Nice?

After my post two days ago on ingrates, quite a few of you have messaged me to say that Someone is such a nice person.

Yes, she is. Too nice sometimes.

Two weeks ago, we found out that the husband of the elder sister of her children friend has moved to Shanghai. He was having a tough time at work with impossible deadlines, etc. In fact, it was so tough that I kinda pitied me. Even me, the anti-social one. All alone here, family in Singapore, havent moved here yet. I understand the feeling.

Over the weekend, he asked if he could come over to do laundry as hotel laundry was very expensive.

Because he has to unexpectedly work late, we ended up meeting him for dinner near his hotel.We insisted on taking his laundry from him, despite his refusals, promising that we will let the maid do it when she comes two days later.

Then for some reason, Someone decided to do the laundry herself the next day. Separating the whites and colors and then drying them in the dryer and then folding nicely in the bag. Oh and inside the bag were some 罗汉果that we went a few places to find to buy for him because he had a cough.

That's right. I married a saint.

Pregnant!

Finally!

My secretary is pregnant.

She has been trying for some time and she told me the other day that she is six weeks pregnant.

She's a year older than me so I guess that makes her a 高龄产妇. I realise i actually don’t know the equivalent phrase in English. Odd. I actually think that my level of English is slipping ever since I moved to China but that’s another post for another time.

After the very initial euphoria, I quickly assessed the situation.

In eight months, I will have to find a replacement for her. And in the months leading to eight months later, I’ll have to contend with morning sickness sick leave, medical check up leave, etc. I was chided by Someone for being heartless and only thinking about work.

But… work still needs to be done right??!?

As it is, when she told me she was pregnant, she also told me that she couldn’t attend the Shanghai conference I mentioned a few times in this blog. As luck would have it, my team is so busy that they had to fly off before the conference ended and with my secretary out of action, and no one to pack up the booth, I told them to pack up before the conference ended.

Ingrates

I mentioned earlier that I had some guests over at my place.

Ordinarily, Someone and I use separate bathrooms so that we don’t encroach on each other’s space with our toiletries et al.

With people over, we had to share one toilet and that was a little bit of a hassle.

Therefore I planned a work trip so that I was out of the house half the time they were here.

I returned on the day when they’d spend their last night in Shanghai, and my apartment.

There was again a dinner organised with the “gang”. I thought might as well join them since I didn’t have anything to do and I was lazy to go run “errands”. There was this nice hot pot place that we often went to. They don’t usually take reservations but they did it as a personal favour to Someone because as you may remember, she bought them 鲁肉饭mix when we returned from Taipei the other time.

As luck would have it, we were invited to another potluck dinner with some Singaporeans on the same night. We decided to go to that one (since it’d be quite possibly more fun), and informed the less fun group that we won’t be going but the reservation will still be kept with Someone’s name.

After that, something weird happened. There was a little flurry in the group chat about how odd it’d be to keep the reservation in Someone’s name when she’s not going etc. I read in wide-eyed wonder how weird some people were.

That wasn’t the final straw. Reservation was at 7pm. The guests staying at our place only left at 6:40pm. It was a Friday night and even on a good day, the journey would take more than 20 mins. The restaurant called us at 7:15pm to ask if anyone is coming. Someone was a little pissed by then and informed the group that restaurant called. Then there was a mad scramble in the group on who’s the nearest. AND on top of that, a couple who was silent ALLL this two-three days of arranging this dinner suddenly said they want to come and ask the earliest to arrive to check if can have two more seats!

Well, in the end, the restaurant kept the table for them. Everyone had a good time.. Took some group pictures etc but nary, not even one, word of thank you.

Am I right to be irritated? Should I even be irritated? That’s a rhetorical question really because I don’t really care for your answer. I don’t usually do things to get their gratitude but some things are basic courtesy. I told Someone not to be so nice in future. Sure, we had originally planned to join the dinner that’s why we took the initiative to make the reservation.

Diaoz

Received an email from HR the other day - As the new President is familiarizing himself with the company, all hiring is frozen for now.

Diaoz. I hope this embargo is lifted soon or I might not be able to meet my targets.

Conference Woes

I mentioned a number of times before that it’s going to be a stressful time for me at this conference because my new President will be coming and I’d have to be his bellboy.

However, he decided that with his intense travelling after taking over, he wont be able to join.

When I heard that, I was super relieved. I was so relieved that even though I had to cancel some signing ceremony that I had arranged and also answer to the conference organizes about his no-show.

So, on the day of the conference, all I had to worry was my participation in the panel. This was my third panel and by right, I should have been more relaxed already but I always feel very jittery.

This time, it’s largely because the moderator and panelists (except one angmo) are all Chinese people so I’d be more pressured to speak in Mandarin even though there’s dual simultaneous translation. My Mandarin is passable but I didn't want to embarrass myself and yet still don't want to portray myself as the guy with the Asian face and working in China but cant speak Mandarin.

What a conundrum.

My fears evaporated when the first panelist started answering in English! W00t! Of course I did too. And then everyone else did. Everyone was decent in English except the last two. They were stuttering and stopping to find the right words to use. Poor thing. Boy was I glad I managed to avert from this embarrassment!

Just when I thought it was the end of conference season, I was invited to another one in Qingdao in two weeks' time. Not sure if I'd want to go. 

IT Evolution

The longer I am in China, the more my family in Singapore adapts to new communication methods.

You may recall I bought my mum an iPad just before I left. I taught my mum how to email and facetime on it.

When I last returned to Singapore, I bought her an iphone 5c to replace her old Nokia. I then taught her how to email on take pictures on it.

Recently, my sister and I taught her to whatsapp because she texted me twice on my China mobile the other day and that probably cost her S$1.60.

We even did a Whatsapp group with my dad, my mum, Someone, my sister, my brother-in-law, so that we can share pictures and videos of my sister’s newborn.

Every step of this technology evolution is a marvel for me because it throws me back to the time I tried to teach my mum how to use the computer and the internet and her hands were just too inflexible that she couldn’t use the mouse and she ended up slamming it and then we had a major argument and that was the end of Computers and the Internet 1001 for my mum.

On top of emailing and Whatsapp, she started playing Tetris on ipad and also youtubing 非诚勿扰episodes. What a feat!

I guess I know she has arrived when she dished out parenting advice the other day in the family Whatsapp group –

“Boy, don’t sleep too cold. Else your sperm will be frozen.”

Exhausting Weekends

Ever since we got the bicycles and a driver, weekends have been hectic.

Saturday morning badminton, lunch with Someone, then shopping a bit or maybe cycling, then usually dinner at someone’s house.

Then sometimes there’s badminton on Sunday or maybe not, then go to 华佗in the noon then come back to civilization, when I then may go for badminton if there’s a session in the evening. Else, it might be a house party also.

There seem to be a lot more house parties here than in Singapore. In Singapore, I rarely meet my friends other than a mahjong session or golf.

Maybe it’s because everyone is an expat here and therefore no family obligations. Most people don't have kids here too so it’s just much easier to meet to eat.

All these hustling and running around just makes just kinda tiring over the weekends. In fact, I’m so bushed by Sunday night that by the time I slump into bed, I feels even more tiring than on a weekday night.

This just means that on Monday morning when I go to work, I feel like I havent even rested and already need a break soon!

That’s kinda weird and I wonder if I am the only one feeling like that.

Anti-Social?

Am I anti-social?

Sometimes I think I am but sometimes I think that I’d rather spend quality time with quality people rather than with people I wont see again when I move out of Shanghai or people who are just making use, or at least I feel, are making use of me/us.

It’s not like I’m super wealthy or influential but I guess we do have a lot to offer. We have a driver who can bring us around instead of having to wait for cabs. Im not sure if I had mentioned this but my car is actually an MPV that can take up to six more passengers so essentially it can be quite a school bus if we want to ferry people. We have a big apartment with an extra room where people can stay over if they’re visiting. We are also generous with our foods. By foods, I mean foods that we bring for pot-luck house parties and not those precious snacks that we bring back from Singapore. We often bring more than others really because we (or rather I) are afraid that there isn’t enough food. Some parties I go, they weren’t even planning to cook rice. Heng, we asked and so they either cooked rice, or bought rice. I attended a party over the last weekend where I felt bad that I made people cook rice so we brought our own raw rice to “compensate” them. So, yes, it’s not like I’m terribly wealthy but I think we are socially responsible.

That makes us a target sometimes, I feel, but Someone doesn't agree.

A girl we knew here in Shanghai moved back to Singapore last November. She told us in February she was holidaying in Shanghai in April and asked if she can bunk over our place. (It baffles me that for someone to stay here for 2-3 years, she moves back to Singapore and then five months later, she comes back for a holiday. Mind boggling really). At first she said it was only for a couple of days. Ok, fine. Then she said her brother is also staying. I was like… what the hell.. but by that time, already kinda agreed so couldn't decline. Then they said they’re staying for seven nights!

SEVEN NIGHTS!!

I frankly would feel slightly inconvenienced if any of you readers came to stay with me with your sibling for even five nights. Come on. Know what’s pai seh or not??

I so wasn't looking forward to their arrival really.

Someone even decked out the guest bathroom with our pilfered hotel toiletries. 

I took my hat off her really.

On the very evening they arrived, the larger group which we all hung out with together organized a dinner. Someone has a prior dinner appointment and didn't go. I didn't have any appointment but I also didn't want to go to their dinner. So I had to make an excuse that I have an errand. Took our car out with Someone and bro and sis and then dropped them off at their respective places, then went to run my “errand”. Essentially, I just circled back home.

Tsk.. the extent I go to avoid irritating people.

Slow News Day

I havent been blogging havent I?

I have been somewhat busy but yet at the same time rather relaxed. There were uptight moments (President's visit) then moments of lull time.

Somehow, there hasnt been much excitement lately that I felt warranted a post or two. No interesting pictures to share either.

Viewership has consequently been dwindling at a result so I have to do something about it. Maybe make up some stories? Haha.

We'll see.

All Hail the King!

The new President came to Shanghai today. 

I actually met him at an internal conference about two years ago.

I remember seeing him.. all bald and tall and German and wondering.. This guy looks scary. I am glad he isn’t my President. My then President was shorter, a little heavier-set and British.

I guess I should have known that things can change in a jiffy.

In preparation for his arrival, I have decided to do more facial masks on the days leading up to his arrival so that he doesn’t see a haggard me.

I even picked out my favorite tie, favorite cuffs, a brand new suit that I was saving for an occasion and even a European looking pair of shoes. Haha.

After typing it all out, it does seem rather extreme.

Heading to work today, I was a little apprehensive that I’d be overdressed.

My worries were unfounded because everyone also dressed up. Even the two IT guys we have also wore ties! Wahahahhaa.. I have never seen them in ties and they look a little odd.

I'm actually blogging this now as I’m waiting for the one-to-one meeting he will have with me in an hour’s time. I'm too anxious to do anything.

Forbidden Access

When I was last in Beijing, I had the opportunity to go to Forbidden City. I have probably been to Beijing more than 20 times but I have never been to Great Wall, Forbidden City and all these. I have only passed by Tiananmen Square and Summer Palace all these years.

I know it's kinda sad but the traffic in Beijing is so bad that it's just so prohibitive to go around after a long day of meetings.

Plus I think these places are always so crowded.

On this trip, I made an effort to go. I wasnt disappointed at all!

Of course, it was crowded, as expected.

People, people, everywhere people.



Took a blurry picture of one of the throne room.

Whenever I visit these ancient historical sites (definitely not too often), I am in awe of how people lived in ancient times. The last historical site I went to was Ankor Wat (back in 2006.. gosh that's 8 years ago!) The elaborate stuff they do for a king, the simpleness of life otherwise. No internet, no TV. I guess that's why they have so much time to do processions, ceremonies...

Here's a pic of some people on top of the tiled roof of the palaces. I heard that they number all the tiles so that when they clean or repair the tiles, they will put them back in the same place where they took them from.  Effort sia!

I've Got Mail

The company recently upgraded our email system to MS Office 365.

I am not really sure what it is but I think it’s cloud-based. All I know it gives us a 50gb mailbox.

It’s a big hurrah for most people because their mailbox is 250mb. I had previously negotiated a 10gb mailbox so I don’t really archive very often.

The change required a change in settings, so I had to lug my personal laptop, my ipad, my ipad mini to work for them to configure for me.

These, on top of my office laptop and iphone, really tell me that I have too many devices to check mail with. Haha.

Accessories!

There are so so so many accessories to buy when you have an iphone.

There’s an entire industry that has sprung out just to make iphone accessories. Comparatively, Samsung is kinda boring.

Not to be left out of the proverbial bandwagon, I bought this from Taobao. Camera lens. Only S$10 compared to S$100 at the Apple Shop

Then I got this mobile battery pack. Fiery red. I like red. I even saw a mobile battery pack that gives additional 16GB or 32GB storage. What else will they think of next? 

Cyster introduced this to me. Detachable blackberry-like keyboard using Bluetooth. Very very song. Now I can type long emails fast and furious on my iphone.