Work-
Phil was here this week and we go many things done. He spent much time at the factories. Things continue to move along and all my projects are building to design a global distribution network for Milestone. Worked with our sister company, Chamberlain, this week to finish a Container Freight Station Request for Quote. this went out to our list of service provides. I have a North American LTL bid to go out and a European distribution bid as well. I will work on all those next week, while I am the only one in the office. Our Chinese staff is on holiday for the entire next week to celebrate Chinese New Year. Phil left for the USA on Friday AM.
Personal-
Spent the weekend reading of course. I did take the train on Saturday to visit Edmond in Zhangmatou. We had dinner, then at midnight drove down to Shenzhen to go to the flower market. Flowers are a big thing for bringing good luck in the new year. The market was packed, and of course, i forgot my camera in the car. After flowers, it was back to my apartment to sleep. I read a whole book Friday till Saturday. I will have to get some more of David Baldacci's work. I like his stuff.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Sick in China
Well it finally happened. I woke up Saturday AM to go to the Company outing and felt queasy and nauseous. I thought it would pass, so I went to begin the outing. I ended up being so sick, that I could not get out of the car to join our team at lunch. I slept in Henry's car and kept opening the door to spill my guts. After lunch it was off the the safari. I could not make it. They ended up taking me to the hotel at 1:30 in the afternoon where I proceeded to be sick and sleep all day and all night. I did get to enjoy a trip to the temple on the way home on Sunday, but still had not eaten since Friday and only kept down water. I am back home now and taking some antibiotics I brought from my USA doctor. Still not 100% but I think the food poisoning was gone. I knew that chicken was not cooked enough, but I ate it anyway. I did hear the safari park was one of the coolest things many of the team had ever seen. Makes you feel great huh? I will have to make that trip again before I leave.
Today's your Birthday- Farewell to Thee
I joined the party late after dinner with my Logistics Team, but the Birthday Bash (Matt) and Farewell Gathering (SAP Consultants) was in full swing. They ate at a local "hot Pot" restaurant.
Yes Matt, You ate food prepared in this kitchen. Dishes were washed here too!
Yes Matt, You ate food prepared in this kitchen. Dishes were washed here too!
Factory Closing Dinner
Tighe, Colin, the General Manager, and Material Manager Frank address the employees. Collin is 73, never retired and has worked in the garage door business for 47 years.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Week # 10 in China
Work-
Back at full time, no more vacation. My boss, Phil was due in at the end of the week and I look forward to seeing him. Matt left on Friday AM to go back to the USA. Liz had left the week earlier. Just trying to start to pull together the first wave of completed projects and roll into phases 2-?. By the time I come home the plan is for a Global distribution network that start in Southern China and extends around the world to service Milestone customers. It is very exciting to have this opportunity and I do not take it lightly.
I got to visit the factory of our sister company and the sourcing office. The factory is closing down on Friday, but the sourcing office and my area of work will remain. We are working closely together to find joint Supply Chain efficiencies. I was honored to attend the factory closing dinner. These people where not somber and sad, but full of life. I found it interesting to learn that even though it was an American corporations business reason to close, the employees felt it was their responsibility and they could have work harder. The belief in their roles in life is strong.
The end of this week brings about our annual dinner. We leave on Saturday morning by coach bus to Guangzhou to a district called Pine Yu. We will visit a zoo/safari park where there are not any cages, but you get to see the animals up close. The have Panda's, Koala Bears, and White Tigers to name but a few.
Personal-
Not much happening. Just work and looking forward the work outing this weekend.
Back at full time, no more vacation. My boss, Phil was due in at the end of the week and I look forward to seeing him. Matt left on Friday AM to go back to the USA. Liz had left the week earlier. Just trying to start to pull together the first wave of completed projects and roll into phases 2-?. By the time I come home the plan is for a Global distribution network that start in Southern China and extends around the world to service Milestone customers. It is very exciting to have this opportunity and I do not take it lightly.
I got to visit the factory of our sister company and the sourcing office. The factory is closing down on Friday, but the sourcing office and my area of work will remain. We are working closely together to find joint Supply Chain efficiencies. I was honored to attend the factory closing dinner. These people where not somber and sad, but full of life. I found it interesting to learn that even though it was an American corporations business reason to close, the employees felt it was their responsibility and they could have work harder. The belief in their roles in life is strong.
The end of this week brings about our annual dinner. We leave on Saturday morning by coach bus to Guangzhou to a district called Pine Yu. We will visit a zoo/safari park where there are not any cages, but you get to see the animals up close. The have Panda's, Koala Bears, and White Tigers to name but a few.
Personal-
Not much happening. Just work and looking forward the work outing this weekend.
Week # 9 in China
Work-
Back to work on Monday AM. SAP went live today. Matt and Liz arrived from the USA to help with any SAP issues that would come up. Just took one day off this week with the kids, for our trip to OCT-East, otherwise it was just getting back into the swing of things. SAP implementation went very well here in the Asia Pacific offices. Our staff took to the system and the extra time spent in training paid off huge. Matt ended up working on other issues after the first week being in China.
Personal-
Started the week with the kids and ended without. That was very difficult. After taking them to the airport, I had an appointment at the US Embassy in Hong Kong. I had to have pages added to my US Passport. I also had some other visa questions. All in all it was very interesting to be on US soil in a different country. The State Department staff was very helpful and I felt as an American citizen that I had help if I needed.
Saturday night some friends asked Matt and I to join them for dinner. Jennifer used to be my Logistics Manager in China. She left the Company to take care of her family.
Matt's chopstick skills are now world class.
Jennifer and Agnes.
Back to work on Monday AM. SAP went live today. Matt and Liz arrived from the USA to help with any SAP issues that would come up. Just took one day off this week with the kids, for our trip to OCT-East, otherwise it was just getting back into the swing of things. SAP implementation went very well here in the Asia Pacific offices. Our staff took to the system and the extra time spent in training paid off huge. Matt ended up working on other issues after the first week being in China.
Personal-
Started the week with the kids and ended without. That was very difficult. After taking them to the airport, I had an appointment at the US Embassy in Hong Kong. I had to have pages added to my US Passport. I also had some other visa questions. All in all it was very interesting to be on US soil in a different country. The State Department staff was very helpful and I felt as an American citizen that I had help if I needed.
Saturday night some friends asked Matt and I to join them for dinner. Jennifer used to be my Logistics Manager in China. She left the Company to take care of her family.
Matt's chopstick skills are now world class.Jennifer and Agnes.
Kids Day # 19- Back to the USA
Boy did this SUCK! I never thought it would be this hard to bring Kayla and Nicholas to the airport. I got so used to them being here I was crushed when we had to say goodbye. I cried the rest of the day and all the next. I LOVE YOU KAYLA and NICK!
Kitchen Apartment
Shawn requested pictures of my apartment kitchen. Here you go. All the dishes were from a big meal the kids and I made on their last night in town.
Kids Day # 16- OCT East
My counterpart, from our sister company Chamberlain, and I brought our kids to OCT-East for a day. OCT-East is where we had a Milestone outing last December.
Tighe's kids are 12 and 19. We all had a good day.
Always the curious one!
Scottish bagpipes in China. Now I have seen it all.
The theatre where we watch The Tea Show.
Always the curious one!
Scottish bagpipes in China. Now I have seen it all.
The theatre where we watch The Tea Show.
End of a great day.
Kids Day # 14- Sighteeing in Hong Kong
From Zhuhai, we took the high speed ferry to Hong Kong. My freind Edmond met us at the terminal and we took the kids to a see Hong Kong.
Repulse Bay is a very popular beach in Hong Kong. Can you tell it is winter time?
Repulse Bay is a very popular beach in Hong Kong. Can you tell it is winter time?
Stanley Market for lunch and some more shopping.
To The Peak. The highest point in Hong Kong.
To The Peak. The highest point in Hong Kong.
The Peak overlooks downtown Hong Kong and Kowloon.
We ended out day with a traditional family dinner at the Kowloon apartment of Edmond's parents. This was a very special dinner for all of us. Edmond's dad is 80 years old and was excited to have guests for Sunday night family dinner.
We ended out day with a traditional family dinner at the Kowloon apartment of Edmond's parents. This was a very special dinner for all of us. Edmond's dad is 80 years old and was excited to have guests for Sunday night family dinner.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
