When I first came to Asia, I assumed EVERYTHING would be cheaper, hey, its made here, right? During the iphone 4 backorder, many of my friends in USA asked me if I could buy it for them directly in Shenzhen, China. But in China, you pay more for electronics – and EVEN the iphone 4 is not available yet. There …
How Fragile Life is – 18 Year Old Factory Worker Commits Suicide
Chatting to Lammy, she told me another factory suicide at the Foxconn factory (yes, the one who makes your nice apple iphone 4 and ipad) this time it was only an 18 year old intern……not in shenzhen city, but in a city further inland. I don’t want to go too deep into it, I have been blogging from both sides …
Good Luck In Your Next Country
Today is my last day in Shenzhen for a bit, in Hong Kong airport now typing this out. Recently I had an interesting quick QQ chat i had with my friend Lucy……she was talking about my move to the philippines, contained the typical chat sequence of events, the 5 W’s – who, what, when, where, why, blah blah… But during …
Getting Things Done in China
As I scramble to make things clear and smooth before I depart on Thursday, as always, a few speedbumps come my way…..I get a call today from the real estate agent who I rented this location from, and he is speaking to me in Chinese (so I try my best, but have to pass the phone off to my friend, …
Who To Trust While I’m Outside China
Since day 1 in china its been this issue – TRUST, I remember when I first came to visit China in 2007, I was meeting everyone I could, seeing what I thought of the place, the opportunity, the trust factor….Sure I knew it was difficult, intense, insane, THAT IS WHY I LIKE IT IN CHINA. I want a challenge. I …
Reflecting Before My Departure – Losing Something Might Be Positive
Been thinking a lot lately (well, I guess you’re thinking whats new, as you can see from my blog I am always thinking) But leaving Shenzhen / China – is it a failure? Its a change for me I think. And I am not leaving 100%. I am going to be on the road, traveling, visiting companies, offices, training, learning, …
Travel Plan The Next 4 Months
Been getting tweets, phone calls, emails since I blogged I am leaving Shenzhen. I feel the love! Its not that I am leaving FOREVER – but probably won’t be here to much these next few months. Maybe back in late November. I am not sure if I have blogged it yet, but put on facebook and twitter feeds that I …
I’m not crazy – look at apple iphone costs in shenzhen
To support the idea that I’m not the only one leaving shenzhen, china – check out the below news i just read from yahoo finance!! Its what i have been screaming for months and months… just last week the Chinese Yuan (RMB) was released to rise again from the US dollar – the Chinese government has just unpegged it and …
Moving Out of Shenzhen – Next Chapter of My Life
I was hesitating blogging this!!! But at least office-wise, I am out of Shenzhen……i will still be stopping by now and again for meetings and friends. Took a photo last night here, I had a “nong min gong” (farmer who comes to the city to make better money….the hardest working people!) help me move my office things out of the …
Asia Travels Catching Up To Me – Another China Hospital Visit
I guess all this crazy traveling and abnormal sleep patterns has caught up with me. Been having stomach issues all weekend and decided to check it out at the local chinese hospital today. Always an adventure going to the hospital here….at least now I have learned what to expect! Always cash up front, I always lose my green book so …
More Strikes in Chinese Factories Over Higher Wages
Wow, what we have all been saying for years about the growth and development in China is coming true – so quickly. But what is happening is INFLATION. Prices for food, rent, and other basic things are going up so quickly. The Chinese government is still controlling their currency from rising too high to try to keep the export market …
Foreign Companies Getting Squeezed for Pay Increases in China
Back to Shenzhen for a couple days now, and just been hearing all over about foxconn factory (the one where I blogged about the chinese factory suicides) HAS DOUBLED the salaries of their workers. Here is an article I read from a Taiwanese newspaper: Commercial Times: Victims of Foxconn pay hikes 2010/06/17 13:34:56 Taiwan-based Hon Hai Group, traded as Foxconn …
Some Perspective On Selling Fake Products from China
I can remember back in High School days, maybe this is 1997 or 1998 (sophomore or junior year) and some classmates (i won’t disclose names) found a source of fake oakley sunglasses online and were buying them and sellling them on ebay, making some decent money. I remember looking at the poor quality fake product, and the O in Oakley …
Meeting Foreigners Who moved to philippines From China
Why does it seem every flight to and from the Philippines is so early in the morning? Caught a few hours sleep before waking up at 5am to head to the airport. The funniest thing i have seen here that i haven’t yet run into in other travels is the male urinals along the side of the road……but hey….i guess …
Reflections from my Shanghai Trip
Heading back to Shenzhen in a bit (sitting in a delayed terminal due to rainstorms in south china), and wanted to summarize and reflect on my 10 days in shanghai. Management – I have always admitted to myself and to others this is my weakness, details and pushing others to work. Also somewhat feel it is cultural differences in style, …