went off wondering for such a place and found ourselves a few blocks North of the embassy district (just northwest of Ritan Park) First we passed "Moscow Restaurant" and thought it was just a random place for a Russian establishment... The 3 of us kept wandering and ended up in another country - or at least it felt like it! We stumbled upon Beijing's Little Russia...where all the signs are in Russian, there's an enormous wholesale fur (or faux fur) market, and every caucasian you see has distinct Russian/eastern block features. Moreover, all of the Chinese street peddlers where asking Kyla questions in Russian ("Blah blah blah...phone card?"). Fascinating!
Shopping
Aside from groceries, the only things we've bought are WARM clothes for Ella. The mercury has dropped drastically from when they first arrived - and someone today told me that this week recorded temperature lows not seen in 20 years. With Ella at home with Ayi, we went to the Silk Market earlier this week...and the place was a ghost town (in a good way). Sellers were just hanging out and chatting with one another, and joking around - which I haven't ever seen there.
In and out in an hour (b/c I had to go to class), we got some really warm outer clothes for the little one. We bargained hard enough that by the time we sealed the deal, the 2 ladies from that stall were arguing with one another. Piss piss. We thought the drama might have been an act - but when I checked with Ayi about the prices we paid, she said we got good prices (especially since the Silk Market has the highest rents for vendors...and they are among the best-trained hagglers around). That place always gets me down. Too cramped (even without the big crowds), overly aggressive sellers, and bad lighting...arggggghhhh!
Last week we were walking towards Tiananmen from home, and outside the Forbidden City we found a gem of an outside market - where there were only locals, with some amazing (no bargain) prices. We passed on getting some long underwear - but we HAVE to go back to this "forbidden market" b/c the quality was great, prices were close to rock-bottom, and most importantly...b/c our legs are freezing!!!
This place is so UNDISCOVERED that I hesitate to put it's coordinates into this posting...somethings are best left a secret.
The girls arrived safely on Friday (2 weeks ago), and we were able to spend that first weekend together. Kyla got over jetlag (seemingly) overnight since she hardly slept during the 13.5 hour flight. Ella took 4-5 nights to get on track...and those first few nights for us were tough getting woken up at 3:00am - not knowing if that was all the sleep all of us were going to get.In terms of the adjustment of being in Beijing with a toddler
, well we're still trying to get the hang of it. The subway is NOT stroller friendly; taxi rides are REALLY exciting for the little one since she has been constrained by a car seat her entire life until she came to China; Ella has to sit in one of our laps for most meals, locals (especially older women) tell you that your child needs to be wearing more clothes, etc.As adults, we take for granted that we can adapt to new environments quickly, a
nd we thrive off the adventure of being in a new place. But...what about for a toddler who is just learning how to communicate, and who has grown accustomed to the bucolic suburbs of Boston?Consider this as an 18 month old: A 12 hour (now 13 w/ Daylight Savings) time difference, busy city life, and new sights/sounds...not to mention a more aggressive attempt by your parents to each speak a different language to you! Yeah...you'd probably be throwing a few tantrums and just sprawling out on the ground in protest at least once/day...(such as in this picture to the left...)
But in the end...she's a still a love. She understands a TON when you speak to her in either English or Chinese...and it's interesting to observe which language she defaults to for certain words ("thank you" has now become "xie xie"...although "bye bye" and "zai jian" are used interchangeably).
With my classes still in full swing, we needed to get some help here! Last week we hired an Ayi (or "auntie") to help take care of Ella a few afternoons during the week, plus help keep the apartment in good shape. Ayi is amazing!! Although she doesn't speak any English, she's incredibly patient and has a great demeanor...not to mention - all our Chinese is improving with Ayi around!
The 'hood
You know the criteria for real estate "location, location, location"? Well...our sublet apt is absolutely stellar. There's a great park just 2 blocks North (Ritan Park - photo to the left) that the girls like to go visit any day it's sunny (and above 50 degrees)! It's hard to distract Ella from the balloons - so far we've ended up with 2 at home. :) For the early birds, there is a large group of folks doing tai chi daily...
We're right on the subway line, so it's pretty convenient (and cheap) to get to places like Tiananmen Square & the Forbidden City, Wangfujing, etc... The only challeng
es are that the subways are not stroller friendly (or anything with wheels - like luggage) and we have to plan our outings around Ella's nap schedule. Classes, group projects, exams and commuting have limited my time at home - but we've managed to sneak in some great half-day adventures (like the Temple of Heaven earlier today - see pic on left).Where we live, it's actually a challenge to get some good Chinese food! If you want Mexican, Sizzler, pizza, TGI Fridays, "Steak & Eggs", etc...all of that is a stone's throw away. Searching out hole-in-the-wall places is a (fun) challenge. One of the closest places to get such food lies just behind the soulless Silk Market.
Last week, we went off wondering for such a place and found ourselves a few blocks North of the embassy district (just northwest of Ritan Park) First we passed "Moscow Restaurant" and thought it was just a random place for a Russian establishment... The 3 of us kept wandering and ended up in another country - or at least it felt like it! We stumbled upon Beijing's Little Russia...where all the signs are in Russian, there's an enormous wholesale fur (or faux fur) market, and every caucasian you see has distinct Russian/eastern block features. Moreover, all of the Chinese street peddlers where asking Kyla questions in Russian ("Blah blah blah...phone card?"). Fascinating!
Shopping
Aside from groceries, the only things we've bought are WARM clothes for Ella. The mercury has dropped drastically from when they first arrived - and someone today told me that this week recorded temperature lows not seen in 20 years. With Ella at home with Ayi, we went to the Silk Market earlier this week...and the place was a ghost town (in a good way). Sellers were just hanging out and chatting with one another, and joking around - which I haven't ever seen there.
In and out in an hour (b/c I had to go to class), we got some really warm outer clothes for the little one. We bargained hard enough that by the time we sealed the deal, the 2 ladies from that stall were arguing with one another. Piss piss. We thought the drama might have been an act - but when I checked with Ayi about the prices we paid, she said we got good prices (especially since the Silk Market has the highest rents for vendors...and they are among the best-trained hagglers around). That place always gets me down. Too cramped (even without the big crowds), overly aggressive sellers, and bad lighting...arggggghhhh!
Last week we were walking towards Tiananmen from home, and outside the Forbidden City we found a gem of an outside market - where there were only locals, with some amazing (no bargain) prices. We passed on getting some long underwear - but we HAVE to go back to this "forbidden market" b/c the quality was great, prices were close to rock-bottom, and most importantly...b/c our legs are freezing!!!
This place is so UNDISCOVERED that I hesitate to put it's coordinates into this posting...somethings are best left a secret.
Nov 1, 2007
Out of the black hole...
As we are all aware, China's economy is really advancing at a break-neck pace. However, I think the ultimate limitation on its growth and progress may be inefficient processes and bureaucracy. Let me provide you with an example...
Do you know how your mind deliberately forgets small details that aren't worth remembering (or that you REALLY don't want to remember)...well, mine discarded any recollection of the bureaucracy involved when I had to move into the dormitory nearly 2 months ago.
Checking out of the dorm this morning, I thought it would maybe take 30-4o minutes. Nope... I
was staying in bldg 21, and after having the attendant look over the condition of my empty room (and her supervisor too), I then went to building 19 to return my key and get my deposit returned... Before getting my deposit back, I needed to go to bldg 22 and get an ink stamp on a form (recording that I was moving off-campus). That office didn't open until 1:00pm so I just waited around for 20 minutes. After receiving the stamp on my form, I returned to bldg 19 to give that form to them in exchange for my refunded room deposit. From there, back to bldg 21 where I had left my suitcases and belongings. In summary, 21 --> 19 --> 22 --> 19 --> 21. WHY can't the offices in 19 & 22 be located in the same bldg?
Once out of the dorm, I was able to escape the "black hole" and take a taxi to the new apartment. What is this black hole?... Its the area just southeast of Tsinghua called Wudaokou. Since there are a lot of universities (and foreign language schools) in the area, there is a vast array of coffee houses, restaurants, shops. Actually, some jokingly refer to it as "K-town" because there are so many korean restaurants/shops/signs/etc. Its a fun-enough area, but a cultural void because its very easy NOT to go anywhere else around Beijing (aside from night life). Sitting in the apartment downtown earlier this afternoon, I had this bizarre sense of liberation at this moment.
The heat is on...
Although the government regulates when the heat comes on - which is typically November 15th, Tsinghua flexes some of its alumni muscle to have the heat come on November 1st (which was this morning). The last week has been REALLY cold in my room at night, and ironically the day I move out is the day the heat comes on.
In case you think I am just exaggerating - my classroom yesterday morning was so cold that the professor was wearing her coat during class, some students had hats and gloves on, and you could almost see your breathe. Why do people just leave the door to buildings wide-open when it's 38 degrees outside and the heat isn't turned on yet? (This is one of China's magical unsolved mysteries...)
Power hitters
With all the business leaders on Tsinghua SEM's Board of Advisors, what do you do when most of them are in Beijing for their annual meeting? Host a global forum on business issues (the inaugural event).
There was very little advanced notice about the event - 26 hours, to be exact - at least to the international students (incl. exchange students). [In all fairness, the word has been out about the forum on Chinese media websites as early as Oct 18th, but we didn't get the heads-up until the day prior to the event.]
On short notice, without knowing what the forum was about, or who was going to be a speaker, or what the topics were going to be discussed...I signed up. The panels featured speakers incl. CEO/Chairman from Walmart, BP, Vodafone, Blackstone, Sony, etc. Of particular note, there was a panel on globalization for Chinese companies. What will Chinese companies compete on when low costs (particularly labor) continue to rise over time? Being the world's hub of manufacturing is not the nation's true aspiration...
How can Chinese companies bring forth more innovation?...How long before Western companies try to emulate market moves made by Chinese firms? Actually, the (chinese) company for my group's operation strategy project has exactly that vision. Boloni has over 50% of the premium market for home furnishings in China. Its key strategy for differentiation is design (high quality), although much of that style is heavily influenced by European designs and fashion. However, for the market in China...they are the market leader. Going forward, Boloni aims to export not only its products, but also its designs which other (Western-based) firms incorporate into their products. Anyway, Beom (from Babson) and I are privileged to have a tour of Boloni's factory tomorrow afternoon... we're definitely looking forward to it!
Airborne Chicken
Speaking of tomorrow (Friday), I can't wait to head to the airport tomorrow evening!! Ella's
sprouted another 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) since I last saw her, and she is talking A LOT now; she's picking up new words by the hour! I heard her latest words are "cool" (thanks Aunt Jess), "airplane", and "cho-co (late)".
For Halloween yesterday, Ella was selectively picking through people's candy baskets for the shiny gold wrappers, sharing her trick-or-treat goodies with new doorsteps, and also walking into people's homes to explore... I don't know if China is prepared for who's arriving tomorrow. :)
Do you know how your mind deliberately forgets small details that aren't worth remembering (or that you REALLY don't want to remember)...well, mine discarded any recollection of the bureaucracy involved when I had to move into the dormitory nearly 2 months ago.
Checking out of the dorm this morning, I thought it would maybe take 30-4o minutes. Nope... I
was staying in bldg 21, and after having the attendant look over the condition of my empty room (and her supervisor too), I then went to building 19 to return my key and get my deposit returned... Before getting my deposit back, I needed to go to bldg 22 and get an ink stamp on a form (recording that I was moving off-campus). That office didn't open until 1:00pm so I just waited around for 20 minutes. After receiving the stamp on my form, I returned to bldg 19 to give that form to them in exchange for my refunded room deposit. From there, back to bldg 21 where I had left my suitcases and belongings. In summary, 21 --> 19 --> 22 --> 19 --> 21. WHY can't the offices in 19 & 22 be located in the same bldg?Once out of the dorm, I was able to escape the "black hole" and take a taxi to the new apartment. What is this black hole?... Its the area just southeast of Tsinghua called Wudaokou. Since there are a lot of universities (and foreign language schools) in the area, there is a vast array of coffee houses, restaurants, shops. Actually, some jokingly refer to it as "K-town" because there are so many korean restaurants/shops/signs/etc. Its a fun-enough area, but a cultural void because its very easy NOT to go anywhere else around Beijing (aside from night life). Sitting in the apartment downtown earlier this afternoon, I had this bizarre sense of liberation at this moment.
The heat is on...
Although the government regulates when the heat comes on - which is typically November 15th, Tsinghua flexes some of its alumni muscle to have the heat come on November 1st (which was this morning). The last week has been REALLY cold in my room at night, and ironically the day I move out is the day the heat comes on.
In case you think I am just exaggerating - my classroom yesterday morning was so cold that the professor was wearing her coat during class, some students had hats and gloves on, and you could almost see your breathe. Why do people just leave the door to buildings wide-open when it's 38 degrees outside and the heat isn't turned on yet? (This is one of China's magical unsolved mysteries...)
Power hitters
With all the business leaders on Tsinghua SEM's Board of Advisors, what do you do when most of them are in Beijing for their annual meeting? Host a global forum on business issues (the inaugural event).
There was very little advanced notice about the event - 26 hours, to be exact - at least to the international students (incl. exchange students). [In all fairness, the word has been out about the forum on Chinese media websites as early as Oct 18th, but we didn't get the heads-up until the day prior to the event.]
On short notice, without knowing what the forum was about, or who was going to be a speaker, or what the topics were going to be discussed...I signed up. The panels featured speakers incl. CEO/Chairman from Walmart, BP, Vodafone, Blackstone, Sony, etc. Of particular note, there was a panel on globalization for Chinese companies. What will Chinese companies compete on when low costs (particularly labor) continue to rise over time? Being the world's hub of manufacturing is not the nation's true aspiration...
How can Chinese companies bring forth more innovation?...How long before Western companies try to emulate market moves made by Chinese firms? Actually, the (chinese) company for my group's operation strategy project has exactly that vision. Boloni has over 50% of the premium market for home furnishings in China. Its key strategy for differentiation is design (high quality), although much of that style is heavily influenced by European designs and fashion. However, for the market in China...they are the market leader. Going forward, Boloni aims to export not only its products, but also its designs which other (Western-based) firms incorporate into their products. Anyway, Beom (from Babson) and I are privileged to have a tour of Boloni's factory tomorrow afternoon... we're definitely looking forward to it!
Airborne Chicken
Speaking of tomorrow (Friday), I can't wait to head to the airport tomorrow evening!! Ella's
sprouted another 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) since I last saw her, and she is talking A LOT now; she's picking up new words by the hour! I heard her latest words are "cool" (thanks Aunt Jess), "airplane", and "cho-co (late)".
For Halloween yesterday, Ella was selectively picking through people's candy baskets for the shiny gold wrappers, sharing her trick-or-treat goodies with new doorsteps, and also walking into people's homes to explore... I don't know if China is prepared for who's arriving tomorrow. :)
Oct 28, 2007
Is winter in Beijing really that cold?
Okay, okay...I've been told by (Chinese) friends and classmates that the winter is "cold" in Beijing. But come on - it can't be any colder than Boston - can it? Which city really is the winner when it comes to being a tougher city in the winter?
Since it's only late-October, perhaps it's a bit premature to assess what this winter is going to be like - but the mercury has dropped the last few days so it's got me thinking about what's to come. ..
Vulture Capitalists
With my family arriving at the end of this week, I forgot to mention my search for a (1 month) November sublet. With most apartments requiring a 6 month minimum commitment, and the upcoming Olympics next August, it was not easy to find places available (or willing) to sublet for 1 month. None of the reasonably priced hotels (for long-term stays) were large enough, and those that were far exceeded what I was willing to pay.
Having checked out some websites, word-of-mouth, and posting an ad or two...I spent a Saturday (a few weeks ago) checking out various apartments around the city. None of them were close to campus, and my search - at first, was very unpromising.
The first set of apartment complexes I looked at were in the Northeast part of the city. The kiwi guy who showed me the places was really sketchy, and his girlfriend was a sophomore at a local university.
I didn't really trust him, so I spoke his girlfriend
in Chinese; I learned that he/they were renting out short-term apartments for "reasonable" rates now (a little high on price, IMHO) and then they were planning to hike the nightly rates up 20 times during the Olympics. (From 150 to 3000 rmb/night for a 2 bedroom!)
Um yeah, good luck with that - since these apartments were far from most Olympic venues, and the entire road was constructing new apartment complexs from end-to-end. Even though these were new construction, they are FAR from the closest subway stop (15 minutes by bus) - and for me - the subway would add another 75+ minutes to where school is.
The 2nd apartment Mr. McSketchy showed me was okay, but the entire complex (pic
tured to the right w/ courtyard) seemed eerily empty and a bit sterile. Nice kitchen and bathroom, and more spacious (and clean) than the 1st place I saw. But the mere principle of this vulture capitalist getting any commission from my rent made me sick - plus, who wants to rent a place where 
they don't really look forward to going home at night? (especially when you have a toddler...) As a V
ERY last resort, I would have rented out that 2nd apartment...
From there, I took the bus to the subway - to confirm how remote these apartments were from the subway...then I headed to the next apartment to check out.
Things can only get better...
It was like night and day - in every way. From the boondoggles to the heart of Beijing; from new and sterile, to established and inviting. As soon as I arrived outside the apartment compound - even the weather signaled that things were going to get much better.
Ok, I should first preface that this was a foreign diplomatic compound with a uniformed security guard at the front gate inspecting anyone & any bag/package coming in...
As soon as I saw this place I had a good feeling the search was
over. The location is REALLY amazing - aside from being a 1+ hour subway ride to campus. It's footsteps away from a subway stop, tucked away near the embassies, 2 (big city) blocks from the silk market, and a quick (1 rmb) ride to Tiananmen Square, Wang Fujing, and other great places too.
It's a 1 bedroom flat with
great natural light, and hopefully enough room for my daughter to run all over the place! Outside there's a brand new playground and well-manicured courtyard - although it will probably see minimal usage as the weather turns colder.
Speaking of cold, the good news is that the heat for the apartment
came on in mid-October! Apparently, the embassies and surrounding diplomatic housing neighborhoods have an exception from the limits placed on the rest of Beijing (an extra month at both ends...Oct 15 - April 15).
So...I exchanged the rent for keys yesterday, and I'll be moving in on Thursday - the day before the family arrives. Even though it's a bit of a hike to campus, it will be totally worth it. Truth is, there is not so much to do with a family near campus (aside from the Summer Palace), and it will be really convenient for Kyla to explore the city from a central location. Considering we've been divided by the Atlantic and 2500+ miles of North America for 2 months, a 1 hour commute to school doesn't seem so bad.
Back to the mines...
This next week is going to be crunch-time. The good thing about having a semester crammed into a few short months is that you get a longer winter break...but the workload is far from being a cupcake just because each of my 6 classes are 2 credits (plus a one credit course). Before I head to the airport on Friday for pick-up, I've got a business plan due, a paper, an exam, a BIG final presentation, and a few of other small presentations...and a group paper due next Monday (which I will just need to crank through early).--Plus I'm moving on Thursday. GIDDY UP!!
----------------
Now playing: Barenaked Ladies - Everything Had Changed
via FoxyTunes
- According to Google Earth (which is just plain fun to fiddle around with), technically, Boston is further north than Beijing.
- Boston: 42°26'08.55 North
- Beijing: 40°00'33.33 North
- According to Weather.com, from October-March, the avg low temperatures for Beijing are colder than Boston. Avg high temps for Beijing are as-cold, or colder than Boston for November-February.
- From Weather.com info, Boston gets 13+ times mo
re total precipitation than Beijing for the months of October-March. I bet people in Beijing have never had a chance to cross-country ski to work! (I still remember the 2003 President's Day Weekend storm when 27.5" (or 69.9 cm) of snow got dropped on Boston.)
- In China, the government regulates when the heat gets turned on for the entire city! So in Beijing, you can curl up like an eskimo until November 15th - when the heat comes on. Then you return to your igloo on March 15th when the heat gets shut-off again. Whereas in Boston, you can jack-up the thermostat if you prefer tropical weather year-round.
- In Boston, most normal people don't have to use bicycles every day for transportation (unless you're an extreme sports enthusiast).
Since it's only late-October, perhaps it's a bit premature to assess what this winter is going to be like - but the mercury has dropped the last few days so it's got me thinking about what's to come. ..
Vulture Capitalists
With my family arriving at the end of this week, I forgot to mention my search for a (1 month) November sublet. With most apartments requiring a 6 month minimum commitment, and the upcoming Olympics next August, it was not easy to find places available (or willing) to sublet for 1 month. None of the reasonably priced hotels (for long-term stays) were large enough, and those that were far exceeded what I was willing to pay.
Having checked out some websites, word-of-mouth, and posting an ad or two...I spent a Saturday (a few weeks ago) checking out various apartments around the city. None of them were close to campus, and my search - at first, was very unpromising.
The first set of apartment complexes I looked at were in the Northeast part of the city. The kiwi guy who showed me the places was really sketchy, and his girlfriend was a sophomore at a local university.I didn't really trust him, so I spoke his girlfriend
in Chinese; I learned that he/they were renting out short-term apartments for "reasonable" rates now (a little high on price, IMHO) and then they were planning to hike the nightly rates up 20 times during the Olympics. (From 150 to 3000 rmb/night for a 2 bedroom!)Um yeah, good luck with that - since these apartments were far from most Olympic venues, and the entire road was constructing new apartment complexs from end-to-end. Even though these were new construction, they are FAR from the closest subway stop (15 minutes by bus) - and for me - the subway would add another 75+ minutes to where school is.
The 2nd apartment Mr. McSketchy showed me was okay, but the entire complex (pic
tured to the right w/ courtyard) seemed eerily empty and a bit sterile. Nice kitchen and bathroom, and more spacious (and clean) than the 1st place I saw. But the mere principle of this vulture capitalist getting any commission from my rent made me sick - plus, who wants to rent a place where 
they don't really look forward to going home at night? (especially when you have a toddler...) As a V
ERY last resort, I would have rented out that 2nd apartment...From there, I took the bus to the subway - to confirm how remote these apartments were from the subway...then I headed to the next apartment to check out.
Things can only get better...
It was like night and day - in every way. From the boondoggles to the heart of Beijing; from new and sterile, to established and inviting. As soon as I arrived outside the apartment compound - even the weather signaled that things were going to get much better.
Ok, I should first preface that this was a foreign diplomatic compound with a uniformed security guard at the front gate inspecting anyone & any bag/package coming in...
As soon as I saw this place I had a good feeling the search was
over. The location is REALLY amazing - aside from being a 1+ hour subway ride to campus. It's footsteps away from a subway stop, tucked away near the embassies, 2 (big city) blocks from the silk market, and a quick (1 rmb) ride to Tiananmen Square, Wang Fujing, and other great places too.It's a 1 bedroom flat with
great natural light, and hopefully enough room for my daughter to run all over the place! Outside there's a brand new playground and well-manicured courtyard - although it will probably see minimal usage as the weather turns colder.Speaking of cold, the good news is that the heat for the apartment
came on in mid-October! Apparently, the embassies and surrounding diplomatic housing neighborhoods have an exception from the limits placed on the rest of Beijing (an extra month at both ends...Oct 15 - April 15).So...I exchanged the rent for keys yesterday, and I'll be moving in on Thursday - the day before the family arrives. Even though it's a bit of a hike to campus, it will be totally worth it. Truth is, there is not so much to do with a family near campus (aside from the Summer Palace), and it will be really convenient for Kyla to explore the city from a central location. Considering we've been divided by the Atlantic and 2500+ miles of North America for 2 months, a 1 hour commute to school doesn't seem so bad.
Back to the mines...
This next week is going to be crunch-time. The good thing about having a semester crammed into a few short months is that you get a longer winter break...but the workload is far from being a cupcake just because each of my 6 classes are 2 credits (plus a one credit course). Before I head to the airport on Friday for pick-up, I've got a business plan due, a paper, an exam, a BIG final presentation, and a few of other small presentations...and a group paper due next Monday (which I will just need to crank through early).--Plus I'm moving on Thursday. GIDDY UP!!
----------------
Now playing: Barenaked Ladies - Everything Had Changed
via FoxyTunes
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