Chengdu is a major city in China, yet it is much more gritty than Beijing. More raw, real, alive. In a way, life seems more fair here than in the capital. Construction and growth are rampant throughout the city, and it is clear that modernization is on the march. The shiny new apartment complexes and rows of high-end shops like Fendi and Gucci make this all too apparent, as do the throngs of teenagers that crowd the outdoor shopping malls and movie theaters on a Saturday evening. Prosperity is happening in Chengdu, but it is as if the people here choose [View Full Entry]

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The morning brought a light rain, which turned into a heavy blanket of mist that stretched all the way from Beijing right down into Sichuan Province. This is where I am now, in Chengdu, land of spicy food and the panda bear, home to the horrible earthquake that struck here just months ago. I am thrilled to get out of Beijing and have a chance to see another part of this country, to be closer to mountains, in cooler, fresher air. So far, I am not disappointed. Already I can sense how different it is here. To start, I was the [View Full Entry]

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As I set out to depart Beijing, I quickly want to share some travel tips and must-dos for future visitors to this city: 1. Buy a Beijing Taxi Guide immediately upon arrival. This will be the best 50 RMB you could possibly spend, I promise. It lists most of the places in English that you will want to go to while here, with directions printed in Mandarin to show to your driver. Just point -- hope the driver can read -- and off you go! 2. Learn to trust taxi drivers. They are kind and smart and generally know where they [View Full Entry]

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The Closing Ceremony was, to quote a friend, one big mess in an oval. I am not sure what was going on down there, but it was something like watching a gymnastics competition in the National Indoor Stadium, only without the talent: hectic chaos, too much going on, not quite sure where to look. Best to relax and focus eyes on the many cute athletes gathering below... ahhh..... It was lovely, but odd indeed. And what was with David Beckham's 3-minute appearance? Did he really fly all the way to Beijing to kick a ball? I mean, he is a gorgeous [View Full Entry]

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Today started out on a hectic, hung-over note. The night before began in the Birds Nest for another round of amazing athletics - including Insane Usain Bolt and his Jamaican teammates breaking yet another world record, and watching the hottie 70s-haired Aussie fly over the pole vault at an astounding height. This was followed by a street party in Sanlitun, which is clearly the gathering place for anyone and everyone under 80 who is out looking for a good time. It was practically The United Nations out there, and at one point or another we found ourselves hanging out with some [View Full Entry]

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It just keeps getting crazier. Two nights ago I was given otherwise unused tickets to watch Athletics, and I got to see the men's 100m sprint - the fastest man in the world! 9.69 seconds - Go Jamaica! But these tickets I got were not just any old tickets. They were meant for who we in the States think of as the richest man in the world, and also his very rich wife. No need to name-drop here, but all you "software users" can probably guess to whom I am referring. They chose to go to another event, so there I [View Full Entry]

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Happy Birthday Adam! In honor of this important birthday for this very special kid, I have become a complete sports nut. I have also become very US-centric while here. I have never before been much of a nationalist (so to speak) during the Olympics - more of an internationalist, cheer for everyone kind of spectator - but I have suddenly become insanely supportive of the US Team and all US athletes. At every event I find myself on my feet, screaming for the Americans, going nuts when they win or do well. But this is the fault of the Chinese, really. [View Full Entry]

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A day in the life: (Night before the day in the life: Notified by friend that she has 2 tickets for women's gymnastics the following night.) 7:00 AM - 5:50 PM: Hang around office, surf the internet, research ashrams in India, attend useless meetings, pretend to work, pretend to care. 5:50 PM - 6:16 PM: Try to manage the dispatch of buses and guests for an off-site dinner. Get into arguments with clients because they are once again torturing my local staff. 6:16 PM - 6:41 PM: Console client as she breaks down into tears. Send her to room with instructions [View Full Entry]

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The blog has been quiet, my apologies, but the past week has been a not so fun roller-coaster ride of many more downs than ups. And as the saying goes, if you don’t have anything nice to say... But as a very wise friend said, it really can’t get much worse - and I don’t think it will. So that is the good news here in China! The Opening Ceremony came and went, and I was sadly and painfully unable to enjoy it. But I am very much looking forward to watching it on Tivo while lounging on Erica’s couch sometime [View Full Entry]

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This morning, nearly 1,000 staff (400 from overseas plus about 600 locals) gathered on the steps of the majestic Temple of Heaven for a company-wide photo. It was an impressive feat, gathering 1,000 people together and getting them all to stand still and behave in the blazing hot sun. Only a team of Type A Control Freak Event Planners could pull this one off with such flair. The highlight of the morning was having a chance to walk through the Temple of Heaven Park. Emperors used to come to this temple to pray for good harvests, and today the park is [View Full Entry]

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