I'm back

Okay guys, it has been a while. I was bombarded with work, midterms, and being sick. I had my first medical experience in China and it wasn't that bad. Other than getting crazy diagnostic (I went in with a fever and the doctor thought that I should have a CT scan), I was treated kindly, well by China's standard. One cool think I have to say about the hospital that I was at is that it gave all incoming patient a card. So when you see a doctor or completed a procedure, the doctor would scan the card and your chart info would load up on the computer. I think this was the coolest part of the night, watching my info loading up in seconds. This is way better than charts in the States.

Anyway, other than being sick I was also locked up in a room in order to complete two midterm essays. After half a semester of CIEE elective courses (China's International Relations and China's Economic Reform) and I'm grateful to be a student at UPS. The teachers in the CIEE program are great. They are all very knowledgeable, but they can't teach. They give unclear directions and their lectures put students to sleep. Other than the teaching methods, I'm learning about China beyond the textbook. Okay this is the nerdy stuff, please ignore if you're not interested. In terms of development, I discovered that China may not have a model yet, but it does have certain strategies. The policies of Reforms and Open ignited development in two areas the Pearl River Region and the Yangtze Delta Region. I live in Shanghai, which is the headquarter for the Yangtze Region. Within this region, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) dominate the Zhejiang and Jiangsu providence, both of which surrounds Shanghai. There is talk of future investment in the Yangtze to increase the river transportation infrastructure. Currently, logistics is very costly in China. Additionally, coastal cities are facing a labor shortage and an increase in wages due to the new labor law that was passed in Jan of 2008. If SMEs and foreign enterprises could use the Yangtze to transport their goods efficiently, then jobs and further development will surged in the hinterland. The regional divided, in terms of income inequality and levels of development, between the hinterland and coastal cities could be lessen.

For the Pearl River Region, it replies heavily on companies in Hong Kong to export their goods to the international market. However, with the increase in wages and the possibily of moving secondary industry to the hinterland, SMEs in Pearl River Region may consider transforming their business plan and reduce their reliance on Hong Kong companies. If SMEs in the Guangdong invest more in R&D and move up the product cycle to provide technology/capital intensive goods and services, this region will lead the development of the hinterland.

Okay, I'm done being a nerd. Anyway, I'm still looking for reserach project ideas. If you have any, please post a comment. It's late. I can't procasinate any more. I have to get some homework done. I promise to write back soon.

麦当劳

Taro pies at a McDonald's in Guangzhou. This one is for you Mr. Slack.

I'm employed

Well, I gave in a got an internship for fall semester at, Praxis Language, as their marketing intern. The company is an started-up that provides language services using podcasts. Chinesepod is one of their most popular products. I started working last week and the job is not that demanding. I'm just doing some market research on a couple of products and services. I don't have any formal marketing training, so I'm not really sure why I got the job. Oh well, it should be fun though. The company is really young so corporate culture is very relaxed. I think that's why I picked this company instead of the HR firm. I hope I've made the right choice.

Bob - the hiking pack

Since my hiking pack will be with me all year, I have decided that it deserves some recognition. I have decided to name it Bob to give it some character. So here are some pictures of my 30 pound pack and me.

I'm here

I got to Shanghai a day before the my program started. Lucky, I was able to meet up with Andrew Maas at the airport. Andrew became my lifesaver. I think I would still be at the airport if it wasn't for Andrew. With his Chinese, we were able to get from the airport to the hostel and from the hostel to the college.

Shanghai thus far has been excellent, except for its pollution and smog. I didn't expect the pollution to be this severe. Within the city limit, it was difficult to see anything beyond a 5 mile radius. Although Shanghai's pollution level is not as severe as Beijing's, it is still very polluted. Despite the pollution, I still enjoyed the city. I think the best part, thus far, has been the cuisine, which is not only taste, but also every affordable.

I don't have a picture of my school yet or the surrounding neighborhood because I have been very lazy. I'll post those pictures next time. I promise. For now, you guys will just have to settled for pictures of the latest high-raiser in Shanghai: the World Financial Center. It just opened on August 30th. It is the second highest building in the world, after the 101 tower in Taipei.

Good Bye Tacoma WA, Hello Salem OR

This is my last day in Tacoma, WA. It doesn't feel like I'm leaving this place for nine months. It does feel like I'm going home to Salem OR for a weekend to see my parents, which I'm very excited about. I can't wait to be babied by my mom. After a year of living on my own, I can't wait for Mama Trinh's home cook meals, clean laundry, coffee with Dad, and window shopping with my sisters.

It's odd that my mind can't process anything beyond these sentiments. I think it will hit me when I'm seating at the airport. By then, I'll realize that I'm not going to see all the people that made Tacoma my home away from home for the next nine months.

Asia will be fun and it will be good for me. I needed a break from school and from the UPS bubble. I know for a fact that I'll get home sick. I'll just have to restraint myself from calling people in the States at 3 in the morning. I'll also have to kill my cravings for Tim's Cascade Hawaiian BarBQ chips, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and milk. But that's okay, it will be an awesome adventure because "I'm leaving on a jet plane don't know when I'll be back again." It will be just me and my 30 lbs hiking pack for nine months. Asia here I come.