I've never been so cold in my life!!!

As you can see, the title of this blog post needed 3 exclamation points.  Yep, I love a good exclamation point, and the weekend just gone I needed them all when describing just how cold it was.  Not just cold.  Ridiculous cold!  And when I say ridiculous, I mean R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S! At one point the temperature dropped to -35 degrees!

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Let me start at the beginning.

If you've been following my China adventure, you may remember that 2 weeks ago I was working in the south of China, in a city called Guangzhou.  The weather was great.  Warm almost everyday, temperature around 28 degrees, and me sitting by the pool while girls in bikinis fed me grapes.  OK, maybe the pool, grapes and women in bikinis is a bit too much - but you get the picture.

Coming back to Beijing was enough of a shock to the system.  When I arrived back home, the temperature was about -2 degrees.  Pffft! -2! Is that all you can throw at me? That I can handle.  But it was nothing compared to what awaited me the next weekend.

David, the Branch Manager at our Changchun station, was throwing a party for about 400 people -  200 clients, and 200 listeners and he sent me an email officially inviting me to take part, first by making a brief presentation and then by presenting some awards. All in the city of Changchun  North-east China, where the forecast for the weekend was from -35 to -27 degrees!

Sorry, what?!

Yep, -35 degrees to -27 degrees (and we're talking celsius here people!).  In a matter of one week, I will have dropped 63 degrees!  I'm not a doctor, but I'm sure that cannot be good for your body.

Once I got over the initial shock of going somewhere where it will be colder than the coldest place I have ever been, first thing I needed to do was go and buy a warmer coat.  Preferably one that covered every inch of my body, and that had a built in heater that kept me at about 20 degrees.  OK, maybe asking too much, but off I went to Yashow market and haggled over the price of a Canadian Goose jacket.  Happy with the price, and the coat, I tried it out in the -5 degrees Beijing had decided to deliver.  Beautiful!  But how would it survive -35?

Saturday morning, up at 5:30 and decided to catch the airport express which involved about a 10 minute walk to the station .  Temp = -12 degrees.  As you can see by this photo taken at the subway station, I looked very happy to be going to -35 degrees.  But I felt warm.

Oh, and the train didn't leave until 6:30, but I realised it takes about 10 minutes to get dressed.  5 minutes to do up the bloody zipper on the coat, then put on everything else - scarf, beanie, gloves etc.

Pretty much all of the flights I have been on in China, the planes have been full.  But for some reason, not today.  Strange?!  Why don't people want to fly to Changchun where the weather is cold, and -35?

Once we landed in Changchun (after seeing from the air just how white it was), I could feel the cold walking through the airport.  This was going to be something I will remember for a long time.

I met my assistant Milly ( who flew in from Shanghai) and then we met our driver.  OK, here it comes.  Time to walk outside.  Jacket zipped up.  Scarf on.  Beanie secure.  Gloves fastened.

Walking through the door, the cold just hit me in the face and took my breath away.  It was -22 degrees! The cold reached every inch of my body in a second. Wow, what a feeling.  It felt like when you are exercising in the cold, and breathing in the cold air - but about 100 times worse!

We got to the hotel and checked in.  Lesson 1 when walking on ice.  Beware the black/clear ice.  You know, the real slippery stuff.  I think I almost fell about 5 times, but managed to stop myself.

The day was uneventful.  We went to the office to interview some staff, then back to the hotel and got ready for the big party.  Leaving the hotel (around 5pm) the temperature was -27 degrees.  And sometime over night, it would drop to -35!  Bring it on!

Next 3 hours we were in a theatre (which was surprisingly cold considering they didn't turn on the heat) watching the show put on by the Changchun staff.  My presentation went badly (the PPT didn't work), then I was asked to come up and help the magician, which was also a struggle because I didn't know what he was saying, and he didn't speak English.  I have been learning Mandarin, but I don't yet know the Chinese word for "abracadabra".

After the show finished (around 11pm) we all went off for Karaoke.  Temperature, -32 degrees.  I'm not sure of the lowest temperature I have been in (maybe in the snow fields of NSW), but on the steps of the theatre in Changchun, I was now in the coldest place I have ever been.  The photo on the left is Lio (Branch Manager of Xi'an) and my assistant Milly on the steps of the theatre.  Photo on the right is me, asking myself "what the f*** am I doing here?"

We finished karaoke around 1am, and when we walked outside it was -35 degrees!  Even though I wasn't looking forward to it, and I could not think what -35 degrees could feel like, I did take a moment and thought that this was pretty special.  I'm sure I will get the chance to go back to Changchun during winter next year, but nothing is like your first time.  Right?!

A few things I learned from the weekend:

- Wearing suit pants in -35 degrees is not a great idea.
- If you travel outside with a bottle of water, it will freeze.
- Pizza Hut in China do breakfast (I know, a bit random.  But the bacon and egg sandwich on Sunday morning from Pizza Hut was awesome)
- Taxi drivers don't put the heat on
- No matter how many times you say "geez it's cold", doesn't make it any warmer.

The Chinese - A few observations

Nihao!

Jintian, wo zhu zai Zhongguo liu ge yue le.

Oh sorry, I'm just showing off my Mandarin.  What the above says is that today, I have been in China for 6 months! (well, I hope that's what it says?!).  And what an incredible, amazing, eye opening and mind expanding 6 months it's been.  I knew that coming to China was really going to push me outside my comfort zone, and it's been worth every second.  I feel that, in my first 6 months, I have grown both professionally and personally (no, that doesn't mean I'm getting fat!).  OK, enough of the deep and meaningful stuff.

China is the world's most populous country (just in case you didn't know and you get asked that question at your next trivia night).  I am surrounded by 1.3 billion Chinese,  so I thought I would dedicate this weeks blog to a few observations I've made about the Chinese people (with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek.)

1.  Spitting

OK, so this is a big generalisation and not all Chinese spit.  But  everyday, no matter where I am, I'm guaranteed to hear the sounds of someone clearing their throat, followed by said person spitting.  I think the Chinese government should invest in the good old fashioned spittoon,  and put them on every street corner.  At least the spitting would be accompanied by the "ding" of the spittoon.  I can already see the next act on China's Got Talent.  A spittoon band!

I Googled the reason why Chinese spit, and really, there was no definitive answer.  Some say it's because of the pollution.  Others say it's because everyone does it.  But I think it is something that will be phased out over time.  It only seems to be the older generations that spits, and the teens and 20 somethings don't seem to have taken up this habit.  Maybe if Justin Bieber did it, they might take it up.

2.  Close Door button

Here's a tip for when you are riding a lift with a Chinese. If you are getting on or off the lift - be quick!  When those doors open you better jump on, or off fast!  The reason?  They love using the "door close" button.  I hesitated getting onto a lift once, and someone pushed the door close button.  The result was the doors started closing as I was walking on, and the door closing on me.  Not a very pleasant experience.  And when you are on the lift with someone, and it stops at a floor, their finger goes straight for the door close button - while the doors are still opening! Run, run for your life!

Be prepared.  Be alert. Don't hesitate!

3.  The food

Every meal I've had with my Chinese colleagues and friends is an experience.  It's part of their culture that they order enough food to ensure there will be some leftovers.  A good host will lose face if the guests eat all the food.  Guaranteed you will have enough food leftover for another meal.  I think the "doggy bag" was created in China, although in some parts of China, doggy bag has another meaning. The hardest part I have found is managing what I eat.  Because pretty much every Chinese meal is a banquet, with dishes constantly being brough out, you lose track of your portion size.  It's very easy to eat too much because you can't get an idea of "what's on YOUR plate", because you are trying all the dishes.  And don't get me started on the variety of food.  That's a whole different blog.

4.  Personal space

I suppose in a country of 1.3 billion people, personal space is a luxury.  I'm constantly fighting for space on the subway, walking down the street, fighting for cabin baggage space on a plan, even checking out of a hotel.  In Australia, you get used to people giving you your own personal space.  We obey the rules.  We don't stand on top of you when you are conducting personal business, like taking money from an ATM.  Not in China.  I was checking out of a hotel once.  I had my passport, my wallet and my credit card on the counter when someone came up and stood right next to me.  Shoulder to shoulder.  I didn't know the Chinese word for "back off", so I sort of shooed him away.  I think he got the message.  

5.  Oldies Flash mobs

I think this is one of my favourite observations so far.  You could be walking anywhere in China - outside a shopping centre, through a park, or just down the street, when suddenly someone will set up a ghetto blaster, start playing music, and begin dancing.  I first saw this outside a shopping centre in Nanjing.  It was simply a group of housewives who began dancing.   My favourite happened in Guangzhou today.  I was walking down from the Dr. Sun Yat Sen memorial when I came across another group.  And this time they were ballroom dancing.  Not  a care in the world.  Like the saying goes, "dance like no one is watching".  There was one woman dancing by herself.  I was afraid to make eye contact with her, because I'm sure dancing with a foreigner would score her some brownie points with her friends.  It's been a while since I've had to dance, so I avoided her gaze and kept walking.

Just a few of my observations during my first 6 months.  I left out driving skills, the abuse of cabin baggage limits, the leaving of doors open in hotel rooms,  the fact I have to get an official receipt for EVERYTHING, or the fascination with small dogs.  Maybe I'll write about those at the 12 month mark.

A quick thank you to everyone who reads and enjoys my blog, and thanks for the feedback.  I would like to write more, but sometimes I just don't have the time.  As I mentioned above, this is an incredible journey and I am learning so much that will set me up for bigger and better roles, once I'm ready.   Sometimes it's hard to believe that this boy from Picton, a little town in NSW with a population of 3,000, is about to launch a radio station in Guangzhou China - population 12 million.  

Zaijian!

So, what about that local sports team?

Hello from Guangzhou!  Yes blog readers, I have set up camp in the JinJiang Hotel in Guangzhou (Southern China) for 2 months as we get ready to launch our biggest radio station so far....and we have to do it in 6 weeks!  We have no office, no on-air staff, no research, 1 station manager, and 1 admin person.  It's going to be a busy few weeks.

In the meantime I have set up office in my hotel room.  Well, when I say office, I have my computer and an internet connection.  That's it.  I suppose all I need for now.  Next week it's round 2 of interviews, and I hope by this time next week we will have close to a full staff.  Still no office though (we move in on December 26.  I've never had to work on my birthday - until now!). 

OK, now to the subject of my latest blog.  I could have written about the change in weather in both Beijing and Guangzhou.  (Boring)  I also could have written about dancing to a cover of a Midnight Oil song in a Chinese bar last weekend.  (Surreal).  Or maybe my first visit to the doctor in China (expensive!).  Or bragged about my appearance in a local expat magazine (I'll do that at the end).

I was sitting at dinner last night with 4 of my work colleagues, and it hit me.  This is what I should write about!

 

One of the most difficult things I found when working in Bangkok, and now working in China, is the language barrier.  Out of all the staff with MyFM China (about 200), probably about 10 or 15 people can understand and communicate in English.  That's why I use a translator most of the time.  But when it comes to sharing dinner with my workmates, this is where I find the language barrier the most challenging.

Last night 5 of us went to a local restaurant for dinner.  Luca (my boss), Hongtao (Station Manager for Nanjing), Lillian (Admin in Shanghai), Milly (my translator/assistant/legend) and myself all went out for a local   Chinese meal (although in China, it's just called a meal).  It's a situation that I have found myself on numerous occasions.  Out of the 4 of them, only Milly can speak good English.  Luca is better at written English, Lillian understands a bit. Hongtao nothing!

So, as dinner starts, we talk briefly about work and kick around a few ideas and talk about the day.  Things are being translated, and I feel part of the conversation as we share a drink and some food (after last night, I can add a new food to my list - eel!).  As dinner progresses, the conversation is translated less and less as they talk with each other.  It's nothing that concerns me, and I was prepared for this as the same thing happened in Thailand.  But sometimes you do feel like you are the third person on a date (actually, at least on a date I could understand what they are saying).

I probably know about 700 Mandarin words, and pretty confident about what I have learned so far, and I listen out for words I know during the conversation.  Sometimes I can put together a few words and work out what is being said.  Most of the time, I sit their like a shag on a rock (I don't even know what that means).  It's a strange feeling watching a group of people talking, and having no idea what they are talking about.  Sort of like watching the last Matrix movie.

Every now and then Milly might translate something, or if my name gets mentioned I ask what is going on.  But at dinner, the momentum of the conversation prevents me from jumping in too much.  Any pause in the conversation, I feel like breaking out that great line "So, what about that ( local sport) team?".  But they just wouldn't get it.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy listening to the conversation, and feel very proud of myself when I can identify words and pick up on the conversation.  But it does get boring sometimes when you have no idea what is going on.  I have become an expert in fiddling - playing with the chopsticks, looking at my phone, picking food out of my teeth (even if it's not needed), checking my phone again....and my favourite,  trying to work out what I just ate.

Below is another photo, from my perspective last night.  Luca is on the left, Hongtao on the right.  As you can see, very animated discussion taking place - I just wish I knew what it was about!

Oh, and as promised (and just in case you missed it), I popped up in 'Agenda' magazine this week.  A fortnightly expat magazine, based around business people.  I appear in the "Brainiest Boss in Beijing" section.  And before you judge my 7 out of 12, I'm actually coming equal first!

If you missed it, have a look at http://issuu.com/agendabeijing/docs/agenda2012.12a/49 Plus, you're all getting a copy for Xmas.  But knowing the way China post works, it will be Xmas 2015!

Zaijian!

"D" is for drinking, and "T" is for Tequila

My first trip to China was back in 2006, when I was asked to come here to speak at the annual conference of the Shanghai Media Group.  It was a very quick trip - arrive on Monday night, speak at the conference on Tuesday, and fly back to Bangkok (where I was based) on Wednesday.  But during that 48 hours I was introduced, very quickly, to the way you do business in China.

Before I moved over here in May, I started doing some research of what I should expect.  I read 2 books about doing business in China, both of which had very big chapters on drinking.  And ever since arriving on 9th June, I have learned that pretty much everything that was contained in those 2 chapters, is pretty close to the mark.

Here are a few key points to understand about drinking with Chinese business people:

1.  Alcohol is served at every dinner or lunch you have with Chinese business people

2.  If you don't want to drink, you need to show you don't drink from day one.  Otherwise, come up with a bloody good excuse because you will be EXPECTED to take part.

3.  You will be served either beer, wine (most likely red), rice wine...or the dreaded "Baijiu", which is translated to white wine (but it's not white wine.  More like rocket fuel!).

4.  Everyone at the dinner will propose a toast, either to the group, or to individuals.  So, if there is 20 people at the dinner, you will be required to participate in 20 toasts.  

5.  When you do toast, it will most likely be "ganbei".  This means bottoms up, or loosely speaking drain your glass.  Luckily, you will be working from a shot glass

6.    Don't expect to leave before the host or guest of honour.  It is polite to stay the distance.  You get lots of brownie points if you're one of the last men standing.

Now that I've let you into a few tips about drinking in China, let me get to the purpose of this weeks blog - tequila!  On Thursday, we held the 3 monthly station managers meeting in Shanghai.  It included a day of presentations from each manager, plus a session from me.  Then it was dinner time.  Always expected to be a lively affair.

My drink of choice at dinner was beer.  The secret to staying the distance is to only drink when you are being toasted.  I learned this the hard way because they keep refilling your glass.  So, I kept my beer handy, and toasted everyone by taking a sip of beer.  Not much "ganbei" action on Thursday night, which is fine.  But I still managed to polish off about 10 beers.  Oh, and the point of the dinner was to present some awards.  And just to prove it, here's a photo.

After dinner, we moved to a local bar, and the drinks kept flowing.  No one was leaving (the boss was still there), so we ordered.  Wine and beer for most people, I ordered a double Baileys.  I can handle that better than anything else after drinking alot of beer/wine.  2 double baileys later, the boss decided to wrap things up - not before he bought a bottle of Tequila and shots for everyone.  At this stage there was about 10 of us left, and not many of the team had ever had a tequila shot.  So, it was up to me to show them how it was done (Hey, I'm just improving China/Australia relationships).

Before I showed them, I thought I would tell them how we REALLY do it in Australia.  "Have you ever heard of the Stuntman?" I asked.  No.  Well this is how we do it in Australia.  You snort the salt up your nose, throw the tequila over your shoulder, then squeeze the lime/lemon in your eye.  This was received with a few shocked looks, but mostly laughter as they did realise I was joking. Ah that good old Aussie sense of humour!

I downed the first shot, complete with the lime and salt, then joined in when everyone else did theirs.  Hey, if they can handle Baijiu/Rocket fuel, a shot of tequila is nothing!  We finished off the bottle (I had 4 shots), and called it a night.  I was a little worried about how I would wake up on Friday, but surprisingly woke feeling OK.  Maybe it was the fact that the boss bought a good tequila...or maybe it was the fact that I am slowly becoming used to the way we do business in China.

Ganbei!

What a crazy winters day!

I started writing this blog with the view to writing an entry every week thinking I would have plenty of time.  I mean, how long does it take to write a blog?  Add a few photos, write a few things about what I did, throw in the odd funny observation, and it's done!  But I didn't realise I would also be very busy.  That's why it has been a few weeks between blogs.

So, for those who are playing along at home, a quick summary of what I've been up to since my last blog.  Prepared 6 powerpoint presentations for training, flew to Xi'an for 3 days, flew to Hefei for research study. Then got the call to fly to Guangzhou for a day to have dinner with our new station partners, then flew back to Hefei.  Then flew from Hefei back to Beijing.  Caught up for a few beers and some bowling with my Beijing peeps, hosted 2 days of training for my Program Managers, throw in a few Chinese lessons, some Chinese meals (including a surprisingly tasty turtle soup)..and that brings you up to date.

Last week at bowling, a few of us decided to go to the soccer (apparently they call it football in other countries).  The local Beijing team (Beijing Gu'an) were playing their last game of the season at Workers Stadium, which is only about 20 minutes walk from my apartment.  Great, my first ever live soccer match, and I am watching a little known Chinese team play another slightly lesser known Chinese team.  Bring it on!

As the day grew closer, the weather got colder.  At one stage, they forecast the first snow of the season.  Could be interesting, but I am willing to try anything, and in any condition.

The game was due to start at 3:30, so we decided to meet at Switch Bar and Grill, and bar near the stadium.  After I suited up in jumper, jacket, scarf and umbrella, I met my neighbour Andy and we walked down to the bar.  Joining us on our soccer adventure would be Al (Kiwi), Bruce (Scot), Phil and Alistair (another 2 Poms), and Sue (American).  After a few Heinekens, Tsingstaos, Mooseheads and steak sandwichs all round, we marched up the stadium.

The scene at the stadium was, in one word, mad.  The riot police were on hand, along with a massive security presence.  The rain was absolutely tipping it down, and even though our tickets had seat numbers, it was a matter of finding the best place to stand/sit.  We decided to walk right to the top of the stand, and watch from the nosebleeds.

Let's face it, I don't know much about soccer, but I'm pretty sure the Picton Under 12's could have given both teams a run for their money.  Kicks for goal went high and wide, and it wasn't until about the 89th minute that Beijing Gu'an kicked the winning goals winning 1 to 0.  (Did someone say rigged?) The crowd went wild, and it was all over.  What then followed was the longest ever team song I have heard.  I think it went for about 10 minutes.

Just in case we didn't realise, the announcer (in English), told us "The game is over".  Thank god, otherwise we would have stayed there all night.  We made our way out, and discovered the temperature had dropped by about 5 degrees, and with the wind chill, it was about 0 degrees!  So, what better way to finish a football game, than a beer and pizza.  A quick stop at "the Den" for a beer, then I had to make a quick exit.  I promised another friend I would meet her and a few others at a Malaysian place on the other side of town.

I walked the 20 minutes back to my place in the now freezing cold.  Wind, rain, and inside out umbrellas was what greeted me on the streets of Beijing.  A quick change, then it was out to try and flag down the ever elusive Beijing taxi.    Standing in the wind and rain under my cheap umbrella, I was almost going to chuck it in.  It took about 20 minutes to flag down a taxi, at which stage I was running late.  Meeting at 8:30 was turning more into 9:00.  I got dropped off where I believed the restaurant to be, only to find out I still had a bit of a walk.  After phoning Wen (my American/Chinese/Malaysian friend), I finally made it to the restaurant wind blown, cold, and in reasonably good spirits.

When I walked in, I discovered that out of the 7 or 8 people invited, only 4 of us turned up.  And on top of that, the restaurant was closing at 10pm.  So, it was the worlds quickest meal, pay the bill, then the 20 minute obligatory wait to get a taxi.  Made it home by about 10:30, and turned on every heating device in my apartment.  

It was a crazy winters day in Beijing.  But, well worth doing and would do it again tomorrow (actually, I did do it again tomorrow, but that's another blog).  After the crazy events of yesterday, I woke up to the first Beijing snow this morning.  And 0 degrees!  

A Day in the Life....

After a week off in Malaysia for the National Day/Mid Autumn Festival Holiday (yes, we had 5 days off!), it was back to work this week, and back to the blog. This week I spent at our station in Changchun, which is North East of Beijing.   Changchun was one of the first stations I visited when arriving in China, so it was time for another trip.  Oh, and it's also one of the coldest places I will travel, getting down to -17 during winter.

I thought I would try something different this week, and write about my typical day when travelling.  So, welcome to "A Day in the Life...".  This was my day on Friday (give or take a few of the boring details)

Most of the hotels I stay in are bartered with the station.  They are basic, and reasonably comfortable.  And only about about 300 RMB per night (AUD$50).  My 4 nights in Changchun were spent at the "Fifth Season Hotel".  Newly refurbished, and comfortable.  Only problem was the breakfast.  I enjoy cereal, toast, bacon, eggs.  You know.  Normal food.  So, the choice of fish porridge, noodles, and other Chinese cuisine didn't really appeal to me.  

The hotel was about a 15 minute walk from the office.  Sounds good?  Yes, at the moment.  A fresh, 6 degrees each morning.  I won't be walking during the middle of winter though, where it gets down to -17.  Arriving at the office (which is in a 20 floor building), there are 3 elevators.  Not a bad wait on Friday.  Usually you have to wait 5-10 minutes, and sometimes you won't get dropped off on your floor.  If there are too many different floors pressed, they will usually choose a few, just so it doesn't stop so much. Once, we were dropped off on the 13th floor, then had to take the stairs down to the 12th.  Thank god it wasn't the 2nd floor.

Let the day begin!  Friday was a busy day, and mainly revolved around airchecks with the DJ's. These can be anywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours.  Because of the need to have everything translated, it can take twice as long as it would normally.  In this photo, XiaoYan (English name Smile) is on the left.  Smile is one of our youngest Program Managers.  On the right, is Arlene, one of the DJ's. And Milly (all round legend, and half my assistant, half assistant to the COO, and helps me translate when needed) is taking the photo.  I think she might be camera shy.

After the busy morning of airchecks, it was time for lunch.  Always a nice surprise to see what we are eating each day.  Friday, it was noodle soup - served in a plastic bag and eaten from a plastic tub (as you can see in this picture).  Surprisingly tasty.  And cheap.  And hand delivered.  Alot of places in China you can order on the phone, and they will deliver so you can eat in the office.  Lots of different options too.  Oh, and to balance the cuisine, we had Pizza Hut on Tuesday.  A proper pizza hut restaurant, where you can sit down.  Just like you could do in Australia once, before they all became takeaway.

The afternoon was more airchecks, and review with the branch manager.  Then it was party time!  Changchun was the most recent station to achieve monthly revenue of RMB 1 million, and to celebrate we had a "Million Club Dinner", with all the staff, the COO and also the Executive director.  Lots of food, red wine - and the dreaded Chinese spirit Baijiu.  (Note to self.  Never organise an early morning flight after a night of drinking Baijiu.  Result = Bad).  In the photo is our Executive Director Ken, myself, Branch Manager David, COO Luca, and Nanjing Branch Manager Hongtao.

After the food, the 2 bottles of Baijiu, and the 16 bottles of red wine, we moved onto a local KTV.  KTV = Karaoke.  You are shown into your own private room, with your own Karaoke system.  We ordered more drinks, and the singing began.  It took we while to navigate through the system, but they had a great selection of English songs.  Alot better than in Hefei where I last did Karoaoke.  Time for some Billy Joel! I did "It's Still Rock n Roll to Me" first.  About 2 hours later, when I was singing it again, I realised that I had already sung it that night.  But everyone was too drunk to notice.

As I said, there was plenty of drink on the night.  One thing the Chinese love doing is celebrating with alcohol.  The red wine, the champagne, the Baijiu (I recommend that everyone try Baijiu at least once.  Just so you can appreciate what I'm going through), and then the Budweisers at the KTV.  It's a matter of grabbing a beer, choosing your favourite song, and belting it out in front of everyone.  All these bottles are still full.

I did notice however, that not everyone was singing. I think of the 10 or 15 of us that made it to Karaoke, there was about 5 of us singing, including me.  I think I managed a few Billy Joel songs, Smokie, ABBA, and Elvis.  I remember seeing the Sugababes as a choice and thinking "Who would sing the Sugababes?".  Oh, and we managed to sing along to the English parts of Gangnam Style, plus tried to dance the moves.  Very interesting at 1am.

In this photo, our COO Luca singing with one of the Changchun staff.

OK, so maybe it wasn't a typical day the way it ended, but it definitely was a big day.  As I mentioned, I didn't plan the flight back to Beijing that well as I needed to be up at 7am.  Not a good thought when climbing into bed at 2.  Oh, and the taxi ride to the airport was interesting.  I'll save that for the next blog.

3 months on....Part 2!

If you've just tuned in, you missed last weeks blog where I answered a few questions from friends and family about my first 3 months in China.  I had so many good questions, I divided it into 2 parts.  Hence why this is called Part 2.

So, please sit back with your cup of tea or coffee, or glass of red (very appropriate, as red is a lucky colour in China) and enjoy part 2 of my first 3 months.  Let's start with a tough question.

Do they have honey chicken in China? (Jo Macarthur)

Trust you to ask me a question about food Jo Mac. For those that don't know, honey chicken is a popular item on Chinese menus in Australia.  And you will be glad to know Jo that I have had honey....prawns.  Sorry, I haven't had honey chicken yet.  But I am sure you would be able to find it somewhere.  I have tried many different dishes over the last 3 months, so I am sure there would honey chicken.  I'm just looking for the curried prawns and rice.

What did you think was really weird when you first arrived that you now consider normal? (Angela Heise)

Angela, I would love to say that I am getting used to people spitting on the street, but no.  I still find that pretty disgusting.  Probably not the actual spitting, but the clearing of the throat that precedes it.  I think the thing I found most weird, is the use of the car horn.  The car horn has become a tool in China for pretty much every road procedure you can imagine.  Changing lanes? Hit the horn.  Turning left? Yep, I'll give the horn a toot.  Warning the driver three lanes over that I am overtaking him?  Beep Beep.  Letting the car in front of me know that I am behind him?  Let's give the horn a try.

But, the horn is so overused in China that it has lost its power.  In my first few weeks hear, I would turn at the sound of every horn.  But now, it doesn't even make me blink.  However, the drivers believe it will protect them from anything.  The other night I was in a taxi when someone cut in front of us.  The driver actually went for the horn before he slammed on the brakes.  Hey buddy, the horn is not going to stop you from slamming your head against the dashboard when you hit that car in front!

Have you come across a Donna Chang? (Gemma Rule)

For non Seinfeld fans, this question might seem a little strange.  But for the rest of us, it will make you giggle. Gemma, no Donna Chang - but plenty of Changs.  I should ask the next Chang I meet if they have a sister called Donna.  And whether she is actually Chinese.

What is the most inspiring thing you have come across during your travels in China? (Keith Fowler - I took over from Keith!)

I should ask you the same thing as you were here for 4 years before me.  I think the most inspiring thing is the huge amount of construction that is taking place across the country.  In a city like Tanggu, which is just south east of Beijing. you are literally seeing a city being built in front of your eyes.  It has been designated a special economic zone, and the amount of construction is mind boggling.  There is an actual city being built.  Not just one or two buildings.  A whole city.  That is pretty inspiring to watch.

What is the saddest thing you have seen during your travels? (Keith Fowler)

I could say it's the beggars and poor people that you see trying to make ends meet everyday.  And I don't mean to get all Bob Geldoff, but I think the saddest thing that I see time and time again is just the huge amount of food that goes to waste.  It's part of Chinese culture that when you eat out, you order alot more than you can actually eat.  Especially if you are invited out by a local.  If you finish your plate, or finish everything, they get insulted and lose face because they did not order enough food for their guests. So, it is not uncommon to have dishes of food left after a meal. Depending on where you are, you can ask for a doggy bag and take it home.  Most of the time, it gets thrown out.  Very sad to see it go to waste.

Is Chinese pop music as bad as English pop music? (Bridget Emrose)

Yes, it's bad.  But very, very popular.  You look at a show like Pop Asia on SBS in Australia, and multiply it by one billion! Not only is the music bad, but the film clips are worse.  Although, it's like a car crash.  You just can't look away.  I blame reality TV. The Voice is China's biggest TV show at the moment, and it is just one of many that are creating over night pop sensations.  But of course, if I put my radio hat on, I would have to say I love it! Our listeners can't get enough of it!

How have you managed the language barrier? (Kieron Atkinson)

Kieron, the first month was tough. Very tough.  In some Asian countries I have travelled to, you always feel confident that some of the locals will know some English.  In China, not many people know English.  In my day to day job, I have the luxury of having a very good translator and colleague who does an amazing job at getting my points across, and vice versa.  Outside work, I am now at a stage where I can communicate the basic stuff.  The other day, I paid my mobile phone bill at a bank, and spoke entirely in Mandarin (ok, it was only 5 or 6 words, but it worked!).  So I am slowly cutting through the language barrier one phrase at a time (Oh, did I mention my mandarin teacher told me I was her best student?)

How confident are you that when you buy something electrical, you are actually getting the genuine article? (David Corkill)

Not very confident at all.  I bought a DVD/Mini Stereo online about 3 weeks ago, through a reputable website in China and what I got was the real deal.  But, I wouldn't have attempted to buy it in a store.  You might look at the real thing on the shelf, but what you get from "out the back" maybe something different. Counterfeit everything is big in China.  I'm in the market to buy a new watch, and I look at watches in department stores, and a little part of me wonders whether it's real, or fake.  So, I'm not going to buy a watch in China.  And I definitely won't be buying an iphone in China.  (The iphone 5 is not officially available in China until next month.  But it went on sale unofficially 5 hours after it was released in Hong Kong).

Thanks everyone for the great questions.  When I first accepted this position, I was very overwhelmed by what lay ahead.  Now I know, I am enjoying every minute of it and looking forward to each and every day.  China can be a big, scary place.  But all you need to do is scratch the surface a little, and you soon realise that it has many different layers - all as equally interesting as each other.

I will leave you with my latest Chinese photo.  This sign was at a research study we conducted in Xi'an about a month ago.  Like most things, you had to register when you arrived.  I think this sign was meant to say "Sign Here", or "Sign in Here".  I love when it gets lost in translation

3 months on...I answer your questions!

As I mentioned during the week, I have now been living and working in China for 3 months.  In this latest blog, instead of me prattling on about my time so far, I asked you to come up with some questions for me (via Facebook).  I had so many great questions (and a few dodgy ones), that I will split it into 2 parts.  See, that's just the radio person in me hooking you through to the next blog.

These questions are in no particular order (and thank you to everyone who contributed).

Does it feel Communist? (Ingrid Argo)

Because of where I live and work and where I travel, most of the time it doesn't feel communist.  But this week it did.  I want to send some money back to Australia, so I can pay some bills etc.  China does not like foreigners sending money out of the country, and they make it very difficult.  First, you have to go to the Tax Office to get a certificate to prove you have paid tax in China.  Then, you go to your bank with this certificate, your employment agreement, your passport, and your work permit and organise the transfer.  You are also limited on how much you can send out of the country each year, plus you have to take all these documents to the bank EVERY time you want to transfer (with an updated tax certificate).
I started this process on Monday.  It is now Friday, and my money is still sitting in my Chinese bank account (they had no record of me at the tax office).  So yes, this week, it felt very communist.

How can you tell if the announcers are breaking codes training? (Kymba Cahill)

You would love this Kymba - not! Because all the stations are owned by the government (we simply partner with the government in each our markets), every station has a censor.  Yep, that's right.  Someone who is there to look over and/or approve everything that goes to air.  In most situations they don't actually approve everything, or look at anything, but they are there just to keep everyone on their toes.  Plus our announcers are very careful on what they say, because they don't want to upset the party.

Have you had any "what the f*** moments?" (Keith Tan)

I think my first real WTF moment happened in my first week in China.  The team in the Beijing office went to Qingdao for the weekend as a bit of a team bonding session.  Qingdao is a beachside city where most Chinese in the north go for their holiday.  I spent the weekend, on a bus, going from one location to another, with a group of people I just met who could not speak a word of English.  So, I felt very isolated during that weekend, and many times I asked myself  "what the f*** am I doing in China?".  But I soon realised that the team in Beijing were very shy, and reserved because they are all "office people", and felt a little intimidated.  Things have got alot better now I have been to all the stations, amongst the expressive, outgoing people.

Are you a full-time squatter?  (Dan van der Meer)

Dan, let's put it this way, I am not a full-time squatter and if presented with the choice of a normal toilet or a squat, I would always go for the normal toilet.  But, I am now very confident with the squat.  I have mastered the position, and like everyone in China, carry a supply of toilet paper with me(squat toilets never have loo paper).  But, I do still get a little surprised when I use the squat toilets in some remote areas, because most of them don't have doors. I am still not sure of the no-door squat toilet etiquette.  Do I acknowledge my fellow squatters when I walk in?  Maybe with a simple nod.  Not sure on this one.

What is the most bizarre food that you've eaten? (Ben De Jonge)

I had to think about this one for a few minutes Ben.  Let's see.  I have tried donkey, which was OK.  I've eaten a ducks head (too many bones for my liking), but said no to the ducks blood soup.  I also tried some goose, which really just tasted like chicken.  Probably the most bizarre food to date would be jellyfish, which I ate last week.  When it came out, I didn't know what it was, and the 2 people I was with didn't know the English word for it.  All they could say was that it was from the sea.  So, I looked up the word jellyfish on my Iphone app, and showed them the Chinese word.  Yep, it's jellyfish.  By this stage I had tried it, and actually enjoyed it.  Oh, I just remembered.  I had spicy chicken gizzards too.

How challenging is it developing a team with such a big communication barrier? (Blake Beale)

Very challenging.  Most of the staff I work with on a daily basis don't speak English, so I am using a translator for alot of my communication.  Things that could be explained in 30 minutes, end up taking alot longer because of the translation, and making sure everyone understands what I am saying.  Most of the time, I will have to repeat things, because what we are doing is trying to change habits which have developed over time.  There is alot of cultural change.  Sometimes they fall back into their old ways, and we have to repeat the process.  Most of the foundations of format radio and what we are doing have already been laid, it is now trying to get them to keep growing and to keep moving forward.  It's very challenging, but it's also a very rewarding experience of teaching people how to do something that I take for granted.

What's the one thing you miss most about Western civilisation? (Matt Paton)

I suppose the one thing I miss the most is being able to go somewhere, anywhere, and no matter where it is people can understand what I'm saying, and I can understand them.  Not many Chinese can speak English, so it really tests your will power and patience when you can't communicate.  I am just about to finish my first 32 hours of mandarin lessons, and that has made it alot easier to communicate on basic things.  I can order a meal, ask for a drink, I now know dates and times and money, and how to introduce myself, and ask for directions.  But when confronted with something I don't know, it's very hard.  Thank god for the great group of expats that I have met where we can talk with each other without using hand gestures.

One word of wisdom for someone moving to China? (Megan Bilaloski)

Be patient.  Things happen when they happen, and not before.  It is a big bureaucracy, a country of 1.4 billion people, and it will test your patience.  I am now used to getting on planes (on time), and then the plane sitting on the tarmac for 60 minutes "..due to air traffic congestion." I'm used to waiting in line at the train station to buy a ticket, and for every Chinese person to push in  front of me.  I have learned to use my shoulders and elbows getting on and off trains, because they don't wait for anyone.  You want to get on that train, you have to elbow your way through.

Be patient.

Next week: What is the most inspirational thing, and the saddest thing, I have seen so far? What did I find weird when I first arrived, and now take for granted.  Plus, Jo Macarthur asks the big question, "Do they have honey chicken in China?".

I will leave you with one of my favourite photos.  This is me singing karaoke with the programming team in Hefei. I think I was singing a Billy Joel song (no surprises really)

Someone tell me what is happening!

Last week I finally got to travel to Urumqi.  Urumqi is the furthest city away from Beijing where MyFM has a station, and it's close to Uzbekistan, Kazihkstan, Pakistan, and all the other -stans.  It's a melting pot of different cultures - Chinese, muslims and Russians make up the majority.  Because of the large muslim population, the road signs are no longer in Chinese and English.  It's Chinese and Arabic.

Driving from the airport to our hotel, my boss asked me what my first impression was.  Honestly, it felt like I was in a middle eastern country.  The signs, the people, and even the buildings had a middle eastern appearance/feel to them.

Let me skip forward a few days to the story behind my blog this week.  I flew out of Urumqi last Friday.  I was warned to get to the airport a little earlier because of the heavy security.  Plus, the city was about to play host to the Eurasian Economic Expo, so security was very, very high.  Before I got on the plane, I was screened, x-rayed, patted down, screened again, feet x-rayed (yes, just my feet) and 2 random explosive tests.

The flight from Urumqi top Bejing was about 3 hours, so I settled back with my book and enjoyed the flight.  I have flown many times, and (for those who don't know) I am also a licensed private pilot.  I have an understanding of how planes work, when they do what they are supposed to do - and when something doesn't sound right.  So nothing about air travel really worries me.

About 30 minites before we were due to land at Beijing, and still flying at 30,000 feet, a great noise came from below the aircraft as the pilot lowered the landing gear.  At 30,000 feet?  Where were we landing? On Mount Everest?

This was immediately followed by the cabin staff madly rushing around the cabin telling people to fasten seatbelts, put your seat up and tray table away etc.  There was a little panic to the way they were doing it, and judging by the look on other passengers faces, they were panicked too.  One of the flight attendants came on the PA and explained (in Chinese) what was going on.  Normally, all their Chinese announcements are then followed up with English versions.  But not this time.

I asked one of the flight attendants walking past what was happening?  She looked at me blankly, and I repeated my question.  She told me to fasten my seatbelt (which was already fastened).  I then realised that they don't actually speak English.  I think they learn the basic phrases like "welcome aboard", "fasten your seat belts" and "would you like beef or chicken?"  When you ask them something else, they don't how to answer because that's not on the script.

At this stage, I am starting to panic a little.  Why would you need the landing gear loweret at 30,000 feet?  I asked the Chinese guy next to me what was happening.  He shook his head and gestured he did not understand me.

So, here I was, the only non-Chinese person on a plane flying at 30,000 feet with the landing gear down, and no one could explain what was happening.  However, if we were going to crash, I could happily get either beef or chicken as my last meal.

After about 10 minutes the landing gear came up, and we started to descend.  Crisis everted.  Well so I thought.

We were making our final approach to Beijing airport.  Flaps were down, as was the landing gear.  Suddenly, the pilot applied full power, and we began to climb.  The gear was raised, and we performed a go-around (attempt to land again).

OK, something has to be wrong.  Why did we lower the landing gear at 30,000 feet?  And why now are we trying to land again.  Maybe our landing gear fell off, and the pilot was checking it at 30,000 feet?  My mind was playing different scenarios. 

We came around for our second attempt and I have to say my heart was in my throat as we touched down.  I expected the landing gear to collapse, and for us to skid down the runway and 300 mph.  But no, we landed safely, and as I got off the plane I looked back to make sure we had all the wheels.

So, what did happen on board flight CA1902 from Urumqi that Friday afternoon?  Why did the pilot lower the landing gear at 30,000 feet?  Why did we have to go around and try to land again?  And should I have had the beef instead of the chicken for lunch?

I know the language barrier is difficult sometimes, but when you're in a large cigar shaped metal tube flying at 30,000 feet, and something goes wrong, it's just a little scary when no one can answer your questions. 

So, what's the deal with squat toliets...Part 2.

I usually include a photograph with these blogs, but the blog site is not being kind to me at the moment and not allowing me to put up a photo.  I am working on a fix, but in the meantime, I will tell you my recent squat toilet story.  If this is the first time you have read my blog, before reading on I suggest you familiarise yourself with my first adventure with the squat toilets.

Last Friday night, I was invited to dinner by Andy and Tracy (a couple I met from the UK) who were celebrating Tracy's 41st birthday.  There was 8 of us going out to a great restaurant called "Black Sesame Kitchen". If you ever get the chance to come to Bejing, I would recommend it.  It's a small, intimate restaurant that caters for only 23 people per night, and you sit around a table in the kitchen and watch the chef cook your 10 course meal.  Awesome!

I hitched a ride with Andy and Tracy, and their boss Ray (from Australia).  It was about a 20 minute ride to the restaurant.  It wasn't until we were in the car driving to the restaurant, that I felt that nature would be calling on me some time soon.  Damn!  Why hadn't I thought of this earlier? All I could hear was my mothers voice in my head from when I was 10 years old. "Make sure you go to the bathroom before we leave home".  Where was mum's voice 20 minutes ago?

But, having been in China now for almost 2 months, I was prepared.  I knew we were going to a location that most likely only had squat toilets.  And squat toilets are now my friend.  I have mastered the pose, and I know what to expect.

We arrived at around 6:15 and weren't due at the restauarnt until 7.  So we decided to have a beer at a small bar called "Wiggly Jiggly" in one of the hutongs (small, narrow alley).  I excused myself, and asked the bar staff where the toliet was. "Down the street, on the left.  1 minute". So, I gathered a supply of napkins (Ok, I wasn't that prepared) and went to find the toilet.

It was easy to find, and exactly where they said it would be.  Down the street, on the left, one minute.  I walked into that toilet block full of confidence, having tamed the squat toilets.  Head held high, chest out, I would once again take on the squat toilet - and win!

Like my very first meeting with a squat toilet, as I walked in I stopped dead in my tracks.  Yes, they were indeed squat toilets, but with a slight catch. These were the squat toilets that had no doors, and as I walked in,   I made immediate eye contact with the current tenant, doing his business.  He was also on his mobile phone texting, and looked up at me as I entered.  I did what any normal Aussie would do. I acknowledged him with a nod, then moved to the nearest vacant stall.

There is also another highlight of these squat toilets.  The walls on either side only come up to your waist (hell, you don't need any higher.  You're squatting!).  I had already committed myself, plus I was never going to find another toilet where we were.

So again, I took on this new challenge, dropped the dacks, and assumed what I now know to be the correct squatting position - in full view of anynone who chose to walk in the door.  I'm sure there would have been one stage in my life (maybe when I was 2) that I had been in full view of anyone who decided to walk past/in at any moment.  But hey, when in Rome......

The one thing I am glad about is that they build the stalls at right angles.  I don't think I could handle it if you were in a squat toilet, with no door, looking across at the opposite row of squat toilets.   And I suppose the other good things was that it was highly unlikely that someone I knew was going to come in at that moment.  Mind you, if someone I knew did come in, it would make a great story! "Hey, remember that time I walked into the squat toilet in China and I bumped into you taking a dump.  Ha, what are the chances?!"

There it is blog fans.  My latest adventure with the squat toilet, and again victorious.  With that behind me (excuse the pun), I had a great night with new friends in Beijing.

My name is Barry, and today I went shopping!

So, the title of this blog isn't that exciting.  Wow, I went shopping.  Hooray.  Far out.  Really great.  Let's have a party.  Barry went shopping. Woopee!

But let me just clarify a few things that may make you read on. 1) I'm in a non English speaking country, 2) I only speak English, and 3) If the Chinese people don't speak English, they will not talk to you for the fear of "losing face".  

These three factors make for an interesting shopping (well, everyday) experience.

First, let me say that I am learning the language. I am 6 hours into my Mandarin classes and loving every minute of it.  Cici (my teacher) says I am doing "hen hao" (very good) and I am picking it up very easily.  I sort of knew I would because I learned to speak Thai very easily too, and both languages are very similar, conversationally.  I can introduce myself, say where I come from, ask for phone numbers (very handy :)), and also tell you what day Christmas is on (and many other dates too!)

On Saturday morning I had a 2 hour class with Cici, and we learned money, how to ask the price of something, and then how to bargain etc.  So, skipping out of the lesson (NB: I didn't actually skip, but felt confident after my 2 hour class) I decided to go shopping with my newly acquired knowledge for a wireless router (for those non tech people, it would allow me to connect wirelessly to the internet in my apartment).

The night before coming home from drinks with the Internations mob, I saw an electronics store and decided to make my way back there.   Subway system I know, found out the nearest station, and the rest would be easy.  I would dazzle the sales staff with my excellent command of their langauage, and walk out with a brand new modem.

I walk in the main door of Dazhong Electronics in the CBD, and find the modems straight away.  I pick up the (empty) box and try to make out the pictures on the back (because everything was in Mandarin).  Looks good, price OK (RMB 138), now to find someone to help me.  This is where I refer back to point 3 above.

Chinese culture is all about "face".  The Chinese will not do something if they feel they are not good at it, because they will "lose face", or respect.  I learned this at our team bonding weekend in Qingdao.  I wondered why no one would talk to me.  It's because they don't know English, and don't want to lose face.

So, I wandered through the aisles of the computer section trying to attract someones attention, and found no one.  Every time I would approach someone, they would turn away, or walk off.  Of course, it may have been a number of reasons (all going to lunch together?), but I assumed it was because they didn't want to talk to the foreigner, because they could "lose face".

OK, so what now.  I waited a few more minutes, and caught the eye of a young sales guy.  Here he comes, it's time to dazzle him with my mandarin.  Oh no.  A problem.  I don't know how to say 'I want to buy this". 

Quickly searching my memory I realise I hadn't been taught that yet, so in a slight panic, I pointed at the modem, then to me, and said in Mandarin "I like". 

He smiled, and he got the message.  Then he started rattling off some Mandarin.  What I could understand was that this model was no longer in stock, but they have a more recent model, and it would cost me RMB 185 (numbers and prices I know - woohoo! I can understand something).  I replied with "Hao De" (Good), and the transaction was over.  He then escorted me to the cashier, I paid, he got the goods, I left!

Mmm, a bit of an anti-climax and not so much dazzling as I thought, but I did get to say a couple of words in Mandarin. And now the proud owner of a fully functional wireless router. (see picture of happy customer below)

Welcome home!

Hello blog fans, and welcome to my latest entry.  As most of you may know, I have been travelling for the last 2 weeks to a few of the cities where we have radio stations (if you have a map - Changchun, Tianjin, Nanjing and Xi'an).  So, I've been living out of a suitcase, staying in different hotels, and spending a lot of time in train stations and airports.  All while charging it to the company (that's the best part!)

On Wednesday, I arrived back home in Beijing and will be here for at least 10 days while the authorities issue my residence visa (they have my passport, so I can't go anywhere!).  Today, I thought I would invite you all into my new apartment.  

Welcome to Cosmopolite Apartments,  Building 25, Unit 1, Apartment 2208.

It didn't take me long to find this place, plus our finance guy lives here too and he said you couldn't find a better spot to live.  It's a secure compound, with 4 buildings, tennis court, convenience store, dry cleaner, plus I have access to the gym next door and swimming pool (at a fee of course).  It's a 20 minute walk to work (passed the Australian Embassy), and 10 minute walk to the Beijing subway.   It's quite mixed, with a few locals and alot of ex-pats.  

The apartments are fairly small, compared to Australia.  I was shown a studio apartment and a one bedroom apartment, and chose the latter.  A little more room.  I'm on the 22nd floor, fully airconditioned, broadband, satellite TV (well, 8 extra channels!), but most of all, it's comfortable.

A quick guided tour....

This is the living room and kitchen, which are pretty much the same room.  Washing machine, small fridge, hot plates, microwave and water cooler.  Will allow me to cook my own meals, when I'm home.

Bedrooom (with the hardest bed in - the - world!) and bathroom. There is a phone and broadband connection in the bedroom, and a great view out the window (see below).  Whenever we have a clear day (what, in Beijing? Never!) I will have a great view.

There you have it, in one simple blog entry.  My new home!  I know I have chosen the right place, because it was a great feeling coming back after 2 weeks on the road, unpacking, and relaxing.

Tune in next time to find out how my first Mandarin lesson went.

China at 303 km/h

I arrived in China 3 weeks ago to the day, and since arriving it has been a series of paperwork, dinners, team bonding weekends, different hotels, learning the language, meeting the staff, finding a place to live, dealing with the day to day challenges of progamming 7 radio stations, learning to use squat toilets, and of course managing my finances (it’s been 70 days since I last got paid!). And that’s just the highlights…

And I was thinking I really haven’t had the chance to sit back, take a deep breath, and absorb what I’m actually doing, and where I’m doing it. Until now….

I’m writing this blog entry sitting in window seat 12F of the G127 train from Tianjin to Nanjing.  We are travelling at 303 km/h and will cover the 900 km’s in about 3.5 hours.  “Atomic” from Blondie comes up on my Ipod, one of my favourite Blondie songs.  The view outside the window changes every 20 minutes, and right now for as far as the eye can see its farmland, dotted with roads every now and then and blanketed in what could only be described as pollution, but don’t say that to the locals.

As we approach the next city, Blondie changes into Billy Joel (All About Soul), and apartment buildings start appearing in the suburbs. China’s population density in cities is about 3-4 times that of Australia, and I now know why.  Apartment construction in China is incredible, and with the rural population gradually moving to the cities for work, it’s going to get higher.  Hey, remember, China has 1.5 billion people!

“Oh, that’s right. I’m in China!”  That’s not the first time I have thought that to myself, said it out loud while crossing the street, or muttered it to a passing stranger.  I think I keep reminding myself because sometimes it’s very surreal.  I’m working and living so far outside my comfort zone that I would NEED to travel 900km’s on a fast train just to be able to see me comfort zone again.

But am I enjoying it?  You bet!

The professional challenges ahead are enormous, and I am very excited about the journey.  And for those uneducated in the audience, what am I actually doing in China?  Well, I’m glad you asked.

MyFm is owned by a large media company based in Malaysia.  We started these radio stations in China about 3 years ago, and growing by about 2 stations every year.  Radio in China has traditionally been run and programmed by the government, and in the past has been used as a tool of propaganda. 

They have also programmed the stations a lot differently than what we are used to in Australia (or the UK, or US for that matter).  They use what is known as block programming.  1 hour you may get Chinese pop, the next you get talk back, the hour after is Oldies and so on.

What we have done, and continue to do, is introduce China to format radio.  A station built around a specific target demographic (in our case 25-34 yo’s) and delivering the same music format all day, every day.  A consistent product, generating market noise, results for advertisers and producing revenue for us!

And so far, it has been very successful.  The stations are now turning a profit after a short time, and we are achieving many of our ratings goals.  After working with some of the staff for 3 weeks, it’s a big challenge.  Because of what they have been used to, trying to change the way they do things is the first hurdle.  But they are starting to see the results, and now it’s just a matter of fine tuning what has already been established.

OK, so that is just a brief glimpse into my world, and I suppose a good oppprtunity for me to step back for a second, look on this from the outside, and realize that this is a huge moment in my professional and personal life.  If someone had tapped me on the shoulder 6 months ago and told me I’d be in China in July, I would have laughed, and asked them what drugs they were on.

It’s amazing how life changes.  But it only changes if you’re open to it…

Lost in Translation: "One for the road"

Hello blog readers.  Firstly, a quick thank you to everyone who has emailed saying you are enjoying the blog.  I wish I could find more time to write, but it's good to know that my semi regular blogs are being enjoyed on the otherside of the world and that you are following my Chinese adventure.  It's been alot of fun so far...

I am writing this entry from my hotel room in Tianjin, after arriving back from a quick 2 day trip to Changchun.  Changchun is about a 90 minute flight north of Tianjin.  It's one of the closest Chinese cities to North Korea.  Probably as close as I want to be to North Korea.

Over the next few weeks, I am trying to get to each of our 7 markets to meet the staff, and also to get my head around the different stations. One thing I learned from my time in Bangkok, and also from talking to Keith Fowler, is that time in each market is critical.  You can only do so much by email/phone/QQ(Chinese instant communicator).

My Changchun story starts with dinner last night.  Doing business in China is all about building strong relationships with the staff, and part of that involves sharing a meal.  If you've read my previous blogs, you'll know that they love to eat, and eat, and eat.  Oh, and they love to drink.

As we sat down last night, I left the ordering of the food to David (the station manager).  After he spent about 20 minutes calling out items from the menu to the nearby waitress, he asked me if I would like to try some "chinese white wine".  At this point, the conversation stopped and all eyes fell on me.  I felt like I was in the Millionaire Hot Seat and was about to lock in my answer to win $1 million.

"Sure", I said, at which point all the girls giggled.  What had I just agreed to?  I asked David exactly what was this chinese white wine.  He explained that it was a clear drink, 42% alcohol, made from rice.  Now, I may not know alot about wine, but I do know two things.  One, it's not made from rice.  And two, it's not 42% alcohol! 

The ceramic bottle arrived, and again the table fell silent as it was opened, and poured into my glass.  I tried to place the smell, and the best I could come up with was it smelled a little like Sambucca.  David made the toast, and I took a sip.

It was strong.  Very strong.  As you would expect a spirit to be.  Today, I googled the name (Baijiu), and read that some people likened it to paint thinner.  Yeah, pretty close. I smiled, and said that it was "OK".

Now Australian's have developed a somewhat legendary status when it comes to drinking, and I wasn't going to let the side down.  So, during the next toast, I drained the glass.  This had an immediate reaction of applause, shock, and even laughter.  I had just showed this team I mean business, and gained a littlsomething else in the eyes of the Chinese - respect.

We ended up drinking 2 bottles of Baijiu (they are small bottles), but it was enough to get me tipsy.  After the second bottle we moved onto beer. After drinking the Baijiu, the beer tasted like water. 

OK, I am waffling a bit.  The point to this blog (as the title suggests) is how things get lost in translation.  After we ate and drank, and shared a few laughs, it was time to go.  I suggested to David that we have "one drink for the road".  This phrase wasn't familar to him, so I explained what it meant.

David then made a toast, and translated "one for the road" into Manadarin.  The shocked looks on the faces of the staff, and the cries of "no, no, no" said it all.  David then explained that his translation ended up being "one drink before you go to heaven".  We all had a laugh, and drank up.  NOw I'm the guy who wants to kill all the staff, and take them to heaven - but not before enjoying a drink together!